In over your head?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,151
Likes: 0
Never.. I'm the guy they bring the baskets fulla parts to when that happins LOL..
But for allot of us old geezers we came up the hard way, Livin to ride... and... broke..
We hadda work on our old Flatties, Knuckles, Pans and Shovels in order to stay in the wind..Wasen't anybody went to a dealer and actually bought a bike.. It was always somebody's hand me down, beat up and in need.. Ya can't spend that many years wrenchin and not learn a few things..
Blessings
But for allot of us old geezers we came up the hard way, Livin to ride... and... broke..
We hadda work on our old Flatties, Knuckles, Pans and Shovels in order to stay in the wind..Wasen't anybody went to a dealer and actually bought a bike.. It was always somebody's hand me down, beat up and in need.. Ya can't spend that many years wrenchin and not learn a few things..
Blessings
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Never.. I'm the guy they bring the baskets fulla parts to when that happins LOL..
But for allot of us old geezers we came up the hard way, Livin to ride... and... broke..
We hadda work on our old Flatties, Knuckles, Pans and Shovels in order to stay in the wind..Wasen't anybody went to a dealer and actually bought a bike.. It was always somebody's hand me down, beat up and in need.. Ya can't spend that many years wrenchin and not learn a few things..
Blessings
But for allot of us old geezers we came up the hard way, Livin to ride... and... broke..
We hadda work on our old Flatties, Knuckles, Pans and Shovels in order to stay in the wind..Wasen't anybody went to a dealer and actually bought a bike.. It was always somebody's hand me down, beat up and in need.. Ya can't spend that many years wrenchin and not learn a few things..
Blessings
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 38,428
Likes: 896
Amen to that. And remember, things can always be worse. I wrenched for a Cat Dealer and once we had a customer send in a D9 which he was going to "rebuild" himself.
When he realized he was in over his head, it took 4 flatbeds to haul all the pieces into the shop!
When he realized he was in over his head, it took 4 flatbeds to haul all the pieces into the shop!
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 775
Likes: 2
From: OC California
Yea, shop manuals are really a good thing to have. Get an aftermarket manual like a Clymers as well. Some of the **** is covered better. Don't believe everything you read in them either. I quote "turn the steering head shaft upside down, heat the bearing cone and it will fall off". Ha ha ha. Heated that sucker until it was red hot and it still wouldn't even pry off. Ended up cutting a good groove in it with a diamond dremel bit then hitting it with a cold chissel. Hey, came off then. You are never in over your head unless you give up.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
I consider myself very lucky. My old man taught me many many years ago that if you think about it and study a little, there ain't nothing you can't do yourself. I do afford myself the luxury of having a few things done, like exhaust work on the car because I just don't like doing that, but NOBODY WORKS ON ANY OF MY BIKES EXCEPT ME!!!! No exceptions to that rule. I would not trust anyone to work on my bikes.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,151
Likes: 0
I just finished putting a stater and rectifier in a 20 yr old yamaha virago for a customer..Had it apart a week while I waited for parts.. If I didn't keep track of stuff I woulda never got that jigsaw puzzle back together..Then I couldnt find the rectifier even with the manual.. finally followed the wires and there it was.. It mounts to the back of the passenger footrest bracket on the left side..Whoda thunk LOL
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
There's a nasty little spin on the "tools" part of doing it yourself. It's called "special tools". Some repairs require the use of special tools. The cost can get high but if you are going to keep the bike for a long time it might pay off.
I've tried fixing things myself and had to have the repairs redone again by a professional. I can still do quite a bit on my own though but I have been beaten on occasion. It's an embarrassing learning experience. I've even had a factory manual to refer to. I found out that there are certain things that aren't in the manual and you "just have to know". I'm talking about major items here, not routine stuff.
I did manage to fix something that baffled the local mechanic and the experts on the forum myself though. That felt good. Their fix was a $350 carb. My fix was a $1.98 accelerator pump lever. $348.02 buys a lot of beer and lap dances.
I've tried fixing things myself and had to have the repairs redone again by a professional. I can still do quite a bit on my own though but I have been beaten on occasion. It's an embarrassing learning experience. I've even had a factory manual to refer to. I found out that there are certain things that aren't in the manual and you "just have to know". I'm talking about major items here, not routine stuff.
I did manage to fix something that baffled the local mechanic and the experts on the forum myself though. That felt good. Their fix was a $350 carb. My fix was a $1.98 accelerator pump lever. $348.02 buys a lot of beer and lap dances.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
The best thing is to get a parts,and service manual,and with any mechanical experience,and patience you can do it.You should never be worried if have to give up and take your bike to an experienced mechanic
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Yea, shop manuals are really a good thing to have. Get an aftermarket manual like a Clymers as well. Some of the **** is covered better. Don't believe everything you read in them either. I quote "turn the steering head shaft upside down, heat the bearing cone and it will fall off". Ha ha ha. Heated that sucker until it was red hot and it still wouldn't even pry off. Ended up cutting a good groove in it with a diamond dremel bit then hitting it with a cold chissel. Hey, came off then. You are never in over your head unless you give up.
I typically read the manual first, then I ask the forum if there is an easier or shorter way of doing things, and there usually is. There are some old-timers here that really know their stuff and it is fun to learn from them.
And start small. take off the seat, change your primary oil, then the engine and then the tranny. From there replace the oil filter. Get the right size tools, I have stripped more torx screws in the last year then I will admit. Who in their right mind decided to use #27.
Have fun.
Beary
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