AKRefugee

My good friend, Cowboy, has a 2001 Yamaha 1600. He is starting to have some slippage in the clutch. I went on a search on the internet and found the Service Manual for his bike as well as a great write up on changing out the clutch springs, clutch disk and oil pump gear. (On some of the older 1600’s there was a weakness in the oil pump gear and many folks swapped them out when they did the clutch springs.) My friend looked at everything I sent him, including a website to get the parts he would need. He traded emails with the parts manufacturer with some technical questions he had and the direction it took cracked me up so much I just had to share it with you. I have edited out non- pertinent stuff to shorten it and redacted company names to protect the guilty. Here is the email thread. Enjoy: The Cast: Cowboy – My friend Max - President/Product Design AKRefugee - Me COWBOY: Hi Max, I sent a email yesterday about replacing the oil pump gear at the same time. Did you ask your fiend what he recommends? Hollerback Yah'll, Cowboy MAX: This is all I could get: “Some earlier years had a weak oil pump shaft that could be upgraded.” COWBOY: Max, Thank you very much for your quick response I'm going to do more research about that pump shaft. I've got the feeling that I'm going to replace that while I'm in there to do it right. Meanwhile if someone tells you of a recommended replacement pump shaft, manufacturer and part number, kindly pass it along to me. That would be much appreciated. Meanwhile I will be calling to do business with you within the next 3 weeks. You will be hearing from me. I'm impressed with your timeliness. Till then, Happy Trails, Cowboy MAX: My brother is being a little thick headed…He does that If I get more I will forward it along. Meanwhile YES replace it. COWBOY: FYI, The engine oil pump drive shaft was not part of the transmission recall for 2001 Roadstars. There is superseded part # on this component meaning that Yamaha engineers did improvements to this part. I got this Information from a very reputable service shop manager and parts manager (redacted), (Service is Joe, and Parts is Steve). This is a bonafide Yamaha Retailer. So if anybody calls about all Roadstars up to 2001 (V1600's) and asks about this oil pump shaft it is recommended by many of the Yamaha Roadstar forums. The part costs $68.97 COWBOY: Max, Can you look into this because I need an answer from you or your engineers on this subject that has just come to my attention. Steve at (redacted) said something about clutch "cork" degradation as the clutches wear vs. Kevlar degradation. He said the stock clutches as they wear the cork sludge doesn't hurt the tranny but that the Kevlar degradation or sludge does. What's the skinny on this? Please reply. THIS IS WHERE THE FUN BEGINS MAX: My answer is simple- Stop listening to those nitwits COWBOY: I hear you but I would like a technical answer to this. I know that they're trying to steer me away from your product. I am convinced that yours is a far superior product as far as performance is concerned but the affect on the wearability on the tranny in the long run is a concern to me as a consumer as well. I was a Senior Product Designer for 14 years in the defense industry so I do have a technical background. Please look into this for me. A plausible explanation of why this is not true is all I ask for. Thanks Cowboy MAX: It’s a false negative. It is simply NOT true! o The moon is made of cheese. o “Not its not!” (max) o How do you know you have never been there….! COWBOY: Max, Please respond technically. I respect you, please respect my request. At this point my friend sent it to me saying you won’t believe this you have to read this. COWBOY: AKRefugee. I'm sending you this discourse that I had with the president of (redacted). Can you believe his responses ! Read Below. Unbelievable !!!!! AKRefugee: Wow, that was an "interesting" response. One of those "trust me I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express" moments. I will check my sources and see what they have to say. My gut feeling thought is that the Yammi guy really doesn't know s**t from shinola on the subject so he pulled something out of his a** that he heard someone else say one time. Remember this is the same shop that sent me out the door with rear brake pads that were so worn that they could have flipped in the caliper and killed me so I am a bit leery of their shops folks anyway. As far as I know, oil degradation is what causes sludge and that has nothing to do with the material being lubricated, only the operating temps and outside contaminants, but remember I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so I might be pulling something out of my butt as well ;-). I have asked my friend to keep me updated on any additional responses and will post them here if he sends me anymore of this conversation. I just hope that the future responses as as funny as these last ones,

Way to go Dan. Must have been a darn good wopper you told her in the first place to catch her . . . and even bigger ones to to get her to stick around that long

I have RLS and ate bananas and took calcium tabs etyc but it was still there My Dr put me on Ropinirol (Requip) once a day and it works great for me. Sure is nice to get a real nights sleep and not be trying to kick my Sweetie out of the bed all nite.

