Author Topic: 42 Degrees, Harley Time in WI (Read 1661 times)

Cheesehead · « **on:** March 06, 2010, 01:42:17 PM »

I planned on doing just a little spring cleaning in the garage today. So I pushed the Fatboy out into the middle of the driveway and got to it. After I had finished the spring cleaning I could not help but admire the Harley sitting in the bright sun shine. So I checked the oil, pulled out the choke, hit the starter switch for about a minute and it was running perfectly. Back in the house I went for my leather jacket and gloves and stocking cap. After idling for about 10 minutes the Fatboy was ready to go and off we went for a short but exciting 10 mile ride. Flannel jeans are the secret to success this time of year. Good Times!

Cheese

gman628 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2010, 03:19:48 PM »

It was about 42 degrees here in S.E. Mich. today too. I saw three really chilly riders go by myself, I thought about it, but you would think we're the salt capitol of the world by the way we spread it on our roads. I'll need at least one good rain before my bike leaves the driveway. It's gettin' close though.

Gary

mauser98us · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2010, 03:41:02 PM »

It's always Harley time here in Arizona. And if ; I can get it,Leiniekugels's as well.

Dirt Bag · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2010, 02:15:43 AM »

"Salt Capital" is down here GMan..... This stufff aint snow. Have to run through places like this to get out to the main road. Hate to think how much rain it will take to clean it up.

Picture don't show it, but this is looking up a hill. Guess they really poured it on. But if they didn't, ya just know somebody would call the township and complain. The roads are awfull too... worst we've seen for a while.
Good to hear that some of you guys been riding. Be careful.
Best'
D.B.

pastorp · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2010, 02:38:06 AM »

I rode 5 days straight. week before last. Then the rain set in again and the wind.

I'm learning to hate the rain after all these years in se alaska.

Regards,

gman628 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2010, 03:12:10 AM »

Quote from: Dirt Bag on March 07, 2010, 02:15:43 AM

"Salt Capital" is down here GMan..... This stufff aint snow. Have to run through places like this to get out to the main road. Hate to think how much rain it will take to clean it up.

Picture don't show it, but this is looking up a hill. Guess they really poured it on. But if they didn't, ya just know somebody would call the township and complain. The roads are awfull too... worst we've seen for a while.
Good to hear that some of you guys been riding. Be careful.
Best'
D.B.

Brother, you need Katrina to wash that salt away!

Gary

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2010, 01:52:15 PM »

It's been nice here all weekend but between the salt on the ground and being just too busy, I didn't get out.

Too much invested in chrome to cover it in road salt.

jumpsteady · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:47:24 AM »

Had my sporty out for the last 4 day. been between 53 and 60 for the highs. great for this time of the year here in kansas

RJL-77 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2010, 01:39:50 PM »

Got to 40 here on Tuesday, Started right up so I puttered 20 blocks and wrapped her back up. Calls for snow tomorow again. Jim

giturgun · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2010, 02:08:54 PM »

I don't pay attention to the salt . Bought mine to ride , is just a friggin modersikle . Got a lot more in my truck and it is much more comfortable with heat even. It rides in the salt mud and other slop. Just can't understand this metal beast worship or whatever it is.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2010, 02:45:21 AM »

Quote

I could not help but admire the Harley sitting in the bright sun shine.

Strange how you are trying to go about your buisness only to look over and see the bike smilin at ya!

buck460XVR · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2010, 08:50:27 AM »

Quote from: giturgun on March 11, 2010, 02:08:54 PM

I don't pay attention to the salt . Bought mine to ride , is just a friggin modersikle .

Bought mine to ride also, but the sand and salt at the intersections we have around here makes it worth waitin' for the spring rains to wash it off. I'll ride the Dyna with salt on the roads, but I don't like mixin' salt with the wire rims that Ol' Paint wears.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2010, 09:27:36 AM »

The rains have come and gone. Lots of rain. Its time, for me anyways.

Cheese

giturgun · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2010, 02:24:39 PM »

Rodem y Gw in the rain yesterday. Made a trip to Elizabethton and picke up my sister in law's Can - Am Spyder for her today. Rain hourly forcast said rain till 4;00 pm Clear and again rain at 5'00 Got off at 3;30 and got a ride from a fellow worker that lives close to the shop . Arrived at 4'00 and headed home . pulled in the car port at about 425 or 30 and the rain was about 10 min behind me as well as the temp drop from 63 deg. to 52 in about 20 min.
Had the frog tog , but just a few drops hit the last 2 or 3 miles home.

