Rewarding when it comes to life. [now with pictures]

[junior varsity]

It is really rewarding when you dive into a new task that you haven't done before and the parts all fit back together, and the bike turns on and runs without funny noises, explosions, or whatever other bad things one might imagine. My bike is a '99 M900.

I put on a Nichols flywheel, fixed the slow oil leak on the alternator side cover (kind of a two-fer, case side was off to begin with, just needed old gasket bead removed and new seal) also replaced clutch basket, hub, and plates.

The US dollar is trouncing the Australian dollar right now. Headsup to anyone wanting a new clutch basket right now. Check out VeeTwo's stuff, you can buy it from their eBay store for convenience. Really makes me want to pull the trigger on the torque grind cams and valves.

Anyhow, everything went back on correctly, added oil, cleaned up the mess of tools on the ground, and hit the go button, let it turn over a few times, and rechecked the oil level, started it back up and let it warm up - everything works great.

Really rewarding feeling. Also, I hate that the front header pipe goes right below the drain plug. I cannot seem to avoid getting some oil on it during draining, and that means that I'm inevitably going to have some smoke when it gets hot the first time. This worried me at first, till I saw where it was coming from, and remembered that its happened before.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to a first ride with the new parts, but I can't take it off the rearstand till I get another M10x25 bolt to mount up the new-to-me 2000+ style sidestand. (Also in this wrenching endeavor came new rearsets, and the 2000+ style sidestand mount with CycleCat sidestand)

After doing the lightweight flywheel, I'm really kicking myself for not doing some of these modifications earlier. I still have got to 'sack-up' and get some FCR's.

[He Man]

nice! glad to hear you got the lightweight installed without issues.

and +1 on the curreceny exchange right now.

That clutch drum and basket is DIRT CHEAP.

[Slide Panda]

Prices are nice... but $50 (Au) shipping's a bit rough.  Still, well worth it - basically a BoGo price even with the shipping.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

i couldn't believe the difference in weight between the vee two clutch hub and the stock hub...the difference was crazy holding both of them.  combine that with the savings of the basket as well, and it's just nuts.

[He Man]

How does it feel when your on the bike though? feels more smooth? Frees up power?

easier wheelies? 

[♣ McKraut ♣]

i definitely thought so...  but i've since sold that bike (supersport) and am back to the stock clutch setup.  though with prices like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vee-Two-dry-clutch-basket-and-hub-Ducati_W0QQitemZ310138948604QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4835b8cbfc&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:0|293:1|294:30#ht_500wt_1174)  i might just have to pick something up...

[CairnsDuc]

Prices are nice... but $50 (Au) shipping's a bit rough.  Still, well worth it - basically a BoGo price even with the shipping.

Freight cost's within Australia are always expensive, so I can only Imagine how much it would cost to send something out, It was cheaper freight costs for me to send an Ohlins Shock from MotoWheels in the USA to Australia, then it was to ship it from Sydney to Cairns (About 4000km's) Insane!

[pennyrobber]

Diy projects are always great. They save you money and really give you a sense of pride in your bike that you can't get anyother way.

As for the oil on the exhaust pipe, I always take a plastic grocerie bag and wrap it around the (cold) header right where the plug is. When I drain it, some oil gets on the plastic but this also mostly drips off during draining. When you are done, just pull the bag off and you have a oil free header.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

even with the high shipping rate, both the hub and the basket are just over $300.  that's a steal if you ask me.

[DrDesmo]

Diy projects are always great. They save you money and really give you a sense of pride in your bike that you can't get anyother way.

As for the oil on the exhaust pipe, I always take a plastic grocerie bag and wrap it around the (cold) header right where the plug is. When I drain it, some oil gets on the plastic but this also mostly drips off during draining. When you are done, just pull the bag off and you have a oil free header.

How do you warm up the bike prior to changing the oil then?

Adam

[pennyrobber]

How do you warm up the bike prior to changing the oil then?

Adam

I don't warm the bike up all the way to operating temp. As long as the engine isn't super hot the pipe cools down fairly quickly compared to the oil itself. Cool pipe and still free flowing warm oil. Melting is the obvious issue so you just need the pipe to cool down enough not to melt the plastic.

[teddy037.2]

when it happens, I will let you know 

the only thing that went completely right was...



ummm...





oh, my turn signals.

[DrDesmo]

I don't warm the bike up all the way to operating temp. As long as the engine isn't super hot the pipe cools down fairly quickly compared to the oil itself. Cool pipe and still free flowing warm oil. Melting is the obvious issue so you just need the pipe to cool down enough not to melt the plastic.

Ah, noice  I have been using newspaper tied around the headers as well, which has worked (as we say in new england) like a chaaaam

Adam

[Spidey]

Guys, use alumunum foil on the header.  You can also shape it so that it channels the oil into the pan.

ato memphis,  .  I know the feelin' you're talking avout.  It's awesome.  You're like, "how did that not explode?"  The flip side is when you try to start up a bike after some work and it's dead, dead, dead.  Then you realize that hte kickstand is down or you forgot to plug in a wire or something stupid. 

[♣ McKraut ♣]

Diy projects are always great. They save you money and really give you a sense of pride in your bike that you can't get anyother way.

As for the oil on the exhaust pipe, I always take a plastic grocerie bag and wrap it around the (cold) header right where the plug is. When I drain it, some oil gets on the plastic but this also mostly drips off during draining. When you are done, just pull the bag off and you have a oil free header.

i tried the grocery bag thing once but it didn't turn out very well for me.  the tin foil method (shamelessly stolen from chris kelly) worked much better.