DFW wrench party

[RainMaker]

Why is the wrench party not at your place?   Seems to me you need some help!

Well... The WP was moved to Randy's house for LPL's sake and I started a small project that blossomed into a big one AND I had to order parts that won't be in until Thursday/Friday sooooo.....

Hopefully I'll get her back together Saturday because I sure miss riding her to work everyday.

Hope you ordered some Blue parts in to speed that thing up!!  

[RainMaker]

I'm a definite "maybe" for this one.  Want to change out the u-joint and check the pinion cup with a few x-spurts around.

[Stormrider65]

I'm a 95% gonna be there.  I can strap my jack to the rear seat and bring it if anyone needs it.  This way I can get proper training on putting a Valk in the air.  I can help anyone who needs an extra hand or two.  Anyone in my neck of the woods I can hook up with to ride over to the party?


Walt

[Westsider]

i would ride over with ya s.r.65 , but will be out of town visiting fam...i thought you were moving to the south side,cleburne or burleson? will catch up to yall next time. paul.

have a good one, and fix something for me..

[BuzzKill]

Not sure if another jack will be needed atm.  So far only Larry and Rainmaker would be the only ones needing one that I can tell, and Larry will be bringing his own, which leaves Rainmaker using mine.  Nother jack cant hurt incase someone decides to do something else though.

[Stormrider65]

I may bring my jack to ya Friday in the cage.  I tried to fit it on the bike, and got thinking that it may get too unbalanced and that would be a bad thing.  I call ya Friday Thagandy to let ya know.  Paul, the other half found a house she loved off Western Center Blvd.  Give me a call sometime.  214 924 0623.  Have fun bro.

Walt

[BuzzKill]

Unless your going to be in the neighborhood or will be using it yourself, probably wont need yours.  VP lives just up the road from me and would probably be alot easier to get his, use it, and get it back to him than yours if we need another.

[RainMaker]

Since I have a centerstand, I don't especially need a jack for doing my work.


RM

[Valkpilot]

I may bring my jack to ya Friday in the cage.  I tried to fit it on the bike, and got thinking that it may get too unbalanced and that would be a bad thing.  I call ya Friday Thagandy to let ya know.  Paul, the other half found a house she loved off Western Center Blvd.  Give me a call sometime.  214 924 0623.  Have fun bro.

Walt

I'm only a mile or so from Thag.  I'm planning on running the football over Friday evening (OK, Thag?) and can take my jack at that time.  No sense in you hauling one up from the hinterland.

[BuzzKill]

No prob VP.  Just gimmie a call.

[Hoghead]

I wish I could be there.  The PGR is having a fundraiser in ET that I have already commited to.

[Valkpilot]

Lift, adaptor, football, carb-sync gauges, and electrical box delivered.

See y'all in the morning.

[Disco]

I'll bring the special tools and electrical goodies so generously sent by godfire and added to by 5_19.  Thanks again, Jim & TJ!  

[Christbiker]

You Gents have fun and don't fight.  I'm in Hebbronville, Tx  45 miles from the border and in Laredo next week.  I miss my Valk.  Wish I was there.  Blessings to all

Woody

[BuzzKill]

Valkpilot, Baron, Stormrider, Disco, YodaMaster, Rainmaker, WDAN, and Loudpipe Larry all showed up for one reason or another.

Baron did a carb sync.  YodaMaster came over to get his stuff he left last time, but left something else this time.  Rainmaker replaced his U-Joint.  WDAN got his jack adapter installed.  I found out I need a new horn.  Valkpilot and Disco I dont think did anything for themselves but helped others out greatly.  And it took everyones help, but we were able to put "Humpty Dumpty" (Loudpipe Larrys bike and his "box o parts") back together again.

The whole thing was catered by Hollyday (Mrs ThagAndy).  We had a good breakfast pizza thing, and some nice chili and cornbread for lunch. 

I think the whole thing was quite productive and even the pro's learned to do new stuff, replace the splines and rebuild the pumpkin.  A big thanks to everyone who came. 

[RainMaker]

A big thanks to Randy and Liz for hosting. We ate like pigs and it was all good. Super day with super folks. That pumpkin rebuild was really something to see. VP and Disco amazed again with their knowledge of the Valkyrie.

Thanks!

RainMaker

[Baron]

Randy and Liz,

I had a great time and learned a lot.  The breakfast and lunch was great and I want to thank you all for it.  It was good to see a Valk fixed properly and brought back to life.

[Stormrider65]

Randy and Liz, 
     I had a great time.  The food was excellent, along with revival of Larry's Valk.  Baron, it was great to see ya again.  Mark, thanks for your teachings on how to do proper wrenching on an I/S.  It was a great experience.  I gained a bit of confidence after it was all said and done.   Disco, thanks for the talk on oil.  VP, your experience on Valks is very impressive.  Yoda, it was great to see ya again.  I think we could have gotten a few dollars for your toy at the pawn shop.     It gives me great pride in knowing that I am a member of the greatest group of people  that share the same love of the Valkyrie.  Again, thanks for all of your friendship and advice.  Looking forward to getting together again.  Ya'll be safe, ride safe and God bless all.

Walt

[Hoghead]

Looks like I missed a great wrench party.  But top this. I left home at about 1 yesterday and got back about 1 this morning. Rode all over ET backroads and around Lake of the Pines with good friends. About 200 miles.  Going for my hernia surgery in the morning, so I will be out of the saddle for a little while. Hope to see everyone soon. Matt

[HayHauler]

Just sayin'.  Hehe

Hay
Jimmyt

[RainMaker]

Sorry, Hay.  Just needed to download these.