MAN I AM GOOD

buck460XVR · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2010, 10:27:38 AM »

Got out finely last week a few times with both bikes.......damn it felt good.

giturgun · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:00:23 PM »

Came in yesterday from work and decided to put the new progressive springs in the front forks. Tore the front off and took the old out and built a jig to install the new springs. Got it together with the oil level at 6 inches below the fork tube top with the legs compressed and no spring installed . Per progressive instructions. Put it all back together this morning and rode it about 40 miles with the front fender still off. I always ride em partly stripped in case . Have had to completly tear some right back apart if something didn't work just right. I went to 20 wt oil and it really stepped the damping and the anti dive up where I like it
Forks are more stable now and it stays on the intended line at higher speeds . Wanted to hunt before.
Man I love the dual anti - dive on this bike . The linked front and rear disk keeps it from diving and if more is needed the front only brake has anti dive seperate . It is awesome to have one set up with the better springs and the heavier oil. I am a happier Kamper yes I am

jager · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:10:30 PM »

Here in MO it was 70 yesterday and I hauled the "Vic" out for a spin! It was great to get back in the "saddle". I'm glad I got out yesterday because it's in the 30's today and "spitting" sleet (darn global warming

).

giturgun · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:51:08 PM »

Ok got some of the rebuild posted on photobucket , here are some

One fork removed

pieces and parts layed out in a row

Top piece of the fixture for installation

Socket with 17 mm hex head for the internal plug assembly

Bottom of leg on jack

Pic of position of leg on homemade fixture

Spring is longer than leg so the jack pushes the socket on the spring till it is short enough to reach the threads

When the leg starts to be forced down all you gotta do is pull it into the threads and turn it by hand
This is a much easier method than standing on the seat and pushing the spring in . This is a progressive rate wound spring designed to support the front of a 900 pound bike The plug is flat where it sits on the spring . Teeth have been lost and it will hurt you if your hand slips. My method though much easier to do is still not without it's possibility of hurting you bad. The sring is under lots of force . Be careful if you try either way.

giturgun · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2010, 04:06:19 PM »

Better put one of the legs before and after . Would not want to be accused of putting it back dirty

Dirt Bag · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2010, 02:10:17 AM »

Giturgun..... that's a fine job rigging up a press with a scissor jack. Good mechanic can make do with what he has handy sometimes. Man, I can see where that top plug would knock out some teeth if it ever took flight. My buddy at the bike shop puts in a few lowering kits and chrome lower legs. Never been in on it, but did have to make up a threaded rod rig to compress a springer front end. Wasn't much to it.
Have about an inch of snow here this morning..... everything above that covered in ice. Good start to spring. (most of it will probably be gone by tomorrow).
Have a good one all..... and ride careful.
Respect;
D.B.

RJL-77 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2010, 01:02:19 PM »

Snow and rain yesterday and today. Nothing that stuck but low 30s today. Spring is here and May's comming. gettin itchy to ride. Jim

myronman3 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:55:22 AM »

dragged mine out of the house today, going for a ride in about 30 minutes.

deernhog · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2010, 03:08:32 AM »

Cold and snow on Sunday. Rain Sunday night melted the snow and rode to work the next morning. I think we got the cold licked here in OK. It might throw a wild punch but it is pretty much done. Time for turkey hunting, crappie and white bass fishing, and a lot of riding.

buck460XVR · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2010, 10:04:02 AM »

Took Wednesday afternoon off and went ridin'. With all the ice we had this winter, there's still a 'ell of a lot of sand on the roads, especially on the hills and curves over in the ridges and coulees. On top of that, it's barn and calf pen cleaning time in Wisconsin, so the road in front of every farm is covered with manure. Then there's the occasional clump of hay in the road that fell off the wagon now that the farmers can get out in the fields and retrieve large round bales. But what put the frostin' on the cake was, they've been clearin' brush from along the roads thru Wildcat, so there's wood chips, branches and sawdust everywhere I like to drag floorboards.

.............but, even tho most of the 200 miles we rode was like walkin' on marbles, it still was a great day to be ridin'.

deernhog · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2010, 05:11:44 PM »

Went over 70degrees today but I was trapped in at work and just getting over the flu. I see more to come. The last snow got no sand or salt and the hard rain the flowing day cleaned the roads pretty good still have to watch a few low spots around the intersections where it settled.

RJL-77 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 07, 2010, 04:51:56 PM »

last Saturday Bubba and I went for a ride to the range to shoot. It was 80 degrees... 45 degrees over the norm for here easter weekend. we will take it a day at a time cause that is all we can depend on.