Jethro's back again! Just like a bad penny EH

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by jethro911, May 6, 2020.

  1. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    been a while since I've posted on here. Way too much going on it seems. I didn't ride the 91 last year unfortunately so she sat languishing in the shed under her cover. COVID 19 has changed a few things around here, allowing me to get caught up on a few things and the lack of $$$ means that our home improvements are all on hold. These are the projects that sap my time and keep me out of the saddle it seems. So I dragged the old girl out and bought some insurance for her (ouch). The wife and I took her out for a couple of hours to shake her down and then I remembered all the stuff I planned to do to her when I put her away in 2018.
    - Fork full service and repaint due to corrosion
    - Steering head bearing upgrade to tapered rollers
    - Thermostat replacement (stuck open)
    - Exhaust upgrade to LH exit TBR
    - Remove center stand and mid lower fairings
    - New AGM battery
    There was more but these were the basics that I had prepared for and bought the parts. So yesterday I tore it apart and got started.
    Tore it down further than I really needed to but It was good to have access to everything and now that i'm in this far I may remove the fairing stay to bead blast it and give it a fresh coat of paint. Corrosion is creeping in everywhere and every fastener is now looking like poo. The years aren't kind! Anyway here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure.

    I hope everyone is safe and well!!
     

    Attached Files:

    Samuel and OOTV like this.
  2. Boosh63

    Boosh63 Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2009
    Messages:
    425
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    73
    Location:
    Timmins, Ontario, Canada
    Map
    That's a nice SSSA there Jethro!

    Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
     
    jethro911 likes this.
  3. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    When you painted your forks, did you media blast them and was it just a rattle can paint job? They look nice. Mine are really showing their age but no signs of corrosion though. This fall or winter, I am getting the panels painted again for the second time. Think I will leave the graphics off this time. Those were expensive when I got them at a deal. I don't have those connections with the company any more so will have to pay full price. The good part is, they still have the template for these. When they were first done, I think I paid about 1300 for the complete set. But that included the design of them which of course has already been done.
     
  4. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    Hey randy,
    I debated a few routes whit respect to the fork legs. I have a bead blaster and I was going to have at it with that initially and then I was going to get them powder coated. But then I rationalized that with the measly 2k I will probably ride her this year, why bother with the expense. So I got out my die grinder and used a Roloc wheel to clean the surface till it was smooth, removing all the pits from the corrosion. Then it was a straight rattle can job. Not the most durable finish to be sure but it's quick and a vast improvement.
     
  5. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    Thanks. Mine isn't really pitted. I guess over the years, I have ridden it enough on the freeway in the rain, it kept the salt off but it is really bug stained. Powder coating would be nice and very durable but I suspect that would set me back another 3-4 hundred and at some point, I need to draw the line on this old thing, unless I want to tear it down to the frame and restore. I can get a new bike far cheaper than that.

    I have my front wheel I the powder coaters right now getting re powdered but that needs to be done. Last time they were done, the guy did not mask off where the rotors met the wheel and I think I warped my rotors torqueing them onto a spot that had a layer of coating where is should have been bare. At least I hope that is the problem. Otherwise I have spent a lot of money on new rotors and pads to correct a shudder when aggressive braking from freeway speeds. Shall see.
     
  6. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    I think in general, the finish they put on the fork lower legs is pretty poor. In the first year of ownership they already get stained and pitted from road debris and bugs. Mine were in pretty sad shape after 30 years. The other area that looks pretty sad is the upper triple clamp. It's a lovely machined and painted part that really sets the bike off the first time you see one and mine was pretty corroded. Well I sanded it down and shot it with the same aluminum colour paint as I did the fork lowers. I'm sure the key fob will have its way with this finish in no time so maybe next winter I'll do something more permanent.

    Yesterday I got the forks back together and mounted the front wheel and brakes. I yanked the carbs and removed the thermostat which was indeed stuck wide open as suspected.
    Today I'll yank the lower fairings and center stand to remove the exhaust and start piecing together the Two Brothers system I got last year in NJ.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    I have yet to ever change the thermostat on mine. I think next coolant change I will replace it just because. I am wondering if I have a small hole develop i. I can hear a faint sound in my exhaust, sounding like a leak but it is faint. I would like to get a set of Staintunes for mine it I need exhaust work done. A friend of mine had a set of them on his 03 and it sounded really nice but not obnoxious.

