| Author | Message | ||
     Screamer |
In the the late 70s, H-D dressers arrived in the crate bare. There would be several boxes of decorative trim, saddlebags, mounting brackets, seat, fairing, passing lamps - etc, etc. Many of the components required drilling the mounting holes and came with paper patterns that were inaccurate and clumsy to use. It would take the better part of of a day to assemble one. It would take multiple test rides to chase down all the rattles - mostly because many of the factory fasteners were nut clips - which could not survive solid mount vibrations. I eventually started stocking more durable fasteners - and developed better mounting methods (unfortunately, loctite wasn’t readily available). I had one FL owner that was very sensitive to noise issues/rattles - and we spent a lot of energy getting every one of his noise issues (both real and imagined) resolved. He returned within a week, insisting I ride his bike because the “rattle was back”. After riding the bike, I discovered that the owner had added one of the little bells - which was the cause of the rattle that was “back”. After a very heated discussion, I removed the bell and tossed it in the trash. After 45 years, I still hate decorative trim - and those little bells. | ||
| Ourdee |
I hate mojoless bells. | ||
| Ourdee |
I think I like this location for the GPS:  I have the bike loaded with the new lighter collection:  Duffle bag and my chair:  There are 2 bags coming to go on top of the rear pegs for loading some of the gear more forward and lower in front of the panniers:  I found the camping coffee in bags instead of instant. Hope I got enough:  | ||
| Ourdee |
Looky, Gate latches:  | ||
| Ourdee |
Dark Star Bar I did not like the white stripe on the side of Chirpy's tank. At first I just put a strip of black-out tape over it. Then I looked at what I have in my sticker box. Ooo, 3M Scotchlite reflective graphic film Series 680 in BLACK. It looks like gloss black vinyl in the day light, but turns into a white reflector at night. I already put a 4.5 inch star on the rear of one of my panniers for night time attention getting. I decided to put one on each side of the tank too. The third pic is how it looks at night. Here is how it turned out:    | ||
| Ourdee |
I got 4,837 miles out of the CEAT (Indian mfg.) tires on Chirpy. I had no problems changing them to Pirelli Scorpion MT-90 tubed tires using spoons and Nomar tire lube.:   Needed about an ounce of weight for the front. I made split shot spoke weights out of lead round balls:  | ||
| Ourdee |
I just wanted a little more room for my camping gear without stacking the weight up high. I call them "peg bags". They are small duffle bags that I put on end on top of the passenger pegs. Easy to strap to the bike using the braces for the rear pannier mounts. They seam to be out of my way while riding and getting on and off.    | ||
| Ourdee |
With a 2.5 gallon fuel cell on the rear I pulled the 5 liter fuel cans off the front. In their place are 4 liter Sea Horse hard cases. Anyone can have highway pegs. I have leg rests now.      | ||
| Ourdee |
The re-usable wheel weights finally came in:  | ||
| Ourdee |
Wellll, We do make our own luck. New neighbors behind me moved in last year. Neighbor beside them is a work. Has been mean to them since day one. I just recently found out. Shame on him. A tree fell across new neighbor's fence on the easement. They had it cleaned up. My next door neighbor asked if I wanted to bid a fence repair and we could split the $. I said no. Month or two ago I was bored and had a piece of top rail in my welding junk. So, I just went out and fixed their fence and straightened out the fabric. I worked as a fence contractor while in high school. It allowed me to move out of my parent's house half way through my senior year. I noticed they were hand digging a spot for a pool and loaned them my wheel barrow. I said just lean it against the fence when they were done. Next door neighbor told me my wheelbarrow was out back today. Inside I found a thank you note and a $50 VISA debit card taped to it. | ||
| Ourdee |
I've cut my tent weight in half. Bought a One Tigris Iron Wall tent. Seam sealed it the other day with 100% silicon and odorless mineral spirits mixed to the consistency of warm honey. I used a short stiff brush to paint it on and into the stitching at the seams. It is a one pole tent with enough room for me to sit in a chair in it. Getting older, I like sitting in a chair to get dressed. Half the tent has a bug net enclosure with a bath tub floor. The other half has no floor.   The third picture is an older version of it.  | ||
| Ourdee |
Today I picked up 6 30 minute Orion road flares in a red canvas case with a safety vest for $20. I had planned on riding Chirpy to get them, but the weather was all messy. How messy? I saw an over turned truck on the way there. And 465 on the south side of Indianapolis was closed do to? Miles and miles of parking lot. I'm a local and got around it all on surface streets. | ||
| Ourdee |
Testing the tent out at Twos tonight.  | ||
| Ourdee |
Testing the tent out at Twos tonight. | ||
| Ourdee |
Testing the new tent out tonight at Suches. | ||
| Ourdee |
Lost tachometer and battery light illuminated at same time on Chirpy during my trip to Dale's wheels through time. | ||
| Akbuell |
RD: I'm about 5 miles away. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything. nine oh seven, seven two three, nine nine three one. | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm back in Indianapolis. I changed the oil, adjusted the tappets, adjusted the chain, and cut the mother-n-law's grass. Check out the wacko problem, has a loose connection somewhere that is effected by engine vibrations: Tachometer is erratic and battery light is lieing. I know of another Himalayan that had this problem when the plug to the instrument cluster was not plugged all the way in. Mine is. I will look at the clamping inside the connectors in the plug next. I am tired of taking the nose of Chirpy apart right now. | ||
| Ourdee |
Today I completed the under engine tool storage spot. I saw how much room was on top of the bash plate when the evap. system was removed. And after finding a broken tab on the skid plate yesterday decided it was high time that the storage bin was completed. A stainless steel piano hinge cost more but is worth it in the long run. After rivets were installed I set the back sides of them flat with punches. There is a lot of room under there. It will be nice to move the weight of my tools lower and forward of where they are now. I will bundle them in oil soaked rag and plastic prior to insertion.     | ||
| Ourdee |
Got a great deal on tree service:   75% off the other local tree guy's prices if I help. Where do I sign up? Who's sore now? The lucky guy! | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Nice tool shelf! I love the use of available space! Send the tree guy to me, I need some chainsaw work done at my place! | ||
| Ourdee |
Warranty use. I shipped my bad instrument cluster to the dealer and he got it warranty replaced and shipped the new one to me. Plus swag! Long sleeve Royal Enfield shirt, stickers, and R.E. wrist band. I am so lucky to have a great dealer just 200 miles away. | ||
| Ourdee |
I have an excuse to get a chainsaw! | ||
| Ourdee |
Today is ease way day. The trees taken out, back there were not cut to size. The area was too tight and we stacked the trees too deep for me to feel comfortable having my 68 year old tree man trying to cut it up. I borrowed a chain saw and have been cutting on it all morning. High humidity and temps in the 90s are working on me. I run a timer. 15 minutes working in the sun then 15 minutes in the house drinking water in front of a box fan. I checked pulse, O2, and BP. Took a tylenol and drank my coffee iced. I hope to have it all cut to size by the end of the day. The chain saw is a blessing and a cursing. LOL | ||
| Ourdee |
I would call it a successful day. I didn't die and the down trees are of manageable size. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Good deal! What kind/brand of chain saw did you by, and how well did it perform? | ||
| Ebutch |
 | ||
| Ourdee |
Good deal! What kind/brand of chain saw did you by, and how well did it perform? I borrowed my neighbor's Echo. It performed flawlessly. With frequent breaks I got it all down to size. Will start burning the wood Sunday night or Monday morning. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
>>>May be you could give it another spin.  | ||
| Ourdee |
See what I did? LOL |
