| Author | Message | ||
     Nautique4life |
My Precision Engineering controls (brake and shifter plus matching pivot) came in yesterday. I put them on when I got home from the office. Pretty straight forward install I thought, as I have never messed the controls before. Anyhow, once they were on, they felt tight and sticky. The brake wouldn't come back to rest position after pressing it. And the shifter wouldn't always return to 'center' after shifting. Regarding the shifter, I thought maybe I didnt put the pivot on EXACTLY how the OEM one was. I moved it a notch and no help. I tightened the main bolts holding the foot controls on pretty snug. Perhaps I got them too tight? I did'nt want them vibrating loose. Anybody got anything on this? Andy? For the record, they ARE bad ass. And look killer. (i got the black) | ||
| U4euh |
N4life-I had the same exact problem, the damn shifter wouldn't come back to center when downshifting. I took the brass sleeve out, stuck a screwdriver through it and laid it very gently on my belt sander, letting the sleeve spin. After about a 40-60 second run, I put some anti-sieze on it and re-installed and have never been happier. No big deal to me, just a few minutes of work. The looks of these controls was worth the time! | ||
| Nautique4life |
Hmm... sounds like an alley definitely worth exploring. SO you are referring to the outside diameter of the sleeve right? Meaning the tolerance between sleeve and the shifter/brake is to tight? I will examine this undoubtedly, however, I was thinking it was something more to do with over tightening? To clarify my previous post: my shifter is also getting stuck in the down position. | ||
| Aussie_xb12ss |
I drilled a slight indentation in the slot of the gear linkage so that the home joint or knuckle could move freely. Was too tight from new to allow movement.  With the brake lever I done the same thing as U4euh & used very fine emery paper on the outside of the brass sleeve & inside of the brake lever - just very slightly by hand. I then put a little anti seize between the brass sleeves & levers & they are great. Send Andy a message & he will look after you. | ||
| U4euh |
Yes that is exactly what I was referring to. I thought at 1st it was overtightning also, so I loosened it up. BIG mistake. Was out in Asheville ,NC when I went to downshift and noticed I was missing a shft lever! Luckily it stayed connected at the linkage and my buddy had a wrench, and i had a tube of loctite, which doesn't help on a bolt that is not torqued. Pull the sleeve out and do what I done,or use the emory cloth like Aussie did. It doesn't need much taken off the brass sleeve, in the thousandths range I would say. The brass dust that came off the sleeve probably couldn't coat a pencil eraser's diameter. I just remembered also that I took one of the nylon washers that are so popular on these XB's and placed it on the bolt before the shifter arm. Either way, it has been 2 months and 2400 miles without any sticking or grindage. Even made shifting a lot smoother. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Same here. I ground down the shifter linkage OD so it would not make contact. About 20 seconds on a belt sander. I also added zerks on both the shifter and the brakes. Smooth as silk now.  | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Sticky controls? Must be to much SMJ. | ||
| Nautique4life |
Sweet. I appreciate the tips. Didn't get time to monkey with it last night. But, tonight, it's on. Sounds like this super simple fix will take care of my 'sticky' situation. im the worst.. Tread- What's the zerks for? Do you really put a grease gun on there? (Message edited by nautique4life on June 05, 2008) | ||
| Cycleaddict |
for the money .... you would think the maker of those beautiful pieces would have made them to "fit and function" properly ~! | ||
| Treadmarks |
Tread- What's the zerks for? Do you really put a grease gun on there? Yup. I use a light syn grease. Keeps them from buzzing and pushes out/keeps out the dirt and water. This is on a Uly, my daily driver, even in the rainy season.     | ||
| Nautique4life |
I have a Micron as well, and I love it. Anyway, novel idea with the dirt prevention/sound eradicator zerks. I talked to Andy, it's possible I overtightened them, mushrooming the brass fitting, this will be confirmed/denied tonight. Thanks again. I'll post my findings afterwards. | ||
| Aussie_xb12ss |
Cycleaddict - for the money .... you would think the maker of those beautiful pieces would have made them to "fit and function" properly ~! I Don't think that any of us that have paid our money are complaining? I got the parts, I scratched my head then I spent 2 minutes fixing the issue. No big deal. & - for the money ....I am extremely happy with what I have purchased & the service that I received was A1. (Message edited by Aussie_XB12SS on June 05, 2008) | ||
| Cycleaddict |
if the levers were "made" properly this "thread" would NOT exist !!!!! | ||
| Aussie_xb12ss |
Obviously you have purchased some levers & have a vested interest in this product & topic. I believe that the aim of this thread is that Nautique4life is looking for a little proactive input as to a solution & hopefully we have succeeded. Now perhaps the levers are made "too perfectly" & we need to bed them in a tad? | ||
| Treadmarks |
I don't think the problem is with the levers. The problem is with the quality control of the spherical rod end for the shift linkage. They appear to be cast and probably have different OD dimensions. (Made in China, maybe?) I am certain when P/E is informed of this they will adjust production accordingly. Mine work fine. | ||
| Nautique4life |
+1 Aussie and Tread. I took `em off yesterday, gave the brass inserts a lil shave, lubed em a bit and re-installed. Good to go! Shifting has a better feel to it now as well. Very nice indeed. One thing: The brass insert you have pictured Tread, they look different than those that I have. On mine, the outside diameter is constant the entire length of them sleeve. There is no collar. Just curious. Bottom line: problem solved. As a bonus, when I went home last night to fix the controls, my Dark Smoke ZG windscreen was sitting by my door. I'll post a pic. | ||
| Treadmarks |
One thing: The brass insert you have pictured Tread, they look different than those that I have. On mine, the outside diameter is constant the entire length of them sleeve. There is no collar. Just curious. I cut a radiused section out of the center, inline with the zerks. This gives the grease a cavity to hang out it. Grease likes cavities.  | ||
| Nautique4life |
Ahhh, much to learn, I have. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Tread I'm going to steal your Idea... Ingenious...  Did you grove the inserts on a lathe? Curious did you use a bolt and nut to secure the insert before you turned it.. Lathes are Fun....   I'm not a fair weather rider either any Ideas on keeping your bearings from rusting? | ||
| Treadmarks |
I just chucked them up gently, with a wrap of tape to protect the bite. Cut them slow with a round tip bit, as you dont want any sharp edges to promote cracks with the vibes that we have. Which bearings were you wanting to protect from rust? (Message edited by treadmarks on June 07, 2008) | ||
| Vdubfro |
My brake was sticky when I installed mine (before I received my service manual). I realized I over cranked the bolt. White grease is all I used. Locktite is your friend. I can't remember the torque specs but I'm pretty sure they were in inch pounds not foot pounds. They are a good company and answered all my questions and got right back to me. you just have to watch over torquing them. Get a service manual a bottle of blue locktite and a good torque wrench. My 2 bits. |
