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Mordalo

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Everything posted by Mordalo

  1. Mordalo
    If you're blowing out JBWeld, it may not be a temp issue. I put hi-heat Permatex copper where my slip-ons meet the manifold and that worked great. On my car, I put JBWeld where the Manifold meets the Caty, and that got me through emissions testing just fine (I let my 18-year old daughter take the car in so that the kid at the lube shop wouldn't focus so hard on the visual inspection of the car... shameless I know) so I'm thinking it may be the size of the leak, not the temp rating of the product you're trying to plug it with?
  2. Mordalo
    Patience is a virtue... that just means we have to be more creative... or criminal. Whichever comes more naturally...
  3. Mordalo
    Okay, I think I have identified the problem. I was riding my RSV listening to my radio when I heard a Harley ad... it actually said "Harley brings the kind of riding experience that you just can't find on an import..." then went on to say "...it's all about what you ride, what you wear and who you roll with..." Yes, this is a direct QUOTE. Import MC makers don't advertise nearly that aggressively. Unfortunately, most new riders hear ads like this, then they read stories about the 1%'ers of olde (most of which is no longer valid... those days are for the most part long gone) and hear stories from other bikers, many of which are trying to keep the mystique alive by telling biker stories that usually come out more like drinking stories involving a bike. These things build up this mental image in the heads of new bikers, causing them to try to "fit in" to this genre that frankly doesn't really exist anymore. I agree, as I mentioned above that Harley makes a fine bike. Based on my research (I'm a geek... researching history is one of my hobbies) Harley did in fact invent and damn near perfect the V-Twin motor. Honda was a close second. I also agree that the Electra Glide (or whatever alphabet soup name they give it now), while pretty is a bit cramped. My wife and I tried sitting on one at the HD dealership and we just didn't fit. My wife who knows NOTHING about motorcycles or their lineage picked the RSV because it was the most comfortable we had found (yes, she even found it more comfortable than the Goldwing... mainly because it was easier for her to mount it, and she just felt the Goldwing was just TOO big). I was told by the salesman that HD sells a trunk extension kit that would make it roomier in the back. The RSV didn't need it. So my point is, as usual, lost because I again don't have one.
  4. Mordalo
    So, I see these no-pork threads a lot on import forums. I don't disagree that Harley Davidson is very expensive to buy and maintain but I don't think they're necessarily bad bikes either. So the reason they leak oil is because they get much hotter than water-cooled bikes and therefore must have looser tolerances in regards to seals and torque specs. They are expensive to maintain because the service plans cost so much and quite frankly, if you don't let the dealer do the maintenance, you void your warranty. I've put almost as much in to every import bike I've owned in bolt-on shinies (mmmmm..... chrome....) as I would in a Harley. Harley does do a very fine job with their finish work. Very clean lines, very few bolts showing and almost no seams showing. Now, the problems I have with Harley Davidson are: 1. I can never figure out what the hell they're called. I don't know what an FLXMNOPRFY is compare to an FRTERLYBHRMN. I would like to see an actual NAME for a model, like.... oh... I don't know.... ROYAL STAR?! I mean, I know what a V-Star is, I know what a Royal Star is and I know what a V-Max is. I now what a VTX is, and I know what a Shadow is. I don't know what LHFNCMBLKEHY means... 2. I can't tell them apart. When I look at ANY import, I can tell immediately what the difference is between them. I go in to the Harley Dealership frequently (with my friend, to get parts... huh... go figure...) and like to look at the different models. Best I can tell, they have 4 different bikes: Baggers, bar-hoppers, V-Rods (thank you Porsche) and Buells. I honestly can't tell the difference between the sub-models. Okay, I can tell a sportster from a fat-boy (they still make fat-boys right?) but other than that, I'm a bit perplexed. 3. You have 3 engines to choose from: not bored, kinda bored and way bored. Best I can tell there are only 2 frames to chose from (except for the V-Rod... thank you Porsche) unless you count the Buell, which I don't think most people do. So my point is... it's late and I'm too sober. Cheers!
  5. Mordalo
    Man, I just mapquested it, and it's 1.7k mi from my house... I'll keep trying to talk the wife in to it, but this is actually the first I've learned of the rally. Keep in mind I just joined less than a month ago...
  6. Mordalo
    I just installed the ISO grips on my RSV last week and was planning on putting the weights back on. I'll be honest, while installing the Yamaha weights on the ISO grips looks cool, I haven't noticed any extra vibration from my bike without them. I did notice that the handlebars feel a bit narrower now, but I kinda like that anyway. Hope this helps!
  7. Mordalo
    Thanks all! Rick, that really cleared it up for me as it were (I crack myself up...) and thanks billet that's not too far from where I work. I'll cruise down tomorrow and get some! thx! DJC
  8. Mordalo
    My dad used to take a roofer's torch and burn the entire lawn every fall just before things went dormant. We just sprayed the perimeter heavily with a garden hose just before we started to keep it contained, then kept the hose on just in case it got loose (living in a desert makes playing with fire a bit more unnerving). That took care of just about every kind of weed we ever had.
  9. Mordalo
    I had the exact same problem with trying to get a refund and suddenly finding out that what I ordered was on "clearance." I shunned them almost 2 years ago and haven't gone back since.
  10. Mordalo
