KLR You Experienced? I am now...
- Thread starter Jimbonaut
- Start date
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
Pretty close to the original frame colour, but a little more metallic -
Cold and damp as a witch's tit in the garage so didn't get much further than oggling my new frame. Leather shot bag and nylon shaping hammer arrived today from Princess Auto so pretty soon I can fabricate stuff. So as to be able to say I've fabricated stuff as much as anything else.
Pretty close to the original frame colour, but a little more metallic -
Cold and damp as a witch's tit in the garage so didn't get much further than oggling my new frame. Leather shot bag and nylon shaping hammer arrived today from Princess Auto so pretty soon I can fabricate stuff. So as to be able to say I've fabricated stuff as much as anything else.
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
Got the beginnings of a KLR-shaped thing in my garage again. Heaved the engine off the work table and onto the jack -
then onto the floor -
then wriggled the freshly powdercoated frame onto the engine -
and finally hauled the whole lot upright again once I'd finger tightened all the bolts -
Took a fair few moves to make it happen but managed not to knick the frame and hopefully everything's back where it should be. I also removed the valve cover to gain some precious few inches of clearance, but whipped up a temporary cover from shop towels and duct tape. Ghetto moves FTW.
Got the beginnings of a KLR-shaped thing in my garage again. Heaved the engine off the work table and onto the jack -
then onto the floor -
then wriggled the freshly powdercoated frame onto the engine -
and finally hauled the whole lot upright again once I'd finger tightened all the bolts -
Took a fair few moves to make it happen but managed not to knick the frame and hopefully everything's back where it should be. I also removed the valve cover to gain some precious few inches of clearance, but whipped up a temporary cover from shop towels and duct tape. Ghetto moves FTW.
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
After powdercoating I had new bearings installed in the swingarm, and also noticed that the suspension linkage had taken one for the team. The outside edge had taken a clatter at some point which had dislocated the seal and allowed crap to get inside. Before reinstalling the seal I wanted to make sure this didn't happen again and so cleaned up the whole linkage assembly -
Now the bearings, spacers and seals are all doing the job they're supposed to. Now I know how to do it, the next time I re-install the rear suspension and linkage it'll probably take about 20 mins. Last night however it took about three hours. Still, now I know.
Also cleaned up the bearings and races on the steering stem and installed the triple tree. Some powdercoat had got into the stem hole on the upper clamp and man it took some budging. Good thing too - I know for sure the powdercoat on the frame is strong and great quality.
There's a few washers missing from the steering stem assembly which I now have on order, and need to pick up a 30mm (I think) socket to tighten up the top nut. Any excuse to duck out of work for a bit to go to Canadian Tire...
After powdercoating I had new bearings installed in the swingarm, and also noticed that the suspension linkage had taken one for the team. The outside edge had taken a clatter at some point which had dislocated the seal and allowed crap to get inside. Before reinstalling the seal I wanted to make sure this didn't happen again and so cleaned up the whole linkage assembly -
Now the bearings, spacers and seals are all doing the job they're supposed to. Now I know how to do it, the next time I re-install the rear suspension and linkage it'll probably take about 20 mins. Last night however it took about three hours. Still, now I know.
Also cleaned up the bearings and races on the steering stem and installed the triple tree. Some powdercoat had got into the stem hole on the upper clamp and man it took some budging. Good thing too - I know for sure the powdercoat on the frame is strong and great quality.
There's a few washers missing from the steering stem assembly which I now have on order, and need to pick up a 30mm (I think) socket to tighten up the top nut. Any excuse to duck out of work for a bit to go to Canadian Tire...
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
Rear wheel all sorted - bearings, spacers, sprocket, hub...the lot. This bike had never seen asphalt in all its 17 years before I bought it - it's entire life had been spent on the trail. And most of that trail was all over the rear wheel.
Now it's all greased up with happy bearings and kinda clean spokes -
Got it installed after realizing that powdercoated surfaces can really throw tolerances out of whack. The caliper bracket wouldn't fit on the swingarm and the axle wouldn't fit either. Discovered - and not for the first time - that the powdercoat job on this frame is excellent
Onwards and upwards
Rear wheel all sorted - bearings, spacers, sprocket, hub...the lot. This bike had never seen asphalt in all its 17 years before I bought it - it's entire life had been spent on the trail. And most of that trail was all over the rear wheel.
