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Message started by cheapnewb24 on 07/19/16 at 19:46:46

Title: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/19/16 at 19:46:46

No bike to ride... One with a broken head bolt, and the other with... I don't know... problems.
Losing my patience. Then I think of pressure to finish my college degree, honeybees that are probably making a mess of their hive, dread of searching the Internet over for the best deal on parts.

That Honda Shadow has been the most aggravating of the two bikes in our garage. Almost an athletic event just getting the gas tank back on. Went through such trouble putting oily rags on the air filter (which may not even fit it) to try to seal it in its airbox. Then I find out the snorkle isn't in its proper groove, thereby letting in an air leak past the filter. I wonder if I should use rubber cement on the airbox or just toss it and put on clamp-ons. I wanted to get the inspection sticker on it and ride, but it was too late in the day. Pretty much lost my marbles with frustration when I had trouble getting the tank set in. That sorry thing has two tanks with two fuel lines going between them. To make it worse, they're two different sizes. I had to use 5/8 inch PCV vapor hose on one of them. Dual Keihin carbs. Now, I was happy with some of Keihin's designs. Quite frankly, I wish Mikuni's were that easy to disassemble/reassemble. Mikuni should learn from them. Then again, the bike is hard to crank. Maybe it's the carbs; maybe its the weak battery that we keep running dead trying to crank the stubborn thing. At least it runs decently now, provided you can actually get it started.

The hydraulically actuated clutch drags, making it nearly impossible to find neutral. I fixed this problem to a manageable point by replacing a missing bolt in the slave cylinder which was causing the cylinder to move outward during its stroke. I also flushed the system extensively. Maybe it needs more bleeding? The clutch fluid system was pretty dirty when we bought the bike. When the PO first demonstrated it, he had a difficult time getting the clutch to work. He had to pump the lever many times to get it to work. The lever still has a bit of play in it, a bit more than the brakes do. Is this common, or is this a sign that the master cylinder is not performing at its best and needs rebuilding? It's as if Honda designed this sorry thing so that it would just barely work, that the slightest problem would cause the clutch to drag. Makes me want to bore out the master cylinder and oversize it or something. Any ideas? Do master cylinders come in different sizes? Can clutch cylinders be exchanged with brake cylinders?

I want to have something to Dad and I to ride while the weather is still good. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Getting impatient. You know what else is a problem? Even at work I am being pressured to go faster. My boss wants me to make pizzas between 2x and 4x faster than is typical for me. :( Everything I do in that restaurant is too slow. :( I pay so much attention to detail.

I haven't taken classes at my college in so long that I'll probably have to reapply just to finish my degree. And guess what? I didn't even plan on taking any more classes. I just have to study for a CLEP and take it to graduate, but I'm even hung up on that.

How can I just go out and enjoy my work and life without all of it turning around and enslaving or full-on attacking me? I quit on education because I was fed up with the pressure and having to pay for it.

How do I live a decent life relaxed and not some stressed out discipline nazi working like a nut beating my fists against a brick wall?

I've seen this before on other forums as avatars or little personal memes or something. Seems fitting.
Ever feel like you're punching a brick wall in life, or maybe something like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ9wNT21c_s

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ9wNT21c_s[/media]

Don't like the pressure, Don't like the pain. Not good at what I do. Not happy.

Just one of those days I get reminded of how personally unsuccessful I am. Frustrating.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by MMRanch on 07/19/16 at 20:32:24

Wow ! ---

Just leave the drugs alone and everything will be alright ! ;D

Seriously , remember the Serenity poem ? ;)

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Ruttly on 07/19/16 at 20:55:06

Hey Goofball, When I feel that way, life's problems piling up, seems like there are way to many things that need to get done, most of which I don't want to do. We all get that way at some point, that's the highs & lows of the life cycle. It's so simple to muddle thru it all by doing it,
"ONE THING AT A TIME"
Concentrate on that,make a checklist if needed,just finish things one at a time and soon it's all behind you.
How is your father doing ?

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Ruttly on 07/19/16 at 20:56:03

Oh yeah I forgot Suck It Up !

