Dave & Teddy's Most Excellent Adventures 2012

[currin20fan]

Red Sled

pps:Ummmmm....... I'll give you a call tomorrow after work to discuss this pps:
:shocked:Lets just say for now, butter wasn't involved doc pps:

:shocked:Here's a link to whats left of Teds Red Sled ............. notice how there's more of it in the living room now than in the garage :yikes:

:shocked:Here's a sample:shocked:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/album.php?albumid=2380

:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Information OverLoad = My head hurts

I've read so many threads on SpyderLovers discussing tires and researched so many dang tire sites that its now all turned to gibberish in my head with nothing clear that is shining out at me and my head hurts:gaah:

If you follow along, you know what we're needing :helpsmilie:and we'd really appreciate any feedback that would help us in making this looming decision:bowdown: I'm taking some advil and Teddy and I are going to bed:chill: G'nite Y'all:bowdown:

 

[MarkLawson]

Dave, a guy named Fred Harmon, the 'Scotty' of the Goldwing forum, once gave a tip that you should throw the new bearings in the freezer to get them nice an cold prior to installation. The resulting bearing contraction will make the installation easier. When they warm up to room temp, they'll expand back to normal size.

Having never done it myself, I cannot vouch for the tip, but it makes sense to me. I'm sure Lamont could vouch for Fred's credentials in the Goldwing forum.

 

[kinggeek]

I run:

Khumo Ecsta AST for the rear stock size. This is wearing similar to stock but I think a little better.

General Altimax HP 185/60 R14 for the fronts. These now have10k on them and look brand new.

All purchased at tirebuyer.com with free two day fedex shipping then mounted/balanced at a local tire store.

BTW - My front end ride height was not the tires rather it was shock adjustment. Too much preload. just an FYI since you had commented on it before.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Removed the resonator tonight - WOW!!! Talking about opening the Syder up

Teddy was up in his carrier thinking we were gonna go for a ryde again, just waiting and waiting, but once again, the ryde never happened. Tho, he did get a few rocks back and forth as I was having to man-handle that huge *ss wasted space of a resonator:gaah:

Roger...... You were very correct my friend when you made the statement, "Once you remove the airbox, you're NOT going to want to put it back on":lecturef_smilie: Never a truer statement was made:sour:That airbox & resonator is a H U G E waste of space and blocking so much needed airflow. Looks like I need to start looking into giving blood or something, KewlMetal, here we come :thumbup: Spent over an hour on the phone with doc, discussing all the mods and since we've got the Sled tore down this far, might as well go ahead and wrap the exhaust as well:shocked:

Here's the link for Todays pics of the Resonator removal among others with Teddy of course
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/album.php?albumid=2382

 

[CyncySpyder]

This is frig'n INSANITY I tell you....... does it EVER Stop .................

I don't know, maybe a doctors visit is in order - Teddy last week, Me this week :shocked: but I know there's nothing she can really do for me, besides maybe drug me up, but that won't really solve the problem.

Talked with doc (doc-riverside on here, not a real one) for over an hour yesterday and the more we talked, the more I realized I needed to do and do and do. How does one stop this??? Three weeks now, we haven't been able to ryde & I just add more to the list every day......... the light at the end of the tunnel is fading by the moment.

Here's todays update:
Tires are ordered and on their way, should be here in 2 or 3 days:thumbup:

Matt from KewlMetal is working on getting us an intake kit to replace the stock Airbox:thumbup:

I got the Complete AirBox and Resonator taken out last night:thumbup:

I still need to pull the exhaust/header pipes so I can wrap them:shocked:

Still need to complete the "Canisterectomy" fuel purge-valve mod that doc suggested:shocked:

Still need to replace all three brake pads:shocked:

Still need to complete the HID Fog Light Replacements with possibly adding a modulator to the mix:dontknow::shocked:

Still need to complete a full oil & filter change:shocked:

Still need to replace the grease fittings with the 45 degree nozzels and top off the grease at all 8 connections:shocked:

At a loss of what to do about all the damage on the tupperware from when the metal wracks came tumbling down atop the Spyder when that dang racoon tried to climb up them not to mention all the little dings and dongs (especially on the front) that happen from daily riding in all weather conditions:dontknow::shocked::dontknow:

