Snowed in, project time.

sirbike

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Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
869
Location
Cleveland OH
Bike
2006 ST1300A
This is the longest that I’ve been snowed in in a while. About six weeks now. I rode a thousand miles in January a few years ago.

When I’m not riding I think buying.
For better or worse I just missed the opportunity to buy a 5th gen VFR. 877cc.

I put the buying momentum into the ST1300 budget.

I wanted to do my 2006 but they way they were parked the 09 involved less moving around on the ice sheet. I screwed plywood to the ground to make a halfway safe path.

First stop Galfer. Stainless brake and clutch lines. Apparently no one has asked them or I got lucky that they took it on. If all goes as planned there will be a sku for 2008+ ABS in a few weeks.

Getting to the brake lines required this except air box and except for removing the front wheel which was still needed anyway for a clear view for pictures for Galfer.
As I understood it they wanted a neat progression from the master cylinder to the calipers and I couldn’t really figure out how to do that. The 50 pictures were too much to digest. I was concerned about the line that goes from above, wraps by its fitting on the SMC and continues to the caliper. There is no room for error. For the level of accuracy that they are looking for, and to make for easy spatial orientation, I mounted the parts and sent a simplified set of corresponding on bike pictures.
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I’d be curious if anyone changed rear lines without taking the lower gas tank. If nothing else, it was easy to access this way. IMG_8207.jpegIMG_8201.jpegIMG_8198.jpeg

At this point of disassembly I noticed the clutch slave cylinder lines will be easier to see and install if I take off the swing arm.
The pivot grease is 15 years old and probably fine for another but we’ll do it anyway. Who knows we might see something else along the way.

Getting the pivot bolt loose took a lot of effort. Once loose it still took too much effort by my feel. No undo resistance once pressure came off the bearings. Pull it out, no corrosion.
Bring the bolt to the torque spec and fall quite short of where it was. IMG_8288.jpeg
 
Clutch slave. Who needs to take the engine out when you can just do this? ;)
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Being in it for the long run, I am replacing a lot of rubber bits.

Leaking coolant was a motivation.
Four hoses leaking on this 23,000 mile bike. When I thought to check on the last two leakers, the torque didn’t seem that low and the hoses looked crimped down pretty tightly.
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There was coolant in the valley.
I put compressed air to the square hole. No air seemed to reach the valley hole. Now after a look I don’t think there air was blocked, just not strong enough to get there. Even with that I am glad to clean out some debris partially blocking the drain path.
The gasket was rather flat and some surface needed cleaning.
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I was extra careful this time working into the valley.
Stuffed bodies as usual.
Blew out as much as debris I could before taking out throttle bodies. Then spent time gently prying the boots while lubing them. Did plenty light effort pry on the bodies to exercise the lube in.
Then final pry was about the easiest I’ve done. Maybe the same amount of time, patience vs brutality.
Stuffed then capped the boots.
Vacuumed then blew out more debris.
Lift rubber mat. More cleaning careful not to get the alternator involved.
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The steering bearings felt brinelled at this low mileage in part due to me thinking I want a different spring than DMR specified. The DMR cartridges are a huge improvement damping but I do need the springs that he specified to avoid kissing bottom out.

The SMC wasn’t activating properly when I bought this bike.
I rode it home like it would lock up anytime. 400 mile to home.
While doing errands to get it licensed and such it abruptly started working fine. I got comfortable with it over time but it is getting replaced now.
Fluid in the calibers was light grey. Must have been changed somewhere along the way.
Front brake and clutch master cylinders were weeping.
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These pans were $1.25 at a dollar store. Handy.
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Turning the corner of tear down to assembly was installing seals in the calipers followed by a rebuild kit in the rear MC.

Then we go on a ten hour detour.
A complete inventory missing and present wrenches and sockets. I had a bicycle shop with multiple sets.
These drawers were ok but IMG_8360.jpegIMG_8359.jpegIMG_8364.pnglooking tattered a couple days ago.
I boxed all the extras.

I see more parts arriving.
 
Any bets i'm calling Galfer in a few weeks :). Looks like you're doing a thorough job there sir!
He sounded a little concerned about it being a one off.
He also sounded like a let’s get it done guy.
I said I hope not, I going to tell some st owners about this.
 
This is looking like a 50 hour detour. Temporary OCD.
Cataloging parts.
Also check out the radiator inlet and outlet.
More tool sorting for having a proper kit for each bike instead of moving one around. IMG_8388.jpegIMG_8387.jpegIMG_8386.jpegIMG_8366.jpeg
No vise grip, you stay in the shop.
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