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/20/16 at 03:01:42

When you put a hand to something, slow down,get it right, do it once. Less time wasted, less frustrating, and repairing dunderheaded blunders is expensive and time consuming.
Looks like the drill was pretty much On, and, if you hadn't pounded a rock in it, you would have been able to tap it and be running again. You don't HAVE to use a Particular size bolt,so you don't Have to use athread kit. You Could just drill and tap..
Maybe,, can't really see,

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by stewmills on 07/20/16 at 06:39:51

Happens to all of us. I got the bike all back together the other night only to realize the tank was wobbling oddly, only to find that I had knocked off one of the rubber tank bumpers and took forever to find that it had rolled under a bench, under my tool art, up against the wall. Took it all apart again just to get that thing back in place.

Slow down, ask yourself what you missed BEFORE you get finished. It it helps, make a checklist of everything you UNDO so you know exactly what to REDO in the right order. Take pictures, those always help more than anything.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Ed L. on 07/20/16 at 07:02:23

Man, that's just the way it is sometimes. Tried to get to the beach yesterday, started to rain as I was parking but there were no rain clouds when I started. My wife is slowly going nuts staying inside and trying to get away from the heat.
Finally got my boat out and running then the heat index hit 105, even too hot for an old bastard like me.
Too much to do just means you still have dreams, don't give up just figure out what is really important for you.
Good luck with the bees, just pulled 12 gallons of honey off my hives. It was the first time in them in about 4 months and they were just fine.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Tocsik on 07/20/16 at 07:05:55

Hang in there, cheapnewb. These episodes of "overwhelming pressure" will continue throughout life. Avoiding them isn't the answer; it's all how you manage them. I've had several of these same situations that you describe in the past couple of years and I'm in my 50's. Times when it felt like a huge weight was pressing down that was comprised of a myriad of things that all needed my attention.
Pick out a couple of the things that are less important (if that's possible) and just delete them from your to-do list (or to-worry-about list). Anything that's not time-sensitive, consider that and move on to something more important or more time-sensitive and knock that off your list. Bikes not running, yeah that sucks and sucks you can't ride to help decompress, too. But concentrate on your family, education and job. The rest will fall into place over time.
Give attention to detail where it matters and less so for things that not as important; sort of like "choose your battles".
Just a few words from a middle aged guy who has been there, is still there and will go there again.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 07:35:58

65447F6C0E200 wrote:

The difference with my bees is that I've got a top bar hive and it's a new colony. If I don't watch them, they could make the awfulest mess out of their combs as they have no wax foundation. That kind of situation has to be supervised. I planned on making some bars with bamboo skewers to salvage broken combs and disorderly combs that I need to break off. I actually transplanted them out of some 8 frame mediums, and they built some disorderly comb there, and I ended up laying those combs or old frames in the bottom. I'd like to get those combs hanging like they're supposed to be or get rid of them. Here's how I did the transplant: Having made the top of the tbh a compatible 19 inches wide, I took the medium frames, which had most of the comb built on them, but they hadn't attached much to the sides or bottom. This way, it was easier. I simply pried apart the frames, leaving me with a top bar and attached comb. I bent over the nails and hung the frames in the tbh nicely. Since the frames were too narrow, I alternated them with 1.5 inch furring strips. This gave a 1.25 inch frame spacing, which is acceptable for brood. I had to take scissors to trim the edges of the comb to fit the shape/dimensiions of the new hive. Some frames were tough to pry apart, but I got 'em I haven't touched them since I blew out my knee while running from them a few weeks ago.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 07:47:15

56514052484C494956250 wrote:

You know what happened several days ago--the first time I worked like crazy over that Honda? We lost the front rubber tank bushings..... the same thing you lost (albeit a different design.). We both looked through that garage like crazy, couldn't find a one. I walk in there several days later, and they're just laying there on the floor near the bike right were you'd expect them to be... like stupid.. Waa, waa, waa, waaaaa. ::)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8XTpCwicwE
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8XTpCwicwE[/media]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC75aU47GRk
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC75aU47GRk[/media]
(I'm split between these sound effects, neither seems perfect).

It's like someone came behind our backs and stole them, and then brought them back just to screw with our heads.

They didn't seem too covered in dirt or anything. It was all just... weird.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by stewmills on 07/20/16 at 08:10:10

I have one of these guys that lives in my shop. Steals stuff all the time and brings it back several days later. Pisses me off....

