in my happy place, bike maintenance day

[Iahawk]

decided to perform the overdue servicing on my little Ninja and my Helix today. Started with the Ninja...oil and filter change, chain deep clean and lube, chain tension check (in spec) and foam air filter clean and re-oil (messy job). Finished up with a nice detail spray wipe down of the entire bike.

My older daughter came into the garage during my work and I told her that along with our favorite family vacation spot, being in the garage working on my bikes with great music playing was truly my 'happy place'.

She said sarcastically, with a smile, "wow, it took you this long to realize that?"

[Iahawk]

next up was the Helix...wanted to remove cvt to clean and inspect and grease...and to also change the rear end oil. It has been about 3 1/2 years since I've been in the cvt. All was actually very clean and in good shape. still cleaned, scuffed, greased parts that needed it...and scuffed up the clutch pads.

 Struggled a bit at first with how to disassemble everything...it's been a while. Changed oil fairly recently on the Helix so didn't need that and I'm on my 'off' year for brake fluid and coolant...that will be for next year.

[Stig / Major Tom]

It all looks great Hawk!
Clean chain!
Personally - I really dislike an oil window.! The one on the Burgman was a daily paint to check since it had to be off the stand, held level - then do a deep knee bend (in a puddle at the gas station?) to check. I'd have pd good $ for a 'complicated' dipstick!d
Interesting to see the Honda bits.

Great pics! thanks for posting Hawk!
Stig

[randyo]

I'm happy for you, mechanic work is not my thing, I'm more at home walking thru the wood with a Hudson Bay axe and a roll of vinyl flagging, charging a client for the miles on my scooter to get there

more cost effective, and professional for me to pay for work that is not my profession, just got my UTV back from service at the dealer

[Iahawk]

now I just need to start riding these things! I don't think I've ridden in either April or May?? With my recent retirement I have a list a mile long of things to do each day...deferred home and yard maintenance and work on my elderly mother's house. My Nighthawk needs the cam chain tensioner spring replaced, big time. I'm dreading that repair...pulling the cams and cam sprockets to get the tensioner out...hoping to not drop little bits into the engine internals...and then buttoning it all back up so it runs and doesn't grenade.

I will post pics and details when that day ever comes.

[Iahawk]

I fired up the Helix yesterday with the intention of going for a ride but the cvt was making an abnormal rattling sound on start up. The more I revved the motor the louder the sound got. I shut her down and rode the Ninja, instead.

Today I pulled the Helix cvt cover and the variator and found a slider flipped the wrong way. I checked a couple of online sources to confirm correct Dr Pulley install directions...and put them all in correctly.

Fired up the scoot (fired at the touch of the starter button...instantly..almost like a fuel injected bike  ). Yesterday's start was with a drained carb bowl, so that one took quite a bit longer.

Everything sounded normal today so I went out for a 90 minute ride. Beautiful day. Upper 70s F this morning.

(morning = 11-12:30......not Stig morning....to me that = last night!) 

[Stig / Major Tom]

I've never had a Dr P flip on any of my scoots once properly installed - but once I did not compress things in my hand enough when reassembling onto the scooter.  One flipped.

Glad all is well now. Wow! Instant starts from an ancient carb!
No way would I ever go out at noon in this town on one of my small scooters.
I'd like to see 78 in a few mos!
Stig

[Iahawk]

rather than saying it 'flipped' it would be more accurate to say I didn't install it correctly or I didn't squeeze the variator together enough while installing. That allowed it to slip out of the correct place. It made enough noise to definitely let me know, though!

Starting the Helix after a long break, with a drained carb bowl, takes about 50 revolutions of the engine? Must be slow to fill the carb bowl back up (electric fuel pump on the helix from the under floor mounted fuel tank).

When run regularly it fires right up. It only sees non ethanol gas with fuel stabilizer and I'll drain the carb bowl if I know it will sit more than a couple weeks.
And.......it's an old Honda!