What did you do to Your Sportster Today?
 

I had an Unscheduled Oil Change! :icon_crackup:

Riding the bike to the shop I rode up a lip onto the walkway. Parked and went into the shop.

About 30 minutes later I stepped outside and did a double-take! There was a big puddle under my bike, and it was growing!

I took a quick look and saw it was coming out the oil tank drain hose, around the plug.

Devin grabbed a drain pan and some towels.

Here's a pic of us part way through mopping up the oil.

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After all the oil finished draining out, it was easy to see what had happened.

The hose clamp had got pinched between the cement lip and the frame, deforming it. It no longer was keeping the hose in a tight seal around the plug.

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I have ridden up that lip onto the walkway dozens of times...but this time it caught that hose just "right".

We put the plug back in with a new hose clamp, replaced the oil with some new oil.

And NOW I have done what I always thought about doing, but never did....zip-tied that hose up so it is no longer the lowest hanging part at the bottom of the bike.

:)

My 1200C tucks up next to the frame, not under it, but I've wondered if a good tap could break the clip holding it there.

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And if that dropped down, could something catch it and rip it off? A zip tie next to that plastic clamp sounds like a good idea. Sounds like you're lucky you didn't have to replace a busted plug, too.

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And no, I didn't go out in a freezing garage and move the bike for these pics, from a couple summers ago. :D

Wow, how weird is that?
I didnt like the worm drive hose clamp anyway and use a fuel injection hose clamp on mine but I bet it too would have been deformed.

I glanced at my 48. It's been hooked-up to the tender with no rides in the near future.

I got my oil to operating temp and 75 miles later I parked it. It was t shirt riding weather today.

Imod, use a zip tie through the hollow spot between the drain tube and frame clamp.

Husband put my christmas present, my tour pack on my ride....then went for a ride to finish shopping. Was no jacket riding weather.....was grrrreat!!

See what you mean, looks like the best spot, thanks.

Glanced at it as I put down my second bag of ice melt in the past two days. It is helping me quit smoking, as I get kinda down sitting in garage, smoking, looking at it and what I can do to it next. 5"-9" snow in the process as I type. :(
Nine days off after tomorrow though. Will get my progressive front springs put in while I have time :) I need to redneck my old Chevy and do more 4 wheelin

Picked my 883L up from the getting repaired after my accident a month and half ago. Upgraded the stock headlight with a PIAA extreme white bulb, and turned the rear signals into run, turn, stop lights. Also made all the rear lights flash when breaking.

I covered it and waxed the tank and fenders and dreamed of riding it. Temps were in the 50's but we have about 5" of snow to melt. Looking for a jack to lift the bike up so I can install the detachable backrest.
I covered her back up, put the tender back on. Now it's on to the HD parts and accessories catalog.

finished my RSD clip on install, bled my front brake, rode in this abnormally warm weather to MD and DC.

Partially through winter projects......

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Plasti dipping the front wheel, damn winter downtime.

That sucks but nice work kevin, you are a pro~

Put it to bed for the winter. It hasn't stopped snowing for days.

:icon_laugh:

I reckon a pro would not have procrastinated zip tying the hose up...OR ridden up on the walkway to do burn-outs or hear the exhaust echo off the building. lol

Today I put my dagger back on the sissy bar. Much better!

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I began the process of plasti- dipping my 48 tank, stock silver to plasti- red. 4 coats and can still see the sporster scribble on the side, I figure 5 or 6 more and I'm golden.

Post Pics!

Sorry about the pic, I'm getting used to how to go about it on the forum.

Blood Red - That's gonna look good!

Kevin
Did you do any damage to the plug or just the clamp? I have pondered using a spring clamp but after reading this it may not be such a good idea. I don't see a plastic clip that holds hose up on my bike. May look into getting one but mine isn't all that long below frame anyway.

When I first saw it leaking I thought it was the plastic plug that was damaged...then saw the bent clamp.

The plug has a scrape mark on the bottom, but it was not deformed in any way.

I don't have any plastic clip to hold my hose up out of the way either. It is an '09 883L. Before zip tying it up it hung down 1.5" lower than everything else on the bottom of the bike.

Thats good. Glad you didn't have any issues from the incident. My hose is up far enough that after going out and looking again, shouldn't ever catch anything. The plastic plug is a 1/2" below rear master cylinder bracket so I may put a spring clamp there after all.

Finished the dip
 

Nine coats of plasti dip red on a silver 48 tank. Sportster logo still comes through but more of a shadow than anything.

Great job dude! I'm contemplating doing something like that too. So far I've only "dipped" some smaller parts such as the headlight bezel, air filter, gas cap etc.

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Installed American Custom Black Ceramic Bullet Mufflers

The blade should come out easily with the proper know-how, IMO you never know.

just installed my Christmas gift (Burly Slammers) to my '99 883C

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Thanks for the compliment, I think if I had used black, the logo would nt be visible at all. I really like the set up of your bike, the tank lift is super clean. I'm definitely going that route with mine. As far as plasti-dip, I'm sure you know but the second fuel touches it....history

Installed my Santa goods. V&H twin slash 3" slip ons and se heat shields.

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I rode the piss out of her. Rode to the gym and wound up leaving early because, ya know, motorcycles n' shit. Spilled gas all over the tank. picked up chinese food.

This weekend is garage clean up and prep for hammer kit.

Mary got me a sissybar bag for Xmas. Put it on there today.

Yeah, the bikes looks better without it. BUT, this is my daily rider to the shop, and on appointments...have gotten tired of bungee cording the backpack on and off the sissy bar. This is much easier, and I have room to carry more than I can stuff in my pockets. lol

I have a swingarm bag, but I did not like that look on the bike anymore than this one the sissy bar...plus when you have bad knees like I do, it is much easier to get in and out of this sissybar bag. :)

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Today I picked up my sporty from the dealer after getting Vance and Hines short shots installed...
OMG
this bike now sounds like sexxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I twisted a new chrome 10mm banjo bolt into my m/c and only got two turns before binding up. I have a pair of them (they have 3/8 -24 threads [fine] and are 0.79" from bottom of head to end of threads). Goodridge? part# 45596. I'll send them to 1st one who wants them and PM's addy. Came with 4 copper crush washers also. I found out (after ordering) that my m/c takes a true metric 10mm x 1.25 pitch banjo bolt. Cheers!

Installed my new Seat
 

A LePera Bare Bones. I really love it. Looks good and rides good. Its firm but it actually seems to dampen vibration and bumps better than the stocker.

Installed some micro LED indicators today. The Arlen Ness brackets didn't fit at all! The fit sucked big time! Had to modify them and that took me a good four hours! Grind and test fit, grind some more and test fit. But I'm happy with result...

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Changing up colors for 2014. Powder coated the front fender so far. tank and rear fender next. I think the color turned out cool. Lots of flake and it changes multiple colors in the sun light.
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That's PC?!?! Very nice!