Ask me what I think about torque wrenches?

 

I have two, one that does inch pounds and one that does foot pounds. Learned at an early age to use a torque wrench for everything but the body panels.

It really sucks putting your bike on a trailer to take to the dealer because you stripped out the oil drain plug.

 

It's a shame you didn't know what you soon will.

I damaged my wheel bearings (left out the cush hub spacer without realizing it) and didn't want to wait days on end to order and get them. I remembered from past experience if a bearing has numbers you can use any bearing of the same number. In other words I found that Fastenal had my 6305 double seal and my 6505 double seal (I think the numbers are right, but it doesn't matter) in stock at a store 20 miles from me. I looked at the bearing and they have the numbers on them, Fastenal's bearing numbers matched. The old ones had double seals, Fastenal's had double seals (both sides sealed, not shielded or open). Voila! Wheel bearings! Oh - cost was just over $10 total.

I knew this from when I rebuilt my Bultaco engines with the 6303 main bearings sourced at the local shop that rebuilt electric motors. Bearings are bearings for the most part. There are some with deeper races and some that are more heavy duty in construction, but they are overkill in the bike, because all it does is add load capability beyond what is needed and provided by the standard bearing.

Now you know something that will be of value in the future. I actually went on-line at Fastenal.com searched for the bearing, then checked store availability. I do buy a lot of hardware from one about four miles away, but they didn't stock the bearings. I had the rear wheel redone in a few hours counting time to get the bearings.

I was careful enough to not damage the seals beyond being used again and with the double seal bearings the other seals are redundant (but worth it).

So now everyone that reads this now has another weapon in the arsenal to deal with sourcing common parts.

 

This is the one I used the most when I did my 351 kit, which involved removing the cams, the Park Tool TW2:

Amazon.com: Park Tool Torque Wrench - TW-1/TW-2: Sports & Outdoors

Park Tools are designed for bicycles but these torque wrenches are just re-badges KD torque wrenches, for a few bucks less.

PS - Good beta on the bearings.

 

Where is it that you can ride at 200km/h (124mph) for an entire morning?

Ron

 

I have beam type inch pound and foot pound. I also have a torsion bar click type snap on. All are the same for accuracy.

David

 

Ranger Ron: “Where is it that you can ride at 200km/h…?”

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At the risk of getting further off topic, thank you for asking; now I get to share some of my favourite Western Canadian roads with you!

The Coquihalla network of highways (3, 5, 97 & 97c) in BC’s interior are provincial infrastructure projects criticised for being over-built. The result is wide, banked, lightly-travelled highways with lots of straights & sweepers begging to be ridden at big speeds. I recall an acquaintance on a 1997 ZX11, the fastest street bike at the time, being caught going 270km/h on the Coquihalla!

Alberta highway 22 has some straights which run to the horizon. A local Ferrari Enzo owner recently made headlines for posting a video of himself hitting 339 km/h on one of these stretches!

If you want tighter stuff, BC highway 3a follows the shoreline of Kootenay Lake and is accessed by ferry from the north. The traffic controllers often let bikes off the ferry first which gives motorcyclists up to 1/2hr of unimpeded twisties! Highway 99 from Whistler to Lillooet is also amazing with several nice hairpins.

Getting off-road, we also have several large sections of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta which are publicly open to OHVs. There are also many logging roads throughout. This is where my KLX spends most of its time.

Ron, what you may find even more intriguing than riding at 200km/h, is that it was a Supercharged Range Rover ahead which was setting the pace!

 

+1
Whenever I make a costly mistake my dad asks if I got my diploma afterwards. In other words, you just paid for the education you got, did you get a diploma with it?
Don't worry, it won't be the last "diploma" you get. My dad recently retired, but he still gets a diploma every once in a while.

Jhoffy I will have to say I have been impressed with your attitude through out your ordeal. You were not afraid to post up your mistakes , and took the tongue lashing and joking that came afterward all in stride. There are too many people in the world (the KF board included) that have too thin of skin, and take even the slightest criticism straight to the heart. I'm sure you will learn from these costly mistakes and get your masters degree in KLX some day...
Dan

 

dan888: "I have been impressed with your attitude through out your ordeal"

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I’ll second Dan on this one, and add a piece of my own.

Online forums are usually places where all social civility is discarded and discussion rapidly deteriorates to playground name-calling. Those who participate here should be commended for the generally high level of discussion; it is a pleasure to come here and learn more about my machine!

 

Yikes!

Ron