Like us our bikes are all getting older, things getting looser, center stand sagging, clutch lever flopping around... You know the drill. I took my clutch lever off today to understand why it was so damn loose. There is not much material on the lever for the shoulder bolt to contact. The hole is slowly getting larger from use. I could drill it and press a bushing in. But that still does not fix the lack of mating surfaces. So I decided to shim it top and bottom to take up the free play from a different direction. First, punch out some shims from a beverage can like this.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/9428098097_48e79bb7a9_o.jpg)
Then install like this. Top and bottom.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/9430865414_27510bd992_o.jpg)
Now my lever feels snug and proper, no more flopping around. Next, the center stand spring....
Huh, is that really the source of the vertical freeplay on the levers? Mine has so much that it's incredible to imagine that it's purely due to wear on the hole there. I always thought some shim was already missing or something. I mean, it must have an inch or more at the tip of up and down motion available to it. Buzzes something silly at just the right RPM...
Yep, mine seemed as bad as yours, now at the tip it is more like 3/8" free play. Not that the free play hurt anything or was a safety issue, just feels better having it tightened back up.
I love any Mod that requires me to drink a Beverage before I start................ :drinks:
Time to work on my levers I guess......
But that would require going out and buying canned beverages... :bad:
Quote from: not a lib on August 03, 2013, 01:00:03 PM
But that would require going out and buying canned beverages... :bad:
Randy, you make a very good point. Now what upgrade can I do on the FJ that requires glass?
Clutch and brake levers respond VERY well to a dismantle, clean and grease. They are very exposed and get a lot of crap in them. There is also a lot of drag if dry. If done regularly, almost eliminates wear.
Noel
good idea
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 03, 2013, 01:05:39 PM
Quote from: not a lib on August 03, 2013, 01:00:03 PM
But that would require going out and buying canned beverages... :bad:
Randy, you make a very good point. Now what upgrade can I do on the FJ that requires glass?
Simple, stamp the shims from the bottle cap.
Quote from: FJ_Hooligan on August 03, 2013, 11:26:51 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 03, 2013, 01:05:39 PM
Quote from: not a lib on August 03, 2013, 01:00:03 PM
But that would require going out and buying canned beverages... :bad:
Randy, you make a very good point. Now what upgrade can I do on the FJ that requires glass?
Simple, stamp the shims from the bottle cap.
^Nailed it.
Tough crowd here, eh Mark? This forum has been know to eat it's young... Just ask Mike.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on August 04, 2013, 02:42:40 PM
Tough crowd here, eh Mark? This forum has been know to eat it's young... Just ask Mike.
Yea, I with ya on that Pat, good thing I am not one of the young anymore.... And I can survive, even missing a few chunks...
hey fj monkey, i see that plastic thing with holes in it that appears to be a guide, what do you call it and where do you get them from, ?when i try to make my own gaskets, rubber washers etc at least half the time the centre hole isn't right in the middle after i use my punch,
ken
Quote from: ken65 on August 04, 2013, 10:00:02 PM
hey fj monkey, i see that plastic thing with holes in it that appears to be a guide, what do you call it and where do you get them from, ?when i try to make my own gaskets, rubber washers etc at least half the time the centre hole isn't right in the middle after i use my punch,
ken
Ah... A gadget man, I will post a pic to help you along. I pulled it out of the trash at my work about 10 years ago. Took me 3 seconds to understand what I had. Not bad for dumpster diving... First time I have used it.
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 03, 2013, 12:38:42 PM
Now my lever feels snug and proper, no more flopping around. Next, the center stand spring....
Hey Mark, what you got for the center stand? Mine drags going around corners due to lack of spring tension. Is your "fix" going to cure that or is your stand just loose?
I fixed my sidestand using a magnet. I just used a self tapping screw and drilled it into the footpeg bracket. Sidestand snug as ever. I have 4 more of these magnets if you want one... However, I still am trying to use one of them to keep the center stand in place.
(http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9653/picture004ja.jpg)
CraigO
Thanks Craig, still searching for a proper spring, only took it off today so the hunt is a foot.... Might end up with a magnet anyway, simple and easy...
Too bad that 'beverage can' shims don't make all those things which flop around with age snug and proper :-)
Quote from: Arnie on August 06, 2013, 08:17:59 PM
Too bad that 'beverage can' shims don't make all those things which flop around with age snug and proper :-)
Beverage cans were the cause of these problems in the first place. :drinks:
Quote from: oldktmdude on August 06, 2013, 11:12:46 PM
Quote from: Arnie on August 06, 2013, 08:17:59 PM
Too bad that 'beverage can' shims don't make all those things which flop around with age snug and proper :-)
Beverage cans were the cause of these problems in the first place. :drinks:
Pete, trust me, it wasn't the cans that caused the flop.... it was the contents........ :drinks:
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 04, 2013, 06:18:04 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on August 04, 2013, 02:42:40 PM
Tough crowd here, eh Mark? This forum has been know to eat it's young... Just ask Mike.
Yea, I with ya on that Pat, good thing I am not one of the young anymore.... And I can survive, even missing a few chunks...
Mark, wanted you know your pun did not go un-noticed.
james
Quote from: jamesearthdrum on August 07, 2013, 03:39:47 PM
Mark, wanted you know your pun did not go un-noticed.
james
Wow! I was so smooth I was not aware I slipped in a pun.... I will add a point to my tally sheet then take half a point penalty for not realizing I had done it... Thanks for the Kudos...