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 09:33:01

I hope that fellow pays his keep with as much trouble as he's causing. Of course, if he gives you too much trouble, you could just shoot him. I can't say it's against the law to shoot monster smurfs or other mythical creatures. But then, with as many laws as we have today, one of them is bound to cover it. Probably one of those wildlife conservation laws. :P

Oh, okay, he's a gremlin... Well, darn it, they shouldn't have colored him blue and given him smurfish clothes.

Is there a wildlife conservation law against killing gremlins? Do they serve a necessary purpose in the ecosystem?

;D

Maybe they just wanna keep them alive as a curiosity.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 09:46:20

By the way, has anyone here heard of using a larger bore on a clutch master cylinder. Some talk on the net about brakes, but not much about the clutch. I could use a longer throw on the slave so I can get rid of drag.

The guys on the honda forum are suggesting rebuilding the cylinders or replacing the lines.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Dave on 07/20/16 at 10:20:13

373C3135243A3123366660540 wrote:

Have you tried bleeding the system and making sure there is no trapped air.....and the fluid is fresh? Trapped air could make the lever "mushy", and it would not move the slave cylinder as it should.

The guys on the Honda forum are most likely correct (do you ignore their advice too?). You really shouldn't have to explore changing the master cylinder. The stock parts probably work very well when they are working as designed.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 11:45:46

I flushed the system extensively. I would run it dry by accident and have to start over. It's possible that I might still have a little air in it from the last time it got air in it. I just gave up spilling brake fluid in the floor. The fluid is several years old, but it was sealed. It has some color, but not too bad.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Dave on 07/20/16 at 12:24:42

Shadow - Sometimes these things are better done with a pressure supply from the bottom upward....it pushes the bubbles up the hose easier (use a large syringe filled with brake fluid). Then the only thing you need to open the bottom bleeder for - is to get the air out of the slave cylinder (not the hose).

Savage - One of the problems you are having (and can be horribly stressful) - is that you are trying to do things harder than your current abilities allow. You need to start with small things and work your way up.....repairing a broken and frozen exhaust stud is difficult, and tearing the engine down to remove the head and getting the engine back together properly is a pretty advanced process. Most folks have owned bikes for a lot of years and been through lots of simple repairs long before they move onto the advanced stuff.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by verslagen1 on 07/20/16 at 12:32:10

Be sure you're using the right fluid.
You can mix DOT 3 with 4 but don't mix either with 5.
if in doubt, flush it out.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 13:07:39

Put Dot 3 in it. Thought about using 4, but it called for 3. I thought maybe you could interchange, but I was doubtful, and that's what it called for. I had some old fluid. Used it up. Had some more "heavy duty" fluid. It was sealed. Used a lot of it. The line flexes a bit, but I can't say it's a bad line. A braided hose might help, but I'd be better off actually fixing the problem. So far, I'm not sure I can get the oem line. It seems unavailable. I might try rebuilding the cylinders. If I don't get a substantial improvement soon, I may end up using the bigger master cylinder idea. What if I clean, rebuild, and replace every single component in the clutch hydraulics, and it still barely works? The honda people think that It'll work fine, but I'm still suspicious. Just sayin'.

The clutch is usable, but I'd like it to work better.

In other news...

My Dad took his first road trip today to get his inspection sticker. It's been years since he's actually had it on the highway. Got stranded twice, including once at a red light. I had to go home and get the jumper cables. That thing is hard to crank. The battery is kinda weak, but it will turn over plenty of times. Dad brought it up to 60, and around 60-65, it wouldn't go any faster. He had it in overdrive, which is pretty tall, but it should still have done better. That bike is supposed to do 120+ mph. I'm suspicious that the fuel pump might not be working, but it ought to gravity feed okay, shouldn't it? Maybe a carb dip is in order? I cleaned it out with ether when I rejetted it, but maybe there's still something stopping it up. There's an exhaust leak and an airbox leak. When I removed the carbs, one of them had gotten mud in it from the intake hose being left off. ::)

That darned honda is full of gremlins!

