or you'll do it!
:lol:
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/531592427_p6un8-L.jpg)
Sprag clutch? Dayum! Were you or where you not just praising your problem-free Steamer? :?
Not my bike (thankfully), just my garage.
Pretty frickin' cool, too...after hearing about it for the last 5 years or so that I've been into Steamers, to finally see what it's all about - awesome!
:lol:
Oh, shite - hope it's not contagious...maybe a little touch of the sprag-flu going around?
Keep that sprag flu the hell away from my garage, please! :lol:
Quote from: JetdocXKeep that sprag flu the hell away from my garage, please! :lol:
a-frikin-men to that.
Awww, it's not that bad. You just have to disassemble most of the bike...
Honestly, I've spent much more time on the carbs than on the sprag, and I actually did the sprag twice, if you recall.
hey mudhen, is that you buddy's bike from the off road pics?
Quote from: "Dr. Mordo"Honestly, I've spent much more time on the carbs than on the sprag, and I actually did the sprag twice, if you recall.
I definitely don't have that much tolerance for pain. I remember reading your posts thinking, 'this guy is either a complete nutjob, or just has the patience of a saint'. My garage is full of projects gone bust - I'll have no problem adding this to the pile if it doesn't go the first time. (actually, since it's not my bike, I'll just have Zahi haul it away!)
Yes, A - it's Zahi's bike. He came over a couple weeks ago so we could put in a new airbox and clean up the carbs. When we were trying to get the fuel to pickup after the work we cranked it a bunch. It banged pretty good every once in awhile, and then the banging got more and more frequent. We made a couple frantic calls to Mustang (we're the reason he's going to take his phone number off his website :wink: ) and he gave us the grim diagnosis...
Zahi may chime in here, but I believe the banging was happening every once in awhile BEFORE we touched it, though. At least, that's what is helping me sleep at night. :oops:
it's stories like this that scared me into buying an agm batree, and to never try and start it with a low charge. once sorted out though, his bike will be on the trail.
Quote from: "aeronca"it's stories like this that scared me into buying an agm batree, and to never try and start it with a low charge. once sorted out though, his bike will be on the trail.
A shiver went down my spine when Zahi opened his toolbag up and there was a battery jump-start pack in it...
I am considering a complete rebuild of the 96 I just aquired, I have no service history, had 6 previous owners to my knowledge, I think it's got DAR, I suspect the carbs need an ovehaul, it's done 87k miles.
My question is this, is there anything that can be done to avoid or reduce the likelyhood of sprag clutch failure other than don't try to start with a low battery?
Quote from: "Sin_Tiger"My question is this, is there anything that can be done to avoid or reduce the likelyhood of sprag clutch failure other than don't try to start with a low battery?
Does it run? Does it start? after 87K miles, it's all gravy to me. Run that thing into the ground!
How to avoid sprag clutch failure? Well, if you need to tear it down at 87K you should probably replace it just because it's a lot less work once the engine is already torn down. If you plan to just ride it, then keep the battery charged and plug it in at night to a battery tender if possible. Start the bike on choke, no right wrist is usually required.
Thanks, problem here is I live 24 floors above the parking and fixing up a chrager/tender in the comunal parking area is not an option.
There is a lot of road between Cambodia and Singapore with little chance of recovery and they rarely see anything other than a Honda cub or a couple of GS's with support truck :roll:
+ I'm an engineer, if it can be f****d with I will want to do it :lol:
You certainly should replace the sprag while you have the engine out if you don't mind spending the money. If it's original with 18k miles on it, it could start to go at any moment.
I'm pretty sure that a sprag has a finite number of cranks, and once you exceed that number it dies. So when something happens that requires a great deal of cranking, like a carb rebuild or ignition problems, you are burning up your sprag at a accelerated rate. I don't think anything you can do will make it last longer or die faster - it just dies when it has turned over 1 too many times.
Quote from: "Dr. Mordo"You certainly should replace the sprag while you have the engine out if you don't mind spending the money. If it's original with 18k miles on it, it could start to go at any moment.
