Tank Dent: damaged
Broken Shifter: REPLACED!
Broken Left Driver Peg: REPLACED!
Scraped Left Exhaust: damaged
Minor Scrapes (clutch, mirror, headlight housing, bar end: damaged
Broken Frame Slider: removed
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Damage Report
I know I haven't updated in a while, but I have been riding regularly again. Just to backtrack for the record here are the damaged parts from my previous post.
Tank Dent
Broken Shifter
Broken Left Driver Peg
Scraped Left Exhaust
Minor Scrapes (clutch, mirror, headlight housing, bar end)
Broken Frame Slider
Friday, August 15, 2008
Crash
EVENT:
12:00 AM last night. was heading east on California Blvd towards Fair Oaks. ACTIVE NIGHT CONSTRUCTION shut down two lanes to only the right lane. the construction was about one block, as i found out the hard way later, continued into the middle of the intersection. on the approach it was clear from the cones and blinking yellow barriers. i had a green and did not accelerate but continued my pace of 25-30 mph, trying to be safe. as i got closer to the intersection the light turned YELLOW and at the SAME TIME noticed a CRV in the opposite direction, middle of the intersection, prepared to make a unprotected left turn. the construction had kept her from my view until i had gotten too close. not sure if she could see me i decided to squeeze both brakes rather than gun through it, thinking if she decides to go for it, it would be perfect timing for a collision. somehow i knew it was a she driving. i had been practicing my quick stops all week and for about a second was slowing well. then i hit a wide patch of black rubbery slippery construction road repair right before the intersection. and a storm was coming so the air was humid and probably put a film of dew over that part of the road. i laid my bike down on the left side, rolled once as i watched her slide into the middle of the intersection, sparks flying from the left peg. the left frame slider took the initial impact, but the snapped off. it continued to slide on the bar ends and exhaust, digging a nice dent into my fuel tank. i will post pics of the damage later.
DAMAGE TO ME: i only suffered a scraped left kneecap and a 2 inch vertical gash on my right shin. bruised ego.
DAMAGE TO MY BIKE: broken gear shift lever, broken left peg, scraped left exhaust, frame slider snapped off (did its job i guess), minor scrapes on headlight, mirror, clutch lever, bar end. nasty dent on left side of tank from handle bars. bent handle bar?
AFTERMATH: lady was nice enough to pull over and ask if i was OK. Craig came and helped bend the remaining gear shift lever so i could at least make it home. on the way back, i actually saw very frequent flashes of lightning.
CONCLUSION:
yeah it could have been worse. so were my actions correct? i actually forsaw danger and tried to be safe. keep going over in my head the compound variables. the construction. it was night. i couldn't read the other drivers face for a reaction. the bright lights in my face. the slick road surface. the humid air. i suppose had i been going even slower this might have prevented this, but it was late and could not see the opposite traffic. my only other option would be to gun it through the yellow, but that was a risk i knew had a slimmer chance. so i tried to brake.
this one might have to go under "shit happens" as i saw the danger, reacted to it, but was taken over by horrible road conditions and weather. it sucks knowing about the danger and then still being taken over by it.
it'll be a few weeks until my wounds heal, and perhaps longer for my to repair the shift lever, peg, and tank.
LESSON: ride like a grandma through construction in an intersection (15 MPH). avoid road repair rubber, especially if it is moist.
12:00 AM last night. was heading east on California Blvd towards Fair Oaks. ACTIVE NIGHT CONSTRUCTION shut down two lanes to only the right lane. the construction was about one block, as i found out the hard way later, continued into the middle of the intersection. on the approach it was clear from the cones and blinking yellow barriers. i had a green and did not accelerate but continued my pace of 25-30 mph, trying to be safe. as i got closer to the intersection the light turned YELLOW and at the SAME TIME noticed a CRV in the opposite direction, middle of the intersection, prepared to make a unprotected left turn. the construction had kept her from my view until i had gotten too close. not sure if she could see me i decided to squeeze both brakes rather than gun through it, thinking if she decides to go for it, it would be perfect timing for a collision. somehow i knew it was a she driving. i had been practicing my quick stops all week and for about a second was slowing well. then i hit a wide patch of black rubbery slippery construction road repair right before the intersection. and a storm was coming so the air was humid and probably put a film of dew over that part of the road. i laid my bike down on the left side, rolled once as i watched her slide into the middle of the intersection, sparks flying from the left peg. the left frame slider took the initial impact, but the snapped off. it continued to slide on the bar ends and exhaust, digging a nice dent into my fuel tank. i will post pics of the damage later.