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Gus on 07/20/16 at 16:00:02

A buddy I used to ride with used to say, "Life is a sh!t sandwich; then you're dead"

Never did find out where that bit enlightening philosophy came from.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by gizzo on 07/20/16 at 16:07:48

The clutch would have worked fine some time in the past, and how many other shadow owners have upgraded to a bigger master cylinder? None? If you fix it properly , it will work.maybe the problem is inside. Warped steel plates can cause clutch drag. If the hose squirms when you squeeze the lever, you're losing pressure and clutch throw by expanding the hose. Consider replacing it. EBay is a good place to look for inexpensive braided hoses made up.
The starter motor might be causing the starting problem. Have yyou rebuilt it yet? They can turn fine, but draw too much power for the ignition to work. Maybe try bump starting it and see what happens?
Or, throw that freakin' thing away and buy something that just works. An XT will run forever....
Re: the lifestyle.good luck finding the stress free easy ride. Find something you don't hate and see where it takes you. F.ck the pizza shop. That's not a career.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Ruttly on 07/20/16 at 19:36:31

You just need to get laid !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get off the computer and go get some strange!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 19:52:30

Just talked to a fellow at an OReilly Auto Parts store, and you know how I like to talk. ;) Went to talking about bikes, and he said something like, with my passion, I would be more suitable working there than he is. That was close to his words. I had applied beforehand, but before I could get an interview, the manager had a meeting with upper management and suddenly decided that he was no longer in the position to hire. And yes, he was getting ready to hire, as he had somebody that was going to quit. Even had a hiring poster on the window.

He's gonna give his boss a note, and maybe he can talk him into hiring me. When I explained how fast my boss wants me to prepare the pizzas, he told me that if it were him, that would "get old fast" or something like that.

My job at the pizzeria is pretty relaxed in a way, but from what I've gathered, it's still rather demanding work for very little pay. You've got a point, gizzo. Some do make a career out of it. Doubtful it will be me. I just haven't adapted well. Not making a lot of progress compared to some of the others. Some do stay in fast food. There's an old fellow in his 60's that works there, and he's pretty good at some things for his age. Better than me. He's been there 4 years, at least, and he's been in the restaurant business for more than that. I pay alot of attention to detail and tend to lose focus. Maybe I'm too relaxed a guy for fast food. Seems like people get by in this business by not paying too much attention to detail. I don't know... Maybe I'm just OCD. I've been told that I work hard by at least one co-worker. Who knows? People say things. Can you always take their praise seriously? :-?

I can say that a good mechanic pays attention to detail. If he doesn't, it could mean, thousands of dollars in destroyed parts or worse... injury/death. Forget to tighten one bolt, and something bad could happen. That's not saying I wouldn't be vulnerable to making such mistakes. :-[ :-/

But with these mechanic's shops, they want you to be fast so they can charge $75 or more an hour. But then, they probably go by book hour, so that might not even apply. :-/

Now just how many bikes do you have to disassemble/reassemble or tires changed to be able to do it in a reasonable amount of time? All different makes and models? Much less FAST and relaxed without rushing and cutting corners??? And how do they expect these mechanics to be created??? Out of expensive schools!?! :P Likely not! It takes doing it. Wonder if MMI has their students assemble/disassemble/overhaul a bazillion bikes, or do they just give 'em a few "hands on" exercises with stupid classwork and call them "mechanics?" :P

Talking to local people in the industry, I've heard bad things about MMI. One fellow had to get a job in another industry just to pay it off! Talk about a bad deal! Another shop owner told me the MMI people (one or two) he hired didn't want to work or something.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 20:02:35

5F78797961740D0 wrote:

You just need to get laid !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get off the computer and go get some strange!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like a lady friend... Never had a serious relationship in my life. :(

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 20:29:14

Hey, if MMI grads make 10 bucks an hour under some shop, I could probably work for myself at that rate, and every cheapie that was willing to hire a slow beginner would flock to me, especially if I gave 'em a good deal. Who wants to hire a pro for $75 an hour? Too many of those hours doing silly things, and you could end up paying as much as you would for another bike. Maybe those are book hours instead of real hours... sometimes??? Still, if they went for $75 per real hour, and it took two days to fix the problem... Something really problematic...Say that broken bolt, that's $1200 for just the labor! I paid less than that for the whole bike!