    I am getting near the point of either I should strip this thing down and do a decent over haul from the frame up of get a new bike. Or both. I do not really enjoy doing mechanics on the bike so I may just sell it and get a new bike, someday, some year. Maybe not. I may just run this one into the ground. If I last that long.
     
  8. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    Check this thermostat out. Talk about STUCK, this was stuck wide open!
     

    Attached Files:

  9. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    Monday morning here in Ontario and yes it's snowing again! In fact it has been snowing for the last four days but thankfully only lightly. It is depression though. Despite the crappy weather I started working on the final phase of my VFR spring preparations, the Two Brothers exhaust. When you see the milk crate full of exhaust bits I had to work with you will likely question my sanity. The system was in horrible condition. The pipes are badly corroded and took forever to clean up in the blast cabinet before I welded the two front primary's back to the main header. So blasted, welded and with a coat of VHT header paint I installed them on the bike and everything fit well so it's not all bad news.
    Moving on I started assembly of the muffler, which I had cut four inches off because it was way too long and looked hideous. It's still pretty hideous and I may look for a generic can that will fit the outlet so I can get a round profile instead of this oval one. The oval is too tall and it makes access to the rear hub difficult for the Pitbull stand.
    In order to complete the installation I need some exhaust springs (6) and nobody seems to have these things in stock. Amazon does but it's like four to six weeks delivery so that won't do. Let me know if you guys have any ideas!
     

    Attached Files:

  10. RllwJoe

    RllwJoe Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,116
    Likes Received:
    315
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Western Lower Peninsula, Michigan
    Map
    Most snowmobiles, especially the two strokes use exhaust springs. Have you checked with any of the dealerships or parts suppliers in your area?
     
  11. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    Not yet but I did find a few in my junk bin that fit good so I at least have a reference to go shopping with. Snowmobile dealers are getting more scarce and my old Skidoo mach Z spares are pretty much depleted.
     
  12. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    Managed to finalize the mount, rivet the can and get her polished up. Not bad for a box of scrap parts! Clearance is tight......still wish I had a round can like my old 91 had.
     

    Attached Files:

    OOTV likes this.
  13. RllwJoe

    RllwJoe Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,116
    Likes Received:
    315
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Western Lower Peninsula, Michigan
    Map
    I see your problem!

    The pipe is on the wrong side of the bike.:pass:

    Looking good though.
     
    jethro911 likes this.
  14. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    After dealing with some exhaust leaks and a few small fairing repairs, she's all back together and ready for the first test ride. Sun is shining and the temps are above freezing. It snowed again yesterday so I was thinking that summer was never coming. But here she is.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    nice work! What kind of front rotors do you have on that bike? is it a stock vfr front wheel with different rotors?
     
  16. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    Thank you, that is a 4th gen front wheel and rotor.
     
  17. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    nice, I have a CBR600 F3 front wheel on my 91 with same oem spacers, I have EBC Pro-Lites on that one, I noticed an immediate lighter front end feeling with the wheel, bear in mind I did this mod 20 years ago, and bartered labour for the disks as they were 150 per side back then!

    I was able to try a customers front wheel from a race bike we were servicing, I rode my bike like that for a week or so, back then they still had motorcycle junk yards and I was able to source a nice black front 98 or so front F3 front wheel. Funny thing is that the F3 had a double pinch bolts on the fork legs and my VFR has one per side, it works perfect, like I said above, same spacers, axle etc.
     
  18. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Merrickville, Ontario Canada
    Map
    I bought this bike in the fall of 2018 and both of the stock gold rims were bent slightly due to a pothole or what have you. I found this set for sale with fresh rubber and powdercoat in Florida for $600 complete with discs. So I jumped on it and so far they are running true and smooth. The powdercoat is poor though. When they blasted the wheels to prep them for powdercoat, I think they used goad gravel for blast media! Sad but still looks ok from a few feet away.
     
  19. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    I had rear wheel done recently $100 us, came out nice. I had this bike since 95 bought for $4500 with 4000 miles. Now, 81,000 miles - most I have spent on a bike. My 93 I bought in 2014 for $500 us - 15,000 miles now 30,000.
     

    Attached Files:

    Laker and jethro911 like this.
Related Topics

Share This Page