What did you do to your bike today?

misterjingo said:
I replaced oil + filters today, but screwed up.

One of the oil filter screws wouldn't budge, so I put a bit too much pressure on it and heard a pop. I've ruined the thread in the hole.

The screw was an m5x16. Would it be possible to rethread it? If so, what would I need?
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How did you ruin a thread whilst undoing it? Did you accidentally turn it the wrong way and strip it, or do you mean the bolt sheared off in the hole?

If you are tapping it to M6 then you first need to drill the hole out to the correct tapping size (5mm). Not doing this is most likely what caused the tap to break.

Also when hand tapping you don't just keep turning in one direction either. After you have the tap started correctly, make about 1/4 of a turn and then back the tap out about 1/3 of a turn. As you turn backwards you will feel the tap cut off the material it shaved on the way forwards. If you keep going in one direction it is likely to get tight and shear off. WD40 makes a reasonable tapping lubricant on aluminum, it's purpose is primarily to stop the alloy sticking to the steel tap.

If it's a deep thread then periodically back the tap all the way out and clean the debris from the tap and the hole before resuming cutting.
 
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arfoll said:
I'm curious what's people's view on this?

I just get on & go, obviously no high revs until engine is warme up. But I don't warm it up at all even in the cold.

In this case, to not even ride it, guessing to charge the battery? Won't the current being provided by the alternator be pretty low meaning it's essentially pointless?
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I normally just get on and ride, full choke to start and on half choke for half a mile or so.

The last couple of mornings though when it's been below 0 I've been getting it out the garage, letting it sit on full choke for a minute while I put on my helmet/gloves, then as normal put the choke in fully after half a mile or so.

It was damn cold riding home tonight, at 6pm there was already frost on my seat! :eek:
 
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arfoll said:
I'm curious what's people's view on this?

I just get on & go, obviously no high revs until engine is warme up. But I don't warm it up at all even in the cold.

In this case, to not even ride it, guessing to charge the battery? Won't the current being provided by the alternator be pretty low meaning it's essentially pointless?
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Just get on and go. Once the temperature's up above 70 deg C (which does not take long at all!) she can have all the fuel she wants :)
 
Dogbreath said:
How did you ruin a thread whilst undoing it? Did you accidentally turn it the wrong way and strip it, or do you mean the bolt sheared off in the hole?
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I'm embarrassed to say I turned it he wrong way... :o I'm not sure what I was thinking, then I heard a pop.

If you are tapping it to M6 then you first need to drill the hole out to the correct tapping size (5mm). Not doing this is most likely what caused the tap to break.
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So to confirm, just drill it out with a 5mm bit, and then tap it? I've bought some proper fluid + a decent tapping kit. As bad as the rain forest place is for tax paying, next day delivery is awesome...

I've been looking for a local motorbike maintenance course (evenings only) but the only things I can find are year long courses costing thousands.
 
Weatherman told me it was around 1 on my commute this morning, felt much warmer than that though but the roads were in fine greasy slippery form anyway even without ice.

Apparently it's going to pee it down all afternoon and evening though so at least me, the bike and the roads will get a wash :D
 
misterjingo said:
I'm embarrassed to say I turned it he wrong way... :o I'm not sure what I was thinking, then I heard a pop.

So to confirm, just drill it out with a 5mm bit, and then tap it? I've bought some proper fluid + a decent tapping kit. As bad as the rain forest place is for tax paying, next day delivery is awesome...
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Yes, drill out to 5mm first. Lubricate the tap and start it in the hole, making sure you get it dead straight. After the tap has gone in a few turns then start to forwards/backwards cutting regime I described.

If it starts to get tight at any point then back it all the way out and clean out the swarf from hole and tap, a compressed air line is most useful for this.
 
Dogbreath said:
Yes, drill out to 5mm first. Lubricate the tap and start it in the hole, making sure you get it dead straight. After the tap has gone in a few turns then start to forwards/backwards cutting regime I described.

If it starts to get tight at any point then back it all the way out and clean out the swarf from hole and tap, a compressed air line is most useful for this.
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This guy knows his stuff. Never, ever go past a couple of rotations in one go. Tap a bit, reverse to get the metal shavings out, go in again. Repeat over and over until satisfied.
 
tom_e said:
Clean it with paraffin/chain cleaner/blood of your local virgin, lube it, forget about it until it needs lubing again.

Some surface rust on the side plates is no big deal.
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You weren't joking! It got rid of most of it faily quickly. There is a tiny bit left on the sides but I gave up. Got it lubed and will give it another clean and lube next month
 
TallPaul_S said:
So stage 1 of getting power to the garage is complete, all the internal conduit.





Just need to run external conduit along the garage and along the shed (which has power and lights already, we're basically adding a another socket and another light to the existing sockets and lights), then wire it all up and finish off the conduit inside the shed.

Total cost inc. the waterproof LED batten is about £75. My BIL already has reels of the cable we need so I didn't have to buy that.

I've priced up insulating the roof with celotex insulation, £42 for 25mm covering the whole inside of the roof, or £50 for 50mm. I'll be buying some rubber matting for the floor too, £50 to cover the whole floor. :)
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Finished off the rest of the conduit, just need my BIL to come round and do the actual wiring :)

 
My life goal was always to have a double garage, i've now achieved it :) So i'm making it my own. It's coming along nicely, walls done and half the floor done. Now to move all the stuff to the other side of the garage and do the rest!

Excuse the blue tape, it's just masked for a straight line when it drys :)

FL2NMtR.jpg
 
I retapped the oil filter holes properly this morning, and I now have my bike back! :D

Even though it was a simple job for people who know what they're doing, it feels good to have done it and fixed the bike.

I hadn't been on the bike for two weeks due to Christmas and breaking it, and had a huge grin all the way to work even though it was pouring down :D.
 
Has anyone actually done any engine work on their bike without a garage? I'm so slow at working on the bike, I wouldn't be able to change e.g. clutch in a day. :p I'm that person that checks everything 2-3 times just to make sure its right haha
 
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