Now it's all greased up with happy bearings and kinda clean spokes -
Got it installed after realizing that powdercoated surfaces can really throw tolerances out of whack. The caliper bracket wouldn't fit on the swingarm and the axle wouldn't fit either. Discovered - and not for the first time - that the powdercoat job on this frame is excellent
Onwards and upwards
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
Front hub bearings and spacers buttoned up today, and the rim, spokes, brake rotor and hub given a thorough clean. I'd already installed new fork seals last year when I had to get the bike through the SAAQ ball ache (Quebec vehicle inspection) so the only other thing they needed was a good clean and new boots. The original ones (gaiters) were very purple and therefore going cheap - anyone need 'em let me know.
Had to remove the swingarm as I realized the hard way that I'd forgotten to install the rubber chain guard. Bollocks. Job done, chains on and things are starting to look decidedly bike-like...
Front hub bearings and spacers buttoned up today, and the rim, spokes, brake rotor and hub given a thorough clean. I'd already installed new fork seals last year when I had to get the bike through the SAAQ ball ache (Quebec vehicle inspection) so the only other thing they needed was a good clean and new boots. The original ones (gaiters) were very purple and therefore going cheap - anyone need 'em let me know.
Had to remove the swingarm as I realized the hard way that I'd forgotten to install the rubber chain guard. Bollocks. Job done, chains on and things are starting to look decidedly bike-like...
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
I hope you'll still want to get this thing dirty when it's done.
I hope you'll still want to get this thing dirty when it's done.
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
Cheers Mike - good luck shifting the CX and hopefully you'll land a thumper in time for a jolly around Gaspe this summer...
Got the rear subframe bolted on yesterday but only after working out some powdercoat from inside some of the threads. Not a huge deal as I'll be drilling out the frame at some point down the road and installing one through bolt as opposed to the the two stock bolts for greater strength. However also realized that the airbox needs to be installed into the subframe before fitting it, so I'll be pulling the thing off again this arvo. Carb's installed, and I'm going to have to source some frame brackets as at some point in this bike's chequered past a whole battery had emptied itself down the left side of the frame. Easier said than done. Model-specific parts for the C model are very hard to find here in N America as it was only sold here for a year or two, and only then in Canada.
Need to get me some CAD skills, pronto.
Cheers Mike - good luck shifting the CX and hopefully you'll land a thumper in time for a jolly around Gaspe this summer...
Got the rear subframe bolted on yesterday but only after working out some powdercoat from inside some of the threads. Not a huge deal as I'll be drilling out the frame at some point down the road and installing one through bolt as opposed to the the two stock bolts for greater strength. However also realized that the airbox needs to be installed into the subframe before fitting it, so I'll be pulling the thing off again this arvo. Carb's installed, and I'm going to have to source some frame brackets as at some point in this bike's chequered past a whole battery had emptied itself down the left side of the frame. Easier said than done. Model-specific parts for the C model are very hard to find here in N America as it was only sold here for a year or two, and only then in Canada.
Need to get me some CAD skills, pronto.
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
Damn that's a really nice offer, thanks man I appreciate that a lot. I'll call my local Kawa dealer today and see if they can get me the pieces I need and if so for how much, but if it's a no then I'll let you know for sure. Thanks fella, good man.
Damn that's a really nice offer, thanks man I appreciate that a lot. I'll call my local Kawa dealer today and see if they can get me the pieces I need and if so for how much, but if it's a no then I'll let you know for sure. Thanks fella, good man.
Re: KLR You Experienced? Err, kinda not really.
This is what battery acid can do to a frame and its brackets -
The frame's all good now but that bracket has really taken one for the team. It's a mounting bracket for the airbox and now looks like it's been buried underground for about 450 years. I'll see what gives when I call Kawa, hopefully they have one and won't charge me the earth for it. Stranger things have happened.
This is what battery acid can do to a frame and its brackets -
The frame's all good now but that bracket has really taken one for the team. It's a mounting bracket for the airbox and now looks like it's been buried underground for about 450 years. I'll see what gives when I call Kawa, hopefully they have one and won't charge me the earth for it. Stranger things have happened.
