Winter projects - What's on the TO DO list?

[fzrbrandon]

Hi all,

I actually posted this over on FZR Archives but wanted to find out what everyone's got going on in this neck of the woods also!

For those of us in the northern hemisphere (especially the higher latitudes). Just curious as to what everybody has on their winter TO DO lists.

Even though I'm in California it still gets cold enough to not want to ride sometimes. Especially in the morning when it can get down to the 30s or 40s by the time I leave for work. Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish over the next who knows how long (not necessarily in this order). Some of it's pretty mundane but just thought I'd share anyways.

1 Get my seat properly shaved down and recovered (27" inseam )
2 Pull off rear wheel to thoroughly clean swingarm (minor surface rust on chain side)
***Bought '90 FZR400 swinagarm***
3 Adjust rear brake lever to slightly lower angle (I've looked at this and the way to adjust does not seem obvious to me so I'll have to play with it)
4 Voltage Regulator swap (it seems fine now but from what I've heard it makes a mess when it does decide to crap out)
***DONE***
5 Clean all surface rust off the frame (very minimal, mainly on some of the weld joints on the subframe)
***DONE - Had frame and other stuff powder-coated***
6 Possibly blast / refinish headers / collector pipe (still up in the air on this one)
***See #7 below***
7 Possibly buy new exhaust (see #6 )
***DONE***
8 Check & possibly re-jet carbs, replace emulsion tubes, ignition advance (will probably bring her to Peak Performance in Simi Valley for this since they are Factory Pro authorized)
***Bought new main jets (110s) & emulsion tubes. Need to install then tune***
* 6, 7, and 8 all tie together. I've already received lots of good advice on this. Just need to make up my mind!
9 Possible front brake / master cylinder swap (I'd like to be able to take advantage of an adjustable reach front brake lever for my small hands)
***DONE - R6 lever fits like a glove***
10 Thoroughly clean all brake calipers & replace pads
***DONE***
11 Replace brake lines with braided ones
***DONE***
12 Move brake light further into the tail section
***DONE***
13 Replace broken right side clip-on pin (the one in the triple clamp that keeps the clip-on at the correct angle when putting it back on)
***DONE***
14 ???

Here are a couple things I need to do within the next few days:

1 Clean & re-wax chain
***DONE***
2 Replace broken tank bracket bolt (the one on the front side of the tank - it's seized up so it'll take a little work)
***DONE***
3 Tighten lower radiator hose clamp (the one down by the side stand - I've already tightened it once so the hose may need to be replaced)
***DONE***

Anyway, this should keep me busy for awhile! For those of you who need to park her for the winter, get the riding in while you can.

RIDE SAFE ALL!!!

Brandon

[haunter]

2 pieces of advice

dont use just chain wax, get some PJ black, wax is merely OK and doesnt get the orings well

a cheap way to move the taillight in

is to get the lil grommets for the taillight from a first gen R1, they are significantly shorter and pop right in

my winter to do list is located here, but its a WIP getting changed often

[sweekster]

See the bike in my sig? The plan is to get that thing to start up and run...

[haunter]

yeah I need to sell a bunch of parts too, so I can get a few things to add to the project

[ALMOST]

Don't forget to take lots of pics.

[docrider]

yes we all like pictures so take plenty

[fzrbrandon]

2 pieces of advice

dont use just chain wax, get some PJ black, wax is merely OK and doesnt get the orings well

a cheap way to move the taillight in

is to get the lil grommets for the taillight from a first gen R1, they are significantly shorter and pop right in

my winter to do list is located here, but its a WIP getting changed often

Thanks! I'll check into the PJ Black. What is it exactly anyways? Also, thanks for the tip on the taillight. If I'm not mistaken, I think I can also simply turn the grommets around because they're slightly thicker on one side. May not do a whole lot but it might be just enough to satisfy me.

Thanks again!
Brandon

[yamaha_george]

See the bike in my sig? The plan is to get that thing to start up and run...

Sweekster ,
'bout bloody time too LOL

my winter list just got thrown in a heap by having to buy a 18 " rear Tyre

I already had a bid in on a a 3TJ 17" lost to a higher bidder who turned out to be an AS*wipe so I was given the deal at my max bid at that point I would have binned it (due too expensive rear tyre replacement) but it was so cheap and I really felt for the guy if I turned out to be another time waster.

So I have a 3TJ swing arm to mod to take a skinny axle (3HE) so I can run the 18" wheel

with the GSXR 600 rear shock ( waiting on a certain dude to get back on a final price for some spacers (which I should really make myself but hey he offered and I know others want the spacers for the R6 shock mod))

Same dude providing DogBones at a very good price.

Make a sleeve for the difference in 3TJ swing arm bolt and 3HE bolt to be welded to the 3TJ sleeve. (I am not prepared to alter the bike in a way that it cannot be restored as Yamaha made it.

There is a 1WG / 3TJ sprocket carrier on its way (hopefully the info I received is right they are inter-changable !!! )

Spacers to suit skinny axle & the 3TJ fat axle for when I boot the rim with a 17" tyre

Oh yes paint rim white to match front wheel

Find some one who wants a complete 3HE wheel with a tyre with may be 5 miles on it (maybe ????)


Design ram air intakes into a double headlight 400 fairing so it sits on the 600 nicely.

mate the f'glass 600 skins with the 400 front fairing

sit down & mask out the paint scheme for my painter

and last but not least hide all the above expenses from madam OR win the lottery (which will be a miracle since I never buy a ticket as I know it is rigged !!!)

For the math heads what are the odds of a roll over the week before EVERY bank holiday week end in the last 7 years?

What are the odds that the Jackpot has only ONCE in its history been won by a Syndicate ?

