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Author Topic: maintenance begins...  (Read 2951 times)
hubcapsc
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Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« on: September 23, 2009, 10:21:17 AM »


Fixed up the new Harbor Freight wheel chock I learned about here up in the
pole barn this morning and plugged in the Valkyrie for the first time. Had to fiddle
with it some, I spread out the loop that holds the wheel some with the pickup truck
scissor-jack, and now the Valkyrie wheel fits up to the nose of the loop without being
pinched much. Valk seems stable enough to work on.

I haven't ridden the Valkyrie since I went to Mingo falls on the 11th what with all
the rain, and it ran like cr*p when I started it. Carolyn's hay seems moldy, there was
mildew on the Valkyrie's leather parts, d*mn fire ants crawliing up out to dry out
everywhere (OK, enough whining about the weather  Grin )... anyhow, the Valkyrie cleaned up
and seemed to run OK, I reckon sitting idle in all this humidity was the problem...

I'm going to replace the pinion cup/driveshaft/universal&cover and while I'm in there, I'm
going to replace the swingarm bearings... we'll see if the Honda tools I ordered make
the job as easy as I hope...

I have today, Thursday and Friday off, but I'll be blind tomorrow after the eye doctor
dialates my eyes... hopefully I'll be disciplined enough to go out and work on the Valk for
a couple of hours before the appointment... maybe I'll be able to see again later in the
afternoon...

-Mike
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JimL
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Posts: 1380


Naples,FL


« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2009, 10:46:36 AM »

Mike, which Honda tools did you order?
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Bob E.
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Posts: 1487


Canonsburg, PA


« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2009, 10:47:50 AM »

Funny you say that about dialating your eyes.  The first time I had that done was at a fittment for contact lenses.  I was getting new glasses too, so the doc puts the drops in and says to go pick out a set of frames while they do their thing.  Well, I don't know if this is some inside joke optomitrists play on their patients or what.  But I couldn't see anything within about 5 feet in front of me.  I could see fine across the room, but walk up to the wall of glasses frames and forget it.  So I had to wait until after the appointment and wander around the mall a bit until my vision came back to pick out my new glasses.  After that was over...and the drops had mostly worn off...I went outside to be blasted by the BRIGHTESTsunlight I had ever been exposed to...I thought it was going to burn my retinas out of my head.  I could barely keep my eyes open to drive home.
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2009, 12:14:54 PM »

I only made the mistake of driving myself once... when I left, I was only willing to turn right
so I didn't have to cross traffic  crazy2 it was the long way home...

The honda tools I got are the ones mentioned in the manual on the "removing swingarm" and
"replacing swingarm bearings" pages... One is a gnarly offset locknut socket, and the bearing
tools are a driver (which also is the driver for wheel bearings, no more driving them in
with a big socket  cooldude ) and some driver attachments that are the right size
for getting the old races out and, I guess, driving the new one in, I haven't reviewed the
procedure since I ordered the tools a few weeks ago... I think the bearings are tapered and
just slide in... I can put in the part numbers and pictures of them later if you'd like...

I just took my shocks off... I came in and called the tech line at Progressive to get an RMA
number... they're going to swap my standard springs for heavy duty for $30.00 plus shipping,
about a two week turnaround...

Now back to it...

-Mike
« Last Edit: September 23, 2009, 12:17:21 PM by hubcapsc » Logged

KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)
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Posts: 4146


Specimen #30838 DS #0233

Williamsburg, KY


« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2009, 12:32:11 PM »

I only made the mistake of driving myself once... when I left, I was only willing to turn right
so I didn't have to cross traffic  crazy2 it was the long way home...

The honda tools I got are the ones mentioned in the manual on the "removing swingarm" and
"replacing swingarm bearings" pages... One is a gnarly offset locknut socket, and the bearing
tools are a driver (which also is the driver for wheel bearings, no more driving them in
with a big socket  cooldude ) and some driver attachments that are the right size
for getting the old races out and, I guess, driving the new one in, I haven't reviewed the
procedure since I ordered the tools a few weeks ago... I think the bearings are tapered and
just slide in... I can put in the part numbers and pictures of them later if you'd like...

I just took my shocks off... I came in and called the tech line at Progressive to get an RMA
number... they're going to swap my standard springs for heavy duty for $30.00 plus shipping,
about a two week turnaround...

Now back to it...

-Mike

Mike, if you don't mind when you have time, I'd like the part numbers and pics as I will be doing the swingarm at some time in the future. Thanks ! Dave

PS - How ar you lubing everything...................................................... coolsmiley

Stands back and waits for the infighting to start !!  2funny
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Spirited-6
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Posts: 2214


Nicholasville, Ky.


« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2009, 01:35:37 PM »

Hey Mike. They can give you drops that will bring back your eyes quicker. Ask for them.  Wink Good luck.
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Spirited-6
Crazyhorse
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Posts: 1465


Hattiesburg, MS


« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2009, 02:07:00 PM »



Mike

How many miles do you have on the swing arm bearings. Are they giving you trouble or just changing them as a precaution.

Mac
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hubcapsc
Member
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Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2009, 02:48:59 PM »


PS - How ar you lubing everything...................................................... coolsmiley


Metric Crisco...  2funny

Let me know later when you need the tools... another VRCC member sent me the fork tool
when I needed that...

I'll post pictures and the numbers directly...

I've hit a little snag... I need a 15 mm Allen wrench... might be hard to find in this small town...
got a couple of place to check in the morning... After you use the special tool to take
the locknut off the swingarm pivot, the left and right bolts are giant allen heads...

-Mike
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hubcapsc
Member
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Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2009, 02:53:56 PM »

Hey Mike. They can give you drops that will bring back your eyes quicker. Ask for them.  Wink Good luck.

Thanks, I'll ask them...

-Mike
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hubcapsc
Member
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Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2009, 03:08:34 PM »



Mike

How many miles do you have on the swing arm bearings. Are they giving you trouble or just changing them as a precaution.

Mac


About 52,000 on my bike... I have to change out the drive line anyhow... most people get to the
universal and boot like this:


but I'm curious to look at the bearings, so I'm going to see what it is like taking the
swingarm off, heck I've got the tools now...  I'd like to see the swingarm bearings and the steering
head bearings both...

I've got the new bearings and stuff in hand, so I'll do the inspection like the manual sez and
change them out if needed...

-Mike "about 28,000 put on by me"
« Last Edit: September 23, 2009, 07:01:20 PM by hubcapsc » Logged

Misfit
Member
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Posts: 2143


Colorado Springs Colorado


« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2009, 03:10:55 PM »


PS - How ar you lubing everything...................................................... coolsmiley


Metric Crisco...  2funny

Let me know later when you need the tools... another VRCC member sent me the fork tool
when I needed that...

I'll post pictures and the numbers directly...

I've hit a little snag... I need a 15 mm Allen wrench... might be hard to find in this small town...
got a couple of place to check in the morning... After you use the special tool to take
the locknut off the swingarm pivot, the left and right bolts are giant allen heads...

-Mike
hubcap. You may want to check your allen size. I believe you are wanting a 17 mm allen. i found mine at Sears. It is also a common size for a Volkswagon. I cut the 90 degree bend off of mine. That way you can use a 17mm socket and a torque wrench on it to seat the bearings right.
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2009, 03:15:33 PM »


PS - How ar you lubing everything...................................................... coolsmiley


Metric Crisco...  2funny

Let me know later when you need the tools... another VRCC member sent me the fork tool
when I needed that...

I'll post pictures and the numbers directly...

I've hit a little snag... I need a 15 mm Allen wrench... might be hard to find in this small town...
got a couple of place to check in the morning... After you use the special tool to take
the locknut off the swingarm pivot, the left and right bolts are giant allen heads...

-Mike
hubcap. You may want to check your allen size. I believe you are wanting a 17 mm allen. i found mine at Sears. It is also a common size for a Volkswagon. I cut the 90 degree bend off of mine. That way you can use a 17mm socket and a torque wrench on it to seat the bearings right.

That would be really cool... I know where I can get a 17 in the morning... I was holding wrenches
up to it trying to guess what I needed... I have a 17-head bolt, I'm going to go out there and
see if it fits...

-Mike
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2009, 06:56:21 PM »

OK, it's a 17, I'm good to go... if whatever I get isn't already a socket, I'll cut it off too... I cut
rebar with a big chopsaw with a cutoff blade... allen wrench will be harder than rebar... hope it
still cuts...

Here's the tools...



The attachments fit the bearings/races whatever you're wanting to pound in with the driver.

That same driver is called for wheel bearings, different attachments... I got the wheel bearing
attachments too, attachments are less than $10.00...

-Mike
« Last Edit: July 07, 2019, 10:30:42 AM by hubcapsc » Logged

PAVALKER
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Posts: 4435


Retired Navy 22YOS, 2014 Valkyrie , VRCC# 27213

Pittsburgh, Pa


« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2009, 07:29:16 PM »

Keep us posted on the swingarm bearing replacement .... I think I might need that as well.   I already got the bearing set and the wrench... will probably look at the other tool and attachment as well..... 
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John                           
SlowRoad
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Posts: 368


Heart of a Legend with a whole lot of Soul

Hartselle AL


« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2009, 10:39:13 PM »

I purchased a 17mm allen socket at AutoZone last week. It came in a set of 3, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm. Was about $12.
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Varmintmist
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Posts: 1228


Western Pa


« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2009, 09:36:27 AM »

http://www.toolsource.com/axle-wrench-24mm-p-101028.html
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Churchill
Black Pearl's Captain
Member
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Posts: 2072


Emerald Coast


« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2009, 12:03:50 PM »

When the "hex socket" sizes get much over 1/2" I just use a bolt and nut for a "hex wrench". Tighten them together as needed or weld. The head of a bolt becomes the hex wrench.