All this in an effort to help keep under the tupperware nice and cool, hopefully providing the added benifit of not only comfort, but increased fuel economy and power along with ridding ourselves of the horrible fuel smell we oftentimes get and hopefully a more responsive pick-up along with a better sounding exhaust that doesn't sound like a sewing machine:clap:

:banghead:And the Madness & Insanity continues:banghead:​

 

[Adirondack Mik]

Just relax Dave, take one easy thing on your list complete it and you will feel better. Try not to think of the whole project as it is making you crazy. Rather, think of it as several accomplishable projects and check them off as you complete them. It might make you feel better.:thumbup:

 

[eddieshep999]

Dave (CyncySpyder) - Have you considered this :-

Maybe when the times comes - you should hold a build in - Invite any Spyder owners willing to donate their time to assist you
perhaps over a weekend - Each could be given a small project to undertake with the aim to finnish working with each other
to the final build

Many may want to attend just to learn from your experience, they may be intrested to see the Spyder broken down (No not in that way) but broken down into its components and also Give them a chance to have some hands on experience working on a Spyder etc

I am sure you will offer a great time, an excellent way for New friendships to start and some shared experiences along the way

You just never know it might just work to the advantage of all

 

[shelbydave]

Wish I was about 511 miles closer...

 

[Adirondack Mik]

Dave (CyncySpyder) - Have you considered this :-

Maybe when the times comes - you should hold a build in - Invite any Spyder owners willing to donate their time to assist you
perhaps over a weekend - Each could be given a small project to undertake with the aim to finnish working with each other
to the final build

Many may want to attend just to learn from your experience, they may be intrested to see the Spyder broken down (No not in that way) but broken down into its components and also Give them a chance to have some hands on experience working on a Spyder etc

I am sure you will offer a great time, an excellent way for New friendships to start and some shared experiences along the way

You just never know it might just work to the advantage of all

Outstanding idea Eddie, I don't know how Dave feels about it, but I can tell you from experience and Rar's comments sometimes American men can be stubborn in asking for
Help. I hope a bunch of volunteers jump on this, as Dave and Teddy are family.:yes::yes::yes:

 

[currin20fan]

Rome

I agree.....Dave & Teddy are family. Wish I could help but can't turn a wrench. :dontknow: I hope folks closer to you will come and help out and get you on the road soon. In the mean time, just remember Rome wasn't built in a day. Take one step at a time and it will all come together. ray:

 

[MarkLawson]

Dave (CyncySpyder) - Have you considered this :-

Maybe when the times comes - you should hold a build in - Invite any Spyder owners willing to donate their time to assist you
perhaps over a weekend - Each could be given a small project to undertake with the aim to finnish working with each other
to the final build

Many may want to attend just to learn from your experience, they may be intrested to see the Spyder broken down (No not in that way) but broken down into its components and also Give them a chance to have some hands on experience working on a Spyder etc

I am sure you will offer a great time, an excellent way for New friendships to start and some shared experiences along the way

You just never know it might just work to the advantage of all

An old-fashioned barn raising, er... RT raising!

 

[lookerjdc]

relax Dave

and dont forget to breath....

I did my first major dissassemble today (removed the rear end so i could install some lights, led license plate holder, remove the ipod connector, etc)

compared to what you are doing, I am a noob, but after 5 hours of working on the bike, reassembling everything, dropping one bolt into the space under the saet, and then realizing that I have 3 short bolts but what I need is 3 long bolts...:banghead::banghead::banghead:

off to Ace hardware tomorrow to buy new bolts cause I aint taking it all apart to find where i put the wrong length bolts:chill:

and take care of Teddy (and yourself too)

 

[CyncySpyder]

Living & learning ...... some of us are just a little slower than others

Thanks for all the great advise & words of support y'all. I'm NOT beyond asking for help, tho I'll admit it does come with reservations.

A great example happened just this past weekend. Doc-Riverside (Dave) had made his own jig for pulling and reseating the rear wheel bearings, and following Teddy's thread here, he kindly sent it (among other tools) to Teddy & I to assist in that project. He had also sent very good and detailed instructions in a PDF file on exactly how to use his home-made jig.