[ThisEndUp]

Re assemble my RD350/TD replica race bike. Hopefully if I win that titled 400 frame I'm bidding on, I can make it street legal (at least on paper ).

and............I'm still kicking myself in the ass for selling that titled fzr400 frame way back when. What was I thinking?
so.......still searching for an fzr400 titled frame....to drop my 600 engine into.

'Like George, I'll have to do this all as a covert operation. Can't have the wife see me working on the bikes when I should be finishing my basement off.

[Genesis]

planning on doing the r6 tail, and molding my FZR side fairings into the R6 upper fairing, I'm also going to go through the engine, and give EVERYTHING on the bike a good cleaning

[ian]

1. Ride
2. Finish up my private pilot license
3. Ride some more
4. Hope it doesn't ice
5. Keep my eye out for a newer bike
6. Keep riding

[manveru]

street bike:

swingarm swap
frontend swap
tail swap
tank swap
paint
r6 calipers and mc
fork springs?
r6 shock?

track bike

what doesn't need done

[YAM93]

Hi all,

I actually posted this over on FZR Archives but wanted to find out what everyone's got going on in this neck of the woods also!

For those of us in the northern hemisphere (especially the higher latitudes). Just curious as to what everybody has on their winter TO DO lists.

Even though I'm in California it still gets cold enough to not want to ride sometimes. Especially in the morning when it can get down to the 30s or 40s by the time I leave for work. Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish over the next who knows how long (not necessarily in this order). Some of it's pretty mundane but just thought I'd share anyways.

1 Get my seat properly shaved down and recovered (27" inseam )
2 Pull off rear wheel to thoroughly clean swingarm (minor surface rust on chain side)
3 Adjust rear brake lever to slightly lower angle (I've looked at this and the way to adjust does not seem obvious to me so I'll have to play with it)
4 Voltage Regulator swap (it seems fine now but from what I've heard it makes a mess when it does decide to crap out)
ok

5 Clean all surface rust off the frame (very minimal, mainly on some of the weld joints on the subframe)
going to paint these spots with matching paint after you take the rust off ?

6 Possibly blast / refinish headers / collector pipe (still up in the air on this one)
7 Possibly buy new exhaust (see #6 )
This is not as critical, unless you live where it rains a lot. You can always put it off another year if you don't have time

8 Check & possibly re-jet carbs, replace emulsion tubes, ignition advance (will probably bring her to Peak Performance in Simi Valley for this since they are Factory Pro authorized)
* 6, 7, and 8 all tie together. I've already received lots of good advice on this. Just need to make up my mind!
That sounds good to me

9 Possible front brake / master cylinder swap (I'd like to be able to take advantage of an adjustable reach front brake lever for my small hands)
this sounds like a cool project. if you can find an R6 m/c on e-bay perhaps you can get compatible Vortex shorty levers...
...as, they do not make them for our FZR's (ho-ho big fricken surprise there)

10 Thoroughly clean all brake calipers & replace pads
11 Replace brake lines with braided ones
Do these 2 tasks at the same time, obviously, i did this last year and it took quite a bit of time. I used Spiegler SS/Teflon brake lines and they were around $200, at the end put in Motul RF600 brake fluid and the EBC HH pads are working great. You'll want to order dust seals and piston seals for your brake calipers. You want to order Yamaha OEM parts (PowerSportsPro.com has them) and they come with little packets of grease also. They are not cheap, fortunately i was able to re-use a few of my seals, as most were in pretty good condition (just everything else was filthy as poop) On FZRArchives.com BNT83 did a write-up for this task that is really good (it's a "sticky"), the Clymer manual and instructions that came with the MityVac pump i bought (JC Whitney $42) for bleeding te brakes we helpful also. I'll warn you now the brake pistons are a total S.O.B. to get out of the calipers, so when you feel the need to kill someone or beat the bike to death with a hammer or large wrench just take a break for a few hours, and give yourself 3 times longer (total) than you think it will take and that way you won't get depressed about it. Compressed air (don't aim the piston at yourself or you'll put your eye out) usually will only get the first piston out. The rest you'll likely have to use steel tooth pliers on. They KEY is to pad the teeth with a soft cloth and TWIST VERY SLOWLY back and forth. Unfortunately you can't just pull them if they're that stuck. Just remember the old nursery rhyme and you'll be golden: "Old McDonald sittin' on a bench, twistin' his d*ck with a monkey wrench"

12 Move brake light further into the tail section
13 Replace broken right side clip-on pin (the one in the triple clamp that keeps the clip-on at the correct angle when putting it back on)
14 ???

Here are a couple things I need to do within the next few days:

1 Clean & re-wax chain <---MAXIMA Chain Guard, if you want my advice. And they make "Chain Wax" also if you really feel inclined to use it. To give you an idea about chain "wax" though, i had some Bel Ray chain wax that wasn't cheap at all, and stopped using it because all it does is make more gunk and twigs and leaves and crap stick to my chain.
2 Replace broken tank bracket bolt (the one on the front side of the tank - it's seized up so it'll take a little work)
3 Tighten lower radiator hose clamp (the one down by the side stand - I've already tightened it once so the hose may need to be replaced)

Anyway, this should keep me busy for awhile! For those of you who need to park her for the winter, get the riding in while you can.

RIDE SAFE ALL!!!

Brandon

SO YOU'RE OUT THERE HAVIN' FUN... (?) .... IN THE WARM CALIFORNIA SUN

[Fartblood]

My winter 'to do' list:

1) Finish FZ600 fairing conversion - next week.

2) Belly pan.

3) New plugs.

4) Repaint swingarm.

5) New shock.

6) Small repainting jobs, brackets, master cylinder, etc.

7) Sit radio ameteurs exam.

8) Buy FZR1000/EXUP.

[95FZR600]

Good luck and take a lot of pics.