My winter project

[thrstrmech]

bike is back together and the paint is spot on and matches the head light modules. this may seem ordinary going back to original paint scheme with white plastics, but promise it's going to be different than what you may think. the turn signals were mounted directly onto the center tail section and now filled in like they were never there. overall, I think it came out fairly well.

 

[An03inAZ]

That looks awesome. Do you think that plastikote can cover or fill in the scrap on my tail?

 

[thrstrmech]

no, it's not that type of filler. look here for replacement, wet sand, primer coat it and paint or buy a new tail.

 

[thrstrmech]

step one and two of three completed with the airbox, reinstalled the gas cap surround and new orange vinyl decals.

 

[thrstrmech]

so this is a huge departure for me from the yellow and black theme. the decals were bought from two companies and the colors did not match, however turned out not being a bad thing. the airbox decals match the dashboard and needles. the hounds tooth decals took three nights setting them individually due to the curvature of the plastics, they came as 12"x12" sheets. overall very different look for me and a Buell in general. now I can pick my bike out in a crowd still have a few things on the list to complete before calling the project complete.

 

[AZmidget91]

I was going to text you to see if you were ok, I hadn't seen you post in a while, this explains it!

Looks great, very different

 

[thrstrmech]

Thanks, have been busy with this and work, but still lurking... a bit disgusted with some people on the forum, same with some on the fb forum page. Left the fb page and only deal with the real forum.

Got some newbs to Buell motorcycles that have little up to a couple years experience with these bikes coming off as experts, posting BS, giving bad info and or wanting info and not taking the time to do the research themselves...this is on a scale from 1 to 10, about an 8 on the fb page, about a 3-4 here.

I'm only an expert on my bike and the issues I have or had with it over the past 8-1/2 years. I do try to help where and when I can with issues. In most all cases, when someone ask a question, I go to the service manual to the specified topic and see what the test procedures are and the possible causes for the issue. Yes, sometimes you've got to use common knowledge of the system, but I'm not the all knowing of how everything works or interacts. I learn something new everyday about these bikes.

Rant over...back to the bike, next few things to change will be the wheels, tires and front master cylinder. Add some reflective orange wheel tape and a matching fluid reservoir to the front. Change front brake pads, order new brake rotors for front and rear, along with new hardware. Already have new bearings and spacers for the wheels.

 

[XLXB]

It came out great, I really like it. I'll make mine look just like it so you can't pick it out of the crowd if you come to Indiana

Also I hope I'm not one of the newbs you are referring to. I haven't been here long but I have been around bikes for, wait I have to do the math, 24+ years. I don't give advice on thing unless I feel confident that I know what I'm talking about. And I hope that if I do give bad/wrong advice that someone will call BS on me so I don't cause somebody else any problems.

I must say I enjoy this forum more than any that I have been associated with. Not a lot of "clicks" here that just bad mouth everyone that they don't know. If you pay attention it's not that hard to tell who you can trust and actually know what they are doing on these bikes. I have read a lot on this forum and thank most all you guys for the knowledge that you have shared.

 

[AZmidget91]

Yep, I am about done with the facebook page, I only post on there to get quick responses on problems I am having.

Can't wait to see the coming upgrades, all things I want to do, but the bike is going to the back burner for now, dropping my truck off at a shop to sit there for a month(hate it because I do my own work, but going to worth it)

 

[thrstrmech]

thanks guys, it still growing on me. And now that my son has acquired a cnc machine and already has plans for parts, the list of things I'd like is getting longer

on another note, yesterday I rolled over 69,000 miles on the bike

 

[thrstrmech]

waiting on wheels, next week ordering the new front master cylinder and reservoir, new front brake pads, and tires.

 

[thrstrmech]

well, decided to have my wheels powder coated here locally, 85 bucks per wheel. that will be done in the next couple of weeks while waiting on the hardware for the rotors and rear sprocket that will be ordered shortly.

 

[hntnfsh]

I don't post much but read alot on here. Had big plans for my '03 over the winter but had a major health set back. Trying to get back at it now and will be sending my wheels out to the powder coater in March. Since the bearings need to be replaced in the process, got to get All Balls ordered for mine.

Sounds like you're planning on replacing the bolts, springs, washers and drive bushings on the brake rotor? Seen how expensive that hardware is? At least my quote from Twin was more than I expected. Looking for a cheaper alternative myself, would be interested to hear what you're planning.

Good luck!

 

[thrstrmech]

not doing anything crazy with the wheels, going with gloss black finish to compliment both sets of plastics I have. it will contrast against the silver frame nicely. as for the hardware, getting it all from newcastlehd.com for about 100 bucks. I could get the front rotor hardware kit from EBR for 60, still that and the rest needed for the rear adds up to about the same price from what research I've done.
adding new swingarm and steering head bearings to the list, also from All Balls Racing, less than 40 bucks for both sets. been prepping the spare swingarm and frame, just removed the bearings from both as well as the fuel pump and vent. going to flush both tanks, cover the holes and set aside for powder coating, but before that I need to get the registration status of the frame. either clear or salvage, I'll get it titled...at least there will be papers on it which I do not have.

 

[AZmidget91]

So is your bike not titled?

 

[thrstrmech]

it is, this one is not...

 

[thrstrmech]

took the wheels off the bike and began removing the rotors and drive sprocket. all, but one bolt came out of the sprocket and two broken T45 bits and now stripped bolt. fokkers were in there really tight. will try soaking the bolt with Kroil penetrant and use vise grips and or a chisel to try breaking torque on it. maybe use a heat gun and see if it helps before using the chisel.
anyway, got a better deal on powder coating...90 bucks for both wheels, gloss black. company that's doing it does all the test racks and brackets we build for flight testing. can you say major company discount at that price and they do quality work, score

 

[thrstrmech]

the Aero Kroil worked with a heat gun, vise grips and rubber mallet...tires and valve stems removed, wheels got a real good cleaning afterwards. off to the powder coaters in the morning, meeting the owner at 7am, may have the wheels back by the end of the day

 

[mrlogix]

[up][up]

 

[thrstrmech]

and they are at the powder coaters, looking more likely Monday at lunch time when I'll get them back.