Do it Myself

[Phil57]

OK I’ll be the first to admit that I get a little pissy sometimes. I had posted I n June about having my rear tire replaced and fork seals replaced and some other service done. I paid to much and I new it. I just didn’t want to and physically didn think I could {bad back}so I had it done. Daniel Meyer even thought it should come with a BJ {never a bad idea}.
Well I have the bike up on the jack stand trying to find a bad ground and the wife come out and we start talking about the up grades that I want to do{ shocks seat ect}  and for some reason I grab the bolt that holds the left shock on and its not even finger tight. They had it off when they did the tire because they replaced the bushings.
I’m not sure how ugly that would have gotten at hw speed .
I will learn how to do the work my self and I will know it’s done right. I should have listened to the advice here and just done it myself.
This winter will be fun.
Now if I can just get this Tach working right.

[RainMaker]

OK I’ll be the first to admit that I get a little pissy sometimes. I had posted I n June about having my rear tire replaced and fork seals replaced and some other service done. I paid to much and I new it. I just didn’t want to and physically didn think I could {bad back}so I had it done. Daniel Meyer even thought it should come with a BJ {never a bad idea}.
Well I have the bike up on the jack stand trying to find a bad ground and the wife come out and we start talking about the up grades that I want to do{ shocks seat ect}  and for some reason I grab the bolt that holds the left shock on and its not even finger tight. They had it off when they did the tire because they replaced the bushings.
I’m not sure how ugly that would have gotten at hw speed .
I will learn how to do the work my self and I will know it’s done right. I should have listened to the advice here and just done it myself.
This winter will be fun.
Now if I can just get this Tach working right.

Doing the work yourself has many benefits.  First, you know the work is done right because you won't stop until it is.

Second, you get a good feeling from knowing you did it yourself.

Third, you can tell everyone you did it yourself!

Fourth, with all the money you save, you can pay for a BJ!!!!! (just kidding)

With all the great riders there are up in Michigan, there are probably some excellent wrench party opportunities to get help with things that might seem difficult but aren't if you can find someone who has already done it.   That is what I do - we have great wrench parties in DFW.   Have done a lot of work myself but haven't tackled the front forks yet - but will at a future wrench party.

Good luck and great decision!

RainMaker

[Daniel Meyer]

What RainMaker said. Get some folks together. Make sure a couple of them are decent wrenches, and have a day of it. Great way to make friends, build a support network, and learn how to do stuff (or just get some help with the larger projects).

[doubletee]

You've got some great Valk people in the greater Grand Rapids area. Having met several of them and knowing what great caliber of people they are, I'm certain more than one of them would be more than happy to lend a hand.

[Willow]

Having met several of them and knowing what great caliber of people they are, I'm certain more than one of them would be more than happy to lend a hand.

Considering the growing maturity level of some of us, we may want to avoid referencing the caliber or gauge of our members.      

[Daniel Meyer]

Having met several of them and knowing what great caliber of people they are, I'm certain more than one of them would be more than happy to lend a hand.

Considering the growing maturity level of some of us, we may want to avoid referencing the caliber or gauge of our members.      

Lessee...divide by .0001, carry the two, drop a few digits...eat pi...

*head explodes trying to do the math on my "gauge"*

 

[Grumpy]

Especially 1 Honda dealer in Florida  

[old2soon]

Especially 1 Honda dealer in Florida  

   And on that note i gotta chime in. Getting stuff apart was NEVER a problem. Putting stuff back together for myself could on accasion pose a problem. But knowing how much i enjoy ridin-and the fact it was running fine when i put it on the lift-lotsa incentive to get er done. Lot of folks here were helpful in that regard-gettin my phat ghurl back on the road where her and i belong. Lotsa folks including me have had less then good dealings with the ste-er dealers. Off the soap box and back to our regurally scheduled programing. RIDE SAFE.

[Grumpy]

Same here, a few questions to our members, wala link to videos to rebuild the forks. If I had known it was that easy would never have taken it to a dealer.  Great bunch here and a lot of knowledge.

[F6Mark]

What RainMaker said. Get some folks together. Make sure a couple of them are decent wrenches, and have a day of it. Great way to make friends, build a support network, and learn how to do stuff (or just get some help with the larger projects).