Following the instructions, I tried and tried, but couldn't get it to work. Hindsite being what it is, I should have stopped right there and called him (lesson learned) but was worried that I would be interrupting or bothering him, especially with as much help as he has already provided us with. So I try every imaginable way I could think of to get it to work, and you know what, by golly, I did it and the bearing started to finally move:clap:

Til all of a sudden, about an inch and a half out, it wouldn't move any further at all, and it was siezed and locked up. Not even an electric impact would get it to budge. Great, the man intrusts me with something he hand-made for his own personal use, and here I go and I break the dang thing:yikes: I think that right there is one fear that is shared amongst us all.

Feeling horrible about the situation, I immediately take everything over to my best friends house, with the hope he has the right tool to help remedy the problem, but no dice. Everything he tried, nothing would work either, GREAT:shocked: We did manage to finagle the bearing out, using the rest of the jig that wasn't compromised, but that still didn't help the fact that I destroyed doc's tool. I felt like a kid that knew he had done wrong, and I avoided calling doc that day, and when he emailed to ask if "things came out like butter" I replied that I would call him the next day and "lets just say, no butter was involved."pps:

Thankfully, my buddy being a MillWright by profession, he "has buddies" that could not only replicate doc's design, but hopefully improve upon it using hardend steel, so that the same problem wouldn't arise in the future & this came to fruition the next day.

Knowing this, I then talked to doc and let him know the issue that I ran into, and that I had broken his tool. I thought he would be upset by this, but surprisingly, he wasn't at all. His comment was something to the effect of, "I made it out of scraps I had laying around the garage, so no big deal. I should have taken into consideration that you ryde in the winter and that environment would likely make the removal more difficult & I hadn't really planned for that when I made it." Almost like he was apoligizing to me for it not working:lecturef_smilie:

Needless to say, I got myself all worked up about nothing really, but I think most of you can relate to the situation and how I was feelingpps:

I was at least happy that I could tell him that he now has a brand new jig that we'll soon be sending back and that its even a little better than what he sent us. (SideNote: I had my buddy make another, so I'd have my own & not have to borrow docs again in the future) See, I am Living & Learning:clap:

As for the "RT Raising" Idea, we'll see. Most of this now, is just waiting on the parts to arrive to be able to do anything. The suggestion of breaking it ALL down to smaller, individual tasks to be completed totally makes sense & that's what I'll start doing today after work. I've got everthing I need to do the oil change, Fog Lights and I forgot in the list above about changing out the Plugs & wires, but all this is in the garage, so I'll start one step at a time, on this smaller stuff while we wait for the other stuff to arrive.

Its been awesome weather here locally and killing me (& Teddy) to not be able to ryde. Yesterday, I avoided the garage entirely and took teddy to the park for about 5 hours and we just played outside til it got dark. And of course, Teddy made some new friends. Tho I'm not so sure the divorced ladys dog was into Teddy as much as his owner was into Teddy........:roflblack:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

How many Teddy's are there????

I have seen several (to say the least) photos of Teddy and they don't all look like the same "Teddy" some are chunkier than others, is there more than one Teddy, does Teddy have a stunt double? Curious minds want to know.

Cruzr Joe
:chat:

 

[exwinger]

Guts and more guts

Dewd you have a lot of guts for doing what you're doing ....and that isn't an insult . When things were easier to work on I just jumped in and went for broke , sometimes I won and sometimes I didn't . In those days we didn't have the internet to go to forums like this for help from guys ( and gals ) that's been there done that and willing to share their experiences. I never felt overly intimidated to do a lot of work on my wing but it wasn't nearly as "full " as the spyder once you took pieces off. Changing plugs on it was a breeze compared to the spyder and it had 6. Change a rear tire , simple , drop it on its side and remove wheel , change tire then replace the wheel and stand it back up. No belt tension or alignment to worry about. Guess I'm going to jump in on the spyder over winter when riding is out and do a few things myself ...replace rear tire for starters.

One thing I found out from experience ...when things are getting the best of you just get up and walk away and turn the lights out and come back refreshed . You'll be surprised how much better things go when you're refreshed. Tired and confused only make the job tougher and screwups easier to . Just think how good you'll feel when its all done and back together and you can proudly say.....I did it myself , even if you did have some extra help.

