Drive Chain Maintenance.
A bit of a back to basics story here. I thought I had this covered sometime back, but I actually don't, my bad. A couple of weeks ago, a geezer asked if I thought the chain on his Ninja 300 was worn out. Wish I'd taken some pics of it now to give you a better idea.
The chain was hanging down in a large arc because it needed adjusting so badly. On closer inspection, it was also really greasy/dirty where chain lube had been sprayed on constantly during its life, but had never been cleaned. It was also heavy and slow to move because of the grease.
Now you can give all the advice you want in person, but words are meaningless unless you're doing the job with them, there and then. And if the person isn't confident in adjusting it correctly, it's a tough call. Everything is easy when you know how.
Regarding the wear factor? It was half-and-half. Yes, you could pull the chain links away from the rear sprocket slightly (a good test for a worn chain), but then I've seen far worse. If it was mine, I'd give it a damn good clean up first, spray it with chain lube again, adjust it and take it for a ride. And then monitor it for a while.
So, a good time for a tutorial. Take from it what you will, ignore it completely, or find out how I get years from chains and sprockets.
Here's a Can-Am 175 that is just beyond a simple clean and adjust. I'll admit defeat with this one.
The Throwaway World...
I've never been one to hang onto old rubbish, ok that's a lie. If it might come in useful one day, it stays... forever.
But the old portable compressor has been sooooo useful over the years, and I didn't really want to buy another, not yet. It was working its heart out the other day while I was blowing water and dust of my deck, when its tone changed, and not for the better I can tell you!
Had the head gasket blown? Filter blocked? Piston holed?
Ten minutes later the head was off. I'd actually never looked inside one of these before and was surprised at the valve set up. Just a couple of sprung steel strips, and one of them had worn thin and snapped. Apparently a common fault.
Getting Balance In My Life.
Because I fit my own tyres, I knocked up a contraption to balance wheels ages ago, but it involved a couple of lengths of wood which needed to be supported high enough to get a wheel off the ground. All this took up space and was a pain to set up, even if it did the job ok.
What I wanted was the nifty little self-standing static balancer I'd seen online. A quick perusal of eBay had one snapped up and delivered for less than seventy of the finest Aussie dollars. And, what's more, it arrived two days later! In Australia that's pretty much unheard of.
Just a quick look at the box and you can already feel the quality can't you?
"This twin purpose wheel balancing stand and stand..." I'm lost. And "twin purpose" means? Well, according to the destructions, either a biker or motorcyclist can use it.
Alright, sarcasm over, let's have a little decko and see if it actually works.
I've been busy... with wood. And I'm not a very accomplished woodworker. Prefer metal, but I wanted to create something out of junk. Pallets in this case. They'd been sat outside where I work for awhile, and were going to be broken up, so why not?
One at a time...
So I was going for the approach here of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Only the RH fork seal is leaking on the little CBR, but it's long overdue (just like tutorials on this blog). Well, no more! I haven't been riding as much because of it. I seriously needed a kick up the arse.
For the good lord said unto them... "Tell me what it is you want."
And the fools they cried, "We want power. Great power, over people."
But the wise, more importantly, asked of power from a different source. A device that could invoke feelings like no other. A mechanical device, designed by the hands and minds of humans... an engine. An engine that could deliver oodles of power from low revs, and induce wheelies at the slightest provocation. And the diligent were patient, and they duly received.
Four-stroke singles. Word.
Unheard horsepower from a mid-sized single is a great feat. For years they were dull, docile, heavy lumps that were dependable but, essentially, boring. Then they got quick, lightweight, scared the shit out of us, but were slightly unreliable. Because great power comes at great expense...
In time though, we got it all. Including 10,000km service intervals from a single cylinder midsize, pushing out around 66BHP. Stone the crows cobber, I think we're onto something.
The 690 SMC-R.
With great power comes great responsibility.
I hate plans...
Always have, the best New Year's parties I've had have all been unplanned. And I live my life that way for this very reason.
I prefer to choose whether I go to a track day at 1.00am on the morning of the track day, just in case something better comes up. 😉
So, the other day, when I was out testing, playing and working on Smithy's Panigale, I fully intended to go for breakfast at the Metz, in Canungra, and then go home. But the best made plans...