Works for me most times.

Raymond
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2009, 12:12:37 PM »

I got some stuff done before getting blinded at the eye doctor this morning...

Got reamed at the post office, sending my shocks back to progressive...

Went to Auto Zone...



Used the air compressor at the NAPA store (no 17mm allen wrenches there...) to pop out the pistons
on my rear caliper a little... I had cleaned everything  to a shine, but without popping the pistons
out a little, look how much contamination would have been left to get mashed back into the caliper
when the new pads go on...



Heck, if you have to go to all this trouble, seems like you might as well pop them all the way out
and replace the seals everytime you get new pads...

That's a cool idea of Raymond's (I use his method to pop tires off the bead) and it would have been
easy to pick up a 17 bolt and a couple of nuts at Lowes or Ace... but some big honking allen sockets
for not much money is OK by me... thanks for mentioning that slowroad...

I can see to type this... might be almost time to head back out to the polebarn...

-Mike
« Last Edit: April 09, 2014, 05:04:56 AM by hubcapsc » Logged

hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #18 on: September 25, 2009, 12:56:21 PM »

Popped both the pistons out of the caliper, cleaned them, lubed them with brake fluid, put them
back in, put caliper lube on the pins that the caliper floats on, shined up the pin that the pads slide
on and put anti-seize goo on the threads of the pin and it's cap:



Swingarm came off easy as pie. Bearings look and feel OK, but the races have that "indexed" look to
them... I'll go for putting in the new races, bearings and grease retainers...



Next I took the center cover off... not easy as pie, a royal pain in the rear end  Angry ...



Yeeks... some of that dirt might be from Gettysburg!

Next I took the starter off - I've been planning to paint it or something, I "shined" it up one day,
and it stayed shiny for about two days, then got rusty... the dull looking stuff I polished off is
a zinc coating or something... anyhow... compared to the starter, removing the center cover was
easy  uglystupid2 ... and I couldn't remove the nut that holds on the starter wire, so I unhooked
the starter wire at the other end (near the battery)... when I had the starter in my hand I tried
to turn the nut with a socket wrench and the nut won't move, the whole terminal post just spins around...
somehow that seems bad... the terminal post is #4 in the fiche... being clueless is the only bad
thing about doing all your maintenance yourself  Wink  Should I be worried if the terminal post spins
around? I asked them over there on the tech side too...



Did I mention it was humid in South Carolina?



-Mike




« Last Edit: April 09, 2014, 05:06:43 AM by hubcapsc » Logged

hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #19 on: September 26, 2009, 05:04:44 PM »


Anyone ever changed out the saddlebag locksets? Seems like the latches have to come out,
but they, like, glued in with some hardened 12 year old anti-leak goo that Honda put around the three
bolts that hold it in...

-Mike
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Black Pearl's Captain
Member
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Posts: 2072


Emerald Coast


« Reply #20 on: September 26, 2009, 06:22:02 PM »

Yes goo on them. Mine popped off with a little effort. You did remove the nuts inside right? Three nuts I think without looking.

Raymond
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Valker
Member
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Posts: 2999


Wahoo!!!!

Texas Panhandle


« Reply #21 on: September 26, 2009, 07:32:29 PM »

I have removed my locksets because the springs screwed up and made each bag (1 year apart) so it wouldn't unlock. If you can find the small springs to replace the ones in it, it looks to be a fairly simple thing to rebuild them. I had to slightly bend the latch to get the locksets out.
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I ride a motorcycle because nothing transports me as quickly from where I am to who I am.
hubcapsc
Member
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Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #22 on: September 27, 2009, 07:08:14 PM »


I headed over to my buddy Dan's house after Church with my final drive, and we used his impact wrench
to replace my pinion cup. He loaned me his old beater shocks so I can assemble my bike
enough to make it easy to work on the front end (new tire, probably new break pads). My shocks
won't be back from progressive for over a week. I repacked the swingarm bearings and
put the swingarm back on. The cover for the universal sure is easy to put on when there's
no starter... cleaned tons of the dirt and bug guts off the bike, it'll be cool when it's all
shiny again  cooldude

Cast iron belt driven compressor... yeah, that's the ticket...

