| Author | Message | ||
     Buellrobot |
Just finished a Haynes book on the basics of motorcycle mechanics. It's not really a shop manual, but more like a book full of very basic theory of motorcycle components/concepts. Thought I'd share, because I've found it useful in my slow quest to understand my bike just a little better. I've done plenty of lighter maintenance and projects (eg. oil, belt, throttle, brake fluids, intake/exhaust seals & gaskets, etc) but have always felt like the engine itself is a black box. I'm still a total beginner and would need to go very slow on any engine/tranny related project, but I at least have a better basis for understanding how some of the internal components interact. I was able to grab an used copy for much cheaper than is listed on Amazon, but here's the book I used: http://amazon.com/gp/product/1850100837 If anyone else has any useful resources for learning the basics, please share here! | ||
| Ratbuell |
resources for learning the basics I did it the old fashioned way: 1. Break it. 2. Slowly and methodically take it apart until you reach the source of the problem 3. Order replacements for the broken stuff, and any gaskets required to get to the broken stuff 4. reassemble just as carefully as you disassembled 5. repeat until it's running again  | ||
| Jolly |
shop manual and the folks from this forum! each job builds in complexity and depth from the job you did first. as an example, leaking rocker box gaskets... find top dead center for each cylinder, I start with the rear and replace gaskets for that cylinder then move to the front cylinder...youre now a "qualified" expert on replacing rocker box gaskets.. you now find that your push rod tube bases are leaking.. well you already know how to get into the rocker boxes, pull the push rod and push rod tubes out and replace your push rod tube base gaskets and upper O-rings..(these are actually tricky and I prefer to switch mine over to collapsible push rod tube assemblies with billet 1 piece bases, no tricks, just easy and leak proof... now you're a qualified expert.. need to replace your oil pump drive gear? well you already know how to do 75% of the job, the only thing left is pulling the cam cover after you have unloaded the rockers and pulled the push rods....cam cover comes off...a few special tools and the pinion gear comes out after you pull the cams...replace the oil pump drive gear, set the timing up on the cams by setting position off the dots...they will only line up one way if they are in the correct spots.. replace the cam cover, then button it back up.... ok, that really makes it sound simple...because in all honestly it really is. if you have worked on anything you can work on this bike! my case was not that I couldn't, I just simply didn't have any experience on this motor...took it slow, asked the experts, compared notes to the manual (you need either help from here or a decoder ring sometimes).. then slowly and methodically worked my way in...phone a friend, ping the board, and have a mechanic on back up duty the first time and you will learn that you no longer need him. there's nothing you cant do to these bikes, its just a whole bunch of things you don't yet know how to do.. I've got 5 tube frame Buells now after a quick trip yesterday and I am still leaning on the experts for help, but also able to contribute these days! take your time and you will go from rookie to expert in no time. places I haven't been yet... completely dissemble the transmission....split a set of cases and pull the crank...dig into ECM spy and rebuild a set of forks.... all are on the horizon at some point. save your money in labor, and learn how to do every job on these bikes... it makes them that much more enjoyable! were all here to help! | ||
| Buelljunkie |
Well said, Jolly! | ||
| Jayvee |
For me, each job builds in complexity and depth from whatever I did first. Can't seem to do one thing, without having to do something else, and need to make a tool to do it. Or sometimes, buy a tool. 8 years and still going on. I still have things I bought but never got around to install. | ||
| Oldog |
Well said Jolly, The forks are no sweat, if you have had the gear case apart your golden, just get the seal driver first DAMHIK |