Working on reassembly of Larry's Valk after the pumpkin was rebuilt



Valkpilot gets the fluid added to the pumpkin



Larry held on to the bike as Baron was busy supervising the reassembly process.....



Stormrider also participated in the tough supervisory role. 



A lot of beautiful Valks were there, just itching to get "wrenched"



This was Battleship Row - the I/S line.

[Valkpilot]

VP, your experience on Valks is very impressive. 

Walt, you give me too much credit.  Besides the fact that Disco and I share a brain on this stuff, if it weren't for him and the equipment he has access to, we wouldn't have gotten that pumpkin back together.

[john]

for your toy at the pawn shop ....
ya'll had toys too .....
darn     
i just gotta get my back yard work finished ...
next time ...   

[BuzzKill]

We're just on break... thats all...




Rainmakers and Loudpipe Larrys getting some rear work done.




All the Kings Men trying to fit all the little pieces of Humpty Dumpty back together again.




A few of the pretty girls.

[Valkpilot]

Looks like I missed a great wrench party.  But top this. I left home at about 1 yesterday and got back about 1 this morning. Rode all over ET backroads and around Lake of the Pines with good friends. About 200 miles.  Going for my hernia surgery in the morning, so I will be out of the saddle for a little while. Hope to see everyone soon. Matt

200 miles in 12 hours.  Was the bike riding you? 

All seriousness aside, Matt, I'm glad you got out and tore it up some before your hernia hiatus. 

[Hoghead]

Looks like I missed a great wrench party.  But top this. I left home at about 1 yesterday and got back about 1 this morning. Rode all over ET backroads and around Lake of the Pines with good friends. About 200 miles.  Going for my hernia surgery in the morning, so I will be out of the saddle for a little while. Hope to see everyone soon. Matt

200 miles in 12 hours.  Was the bike riding you? 

All seriousness aside, Matt, I'm glad you got out and tore it up some before your hernia hiatus. 

I was taking in the scenery and got great gas mileage too.

[WDAN]

Thank you, Randy and Liz for your hospitality and thank you guys for installing my jack adapter.

Looking forward to meeting more members and getting to know all of you better.

WDAN

[Disco]

Thanks Liz & Randy.  Your hospitality was appreciated.  Again.      It was great to see everyone. 

But top this.

We can't.  You were missed, but it's great to know you were out two-wheeling!      All the best dealing with the hernia stuff. 

Disco, thanks for the talk on oil.

That's just great.  You just had to bring that up in public.  Er, rather, I don't know what you're talking about...   

All the Kings Men trying to fit all the little pieces of Humpty Dumpty back together again.

Now that the 30 minute / 30 mile warranty has clearly expired, I feel more comfortable talking about the big project of the day.  I would describe the work on the final drive as a reassembly, maybe even a partial rebuild, but not a full rebuild.  (Considering the beefy nature of the ring gear and pinion, it's hard to imagine those wearing out...)  The shop in WY that attempted the repairs was in over its head.  They were unable to remove the pinion gear (which didn't look bad to any of us there - same for the ring gear) but had tried to marry the new ring gear (with new drive splines) to the old pinion.  When we did that it made all kinds of clatter just spinning it by hand while it was on the operating table.  At least it spun - score one for the home team. 

After much head scratching, we agreed that our best chance for any success at all would be to match old to old and new to new.  After all, the only obviously failed parts were the drive splines and driven splines.  The only problem with the plan was that it meant we had to press the new drive splines out of the new ring gear and into the old ring gear.  Enter hydraulic press.  Piece of cake.  We didn't even need to use the big press. 

Upon careful reassembly, everything spun smoothly and quietly on the table.  Same on the bike with it on the lift.  Larry took it around the block and said everything felt and sounded fine.  Fingers crossed.

Ride Report, Larry?

[Loudpipe Larry]

No Ride report as of yet, I spent my Sunday taking the trailer back to my brother and then replacing the leaking brake master cylinder and brake pads on the truck as the F150 knew it was NOT suppose to ever haul my Red Dragon..... now renamed Humptey Dumpty.

I owe a lot of Thanks and Gratitude.. and a whole bunch of butt kissing to Disco, VP, Baron and even more to ThagAndy and HollyDay for making it all happen.

Ride report coming later this evening...

[Loudpipe Larry]

Ride Report......  wooohoooooo  40+ miles... and everything is good... had a moment where i thought somethign was really wrong... but it was a bad part of the road that got the bike squirly...

Running at med speed and killing power the rear end was nice and quite..   

[Stormrider65]

Participated in the tough supervisory role????  I decided to help Mark with his U-joint replacement, which, thanks a lot Mark, for letting me help.  I learned a lot at this party, especially how to lift up the rear wheel by yourself.  Sweet trick, Mark.  I'm looking forward to getting together with everyone again. 

Walt

[HayHauler]

I knew there were some semi-pro picture takers in attendance!  Nice pics guys.  It makes it easier on those of us who didn't get up there for his one. 

Sounds like a great time. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Disco]

The football wound up with two extra tools - one 14mm deep socket in 3/8 & one 19mm combination wrench.  

The socket is a MAC.  The combo wrench says Drop Forged Taiwan on it. 

[RainMaker]

The combo wrench says Drop Forged Taiwan on it. 

Rice burner wrench - bah, humbug!

Oh, wait.  I just looked in my wrench "pouch" and all of them are marked Drop Forged Taiwan.  And the 19mm is missing........

Just bring it along with Hay's u-joint.

(slinking away now)

[Disco]

VP & I figured it was yours.  It's already in the same padded envelope HayHauler gave me the u-joint in and in my saddlebag.   

Did you check your sockets, too?   

[RainMaker]

Nope - that socket is not mine. I don't have any MAC tools.  Just those rice burner wrenches.