-Mike
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hubcapsc
Member
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Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #23 on: September 29, 2009, 12:36:07 PM »

I just thought to call Pinwall and ask him (well, a mechanic there named Rusty) how he gets saddlebag latches
to come unstuck from the "glue" without hurting anything... soak the glue patch with PB Blaster (stuff that is like
WD40 I think...) Sounds like a good idea...

Turns out I kind of mangled my starter when I spun the terminal post...

 

The above parts are #6 from the parts fiche and #not-for-sale-separately from the parts fiche...

Anyone with a dead starter I can rob that part out of?

 

-Mike

« Last Edit: April 09, 2014, 05:08:21 AM by hubcapsc » Logged

KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)
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Posts: 4146


Specimen #30838 DS #0233

Williamsburg, KY


« Reply #24 on: September 29, 2009, 02:43:51 PM »

Mike, pinwall has a high mileage starter that could get you your part. Buy it Now is $29.95
Still a little much for why you're wanting it, but thought I'd let you know if you want/need it bad enough.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Valkyrie-GL1500-STARTER-STARTING-MOTOR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14Q2el1262QQhashZitem518c5e4dd4QQitemZ350247341524QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #25 on: September 29, 2009, 05:30:26 PM »

Mike, pinwall has a high mileage starter that could get you your part. Buy it Now is $29.95
Still a little much for why you're wanting it, but thought I'd let you know if you want/need it bad enough.

Thanks for pointing it out, I looked at all the Pinwall starters earlier and thought about it...

I aim to have the Valkyrie in good shape for the Fall Color Ride... so I bit the bullet and bought
a $69 < 20K Pinwall starter... it won't look as awesome as my freshly painted one, but if it gets here
quick (he can do it!) I'll paint it too if it needs it... still I hate to let this otherwise good starter
be useless because of a little plastic part... the part actually looks like it would still serve its function
even busted like it is...

I put the drivetrain back together with all new parts (hope 2toneValk (Robert) gets his parts on time)
polished up the rear wheel, torqued the swingarm and hooked the maze of quad-horn wires
back up this afternoon...

-Mike
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #26 on: October 05, 2009, 08:34:40 AM »


Shocks and starter still on the way.

New front tire is mounted and balanced.

Hopefully I can go bug neighbor Dan this afternoon and use his compressor to
pop the tire back on the bead, and to pop the front brake pistons out for cleaning...

Locksets changed out on the saddlebags.... I pried the thin little plate under the nuts inside the
saddlebag out of it's bed of hardened goo with a razor's edge. After that the latches could easily
be rocked out. Then I swapped the internals from my new cylinders to the old cylinders. It appears that
just the right tool would allow you to mash on a couple of spring arms and get the whole cylinder to pop
out, but I didn't come up with "just the right tool". It was pretty easy to just change the internals... they can
be inserted into the cylinder more than one way, but only one way is right...

-Mike
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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16781


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #27 on: October 15, 2009, 05:57:43 PM »

This whole odyssey seems to be winding down... Looks like I'll make it to the Fall Color Ride  cooldude

I've been out of town some, but I put most of the bike back together on tuesday... starter wouldn't
turn over... I looked in the tech archives and in the manual and decided I must have screwed the
bank angle sensor onto the back side of the center cover upside down...

Wednesday night I took the $%^&* center cover out enough to flip the sensor (noticing the
"this side up" arrow in the process) over... bike fired up, but ran poorly, I suspected bad gas (see
first post in this thread).

Thursday night (tonight) I took the tank off, emptied out the gas, and put fresh gas in, it seems
to run like a Valkyrie now  Grin

New brakes and fluid and calipers torn down and reassembled.

All new keyed stuff - gas cap, ignition switch, saddlebag lockset and $%^&* center cover seat
lock.

All new drivetrain.

New front tire.

Non rusty starter.

Like-new-looking progressive shocks... I sent them back to get heavy duty springs, and they
didn't just slap on new springs and send them back, I had to look close to be sure they
didn't send new ones...

swingarm removed, bearings inspected.

lawyer stickers removed from gas tank (still a little goo residue - what will get that off?)

Tomorrow I still have to bolt some stuff back on, double check the final drive fluid, tighten the four
final drive bolts and take a short spin around the neighborhood to see if any major parts
fall off, then, if everything goes right, off to Robbinsville!

-Mike "$%^&* center cover - but it's on and it ain't busted..."
« Last Edit: October 16, 2009, 05:45:16 AM by hubcapsc » Logged

Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005
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American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God.

Beautiful east Tennessee ( GOD'S Country )


« Reply #28 on: October 15, 2009, 06:36:32 PM »

Hope you get it glued back together Mike...I'll see you in Robbinsville  cooldude
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I've seen alot of people that thought they were cool , but then again Lord I've seen alot of fools.
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