What brand of tire did you decide to go with on the rear if I may ask?

 

[CyncySpyder]

There's only 1 Teddy, tho as the seasons change, so does his coat

I have seen several (to say the least) photos of Teddy and they don't all look like the same "Teddy" some are chunkier than others, is there more than one Teddy, does Teddy have a stunt double? Curious minds want to know.Cruzr Joe

Since we began our Spyder'n journey over 2 years ago now, when Teddy was the ripe ole age of 2, he's always been about the same weight of 10.2 pounds, rarely changing much at all. Looking back thru the thousands of pictures that I have of him, I totally see what you mean about how he seems to change in looks from time to time. The reason for this is, Teddy is actually a full blooded Pomeranian and Poms have long hair, which is NOT very conducive for ryde'n on the back of a Spyder. Since Poms have a double coat, his Vet recommended I try shaving his top coat, so I wouldn't be hurting him after every ryde, as I went to brush his coat back to something manageable. As the seasons change from summer to fall, to winter, I usually allow his coat to grow out more and more, so he has added protection from the elements, as we ryde year round. Seeing as he's usually dressed in warm weather gear, his coat doesn't get nearly as tangled as in the warmer seasons, when he usually rydes wide open with just his Easy Rider Harness.

Have you seen this pic of him from last winter, when I let his coat grow fully out,
:roflblack:I swear, he looks like a little Spyder Ryde'n Monkey:roflblack:


I'll share some pics here for your viewing pleasure. Besides his coat changing, also the angle of the shots have alot to do with how he looks as well. I know there's this one of him standing on the counter of our local DMV & he looks HUGE, just a weird angle, but there
hyea:ALL of the ONE & ONLY Teddy
:doorag::doorag::doorag:​

 

[CyncySpyder]

If your not prepared to succeed, then by default, you ARE prepared to fail

I honestly can't tell you where I got the above statement from, but as long as I can remember, its always been stored in my conscience & it came to the forefront tonight. It (not being prepared) has been whats holding me back from doing what needs to be done. My garage is small, only large enough for one car to fit in, but its full of containers of all the STUFF that I salvaged from when my apartment caught fire and just about everything got burned up. Anything that looked salvageable, was thrown into recyling bins and put promptly into storage til I bought this condo and everything was moved to this garage, cause of the smoke damage & smell, its not suitable to be inside living quarters.

Well, I've been trying to do all these mods & maintenance procedures in this same garage, not being able to find anything needed, without searching over and over for a certain part or tool. I realized tonight, I've not been prepared to do this, thus I began the process of actually opening the containers for the 1st time in almost 5 years and going thru them.

To say tonight has been an emotional night, is very lightly putting it. My life was frozen in time at the moment of the fire, never to be the same. And there was all the reminders from my moms passing, I made it thru that container, but it stopped me in my tracks and made me realize, 10 years later, I've yet to deal with it. Some things in life our bigger than we are and this loss is that for me.

 

[CyncySpyder]

What brand of tire did you decide to go with on the rear if I may ask?

[TD="colspan: 2"]

Products for Tire Size: 215/60R15SL
​

[/TD]

[TD="width: 65, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="width: 495"]

General Altimax HP
Tires Performance Touring All Season
Size: 215/60R15SL
Quantity: 1
​

[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]

---

[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]

Products for Tire Size: 185/60R14SL
​

[/TD]

[TD="width: 65, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="width: 495"]

General Altimax HP
Tires Performance Touring All Season
Size: 185/60R14SL
Quantity: 2
​

[/TD]

 

[CyncySpyder]

WOW, have to admit, Very Impressed, our front set of tires showed up last night

What brand of tire did you decide to go with on the rear if I may ask?

Had many recommendations for tires and sites and ended up going with www.tirebuyer.com
as they not only had the lowest or almost lowest per tire price
but also offered free 2-3 day delivery.

I honestly figured that was just a ploy to get you to buy from them, then you have little choice but to wait however long it would take to actually get them, considering your NOT paying for shipping. But our front set arrived at our door last night and the rear is scheduled to show up sometime today
:thumbup:VERY IMPRESSED:thumbup:

:yes::yes:
:yes:​