DAMAGE TO ME: i only suffered a scraped left kneecap and a 2 inch vertical gash on my right shin. bruised ego.
DAMAGE TO MY BIKE: broken gear shift lever, broken left peg, scraped left exhaust, frame slider snapped off (did its job i guess), minor scrapes on headlight, mirror, clutch lever, bar end. nasty dent on left side of tank from handle bars. bent handle bar?
AFTERMATH: lady was nice enough to pull over and ask if i was OK. Craig came and helped bend the remaining gear shift lever so i could at least make it home. on the way back, i actually saw very frequent flashes of lightning.
CONCLUSION:
yeah it could have been worse. so were my actions correct? i actually forsaw danger and tried to be safe. keep going over in my head the compound variables. the construction. it was night. i couldn't read the other drivers face for a reaction. the bright lights in my face. the slick road surface. the humid air. i suppose had i been going even slower this might have prevented this, but it was late and could not see the opposite traffic. my only other option would be to gun it through the yellow, but that was a risk i knew had a slimmer chance. so i tried to brake.
this one might have to go under "shit happens" as i saw the danger, reacted to it, but was taken over by horrible road conditions and weather. it sucks knowing about the danger and then still being taken over by it.
it'll be a few weeks until my wounds heal, and perhaps longer for my to repair the shift lever, peg, and tank.
LESSON: ride like a grandma through construction in an intersection (15 MPH). avoid road repair rubber, especially if it is moist.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Miles 12231: 12K Service Part 2
Checked Spark Plug Gap
Synced Carburetors
Replaced Fuel Filter
Recharged K&N Air Filter
Just C-clamped one of the fuel hoses while I replaced the fuel filter. worked like a charm. pop off, pop on.
Synced Carburetors
Replaced Fuel Filter
Recharged K&N Air Filter
Just C-clamped one of the fuel hoses while I replaced the fuel filter. worked like a charm. pop off, pop on.
Carb Sync
i build my own manometer using some 1/4 inch plastic tubing, wooden board, and used some 1/4 inch sprinkler elbow fittings as nipples. All Home Depot.
IDLE VERTICAL CYLINDER (RIGHT)
3.25 turns out from seated
IDLE HORIZONTAL CYLINDER (LEFT)
3.5 turns out from seated
Since the bike has been running rich from the looks of the spark plug I'm gonna lean both cylinders back to 3 TURNS.
Spark Plug Gapping
The spark plugs were NGK DPR8EA 9 gapped at .034". They were black and sooty indicating the bike is running rich. I've replaced them with OEM Champions gapped at factory .024". I will probably consider trying iridiums gapped at a wider .034" again in the future. I will be doing a carb sync and adjustment today.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Miles 12215: 12K SERVICE
Valve Adjustment
Replaced Belts
Replaced Spark Plugs (OEM Champions)
Installed Cycle Cat Frame Sliders
Chain Adjustment
Valve Adjustment
The valve adjustment just took about 6-7 hours with the help of Derek. The most difficult part was pressing down on the lower rocker arm to remove the closing shims. The spring tension is high, so to press down on the rocker arm while removing/reinstalling the moon shims definitely needed the help of two people.
We ran into one problem removing the closing shim on the horizontal intake cylinder. the top of the valve had expanded a few ten thousands of an inch. Also the closing shim was so pounded metal had rolled into the inside of the shim making it difficult to pull out. So we fashioned a tool using a tie rod tool, 16mm hex, and a plastic bottle cap. it provided just the right slow incremental forced needed to pull the shim out.
Installing the new shim on this same valve also got stuck. So the inside of the shim needed to be sanded with some 400 grit.
Measuring and calculation was another daunting task. Measuring the closing shims would have been much faster using an adapter no longer produced, so hunting it down will be interesting. Another trick is to use a washer (or opening shim) to use as a constant additive number, but provide a much easier time to measure. mm to inches was also a bitch conversion. Overall it was the first time and the learning curve was steep. Thank goodness for Derek's help.
Next up: Replace Fuel Filter
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