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dynodon

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Everything posted by dynodon

  1. dynodon
    With all due respect to the mechanics on the list, they almost always see the worst that any manufacturer makes, after all, if there wasn 't a problem, they wouldn't see the car, and nobody...NOBODY makes a perfect car. My in-laws have had nothing but Caddy's for decades, and had few problems. These are well thought out, reliable cars for the most part, and the Northstar engine has a great reputation in general. They have never had any head gasket problems with this engine, not to say it doesn't happen, but check out if there are any on-line forums for the car. Remember that these forums also see EVERY problem that pops up and it can give a false impression of the car. I run a car club and the on-line forums would have you believe that the car is a mess, but they are generally better, way better than average. But every little problem is discussed over and over, and like happens most of the time, the cars that never give a problem don't get talked about much. A big thing with used caddy's is that at least while the first owner has it, they have been maintained better than most lower priced cars. The owners have the money to get them fixed and maintained, and an older used Caddy can be a great value. Like most big/luxury cars, they take huge hits on retained value (older Mercedes and BMW's have the exact same deal!) But in this case, about any GM dealer, or independent mechanic can work on these cars, while with imports, that isn't the case. If you can, drive the car, check out the car for leaks (almost every car will have leaks at 100,000 miles or more) and see if it feels tight and runs well. Drive it long enough to give it a real test. If you can get the car for 2-3 thousand, I don't see where you can go wrong. These Northstar Caddys can get upper 20's on MPG and are GREAT driving cars that handle well, and are actually fun to drive. An older Caddy also doesn't come with the "rich person" aura that many imports have. I find the style of these cars to hold up well also. If it trips your trigger and is a bargain, and drives out well, then buy it and enjoy it.
  2. dynodon
    Make sure you are adjusting the suspension properly. Put it on the center stand, and with the key on, but engine not running, see if the air system lights up. Then push the front button and see what the air pressure is. Push the low button and see if it goes down. Then do the rear suspension. I was told to do it that way to prevent the front from getting too much air? Keep it on auto mode too.
  3. dynodon
    Buy one of those trailers made for carrying dogs. I have been on trips with folks who have them and they love the trailer, and having their dog along with them.
  4. dynodon
    The target is got IMO, go for a new one! Good picture.
  5. dynodon
    Well Bah, Humbug! My wife told me we have some of those funny flowers planted in a corner of the house but they had not flowered yet. I was going to get a really great picture of the flowers, me and finally my bike parked about 100 feet beyond somewhere up on the driveway. But Noooooo! Bob had to go and ruin my fun! Way to go Bob, keep that 12' tall trophy and the pretty girl that goes with it here in the midwest. All those that aren't playing also are not getting the advantage of the free food and the loaner car along with the guest appearances on Late Night with Conan...Oh, well, late night at home with Conan...OK, only late night with me crying in the garage about the leaks in my VR! Going on a ride to Ted's Garage in Clinton IL today, if anyone wants to meet us, we will be there about noon for some grub and then a ride around Lake Clinton. The area GTO club will be there also! Cheers!
  6. dynodon
    Is this a part that goes bad? Just wondering.
  7. dynodon
    I just don't buy the 5th gear is for 65+. OK, IF you want near full throttle acceleration, or are hauling a full load up a hill.... ok, but otherwise, I am in 5th a lot running 40-50 or so, as long as I am just puttin' along and the engine is happy. Rpm's are well above 2500 or so, and you won't lug any engine with that many revs. To truly lug an engine, you need to be down near 1500 or less and give it a lot of throttle. I have ridden new 6 speed Harley's and many of those owners say never use 6th till over 70! I ran the bike in the 50's and it was just fine, no excessive shake, and no lugging, again, to lug you need very low rev's, and if you drive in whatever the top gear is with reasonable throttle, you won't hurt anything, and you will get better MPG. Revving high every shift may be fun, but it becomes tiresome for me on most trips, and expensive as the MPG drops a lot! But each to his or her own.
  8. dynodon
    I have found pencil gauges to be all over the place, too easy for dirt/grease to get in the mechanism and make it stick. I tossed them all in place of a good gauge. The one I rely on the most is a good dial gauge designed for use by race cars. Very accurate, with a nice hose and button to release pressure. Next most favorite is a good digital. I think you can get either style at the Tire Rack.
