The "Today I did something to my bike" thread

frozenfrozen · 06-01-2018 12:15PM

beno619 wrote: »

Might be a stupid question but is it always necessary to bleed brakes after topping up the reservoirs ?

I'm no expert but:
no it's not always necessary, but the reason you're topping up the reservoir is that the pads have worn and so the pistons are at resting more pushed out and the vacuum caused by this and the lower amount of fluid will mean it'll be pulling in air with moisture

if your black rubber seal has been sucked down into the reservoir then while you're topping it up you might as well push through the old fluid lower down in the system which will be quite moist. the vacuum that caused that to push down will have also pulled in moist air

there is no point in topping it up except to stop the level dropping enough to allow air into the system, and if it's dropped that much then your pads are probably worn down a good bit and it would be worth giving the calipers a good clean anyway with a full flush of new fluid

so if you're just topping it up then you don't need to bleed them, but if you need to top it up then generally I see no reason not to push some of the old fluid out when you're already going to the bother of filling it up. Doesn't take long at all when the caliper is already bled properly anyway

just my opinion though..

beno619 · 06-01-2018 12:46PM

Cheers frozen. Based on that I think I'll get away with just the to up for now.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 06-01-2018 01:55PM

If you're not used to checking your levels it might be worth looking in your owners manual or online to see if you should check with your bike on the side stand or vertical because you'll get two different levels.

CJhaughey · 06-01-2018 08:21PM

The fluid in the calipers is the dirtiest due to the action of the pistons moving in and out and pulling dirt and moisture in as they do so.
When I do pads I crack the nipple and push back on the piston to flush as much of the old stuff out as possible instead of pushing it back up the line.

Hotblack Desiato · 06-01-2018 09:36PM

If you top up due to worn pads, you could have a problem when you put new pads in. When you push the pistons back, the fluid level could go over the max or even overflow, and it's a very efficient paint stripper.

If there are no leaks and the fluid is at max on new pads, you should be able to wear the pads out without having to top up. As long as the lever feel remains firm I wouldn't change the fluid or bleed the brakes unless the fluid needed a change (2 years recommended) or the calipers needed a complete strip and clean due to seizing pistons.

TeaBagMania · 08-01-2018 01:34PM

CJhaughey wrote: »

The fluid in the calipers is the dirtiest due to the action of the pistons moving in and out and pulling dirt and moisture in as they do so.
When I do pads I crack the nipple and push back on the piston to flush as much of the old stuff out as possible instead of pushing it back up the line.

I do the same, especially when there is an ABS pump upstream

stewygriffin · 09-01-2018 05:55PM

Out with the old,and in with the new.:)

stewygriffin · 12-01-2018 01:44PM

GI-Pro gear indicator fitted,new plastic clock housing fitted.
And Mr Postman delivered some more goodies this morning too.:)

stewygriffin · 12-01-2018 03:27PM

Wheels just out of the oven.:)

Should I have gone for a brighter yellow,like a hi viz yellow??

jay48 · 12-01-2018 07:01PM

Did you take the bearings out ?

stewygriffin · 12-01-2018 07:30PM

jay48 wrote: »

Did you take the bearings out ?

I sure did,will get new bearings and seals on Monday.:)

sonic85 · 13-01-2018 09:11PM

What are you building Stewy? Track/race bike or something for the road?

Frank Bullitt · 15-01-2018 09:30AM

No pics, but today (yesterday rather) I ACF-50'd my bike.

Looks glorious!

Max Headroom · 15-01-2018 11:24AM

sonic85 wrote: »

What are you building Stewy? Track/race bike or something for the road?

600rr it seems...

stewygriffin · 15-01-2018 03:53PM

Lightech quick release fuel cap fitted.
The alloy allen key blts supplied are absolute shyte,so up to Allmetal Fastners for some ss bolts instead.:)

listermint · 21-01-2018 12:01AM

Full service today and I also installed a Scott oiler.

Had to drill one of the nuts out of a faring as the head was rounded, absolutely bulling over that took forever.

Scott oiler was a pain to get going and primed but all done now runs off vacuum from the engine which is handy

arybvtcw0eolkf · 22-01-2018 12:46PM

listermint wrote: »

Full service today and I also installed a Scott oiler.

Had to drill one of the nuts out of a faring as the head was rounded, absolutely bulling over that took forever.

Scott oiler was a pain to get going and primed but all done now runs off vacuum from the engine which is handy

Every so often Aldi and Lidl have extractor kits for sale, I think I picked up mine for about a fiver and they work a treat. Well worth having in your toolbox.

listermint · 22-01-2018 01:12PM

Cayden Defeated Thunderstorm wrote: »

Every so often Aldi and Lidl have extractor kits for sale, I think I picked up mine for about a fiver and they work a treat. Well worth having in your toolbox.