I have no personal knowledge of the degree of back pain that Phil experiences, but it strikes me as a bit funny that someone describing how he can't work on his back due to back pain is advised to "get someone to help", or "make a day of it", have a wrench party, etc.
I have a bad back and can tell you that I personally would not feel like inviting a couple of guys over to work on my bike while I sat there and watched, and I doubt if I would feel like making a day of it.
Hopefully your back is good enough that all you need is a helping hand - if so I'll shut up. 
Mark:  "wow my back is killing me, I really don't feel like pulling the carbs and replacing the slow jets, that would be murder."
Someone else:  "Oh I'll help- we can make a day of it!.  What's not to like?"
Mark:  "Uhh, I thought I just said I have a bad back and don't feel like pulling the carbs"
I'm sensitive about this subject.  Rather than further irritate your back, you'll probably get better results with the healing and recovery if you don't work on the bike for a while.  These are the times when it would be nice to have a reliable dealer or mechanic to turn it over to- of course if you're willing to pay a dealer to work on things, why not pay our fellow Valkers if there is someone in the area wanting to earn some extra bucks? 
Of course it's none of my business and I'm sure nobody needs my advice on whether they do or don't do their own wrenching- I just thought I'd offer my 2 cents.
Have a nice weekend everybody!

[RoadKill]

It all boils down to experience and trust. If you trust some one to do it,you will be happier with their work. Doesnt matter if it's a 20 yr old mechanic,if he been wrenching on bikes for 2 yrs,8hrs a day he has more experience than most.  You can gain that experience yourself if you get some trusted help to give you the confidence necessary to attempt it. How do you think that 20yr old got so good? and why didnt you start earlier?  ???        

[Phil57]

Mark I have had 2 surgeries on my cervical spine and I'm  fused from c 3 to t1 snowmobile accident. I like to work on my bike and I like to ride. I'm good for a couple of hours eather way then it's med time. I work full time and I chose carefully what I do. I will look for a good mechanic to do some work but I will not be going back to a dealer. Thanks for the input. It hard to explain the constant pain to people when I'm only 54 but that's the way it is and I will do what I can when I can. I think I found the issue with the tach bare wires at the tail light. I will put it back together in the morning.

[RainMaker]

I'm not aware of how long Phil can work on a bike due to a bad back but any repair does not need be done in a day.  My last maintenance took 5 weeks to complete as I was on doctor's orders not to ride due to rib injuries.  So I'd work an hour or so, then get away and let the ribs heal.  Did that for over a month.

Personally, I feel a lot better about the work when I do it.  But that's not for everyone.  I was simply giving positive comments on the idea of doing the work himself and further the idea of wrench parties to get to stuff that was harder or less known.

[schrambo]

Phil57
I learned most of what i've done on my phat girl from this forum.
I've been reading about problems and remides for over a year. The people are so generase with their time and talents. Detailed directions and other websites to help you and me. Fantastic.
That is why my wife and I went to InZane this year, because I had become very close to some of these people without them even knowing it. I'm not a mechanic,but I can figure out most things with detailed information. Most really want to help.  I have found that Valkyrie's are becoming a dinasour and a lot of mechcanic's, even Honda, don't know about our bikes. Best to know about stuff as much as you can. I only live about an hour from you , and there is a lot that is closer willing to help. Sorry about the rum

[Skinhead]

You guys are right about the MI folks, I live here but grew up in Pittsburgh, and still consider myself a Pittsburgher.  I have been working on things with motors since I was a kid, learned from my Dad (God rest his soul) who was a mechanic in his youth, and raised 7 kids.  With all those kids to provide for, there was no extra money to pay someone to do anything, so he did it himself.  I learned that from him.  The library, and now the internet are your friend, the info you need is right there.  Most of the Rogue Riders do their own work, so I don't get asked much to help out, but Time and more importantly space permitting, I'm always willing to help.  I just can't stand to see some one ripped off, and the job not done right to boot.

Long story short, don't be afraid to ask for help, worst that could happen is you get a "I can't right now, but maybe next week..."

[alph]

I enjoy working on my bike.  Always have done my own work, but I will call in help when needed.  If it comes to the engine, or tranny, then it’s going in for “professional” help!!  There are some things that I know I CAN’T DO!!

As for getting help, a good lunch, maybe a beer, and I’m good with letting you sit and watch!!  I’m an electrician by trade, and I know that some people SHOULDN’T change a light switch, and some do, and if needed, I’ll do it for yeah at no charge. 

[YoungPUP]

A mechanic friend has always told me " if you're gonna have me teach you its free, if you're gonna help me i'll charge double"

[Skinhead]

A mechanic friend has always told me " if you're gonna have me teach you its free, if you're gonna help me i'll charge double"

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