  9. dynodon
    For the side panel vents, you will have to catch some being sold on E-bay or see if they are still available through Yamaha. Last time I checked, about 1.5 years ago, they were, but at a price equal to their weight in gold! Many have just removed them and let the rear cyl shine through, or created their own aluminum block off plate. the engine doesn't really need that space for cooling, I open them in winter to heat my legs and close them in summer. Before I was lucky enough to find a set on e-bay, I just taped mine closed so they looked a little better with clear tape. Same thing with the side panels rubber bits, either e-bay or you might be able to get them from Yamaha, at least they should not be hyper costly. You might try the HELP! rack at Autozone or an auto body shop supply store and maybe you could find something similar that would work. Sorry, can't help with the air filters, but I suspect there are other sources other than stock or K&N. Again, check E-bay, I am pretty sure I have seen them there. As for the battery, do a search here for the proper way to bypass that fluid sensor and make sure yours is done right and that it has good connections. Otherwise, put a bit of black tape over that blinking red light?
  10. dynodon
    LIl Beaver and Jerry, As stated in the Rules of the road, it is just Mover over OR slow down. Doesn't even go into the detail that beave posted. But even that is without any guidelines. You can obey the law, and get a ticket because it is so vague. If you decide you can't move over and you slow way down and cause an accident...well, you are at fault again! And I see all the time the result of this poorly written law as people that don't pay attention all of a sudden force into the next lane and cars go everywhere, and gawkers add to the confusion. It used to be that most people used common sense, but now that there is a "law" people panic, and more people are going to be hurt. Kind of like the draconian laws in construction zones. I see speed limits artificially reduced miles before there are any people or work being done. All this and virtually NO construction workers get hurt by passing cars, they are run over by their own people in the zone! Statistics cited by many reputable news organizations from the IDOT's own info. Oh and don't get me started on school zones where in Illinois it reads "School speed Zone 20 mph (or whatever) on school days when children are present. Does that mean if they are in the building or only if they are in sight outside? What about if the sign says only if the light is flashing and it is flashing during a school holiday like today during spring break? Illinois needs a secretary of state that actually drives on the roads to see what is happening. sorry about the soapbox rant. I want police/emergency/construction workers and kids to all be safe. Just want logical clear laws to get to that point.
  11. dynodon
    I have used the wrapping stuff to protect from bugs, but for chips from rocks and such, you need something thicker. I think the article mentioned went over the thicknesses, but to protect glass or headlights, get the thicker stuff. For paint it can be thinner, but it won't protect from big rocks. Of course even the thick stuff won't protect from a brick! If you want to really protect the bike, then cover as much as possible and put shielding on metal parts that you don't want dented. May not be pretty, but when you get done, you can remove it all, and the bike may not be torn up much.
  12. dynodon

    Bulldogs

    dynodon replied to Mel's topic in Watering Hole

    GReat game, but I was really pis__d at the Butler fans, coaching staff etc as they let those players get off the court without a stadium wide standing O for both teams. heck, Coach K and the Duke team should have asked the Butler team to stand center court with them and get the applause they were due. I understand the Butler community in the stadium was upset and disappointed, and they were shocked, but didn't they realize how wonderful that game was and how great their players were? It was sad to see those kids walk down the hall and their fans sit on their hands. There should have been a celebration of one of the best games in history! I was prepared to hate Duke to the end, but they won me over at least somewhat. I couldn't hate them. It was a hard fought game, but fought fair. One for the ages. if only the Butler fans had stood and cheered their team and BOTH teams for the game they played. STill ticks me off.