I'm pretty sure that a sprag has a finite number of cranks, and once you exceed that number it dies. So when something happens that requires a great deal of cranking, like a carb rebuild or ignition problems, you are burning up your sprag at a accelerated rate. I don't think anything you can do will make it last longer or die faster - it just dies when it has turned over 1 too many times.
Don't say stuff like that man :lol:
I swear I just shouldn't come to this website because it just makes me paranoid. Though, I did find out about DAR here and have to fix it, so maybe it's justified fear :shock:
Sometimes I think it's better to just ride them in blissful ignorance, there is very little you can "predict" on a Steamer. Just fix the stuff as it breaks. :cry:
And the Steamer is the LAST bike I would ever take to a remote location. Only if I didn't mind sticking a rag in the gas tank, lighting it and walking away. You might leave with the Steamer, but I doubt you will come back with one. :roll:
Quote from: "JetdocX"Sometimes I think it's better to just ride them in blissful ignorance, there is very little you can "predict" on a Steamer. Just fix the stuff as it breaks. :cry:
And the Steamer is the LAST bike I would ever take to a remote location. Only if I didn't mind sticking a rag in the gas tank, lighting it and walking away. You might leave with the Steamer, but I doubt you will come back with one. :roll:
Stop it!!! :lol:
I took mine to new mexico and back from oregon with no problems, and besides fixing DAR I've had no problems with it at all. Starts up every time, and runs like a top. Of course it's only got 22k on it, not much for a bike made in 1996.
I ride solo on logging roads off in the middle of nowhere with it without thinking twice.
But yeah, every time I come to this forum I want to slap that son of a bitch up on craigslist before I wind up having to make a repair worth more than the value of the bike.
Quote from: "JetdocX"Sometimes I think it's better to just ride them in blissful ignorance, there is very little you can "predict" on a Steamer. Just fix the stuff as it breaks. :cry:
And the Steamer is the LAST bike I would ever take to a remote location. Only if I didn't mind sticking a rag in the gas tank, lighting it and walking away. You might leave with the Steamer, but I doubt you will come back with one. :roll:
Do you still own that bike?
Crap, dude...sell it and move on. Or don't sell it and move on. Either way, move on - preferably to some forum I don't watch...
:lol:
Just goofing, of course. I know you had it bad. I just don't think anyone else here has gone through what you did, although I can't really remember all of it - wasn't it just the horn?
Don't listen to the green Ninja he bought someone else's nightmare .............................
Steamers are very reliable , and the Girly bikes can suffer from sprag failure also , it's just a little easier to fix on a Girly bike .
My 98 tiger wanders off all over the USA usually all by my lonesome and it's ready to leave on a cross country adventure at a moments notice .
OK not quite it need's some new sneakers b4 it could leave .
60k and here's the entire list of "breakdowns " that has ever happened to it
rejetted the carbs ....brand new
1 broken alt . bolt at around 5 k
rear showa POS shock took a hike at around 20 k
coils got replaced with nologys at 38 k
also changed the ignitor sensor when I did the coils but the old one was still good
rear wheel bearing at 45 k and
headstock bearing at 52 k , even though it really needed doing 8000 miles sooner .
Jeez not a bad list for 60 k miles
and the regular stuff
4 chain and sprocket sets , 2 rub strips and 2 rub blocks
new brake pads every 10 k
valves check or / and adjust every 10 k
tires every 8-10 k
and oil and grease every 4-6 k
oh and headlight bulbs seem to go every summer at least 1 a year
and it gets a new Wal Mart battery every 2 years for 40 bucks .
The list for the 95 is even shorter
45 k on it and has had the igniter sensor fail at 20 k
and the ignitor went tit's up at 28k ,(fixed that for the price of a 2 dollar transistor )
speedo cable broke at 35 k
that's it , told ya it was a short list .also the regular stuff for maint .
and both of em bent the kickstand's
Steamers are very reliable , unless you get one of them second hand ones that just happen to be British Racing Green
:ImaPoser
By remote location, I don't mean anywhere within U-haul distance of home. I'd take mine anywhere on this continent because I know I can get it U-hauled out if (when) something happens. Sin Tiger wants to take it around SE Asia. How's the dealer support over there I wonder??? :roll:
Riding the Steamer around the world? Not me. YMMV. I'd take an XR or a DR. :wink:
Yes, Mudhen, I have replaced the horns. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Mustang, what tires are you using getting 8-10k on?
