boxer-don't-works ?

[dwire]

No worries and surely you need not apologize for them. I as well prior had success in dealing with them and felt comfortable in doing so with the seat. I think it is only natural to get a bit miffed in such a situation, for frankly the only "solid" complaint I could have was how things were handled post sale; meaning they made no effort to make it right and insinuated after all the effort put into the sale that they never had the item they clearly said they did. If it were not for how the transaction was handled post sale, I would be a big fan of them as I had purchased a good deal of parts before that happened for my ex's bike (dumb - ) and had recommended them up until the strange seat deal.

I am quite sure that is likely what stuck in my craw so to speak even more than the seat not being correct. Perhaps one day things will work out where someone is in just the opposite situation and requires one of the later model SWB seats.

[rinkydink]

Mine is running like a charm...

[dwire]

It surely looks nice in the picture. Also judging by the left corner of the shot, it has "friends."

[Major Softie]

It surely looks nice in the picture. Also judging by the left corner of the shot, it has "friends."

They may not even like each other.

[dwire]

Hah - you have a point Major! I've a good friend up in upstate NY that has an HD in the same room as his /5.They stare each other down all the time I hear... Think there's an old Honda (was a freebie to him) sitting in the mix too, but it's too big of a puss to even think of barking at the other steeds...

[StephenB]

I would like to respond to the original post ... if I may

I too have a bike that is not working ... yet. Took it out of the shed in May of this year, after over 6 yrs of storage:



I took it out to put it back on the road, for my pleasure. In my case the lack of progress is (or was) more a lack of urgency than motivation.
Now, last time my dad rode it he complained about a very harsh front suspension. It was so bad that we swapped bikes on that trip around Western Ontario. Well, I looked at that first, here's what I found:



Yes, there is a sizeable gap between the fork brace and the fork leg whith the other fork leg properly tightened. The gap is a wedge of about 1 x 1.5mm and yes,that accounted for the stiction that let to the harsh suspension. I had this corrected and it feels much better. Haven't road-tested it yet.

At the same time, I thought that a better top triple tree would not do any harm (notice the original headstock bearing lock thanks to one of our own?):



I also had a couple of thoughts on the handlebar switches and how we run 5A through them, all based on springs and funny shaped copper plates. Like a booster used on points (to prevent arcing) I was thinking of a way to reduce the load on those switches. I found an in-line relais, small enough to fit inside the headlight and with a 20A/30A rating that would be suitable to do this:



Relais dataheet here: http://documents.tycoelectronics.com/co ... DocLang=EN

And then, when you go through the bike, you observe this and that and so, after 6mos in the garage, it's still work in progress ... not much to finish but enough to NOT be on the road. Next year!

That is my boxer-don't-works story.

[Mal S7]

I would like to respond to the original post ... if I may

I too have a bike that is not working ... yet. Took it out of the shed in May of this year, after over 6 yrs of storage ............. That is my boxer-don't-works story.

THANK YOU for bringing it back on topic Stephen. I was despairing.

Great looking and very worthwhile project ya got there.

cheers
Mal

[dwire]

Surely it is clear that thinck upper tripple tree plate/clamp is a good stiffener, but you have me a bit confused with your statement:, "...(notice the original headstock bearing lock thanks to one of our own?):'''"

I'm sure I am just not seeing the forest for the trees, but I was under the impression just recently whle discussing headstock bearings that the later model assy. for loading the head bearings was better than the original; can someone help set me straight?



Thanks, sorry if I am blatantly revealing my poor comprehensions skills at the cost of the forum...

[StephenB]

dwire, I was indeed talking about #2 and I wasn't saying it's an improvement, it's stock! In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the stock /5 solution though. It has the headstock bearing pre-load locked independent of the upper triple before everything else is assembled. The dome nut (#1) in that case is only decoration (apart from holding the steering dampener). I can remove it without loosing the headstock bearing preload adjustment on the/5. Try that on the latter solution.
In fact the latter solution - slotted round nut - appears inferior as it is locked by tightenting the dome nut with the steel plate (you can't call that a triple tree, can you!) acting as a big 4mm washer.
Replacing the more elegant /5 solution (round nut with pin hole and lock ring) with the latter slotted round nut: looks like cost saving to me and in my opinion, is inferior to the earlier /5 solution.

[Deleted User 72]

Mine is running like a charm...

I see you have a pan under it, collecting....charm. Me too.