|  | Topic : Back up and running strong! |  |
| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,791 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 03:29 Post title : Back up and running strong! | | | 
Completing repairs following my recent adventure with gravity, speed and the laws of physics. Ouch.
New headlight, new gas tank (thanks to member Triumph428), new RH header, new footboards, miscellaneous bits and pieces, various scuffs and dings.....
RH footboard was destroyed, its wishbone-shaped mount got bent and sheared-off two outer bolts when it pivoted on the third. Took master cylinder and brake spindle with it. Getting those busted bolts out was a bitch, laying under the bike with a drill and a Dremel and so-called "easy outs." Took a week. (Use the square ones, they work much better.)
Surprised to learn that all our RH headers come with a factory-made dent. Would've pitched a $500 fit if I didn't know that dent was supposed to be there. Found a couple headers on eBay, both dented in the same place, as was my old one. Who'd o'thunk? Here's my brand-new header, right out of the box:
Finally got it all back together, put a gallon of gas in my new tank, was ready to drop in (charged) battery, just needed to install new throttle cables. Remove switch cube, yeah, and - wait - remove gas tank? Side cover? Starter? Throttle body? Ground lug, crankcase breather, hoses, cables? OMG!
Occurs to me that what was once a key part of motorcycling - roadside repairs and maintenance - is long gone. Recall adjusting valves, setting timing/points and syncing carbs on the T140 during a road trip or two, all with tools from my kit. Carried spare throttle and clutch cables, just in case. Now, as a dear friend points out, the only tool you need on the road is a cell phone. Is that a good thing?
Anyway, got the T-Bird all back together just in time for the local Christmas Toy Run, my first ride since the crash. Bike started first time, idled a wee bit fast at first - until I removed the rag I'd stuffed in the air filter (duh) - ran perfect, like nothing ever happened, sweet and smooth as ever. Can't thank Triumph428 enough for his kind generosity with that mint-condition, matching blue/white gas tank. Thank you, Ryan.
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| | | AZCactus | | Taranis | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/05/2013 | | Posts | : | 4,524 | | Location | : | AZ |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 03:42 Post title : Re: Back up and running strong! (Re: MotorMac) | | | Wow, Nice Rebound (like the az cardinals, lol)!
| 2009 Thunderbird 1700 Big Bore
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| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,791 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 03:51 Post title : Re: Back up and running strong! (Re: AZCactus) | | | Thanks, Saguaro!
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| | | Swagger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 15/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,100 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 08:22 Post title : Re: Back up and running strong! (Re: MotorMac) | | | Glad to hear that it's all sorted and back together. Treat the whole episode as a deep bonding opportunity with your beloved motorcycle! 
Scratch all those items off of the' to do list' ... replace with ... 'Don't be doing that again!' 
| The Force is strong in this one
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| | | Dags | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 01/11/2013 | | Posts | : | 468 | | Location | : | N.S.W, Australia |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 08:24 Post title : Re: Back up and running strong! (Re: MotorMac) | | | Good news Mac. 
| Dags
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| | | mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 09:38 Post title : Re: Back up and running strong! (Re: MotorMac) | | | Maybe a lot of messin' around but at least you are able to ride again - that's what counts.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| | | Linkdog | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 10/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,923 | | Location | : | Groveland, FL., United States |
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| | Posted : 14 Dec 2014 - 18:06 Post title : Re: Back up and running strong! (Re: mat1600) | | | Good to hear and I sure lessons have been learned Looks like you'll need some better riding weather and look out for mud/rock slides. Cali. has had it rough lately.
| Never drink from a cow with one udder! 2010 1600 Blue&White ( of course ) Long TORS and HP filter.
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