Quote from: "Mr. Jetmoto"Mustang, what tires are you using getting 8-10k on?
Three TKC-80s. :mrgreen:
Mine had 70k+ on it when the sprag failed, which was the first time the bike req'd a mechanic according to the original owner (who put those 70k on it over about 10 years). Around that same time it had the DAR. The details on the DAR are sketchy, but the sprag is what grounded it.
I got it after it sat for 3 years, so many other things had deteriorated as it sat such as the carbs, shock, etc. But after 10 years and 70k miles the original owner sold it as a fully functioning bike that had never had any significant repairs.
Quote from: "JetdocX"Yes, Mudhen, I have replaced the horns. :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol:
Sorry about that, didn't mean to bring up more bad memories. :wink:
I just put a new set of TKCs on my Steamer. I'm
hoping to get 5k out of the rear.
Hoping.
Hoping because I hate being one of those freaks that regularly gets over 10k on them...I want to be one of the crowd...fit in...like you cool guys... :P
Quote from: "Mr. Jetmoto"Mustang, what tires are you using getting 8-10k on?
Metzler Tourance , the original tourances . the VR rated ones
and I have a Maxxis Presa Detour on the front right now that has gone 15k and still has tread left .
The rear Maxxis .......well that was shot bald as a baby's butt after 6500
Quote from: "Mustang"Quote from: "Mr. Jetmoto"Mustang, what tires are you using getting 8-10k on?
Metzler Tourance , the original tourances . the VR rated ones
and I have a Maxxis Presa Detour on the front right now that has gone 15k and still has tread left .
The rear Maxxis .......well that was shot bald as a baby's butt after 6500
I have a karoo traveler on the rear right now and it's shot after less than 2k. I'm pissed. I do like the tourances, but I like knobbies better. If only they were cheap, or lasted longer...
Quote from: "JetdocX"How's the dealer support over there I wonder??? :roll:
Riding the Steamer around the world? Not me. . :lol: :lol: :lol:
One dealer in Singapore, just opened a Triumph dealer in Pattaya (Thailand) and that's it baby.
I stopped smoking so I won't be carrying a lighter :lol:
I have read of a few Roadies already had to replace the sprag clutch due to attempting a start with a failed battery, so it's not an issue that seems to have been resolved by Hinckley.
The Roadie is on a C-Tek in the UK but I can't do that with the Steamer out here, perhaps a voltmeter might be a worthwhile addition.
Thanks for the advice on the rebuild, not on the inflamatory stuff :p
Quote from: "Mudhen"Quote from: "JetdocX"Yes, Mudhen, I have replaced the horns. :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol:
Sorry about that, didn't mean to bring up more bad memories. :wink:
I just put a new set of TKCs on my Steamer. I'm hoping to get 5k out of the rear.
Hoping.
Hoping because I hate being one of those freaks that regularly gets over 10k on them...I want to be one of the crowd...fit in...like you cool guys... :P
Are you running a 140/80-17 TKC? If so, where did you get it?
Quote from: "Mr. Jetmoto"Are you running a 140/80-17 TKC? If so, where did you get it?
No, 130/80-17. I'd thought about moving up to the 150 since these are mainly just street tires for me (I have an 18/21 setup for real dirt trips) but it would have been a complete waste of money ($53 more for the 150 at tiresunlimited). Plus if I do hit the dirt with them the 130 is way better than the 150.
I'm running the 130's as well, and they are plenty wide for the bike. And load rating is still good.
Geof
You guys ever used the michelin desert tire? I ordered one a few days ago.
If it goes quickly I may go for a 130 tkc next time.