    Greetings experts. I have yet another question for you geniuses. So I've been using a technique for years for restoring plexiglass and other plastic stuff with scratches involving 400grit wet/dry, 1600grit wet/dry, then 2000grit wet/dry, then rubbing compound (usually turtle wax rubbing compound - as opposed to turtle wax WAX) then finally a polishing compound like quixx (orange box at wal-mart works great - usually). When I tried that formula on the OEM 2nd Gen RSV windshield I discovered that it has this weird coating on it that does NOT like to be sanded. I was finally able to fix the problem I created for myself by sanding the ENTIRE inside surface of the windshield (as opposed to the 4 square inches I was actually trying to fix in the first place. So I guess I have two questions: 1. what the hell are these windshields coated with and 2. Anyone have a 2nd gen full-sized RSV windshield to sell? Okay, I guess I have a 3rd question: has anyone tried one of the aftermarket "oversized" windshields being sold on e-bay? They claim to be a few inches taller and wider than OEM. I'm curious how that impacts aerodynamics etc... thx, Danny
  11. Mordalo
    I've only been riding for 1.5 years. In that time I've put on 15k miles. I got rid of my car 3 months after I got my first bike and haven't been in a cage since. Luckily out here in the desert there are only a few days of the year that the ground is slippery, but that's why my taxes pay for the city transit system. Anywho... my first bike was an '06 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100. I dropped it at least 20 times, all under 5mph and all in the first 3 months. Then I went to California for a vacation and rented a BMW 1200RT. The guy at the dealership told me "if she starts to go, just let 'er. She'll put you in the hospital if you try to keep her up..." He was right... I kept it up and after I returned the bike I went to the doctor for a pulled groin muscle. traded my '06 Honda for a '99 RSV 3 weeks ago (straight-across trade) and I actually felt for the first two weeks that she was MUCH more stable a ride than that little bar-hopper. Well this morning I had to make a run to Sears for a screwdriver long enough to tune the carbs when I found myself trying not to meet pavement in my driveway. Learning my lesson from the BMW I let her go. I don't normally start my bike 'till I'm in the street because my 2yr old granddaughter lives with us and honestly we cherish every moment she's not awake (Baron Bagger straight-pipes). It turns out that I had forgotten to fold the kickstand back, so it broke the fall. now... here's the funny part. My brain had made the assumption that I was going to be hugging cement. The kickstand being down saved the bike from falling but for some reason my brain did not accept this fact. I actually fell OFF the bike simply because my brain was expecting it. It was the oddest damned thing I've ever experienced. So I guess the point is... is that $2.50 or the full $5? cheers
  12. Mordalo
    So y'all were correct. It's an old Harley ornament from the '30's I only found 1 web site (well, I found a few, but only 1 in english) that has it (http://www.american-made.com/midusa/pages/frames/frontfenders.htm) for $10!! ironically, they're charging $12 for S&H. I think I'm going to go ahead and order it anyway simply because it really does look bad-a$$. I get a lot of comments on it. Thanks again all!!
  13. Mordalo
    It might be a challenge trying to get a clean edge just because my aim ain't so good with a razor blade and that ornament is a pretty major focal point (I get a lot of comments on it) but if I can't find anything else (already checked e-bay... no joy) I'll certainly give that a shot (and in line with the forum 'rules' I will take pictures and post the results). Thanks for the suggestion. Even if I don't use it on this particular project I may use that elsewhere. Like to make a new windshield seal for instance. Was working on buffing out the scratches on my windshield to day (which didn't go as well as I had hoped) and noticed that the weather seal was pretty shot there as well. This fine desert sun is beautiful at sunset here in New Mexico but it stays that way by feeding on paint and rubber. Thanks for the suggestion!
  14. Mordalo
    Huh... you know it never occurred to me to me to take it off and look inside... that's why I'm always asking the questions instead of answering 'em. Thanks!
  15. Mordalo
    Greetings oh knowledgeable ones... I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not the Fender ornament on my 99 RSV is a Yamaha ornament. More importantly, does anyone know where I can get a replacement rubber base for it? The one on this ornament is rotting and cracked. Thanks in advance!
  16. Mordalo
    So... do you think Homeland Security has an exception for bikers with cameras? hehe. I'm willing to bet the smaller airports won't be stupid with their security though. That gives me an excuse to take a bunch of be er.. um.. soda and hang out at an air strip all day...sewweeet!!
  17. Mordalo
    Thanks! I was afraid I had completely screwed something up. It still freaks me out that given the massive engineering effort put in to the air intake Yamaha engineers would say to each other "hey I have an idea for the carb overflow problem... let's just run some rubber hoses down to the business end of the intake system we just spent the last 6 months engineering!" Obviously the accent would be different... but you get the idea.
  18. Mordalo
    So the other day when I was swapping out my Intake Manifolds I came across two "Air Vent Hoses" as they are called in the service manual. They came off the shafts liking the carbs and ran under the gas tank to the front fairings. Here's where it get disturbed. The hoses terminated inside the fairing. They were just sort of 'tucked in' there with no cap or plug or filter. That just seems very odd to me given the engineering labyrinth the intake system has turned out to be that the engineers would not have somehow protected these tubes from taking in dust or whatnot. So I have two questions for you wise, knowledgeable and good-hearted folk: 1. Are the vent hoses supposed to go to nowhere? 2. WTF O? (for those who have never been around military folk, that means "What the F#!k, Over? It may not make sense to you at first if you've never heard it, but say it a dozen times and it begins to feel natural) I've attached a scan of the page of the service manual. The entire manual appears to make no further mention of these tubes again. thanks in advance!! DJC
  19. Mordalo

