could a novice do it? Any really tough parts?

 

Can you have 7 letters on a bike plate in SD? If you can I say PHATBOY. You can only have 6 here in CO.

 

Speaking of "Jims".. anyone else notice a common theme besides names and Lo's? Damn near everyone on this thread is either current or former Military. Makes you wonder, it's like the Lo is the Official Bike of the US Military or something.. I myself being Marine Corps (0311) Infantry Rifleman. 1993-1997, 2nd Battalion - 8th Marines. (Always wanted to be a grunt.)

 

Yep, 7 characters, I like PHATBOY too. Thanks.

Update: On second thought, perhaps they don't allow 7 on the scooter plates, I might only get 6, the cage plates allow 7 I think.

 

When my Florida plates expire I think I'll follow suit like all my vehicles and get W8S HD or W8S FBL since my last name is Waite

Silverado LTZ: W8S LTZ
Yamaha R1: W8S R1
Camaro SS: W8S SS

 

Uh, not sure about novice. If you understand how a motor works and have the FSM and right tools, and enough time. This job is all about the right tools. I have a 4 month old boy, so it took me longer than normal. I started the teardown on Thursday, had it all apart by Friday night. I could only work on the install an hour or two at a time, and just finished it up yesterday.

If you're thinking of doing it, there are several good threads here and you can ask me anything you want.

 

I'm pretty good with a wrench, mostly common sense. Never done any internal work, but I understand all of the parts, importance of torque wrenches, I own the service manual and am not afraid to ask this crew for help.

****, I think I am going to get dirty soon...a tuner told me that a cam really wakes up the 96, enough to hold off on adding cubes for awhile. Just got to pick the right parts...what tools made a difference?

 

dude, great point.. not a Jim here, but former SSgt USMC 94-05

 

Must have tools:
in/lb torque wrench - don't try to guess and use your ft/lb wrench
Gary's cam bearing removal/install tool beattygw@sbcglobal.net
Cam gear locking tool (I didn't buy, but will for next time)
allen socket set (for use with torque wrench)

You'll obviously need a good standard socket set, extenders, universals, etc. You'll do a lot of thumbing around in the FSM as it is broken up by sections (top end, cams, PR tubes, etc). You don't read straight through for a cam swap. The other thing that sticks out in my mind, when you take the cam support plate out, oil will drain from the tank unless you plug up the hole it comes out of in the cam chest. Nobody said anything about that.

I haven't ridden it yet, but it idles like a cammed out hot rod. This is the way it should have been from the factory.

 

I feel left out....I am not military, and my name isn't Jim





But I did stay at a Holiday inn once