  13. dynodon
    The law in Illinois is similar but there is NO, repeat NO idea of how much SLOW DOWN means! The law is Move over OR slow down. Again, you are not expected to move to the opposing lane on 2 lane roads, but moving over as far as possible is expected, along with the vague "slow down". I do NOT agree that you MUST move over. I do move over on a 4-lane road (or mulit-lane) when it is safe, but what is crazy is people that don't know the law will force their way into the next lane when traffic is heavy and then we are off to the "crash" races! This law, being so undefined is a disaster IMO in Illinois. Nobody knows what will cause a ticket. My wife was a passenger with a friend driving a truck with a 2 horse trailer. Interstate was fairly busy and the cop had his lights on on the side. they didn't pull over, but slowed down as much as they could (over 20 mph, but again, in IL there is no rule to go by) and because the trailer pushed so much air, the cop let his catch go, and stopped the truck/trailer. Gave them a ticket. It wasn't safe to pull the rig over at the last minute (the cop was around a corner) but he wouldn't listen to reason. I think police/emergency workers need all the breaks they can get, but at least in Illinois, the law is bad, and needs some work. WAY too much interpretation left to the police. As a Road Captain, I have run into this a few times and when I have a group of more than 2 or 3 bikes, I signal for single file and move to the left of the lane rather than risk moving a long line of bikes to the next lane and have to blend into cars that are already gawking at the cop/accident. We slow down also, but not too much, b ecause then the tail gunner will get run over.
  14. dynodon
    Always wear over the ankle boots, jeans (just got the Defender kevlar jeans and love them, they will be on every time I remember from now on. Long sleeve t-shirt to protect from wind/sun burn on my old skin, and winter gloves or deerskin summer gloves (full finger). My new Shark Evoline (well, new last year) is going on every trip, with the chin bar in place probably most of the time. Our local STAR group had a CPR class and one of the emergency trained people told about missing chins on people with shorty and open face helmets. I started using the chin bar more often the next day! bought a really nice motorcycle jacket a little over a year ago, thing weighs 20 pounds I swear! But it is thick enough, I feel really protected, and amazingly with the zippered vents, it isn't that hot, but in real hot weather, I will probably just go with that long sleeve T-shirt or a light denim jacket that I like to wear. Not a lot of protection, but better than a tank top, and more pleasing to the spectators I am sure! Winter I layer up and wear chaps, the Defenders will replace the chaps in summer.
  15. dynodon
    Our family has two J&M's, and I know about half a dozen other people. They are great units, and well built. Just priced the add-on factory CB for a victory Vision and it is $650 BEFORE labor and without several cables that you probably need. I don't think I will buy the Vision, but it was fun to look at. Price true CB radio's made to withstand weather, vibration, with proper mounts, all the wiring and a built in weather radio and intercom if you choose that option. Also, I don't think you can get it with AM-FM radio, but all you need to do is get an MP3 player with radio and you have it. Yea, they are pricey, but they are worth it, we love ours. MUCH better than a cobbled up system and more versatile than an FRS setup.
  16. dynodon
    I haven't tried this on my bike yet, but go to an office supply store, and buy a roll of clear plastic wrapping material. My roll is about 8" wide, with a handle. One roll has a BUNCH of feet of the stuff. If you know you will be on a long ride with bugs, just stretch it across the front of the bike, and heck, if careful you can put it on the windshield. when you get done or where you want to go, pull it off and WOW, no bugs at all. Too thin to protect from big rocks, but it will help some with sand and small stuff. A cheap version of the plastic that people put on expensive cars.
  17. dynodon
    I say the feed lot is A-OK. beef on the hoof! KY huh? Well, I wasn't going to nail the Easter Bunny thing too easily, they don't allow bikes inside churches here, and the city isn't all into Bunny decorations! Why not make it a hard one, like you and your bike balanced on top of a 200 foot TV tower? (caution, thread hijack momentarily) So Scooter....we gonna do the May 1st IA event? I am pretty sure I and some others from our local STAR group will go.
  18. dynodon
    Last two days I rode past the same pasture with cows in it. Thought about stopping but didn't, traffic was a bit high, and no place to pull over. Great story about the herd. Did you have to dodge a bunch of cow pies when leaving? Had a great ride with my older son yesterday. I am teaching him to find the "cow paths" as one person I know calls them, and he led yesterday and we had a wonderful ride, ending up at a favorite local place for desert (forget dinner, go for the calories right off the bat!). Raining today, but next week seems like a winner!
