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Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 5:28 pm
by Jean
COUTION! thread degradation in progress.
After reading the original post, I now believe it's the RADIO that is causing all the problem.

Actually, if the bike has a radio, I suspect it's a lot newer than anything most of us are using for our experience.
How about some feedback on this thought?

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 6:05 pm
by Major Softie
Depends. Does the radio have tubes?



Vanzen thinks it's perfectly safe to run your tube radio tubeless, but I think he's just living dangerously.

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:44 pm
by Airbear
And (I'm going to beat Jean to this one) ....

... all radios have CAPACITORS.

Ta Da!!

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:37 pm
by Major Softie
So, I pulled all the tubes in my radio, cleaned the connections, and put them back together after covering them with dielectric grease, but I noticed my capacitors are oil-filled. So, I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but how often should I change the oil in my capacitors, and what is the best oil to use?

Also, I notice that it is getting harder and harder to get good European or American made tubes. Are the Chinese tubes okay? Is there really any difference?

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:51 pm
by Deleted User 72
Major Softie wrote:So, I pulled all the tubes in my radio, cleaned the connections, and put them back together after covering them with dielectric grease, but I noticed my capacitors are oil-filled. So, I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but how often should I change the oil in my capacitors, and what is the best oil to use?

Also, I notice that it is getting harder and harder to get good European or American made tubes. Are the Chinese tubes okay? Is there really any difference?
You forgot silicone.

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 2:45 am
by ME 109
You guys have absolutely no idea how reassuring you are to me :mrgreen:

I'm normal!

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:28 am
by Jean
Took the words right out of my mouth, Airbear!!
BUT, for true, I was reading some old moto-mags last night and read where someone else had noted the switches on his new (by Airhead standards, anyhow) bike were failing. He mentioned he did not have this problen with his /5. This leads me to believe the NEW bikes either have cheaper innards in their components or have been redesigned to "improve" them. Maybe they are undersized for the current they carry?
I understand the best Fleming Valves are made in Russia, if you can find a supplier.
MS. When you find the drain-plug on those oil-filled caps, THEN is the time to change the oil. They have been known to self-alert you to the need to change the whole can if not the whole radio!!

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:56 pm
by Major Softie
Native /5 wrote:
Major Softie wrote:So, I pulled all the tubes in my radio, cleaned the connections, and put them back together after covering them with dielectric grease, but I noticed my capacitors are oil-filled. So, I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but how often should I change the oil in my capacitors, and what is the best oil to use?

Also, I notice that it is getting harder and harder to get good European or American made tubes. Are the Chinese tubes okay? Is there really any difference?
You forgot silicone.
No! The dielectric grease WAS silicone! Not James' kind though.

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 11:57 am
by Garnet
ME 109 wrote:
I'm normal!
:shock: :shock:

Re: The least reliable component

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:23 pm
by Jean
I LOVE it when he shouts like that....