luvmy40

There is a "swing test". Someone correct me if I am remembering this wrong. With the front tire off the ground, nudge the front wheel left or right from center. Moderate push. It should swing to the stop and bounce back slightly. There should be no visible play at the neck when lifting the wheel. There is a torque spec for the center nut, but I do not recall what it is.

My '83 didn't get squirrely at all at any speed. In fact, it settled down and hugged the road around 90 mph. Over 100 mph, the front end did lighten up, but it never got loose.

There are a lot of things that could come into play in this scenario. First question would be wheel balancing. Did you balance when you installed the new Kendas? Next check would be the steering neck bearings and adjustment. Then I would look at the swingarm bushings/bearings.

I'm finally going to be home long enough to actually ride some. So, I gave the old girl her annual bath. The plastics all look great, but the wind screen is starting to show the years. I'll likely have to replace it before next season.

I've got a left side rear header pipe. Shipping to Canada would be stupid but it's here if you can't work anything else out.

I sold the '83 and '86 VRs but kept the 2006 RSV. I have a gen 1 center stand given to me by another forum member. One of these days I'll dig up the post that steps through installing it on the RSV, but I travel a lot with my job, so time is limited for the hobbies. I'm also looking for a project candidate for a bobbed short hopper. I'd like a rigid, pre '84 Sportster, but the Honda Magnas look nice bobbed. Maybe a Yamaha Virago?

My '06 has 110K +/- on the clock. It was surreal moment when I watched the odometer turn 100,000. According to the PO, the valves have never been adjusted. Feels and sounds good, pulls hard in all gears, no oil leaking from the rocker box gaskets, so I plan on letting sleeping dogs lie.

My youngest daughter's Honda Pilot threw a VVT, Bank 2 code. It persisted after a crank case flush and oil change. So, I ordered the Bank 2 VVT solenoid block and scheduled the morning for the repair. As with most repairs these days, there is more time involved getting all the ancillary stuff out of the way than the repair takes. This job was not so bad in comparison to some. I just had to undo a dozen electrical connections, pop the plastic wire race off the mount and unbolt the race mount from the front rocker cover to get the whole shebang out of the way to get to the mounting bolts for the VVT solenoid block. Getting at some of the electrical connectors was the hardest part. Extended reach hose pliers were required. After that, it was five minutes work to remove the three mounting bolts, pop the solenoid block off and remove the old gasket and divider plate. Five more minutes to put it back together finger tight and 20 seconds with a ratchet to snap one of the NEW mounting bolts off flush with the head. Of course, I don't have an easy out small enough, so off to AutoZone. I took it slow and, very carefully center punched the bolt, drilled it out about 1/2" deep and chucked my new 1/8-1/4" Easy Out up in the cordless. For a welcome change, the bolt turned right out, no problem. I cleaned everything up with a magnet and paper towels, and used the old bolts to put it back together. It's running right and sounds good. The whole job would have been under an hour if that NEW bolt hadn't snapped with less than 2 ft. pounds of torque.

Got the oil changed and checked/adjusted the tires' and suspension's air pressure. About an hour shakedown cruise and she's ready for her annual wash and wax tomorrow!

Installed a new(to me) right rear header pipe on Black Cherry. Thanks RDawson! No more popping on deceleration. Now I can practice my MIG skills on the old header.

Wow! That makes this look like a reasonable price. https://us.rabaconda.com/products/ultimate-kit-street-bike-tire-changer I do mine on a HB changer with the NoMar mount/dismount tool.

DJ, I am in a similar field. I have been very fortunate(read LUCKY) that my frequent decisions to change employers has always benefited my family. I am now, #2 in the service dept. and #1 is ready to retire at any moment. Ironically, the company I now work for is the one I started out with in 1995. All this to say, I am sure you made the right decision.

Good luck on the new job!

skydoc_17 sells a delinking kit. New SS hoses and and a manifold for the front.