"DIY MODS" and TRICKS to SAVE $$$$$$
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
LED Calculator
For those of you who are or wanting to experiment with LED arrays, I've used this calculator before when I created my own LED taillight on my previous chopper.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
There are even companies out there that will make a couple printed circuit boards complete with drilled holes and solder traces already ran for fairly inexpensive.
I have to look at my schematics to see how I did it but there is a way to make standard LEDs dual intensity so they were being used as both running & brake lights. I'm not positive but I think what I did was take the incoming voltage (13V) and divide it in half and use that number in the calculator. All I know is when I got done with it I couldn't even look at it when full power was applied it was so bright.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
There are even companies out there that will make a couple printed circuit boards complete with drilled holes and solder traces already ran for fairly inexpensive.
I have to look at my schematics to see how I did it but there is a way to make standard LEDs dual intensity so they were being used as both running & brake lights. I'm not positive but I think what I did was take the incoming voltage (13V) and divide it in half and use that number in the calculator. All I know is when I got done with it I couldn't even look at it when full power was applied it was so bright.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert AZ
For those of you who are or wanting to experiment with LED arrays, I've used this calculator before when I created my own LED taillight on my previous chopper.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
There are even companies out there that will make a couple printed circuit boards complete with drilled holes and solder traces already ran for fairly inexpensive.
I have to look at my schematics to see how I did it but there is a way to make standard LEDs dual intensity so they were being used as both running & brake lights. I'm not positive but I think what I did was take the incoming voltage (13V) and divide it in half and use that number in the calculator. All I know is when I got done with it I couldn't even look at it when full power was applied it was so bright.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
There are even companies out there that will make a couple printed circuit boards complete with drilled holes and solder traces already ran for fairly inexpensive.
I have to look at my schematics to see how I did it but there is a way to make standard LEDs dual intensity so they were being used as both running & brake lights. I'm not positive but I think what I did was take the incoming voltage (13V) and divide it in half and use that number in the calculator. All I know is when I got done with it I couldn't even look at it when full power was applied it was so bright.
Any chance you're in AZ and wanna exchange a few beers for some LED help?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
$185 bottoms
You will have to glue them in. I will make them a little bigger and you trim to fit. I had to trim mine a bit to get the fit I wanted.
Im in Cincinnati OH.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
Ok, here's my small mod. I just installed stretched hard bags and was terrified of loosing them or getting them stolen. So, I did the u-nut mod mentioned earlier in this thread, but used security Allen boles instead of just straight Allen bolts.
After I did that, I noticed that any Joe could still just reach in with a wrench and spin off the bolts holding the saddlebag bracket with the u-nuts, (even when the bags are locked closed) so I replaced those bolts with security Allen bolts too.
About 6 bucks for added piece of mind. What are the odds a thief will have security Allen wrench heads?
After I did that, I noticed that any Joe could still just reach in with a wrench and spin off the bolts holding the saddlebag bracket with the u-nuts, (even when the bags are locked closed) so I replaced those bolts with security Allen bolts too.
About 6 bucks for added piece of mind. What are the odds a thief will have security Allen wrench heads?
Last edited by Jon 2005 Road King; Mar 4, 2011 at 11:44 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,518
Likes: 57,070
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
That's a great idea! and here I was thinkin' I was gonna have to get smaller feet!
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 167
Likes: 1
From: SC
Change out your brake fluid
For all the do it yourself people here is a quick brake bleeding device a friend made and used until he passed in a motorcycle accident. This consists of an old spaghetti jar, 1/4" plastic tubing, a scrap of PVC sink drain, a scrap of wood to make a plug, a 3" strip of duct tape and his miti-vac. Just keep a snug fit from the holes to the tubing for good suction. After being asked how it works, he simply stated "It sucks". It works well and does not drain the reservoir too fast due to the small tubing. Just watch for the fluid to go clear as it enters the jar.
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