Can't people work hard for nothing anymore, or are the Chinese the only ones crazy, desperate, and humble enough for that? Hey... In my position, I'd work for cheap.

And don't say these mechanics get provided tools. Nope. I'd assume the heavy machinery is covered, but mechanics often have to buy their own handtools, so it seems.

A roof over one's head? Location? Heavy machinery? Advertising? Name? Reputation? Backing? Are all these things really worth the cost of working under someone else's roof for pennies? Perhaps one other important thing... Experience. It's like working for someone else is some sort of internship or something.

If I have to work for pennies, why don't I work for myself and give the customer a good deal? A deal that I'd be proud of: not one that leaves a stressed out, unhappy customer. Isn't that what dealerships do? Stress people out and leave their pockets and hearts dried up?

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by Ruttly on 07/20/16 at 20:56:05

I didn't say get married, go to a bar, drink soda & buy drinks for a fat chick, ok plump chick take her home and bang her !!! Ok goggle how to pick up chicks ! Make sure she doesn't have an Adam's apple !!!!

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by gizzo on 07/20/16 at 22:48:42

Before you set up shop for yourself and give your customers great service, you have to get good at what your doing. Your working at it but your not there yet. Plus, some PR skills wouldn't hurt. You really think people would work for peanuts? $10/hr, only if I was starving.
We don't have expensive schools teaching mechanics here. If you want a trade, you do an apprenticeship. The best way to learn. Maybe that's the difference between a tradesman and a technician. Most guys that make it through an apprenticeship end up with useable skills.
Keep chipping away at it and keep you chin up. Oh yeah, getting a root sounds like a good idea, too.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 22:57:15

3D272321201E2F3C3A3C272A292B4E0 wrote:

You talking about a Yamaha dual sport?

I've read in one place that the ebay hoses are junk. Is a cheap hose worth it for the clutch? It seems less important than the brakes maybe? :-? Is quality something I should worry about, or is the risk a good tradeoff?

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 23:02:44

This is about all I could find so far on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spiegler-Stainless-Braided-Clutch-ORG-Line-GRN-Fit-Honda-VT-700-C-Shadow-83-87-/271787695636?hash=item3f47cf1e14:g:NmsAAOSwy5ZXBdWn&vxp=mtr

Lifetime warranty sounds promising. I thought that braided lines had to be replaced or something. Something about not being able to tell if they were bad.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/20/16 at 23:18:00

Turns out that around half of the oem clutch line is solid, so am I really going to gain that much?

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by gizzo on 07/21/16 at 00:03:31

Yes the dual sport. Utterly soulless and boringly reliable.
I have a set of eBay braided hoses on my Ducati and can't fault them. Try looking on eBay UK if you can't find what you need.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by gizzo on 07/21/16 at 00:04:01

757E737766787361742422160 wrote:

Turns out that around half of the oem clutch line is solid, so am I really going to gain that much?

Who knows?

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/21/16 at 13:13:44

Here's a video I made of the lever play. It's kinda funny. I laughed at it myself. Comically boring. ;D (Strangely oxymoronic)

https://youtu.be/24jRI0FMauA
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24jRI0FMauA&feature=youtu.be[/media]

Wa da ya think, anything that can be tweaked, or is it as good as it gets? Some mechanical slop, then hydraulic/piston freeplay. Seems looser than the brake lever. The brake has virtually no mechanical slop. It even has a different engagement. Instead of a linkage like the clutch has, a piece of the lever or something just presses against the piston.

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by cheapnewb24 on 07/21/16 at 13:20:35

I actually got to ride the thing, and it seems like the lever travels pretty far before it starts seriously pulling. I suggested maybe just oil drag, but one of the honda people thought otherwise, that maybe it was a bent fork in the tranny or something.

Anyway, the carb or something is acting up. I lose power suddenly after a certain point in the throttle. The machine is unreliable; often hard to start, and randomly shuts off while idling.

Here's the link to the discussion. http://www.hondashadow.net/forum/72-technical-discussion/489938-missing-carb-main-circuit.html

Title: Re: Stressed out
Post by verslagen1 on 07/21/16 at 14:08:03

replace the plugs, clean the carb.