Monthly Archives: September 2011

Brake Light Pedal Switch (September 26, 2011)

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This has been a busy month for broken/if it’s not broken fix it things.  I noticed the brake light kept staying on all the time, even when I wasn’t moving.  The culprit – the rear brake switch (right foot pedal) spring has sprung.  No matter how it is adjusted it just keeps staying in the on position instead of springing back to off when the brake is released.  Solution, remove spring & connector.  Brake light no longer works when only using rear brake but since I always use the front brake as well it is not a big deal.

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Blinker Fix (September 26, 2011)

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Finally installed a new right turn blinker.  LED.  Got these online for 4 for $20.  Eventually will replace the front left one so they match but need to find an LED blinker controller that works with my bike before I can replace all four with LED blinkies.

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Center Stand (September 26, 2011)

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So why doesn’t every bike come with a center stand?  How is one supposed to change a flat tire, align a tire, or what when the bike is leaning on a side stand?  Anyway, bought a used (of course) center stand off of ebay & installed it.  Then noticed that something’s not quite right.  The stand, while centered in the bracket (it will not fit any other way) rubs on the left side of the tire when in the up position.  So apparently my swing arm is not quite aligned, or something.  If the stand is centered there should be equal spacing on either side of the tire, but … there’s not.  There is sufficient room on the right side that makes it look like if centered there should be sufficient clearance on both, but for whatever reason there’s not.  At least I can use it when a) changing tires, b) tearing the engine down like I am now (August 2013 at time of writing).

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Starter Button Replacement (September 10, 2011)

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One of the problems with a 30 year old bike is having 30 year old rubber and plastic pieces.  These pieces eventually dry out, becoming brittle, and break.  Sometimes these parts are small, like the starter button.  Note the hole just below the yellow word “START” on the right, to the left of the grip.  This is where a black plastic button about the same size as the hole should be.  After 30 years it broke one day when I pushed it.  So I had a friendly session with the handle & found out a) there’s a reason it is an insulated button, an uninsulated metal button will blow the main fuse, b) you can shock yourself if starting your bike with a key (by inserting it into the hole) while not wearing gloves.  Sometimes hard to find part, occasionally can be found on ebay for about $8.

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Blinker Broken (September 7, 2011)

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Just happened to notice when leaving the post office that my right front blinker is not only not blinking, it is hanging by the wires as I’m driving down the road.  Sigh.  This is what can happen when you buy NOS (new old stock) items that are rubberized & have been sitting on a shelf for about 30 years.  The rubber dries out from sitting (just like tires do) and once it starts getting bounced around & vibrated from the bike being driven it slowly cracks and then simply breaks one day.

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