    wind!!

    Mordalo replied to TxVenture's topic in Watering Hole

    I'm born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. Lived here my whole life. 30MPH wind is very common in spring and fall. Heck if it slows down to 15MPH we consider that to be NO wind. The wind out here isn't really the problem. The problem arises from the sudden LACK of wind when being passed by a truck, or just rounding a mountainous corner. Nothing like being in a 30 degree lean going dead straight and having a truck block the wind suddenly. It almost feels like you're being sucked under the truck. Ahh... good times... hehe. Cheers.
  20. Mordalo
    I just finished replacing my intake manifolds (they were cracked and ugly but apparently not cracked all the way through - which, had I known, I wouldn't have replaced them), checking valve gap (didn't need to adjust), checking timing (again, didn't need to adjust) checking idle (once again, already good once reaching operating temp) and tuning carbs (WOW they were way the hell off) on my 99 RSV with 32k mi (just bought it). The difference I saw was pretty striking. There's a (roughly) 1/8 mile strip of road near my house. It's just slightly uphill but surrounded by flat dirt. Not much chance of anyone or anything being in the road (including random x-band frequencies). Before the carb tune I got 0-86 MPH in the 1/8 mile. After the carb tune, 0-102 MPH in the 1/8 mile. HUUUUGE difference. While this is not how I normally ride it's nice to know what kind of giddeyup your mount is capable of in a pinch. Cheers.
  21. Mordalo
    My wife changed my Ebay and PayPal passwords... It for the best.
  22. Mordalo
    I know what you mean about getting intimate with the bike... I just bought my 99 RSV with 32k miles on it and with it I apparently purchased some unresolved issues (kinda like getting married...). Just today I did a top-end tune up checking valve gap, adjusting idle, timing, and syncing carbs. WOW what a difference!!! She purrs like a kitten now (NOT like getting married). In the process I really got to know Lola quite intimately (my wife named her Lola... long story). Cheers
  23. Mordalo
    Nah... I think we need to stick to our guns on this one... If we (and by we I mean someone besides me) can't come up with something this cliche this thread is DOOMED.
  24. Mordalo
    Every bike I've ever owned or worked on has had this problem. Bikes vibrate in ways that cars just don't. Every time I unbolt something on my bike, I locktite it back on. Screws I usually secure with a dab of RTV blue on the end of the scew (especially if it's going in to ABS plastic. If it's going into metal, I'll locktite it) just to be safe. The first 5000 miles is usually when things start to shake off. At each 1k mi. interval, for that first 5k miles I usually check every bolt I can get to easily and if it's loose, pull it out, locktite it and put it back in. I've tried the cheaper Thread Locker Blue and it doesn't work as well as locktite does. It does OK in a pinch, but it makes a mess of the bolt-hole when it's time to take the bolt out on purpose. Just my $0.02.
  25. Mordalo
    Ah but that is the beauty of forums... it's a place where we can express feelings and ideas that our spouses, friends and coworkers are tired of hearing. The best part is, nobody has to know! P.S. So the gas stations in Albuquerque sell doughnuts... if I can get a picture of a Cop standing at their car holding a doughnut they purchased at that gas station next to my bike with me on it would that count? How 'bout if I include a signed affidavit. Cheers, DJC
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