  19. dynodon
    don't see how anyone can blame the cop in the one video where he gets hit in the rain. It is ALWAYS the responsibility of other drivers to see and react to emergency vehicles (really any vehicle) on the side of the road and give extra room. I do have a problem though with the new (fairly new) law in Illinois and other states that vehicles "Slow down or move over" (note it is OR, not AND, right out of the Illinois rules of the road). I know that cops have given tickets to people who DID slow down, but did not move over, due to other traffic or in one instance, a friend of ours was pulling a horse trailer, and trying a near emergency lane change with a loaded trailer is not safe. She slowed down a lot and pulled as far over as possible, but the truck/trailer still moved a lot of air, and the cop went after her and pulled her over, gave a ticket. The law is poorly written at best, and enforced by whim rather than rule at worst. Last summer I was leading a group of 15 bikes, and came on a police vehicle on the side of a two lane road, I signaled single file and moved the line to the left side of the lane and we slowed, but not too much since there were several cars coming up on us at a rapid rate. No reaction from the cop. As for the fire dept captain getting arrested, I am not sure who has ultimate control in that situation. Is there a rule for that? For sure, it looked like the cop was real grabby, and the captain jerked away from the cop at one point, THAT is enough to make some cops go wild. No doubt that ego's were running wild at that point. Would love to know the outcome of that one.
  20. dynodon
    yea, that thing is heavy and big for a motorcycle. NOTHING U-Haul rents is lightweight! They all have to stand up to the general public beating on it and not respecting it! Plus a lot of their equipment is in questionable condition. Don't want a bearing locking up and wrecking you after the heavy thing eats your clutch! There are lots of real motorcycle trailers you can get on various lists, Craigslist, E-bay etc, for not a lot of money, they you have one for your use anytime, or sell it again if it is just a one-time thing. Only advantage I can see with a rental, is you don't have to buy a title/license. Can you "rent" one from a friend? Be sure to offer to pay something, and get insurance just in case if you can.
  21. dynodon
    My thoughts also. Lights mounted on the frame/body also bounce, but at least have the suspension to soak up some of the motion. With lights mounted on the wheels/brakes, any movement of the wheel will be perfectly transmitted to the light. Of course the tire will soak up some of the actual distance of a bump, but if the wheel moves, so does the light. I would think this would shorten bulb life, making LED's a necessity.
  22. dynodon
    No doubt the mountains have the wow factor, but living in Illinois, the wife and I have discovered a whole new beauty to corn country! First, the scenery changes with the seasons. Winter, white, bare trees, long view, serene. Spring, color changes are wild, smooth carpets of corn and wheat and other crops start coming up, farmers in the field (WATCH out for them on the roads!) We ride the country roads, 40 mph and just look out across the fields and rolling hills. Yes, we have rolling hills in Illinois Corn country, we also have some curves! Just head for the areas where there are trees. No trees = plowed fields and straight roads, trees = creeks and rivers and small valleys and some curves and hills. On to summer, the carpet of crops grow and your sight lines shorten trees and plants in full bloom. Fall, those colorful trees, but all of a sudden over a few weeks your sight lines get LONG again! Crops gone, (watch for those tractors again) but it is a whole new world. We just try to find the beauty wherever we ride, but country roads in Illinois can be slow and fun, and relaxing. Also can't fall too far if you mess up!
  23. dynodon
    right behind me out the back door is our pasture with horses, could get the pic without starting the bike....but I won't. IF I see one farther from home, I will take it.
  24. dynodon
    I have three theories and I think both are part of the thing you are seeing with so many HD for sale. First, as has been stated, their are a LOT of them around. Very popular brand. More sales = more for sale? Second: For the last several years before the current economic situation, you could buy a HD and sell it for the same or more a year or two later. A LOT of people that aren't really HD people got into the biz of buying and selling. Plus a LOT of those got financed because you "couldn't loose money!" haha. Third: A lot of HD people trade pretty often. If they are not in a money hurt situation, they buy a new one, and put the old one up for sale. This may happen with other makes, but I bet it happens more often with Harley. Anyway, I am looking to buy my first Harley...may never happen, but I am looking. Won't give up my '86 VR though, not till it lets me down and costs too much to fix anyway. Who knows, maybe the Harley will do those things first and I keep the VR anyway!
  25. dynodon
    Car helmets may be a little different, but at most tracks and with SCCA, a Snell helmet can be good for up to 15 years. The Snell stickers go in 5 year intervals, and you can be two stickers behind before you have to change. This is not at the pro competition level, not sure what the rule is there. Generally I like to get a new one every 10 years though.
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