I got the last of my parts today...a set of fork brackets to stick everything together. Problem is, what I imagined a set of fork brackets would look like is NOT what they actually look like. I expected something that clamped around the fork and had a bolt that pinched it together to hold in place. I was not expecting something with solid rings that have to be slid down over the fork. So...how do I get the top of the forks free to be able to mount these brackets? I don't want to just start taking bolts out willy-nilly. Is there an illustrated guide somewhere?
PICS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!!
take the bolts out that hold the forks in. there's two clamps on each fork. loosen all 4 bolts and voila.
You could try loosening the fork clamp bolts on the upper and lower triple clamps, wriggle the forks down enough to slip the brackets in and slide forks up again.
Considering you will have fun trying to do that to both legs without overstretching the speedo cable or the brake hose, it might be easier to remove the front wheel, fender and fork brace first. This is not hard and is explained in the manual. Might be a good opportunity to remove the forks and drain and refill the fork oil if it hasn't been done in a while. You could easily do all that in an hour without rushing, and have time for a coffee break! :thumb:
Quote from: the mole on March 12, 2009, 09:28:52 PM
You could try loosening the fork clamp bolts on the upper and lower triple clamps, wriggle the forks down enough to slip the brackets in and slide forks up again.
No, just take off the top with the handlebars and everything still attached. Slip the rings on and bingo, you're done. Helps if you have someone to hold the bars though. This is exactly how I did mine, and it takes 5min.
Moving the forks down is waaaaaay more effort than you need to go to for this one.
Quote from: philward on March 12, 2009, 11:25:40 PMNo, just take off the top with the handlebars and everything still attached.
Which bolts do I have to take off for that?
just remove the upper triple with the handlebars still attached. Probably the easiest way.
I'm sorry to sound like such a total newb, but what is this "upper triple" i keep reading about? What bolts need to be taken out to get it off?
How it looks to me, is that I would need to take out the really big bolt in the very center of the top of the steering yoke, and the two allen screws at the very top of the forks on either side where it looks like they are pinch-held in place. Is that accurate?
Top triple :thumb:
(http://www.tracdynamics.com/accessories/top_triple_clamps/top_triple_clamps_main.jpg)
Without my bike in front of me I'm guessing I remember right. You'll need to remove the 2 bolts holding each clamp for the handlebars, then there will be a bolt underneath where the bars sit. You then should be able to pull up that piece, then there will be two bolts holding the lower piece to the forks.
I ***THINK*** thats all you'll need to remove.
If someone has a link to a manual it might be easier that way.
Here this might help:
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9683/gs50016a.jpg)
I JUST did this myself
It's two 6mm allen key bolts and the 22mm head bolt in the dead center.
FIRST put up the center stand and brace the frame to rock back onto the rear wheel. No need to accidentally have the bike slide forward from leaning on an unbraced fork tube.
NOW DO NOT undo the two bolts on the lower part of the fork around the fork tube. unnecesary, and may invite the problem suggested above.
undo the big 22mm (I think it's 22mm) bolt at the center of the handlebar set up. Dead center and huge - you can't miss it.
on either side there will be a 6mm allen bold that tightens the top part of the fork around the fork tube, loosen but don't remove those.
remove the rear brake lever assembly so it's out of the way.
just pull the top part of the triple tree off.
I actually put the center bolt back and tied the handlebar assembly to it with rope while I painted the fork brackets with rustoleum.
Thanks Nick and Lawman. Those were both a lot of help. I'll see what happens after work today.
Lawman is right, I repainted mine so I seperated the two plates which you won't need to. Since your not painting you won't need to remove the handlebars unless you are looking for more room.
Just remove the center bolt:
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5005/gs50016b.jpg)
And loosen this bolt on bolt on bolt sides and pull the triple upwards:
(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1294/gs50029a.jpg)
Then you can slide the ears on and bolt it back together. You shouldn't have any issues with it falling forward as all the weight on the rear should keep it there but better safe than sorry.
Hope this helps!
Nick
Hey, BTW, the F headlight has an always on running light on the bottom with a separate plug. Anyone make running lights out of this connector after going F to E? Anyone know where to find the right connector to fit to it?