Thank you for taking the time out of your lives to ride with the PGR and honor our Fallen Hero's. I have learned two very important things riding with the PGR 1. No matter how many missions you ride you will never lose that emotion you felt on your first mission. Every mission will touch your heart in some way . . . and that is good. 2. You will strengthen someone by your presence. It may be the direct family, a veteran that never was properly thanked and appreciated for his or her service, or maybe even a casual passerby who is reminded of the sacrifices our military personal past, present and future have made, and will continue to make, for us . . . and that to is good.

Wow, and to think I was considering bringing my son to Maintenance Day this year. I am now rethinking that idea I mean what kind of things will he pick up behind my back there? Will he come home thinking that Apple is really a good computer? Will he come home thinking 1st gens are the best? Will he come home thinking he knows more that I do? Oh the angst of it all!!! The stark fear of it all!!! I would spend the whole weekend wondering what my son has learned from Don !!! Nope gonna keep my kid away from there I think!!! Yep best to do that!!!

Hey Dan. Here are a couple of links that might help you figure this out. http://www.bouldergaragedoor.com/specs.php http://www.doorsandopeners.com/html/garagedoorroughopening.php Have Fun

Don't worry Tom. Sue and I covered it for you. Your welcome

Hey Boomer Now you have real proof that the Gmen really are watching YOU:mustache: Them pygmies been making phone calls?? I would be very paranoid if I were you!!!

I have been using the HD Flags for several years now mounted on the base of the antenna with no problems. I tie wrap it to the slider portion which allows me to fold the antenna down when required. The pictures will show how they are mounted. I also got tired of going thru flags all the time so I did three things to extend the life of the flags. 1. Double stitch all the edges. 2. Apply super glue up to about a 1/4" from the edge 3. Made sleeves to slide over the flags during inclement weather or when I was not riding to display them. Doing the three things I have used the same set of flags for over 2 years now. Before I was lucky if they lasted 2 months

Wow. How beautiful.

Maybe this guy was hunting him and chased him up the tree! http://soggylog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/squirrel-w-gun2.jpg

See here, riding will make you a farter smeller!!! http://www.motorcycleinsurance.com/this-is-your-brain-on-a-motorcycle/

Spent 32 years up there with five plus in the Interior/Fairbanks area and 6 years north of the arctic circle. More than once I woke up to -50F temps and colder. Coldest wind chill was -115F at Camp Lonely and coldest non-windchill was -65F in Coldfoot. And that is why I am the AKRefugee. My bones are to damn old for that kind of cold.

While I support the rights of artist and recording companies to protect their assets SOPA, as written, is NOT the way to do it. AS tx2sturgis mentioned it removes due process. Seizure of a website can purely be based on accusations . . . from anyone . . . including our government. It will allow them to immediately confiscate your web domain name and cut your web site off. Lets say I had a blog site about NASCAR and I mentioned Dale Earnhardt in a post. You did not like the post so you informed the government I used a registered trademark (Dale Earnhardt) illegally. Bang that would be all it takes, they could seize my website and shut me out of the web. What if I were to post a negative about a department of the government, say the Veterans Administration. Ops I used the VA name without permission, bye bye website, bye bye ability to communicate my opinions on the web (which is the press today). In other words good bye to my rights of freedom of the press. As for the angst of Wiki etal being off line today, I agree, it is a bit of an over reaction however it also is a very good display of what could happen. The law would not shut down a single page of a web site, it could shut down the whole damn web site. This is not an issue about piracy or artist rights this is an issue about freedom of the press, and YOUR your ability to exercise that right fully.

I've been using the NAPA 3011 ($3.49) for a while now and have no problems with it.

Around $40 USD will get you a cabin in a KOA. Usually have heat, AC and mattress. Plus they usually have a shower and free WIFI

Brain Bleach Brain Bleach Where the heck did I put that Brain Bleach

I ride with leather chaps. I just keep them oiled and waxed with shoe polish and I never get wet on my legs. Saves money on rain gear.

Merry Christmas Chief. Glad to know that Santa stopped by here BEFORE the pygmies snuck onto Santa's sled (whew)

You just had to rub in the fact that you are in San Diego and I am not. Going off to my corner to pout now Just kidding hope all is well with you and Rose.

As you lay your head down each night rest assured that my wife and I will be lifting up your family in our prayers. Speedy and complete recovery for your wife.

It's gotta be Darlington so you can get your stripe:auto: (and I don't mean the one in your underwear after you run up next to that wall the 1st time)

Shot my first turkey yesterday, scared the snot out of everyone in the frozen food section… It was awesome!

Ummmm, don't mean to tell anyone else their business but I noticed they forgot the Loc-Tite on those screws.

Well, I'll see your 2 BAH HUMBUGS and raise you a FIDDLE-DE