Lucky Phil

Here's what you need docc for that professional aviation look, pick any colour you like. Cheap for you guys but prohibitive shipping wise for us Aussies. I used to use a plain white one at work on jets which we refered to simply as "Bird Shit" Chucks probably got a draw full of the stuff:) https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dykem-Cross-Check-Torque-Seal-Tamper-Proof-Torque-Marker-Orange/273028836767?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Ciao

Sounds logical:) thanks. Ciao

Amazing stuff. This year Aussie Rennie Scaysbrook ( son of Aussie journo Jim Scaysbrook great friend and race partner of Mike Hailwood in a few Australian endurance rides as warmups to his 78 IOM return) finished 2nd to Carlin Dunne on a Ducati by some 0.06 seconds in the heavyweigh class. This run by Chris Filmore was only around 5 second slower despite the capacity deficit. Ciao

The u joint itself is toast docc, I noticed the flattened rollers in the first post and the hard face missing off the male spigots confirms but not enough to cause whats happened here I believe. Maybe one of those things with a combination of causes leading to the yoke failure. Ciao

Yes docc looks like it has the classic "beach marks" that define a progressive fatigue failure. Ciao

Nice work but why nail polish? Is it more durable than red paint? I spoke to a local automotive instrument repair company a couple of years ago about these instruments and re colouring the pointer. He was faimiliar with the colour which he refered to as Dogs @#$$#! red. Dont know what dog he owns and dont want to find out either. Ciao

Excellent. Look forward to a review. Just dont sign anything before hand:) Ciao

Series C Rapides are such a nice looking bike, they seem to have the right proportions. Engine designed by and Australian as well:) Funny story I read in a bike mag a few years ago. This Journo reccons there is a world wide Vincent owners conspiracy. Says no Vincent owner will let you ride their bike, not because they are afraid you will crash it but because if they do other riders will find out just how very ordinary they actually are,lol. Once you buy one and find out you then need to keep the secret, which apparently isnt hard to do after shelling out silly money. PS........ I've know someone for many years thats owned one for as long as I've known him and he would never let me ride it. Ciao

Hey docc, just musing on the failure mechanism here which may well simply be a failed uni joint but is there any chance it could have been a loose clamp bolt causing the yoke to fail first? Maybe even backing out and catching the collar? Just thought and hoping you would get a decent warning before the uni failed and caused that sort of carnage. Ciao

What happened docc? Ciao

Love Norah Jones docc. Two performances come to mind, Her version of Bob Dylans "Forever Young" at the Steve Jobs memorial and her duet with Dave Grohl of "Maybe I'm Amazed" at the tribute to Paul McCartney. Ciao

You only worry when its not leaking oil............cause then you know its run out. Ciao

Love it. If a Commando owner ever suggests you go touring together politely decline unless love roadside rebuilds more than riding:) The Combat engines were the worst, hand grenades. Superblend main bearings and gearbox needle bearing conversion helps. Ciao

The silver ones alway photograph well I think. Ciao

Nice one docc, I love data. Maybe we should have a "data" sticky thread. You know when someone lists some data that may be useful for comparitive purposes you can go there if you have an issue and are curious. Obviously there will be a scatter of data but you can get a general idea. Heres a few to consider. Idle rpm Rear drive temp Altenator output voltage Tyre pressures and mileage obtained. Oil pressure Oil consumption Wheel Bearing life Other bearing life. Oil seal life Drive shaft uni joint life. Ciao

I'd say you have a fuel pump issue if you're getting vapor lock. Even in 40 deg C heat in traffic here in an Australian summer i've never had an issue with vapor lock. Ciao

Sorry, with Guzzi content. A pair of 74's I've been inside Commando engines and transmissions a few times in the past and I find the engineering design somewhat offensive I'm afraid. A couple of dozen fasteners press ganged onto a vibrating self destructing thrashing machine all looking for a way to jump ship. Ciao

Cant remember but does the 02 Le Mans have the single plate alloy flywheel? Ciao

I wouldnt do this normally for any reason because all bikes have a speed where the natural resonant frequencey coecides with a particular speed and if you release the bars they shake. Some are far worse than others and my first experience of it was when I was part of a road test team for a local magazine back in the mid 1980s. We were testing 4 bikes ( Gpz900, Honda VF1000R, Yamaha 1000 and the Suzuki) over a weekend trip one of which was a GSX1100E, the model with the 16" front wheel. I noticed the bike would shake the bars quite badly at around 60 klm/hr if you had one hand off the bars and just light pressure on the other. As Chuck pointed out the propensity to do it and the magnitude varies on each particular bike dependent on mechanical/wear factors and some bikes you will never actually experience it because you dont release the bars or reduce the input at a speed which that particular bike experiences the shake. The only reason I really noticed it on the Suzuki was because from memory we were riding in suburban conditions in the rain and I was clearing my visor regularly so had one hand off the bar and with the throttle shut and no braking and light grip on the right bar it would shake. I then released the right hand entirly to see what the effect would be and it shook a lot. Didnt try it too much after that. Replace the front tire, check the wheel bearings,steering head bearings, wheel for trueness and the steering damper for binding and no dead spot and see how it goes. Ciao

Can you use a pair of pliers scudd and squeeze the female connectors down a little to improve the snugness? Ciao

Trashed wheel bearings will do the same but I'm under the impression here that if you push the bike a few wheel rotations it will happen, so a bent disk is probable. Worn out wheel bearings need to be ridden before they do the same thing. Ciao

Pretty much. If you just check torque it without backing it off and it doesnt tighten you're fine. Ciao

Have you got the front wheel spacer in/in correctly? Has your friendly tire fitter bent a front disk when you've had the tire replaced? IE...... fit the wheel and good lever, rotate the wheel and the bent disk pushes the pads back and.....no lever. Ciao

A question.....I've seen many images of American country towns and it seem usual to lack awnings out the front of the stores. Just wondering why? It seems to make them feel a little bleak and lacking character. Is there a reason for this? I love a country town with old stores with awnings. Add hitching posts and horse drinking troughs and, well perfect. Most Aussie country town have awnings but it doesnt necessarily mean it will have a nice feel. Sometimes our towns have the awnings but too wide a main street and loose the intimate feel. Ciao

Satin black. Ciao