What mirrors are you using?
BTW utgunslinger13, any way you can zoom ino on that wire bundle? That's some nice clean work, and I like nice clean electrical work. It prevents problems.
Also, I may repost this question under a separate heading, but while I had my spark plugs unplugged, and the headlight unplugged, and the signals unplugged, I sort of let my friend's 5 y/o turn the key and hit the horn button. I haven't gotten the bike back together yet, but since then the horn has done NOTHING. Anyone have any suggestions for whether I need a new horn, or blew a fuse, or let a 5 y/o wreck my bike?
Alright...got it all put together thanks to Lawman and Nick. You guys were life savers, and that really was a lot easier than I expected.
Now, here's the disappointing part:
We have a group of about 20 friends going out to the beach tomorrow, and 5 or 6 of my girl friends have agreed to pose with my newly-renovated bike in their bikinis.
It's a friggin' 90% chance of rain ALL DAY tomorrow!!! WTF!!? It's been 75 and not a cloud in the sky eveyr single day this week while I'm stuck in the office, and it's going to ****ing rain all day Saturday AND Sunday!!! That would be bad enough if I didn't have a group of hot females wanting to pose on my bike half-naked. GAH!!!
Quote from: murf425 on March 13, 2009, 04:40:02 PM
Alright...got it all put together thanks to Lawman and Nick. You guys were life savers, and that really was a lot easier than I expected.
Now, here's the disappointing part:
We have a group of about 20 friends going out to the beach tomorrow, and 5 or 6 of my girl friends have agreed to pose with my newly-renovated bike in their bikinis.
It's a friggin' 90% chance of rain ALL DAY tomorrow!!! WTF!!? It's been 75 and not a cloud in the sky eveyr single day this week while I'm stuck in the office, and it's going to ****ing rain all day Saturday AND Sunday!!! That would be bad enough if I didn't have a group of hot females wanting to pose on my bike half-naked. GAH!!!
So find a garage and have them pose with your bike WITHOUT bikinis... and post the pics! :icon_twisted: Make lemonade, man. Failing that, zima and woodchuck cider make great panty-peelers...
So find a garage and have them pose with your bike WITHOUT bikinis... and post the pics! :icon_twisted: Make lemonade, man. Failing that, zima and woodchuck cider make great panty-peelers...[/quote]
I like how you think, and it reminded me of a joke. Father bull and Jr. are standing on a hill watching the cows below. Jr. says "Hey, Dad! Why don't we run down there and screw one of those cows?" Dad replies, "I have a better idea, son. Why don't we walk down there and screw them all?" :icon_twisted:
Unfortunately, I'm quite certain that that suggestion wouldn't work. Oh well...once she's got a day off and the weather's good, I'll just haul my fiancee out to the beach and make her do it. :thumb:
Anyway, here are the pictures as of present:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/Murf425/Picture003-1.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/Murf425/Picture004-1.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/Murf425/Picture005-1.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/Murf425/Picture006-1.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/Murf425/Picture007-1.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/Murf425/Picture008.jpg)
Looks great! Sorry it I missed it, but are you planing new handle bars? Aside from peeling it looks like those may be bent. Could just be the angle though.
By the way, I'm originally from P'cola. All my family is still down there.
Yeah, I dumped it once last summer and bent the left bar. I need to replace them, but haven't gotten around to it yet. They're still usable...just a bit uncomfortable. I was thinking maybe straight bars?
Fix that now. Bent bars might fail on you, and they might make a nearly avoidable accident tragic.
Looks good man! I've got a set of bars I'd let go to you for next to nothing if your interested? They are chrom but perfectly straight.
I repainted the bucket and all mount hardware on mine semi-gloss black - matches the frame on my '04 - and used black allen bolts for most of the assembly. Then I remounted the horn to a frame mount on the front left side and put a chrome cover on it. Looking at the bike from the front it's headlight, black hardward, black on black front cowl, chrome horn cover. From the side, it looks like the headlight assembly is part of the solid frame. Very cool with the yellow tank and rear fairings.