I have one, but left it in the parents house. Which made my drilling even more frustrating.

mufflets2 · 23-01-2018 08:17PM

Street triple 2010

New back break pads
Resprayed tank and front fender
Nearly new forks (old ones had a spot of wore down crome that was wearing out seals)
Heated grips
Made a new cover for the head bolt as the old one was letting in dirt.
New chain and sprockets (not too long ago)
New alternator cover

just up and down to Carlingford to test her

cosy hand grips

stewygriffin · 24-01-2018 12:12AM

Bit of extreme weight saving going on tonight.
Possibly bitten off more than I can chew....lol

mufflets2 · 24-01-2018 12:35PM

My pics have vanished.
photobucket are looking for money to host my pictures - is there anywhere that does it for free????

or does everyone else who posts pictures have a subscription???
cheers

GBX · 24-01-2018 12:43PM

mufflets2 wrote: »

My pics have vanished.
photobucket are looking for money to host my pictures - is there anywhere that does it for free????

or does everyone else who posts pictures have a subscription???
cheers

Google Photos, Flickr among others.

blade1 · 27-01-2018 03:02PM

Bled the clutch on my Tuono but I think it's time to order a nice new Oberon slave cylinder.
Also ordered a rear tyre for it.

frozenfrozen · 27-01-2018 05:07PM

Low sided yesterday morning coming off a roundabout

Same side as last time so gear peg, clutch lever bent, nose and tail scratched and foot peg bent

Used an indicator as a gear peg to ride home

Helmet has a scratch now too so will have to replace that although I definitely didn't hit my head hard

Need a trike or something instead that I can't fall off lol

Richard tea · 27-01-2018 05:28PM

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Low sided yesterday morning coming off a roundabout

Same side as last time so gear peg, clutch lever bent, nose and tail scratched and foot peg bent

Used an indicator as a gear peg to ride home

Helmet has a scratch now too so will have to replace that although I definitely didn't hit my head hard

Need a trike or something instead that I can't fall off lol

Sorry to hear that. Did you hit a patch of oil?

frozenfrozen · 27-01-2018 06:57PM

Richard tea wrote: »

Sorry to hear that. Did you hit a patch of oil?

that's what a few people have asked, maybe there was but I couldn't see any rainbows after. I was leant over on the roundabout and it felt 100% grip-wise, transferred over to the other direction to exit and the bike just flew out from under me, same feeling as the last low side no warning just bike gone from under me and I didn't hear the revs climb until it was on its side so it never broke free it just slid sideways. Happened very fast though so could be wrong.

same looking marks on the rear tyre the last time, lots of sideways scraping marks along where chicken strips would be on the edge of the tyre from sliding against the tarmac. unfortunately not still there after I'd moved the bike off the grass so couldn't take a picture

not braking, not changing how much throttle, no cars around me or anything and not going too fast either, obviously it turned out to be too fast considering what happened but I just mean I wasn't trying to go fast or anything.

which is the same as the last low side; That time I was following other bikes going a normal speed on a bend, upset the bike a little with hitting a bad patch of tarmac with the front wheel but it again was the rear that just gave up and flew out from under me..

it was also after the journey up on the motorway from limerick to galway so the tyres should have been well up to temperature after that distance

could have been a lot worse anyway

frozenfrozen · 27-01-2018 07:01PM

CJhaughey · 28-01-2018 08:42AM

Thats a bit of a confidence shaker, how are your tyres? Are they ok not old and hard?
Grip is hard to find in this weather, cold and damp.
A tiny amount of diesel or oil can cause a very slippery situation in no time.

frozenfrozen · 28-01-2018 10:20AM

not sure what way the confidence is now I'll have to wait till I get back on the bike but I'd say it'll take a while

for the tyres, I checked pressure a couple days ago and same as I've always been running, tyres themselves are pilot road 4 can't remember off the top of my head what the manufacture date is but they were only a couple months old when I put them on

only thing to say about them is the rear is squared off so maybe that's what the problem was this time, even though I was already leant over in the other direction again when I slid off and the scratches were right up to the very edge of the tyre.. the tread at the edges is huge still and feels that way in bends, loads of grip. but all of a sudden there's no grip at all

think I'll get rid of the tyre anyway now just for peace of mind.

I also forgot to mention above the bike went under the cheese wire slightly and bent the end can so that's another thing to be put right

cadete · 28-01-2018 10:42AM

frozenfrozen wrote: »

I also forgot to mention above the bike went under the cheese wire slightly and bent the end can so that's another thing to be put right

Drop me a pm mate, I have a Remus can somewhere ya can have it if ya want. It’s not new but if yours is damaged and ya need one it’s yours.

The "Today I did something to my bike" thread

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