Spyder Thoughts

[spyderCodes]

I am a DIYer, HardCore Edition.
My best friend Doug, who happens to be my Dentist, wasn't amused when he found I had repaired a lost filling with Ready Patch.


But, I hate working on our Spyders.
Removing the mirrors, while not being nearly as frightening as it once was, still turns my stomach into a granny knot.
Let's face it.
Even though I really love & adore the Spyder RT, it seems to me that every procedure is an exercise in frustration.


Areas such as by the seat hinge and by the handlebars are Black Holes. These Black Holes have both strong magnetic fields and gravitational fields that suck in hardware, tools and small pets never to be seen again.
OK, I've never personally lost a small pet.


Changing the oil still makes my heart stop for the eternity the oil pressure light stays lit upon initial startup.
When the light does finally does go out the universe all makes sense, serenity & joy abound.


That's the point of this.
It's the feeling of accomplishment for me coupled with the thrill of (I imagine) winning the next to last turn of Russian Roulette.


I hate working on our Spyders.
But, I love having worked on our Spyders.

 

[JayBros]

Regarding mirror removal I was very concerned about mucking things up until I watched Shawn Smoak's oil change video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPeb1YqV4Gw&feature=youtu.be, that came out after I did my first DIY oil change. Did my second change a week ago and was much more comfortable with the process.

On my first oil change I too thought it took an eternity for the oil pressure light to go out, primarily because of the five seconds the manual says the light must go out within. Last week, because I'd been through it once it was not an issue.

You probably have more company than you think on these issues.

 

[missouriboy]

I am not a DIYer anymore, since computers have eliminated the realm of the shade tree mechanic.

I even got to where I hated to check the oil on my 2012. I had to be sure to bring a small screwdriver to reinsert the rear grommet that always pulled out with the panel. And some water or something to lubricate said grommet before it would go back in. By the time I finished fighting the grommet ordeal, the engine had cooled down such that I had to run it some more for that proper procedure of topping off the oil.

Now on the 2015, isn't that big screw-in dipstick wonderful? And NO panels to remove first! Yay! But it sticks so tightly that my weak arthritic fingers can't break it loose. Not to worry though, I have a 30-inch pipe wrench, plus a cheater bar extension, that handles that chore nicely. :doorag:

And I dread having to fluff up* the rear tire, so let's not go there today. :shocked:

( * thanks to MurphyBrown for that one. I love it!)

 

[Bob Denman]

SC,
I agree with you completely, and I'm clearly NOT a "DIYer" pps:
But I do have to admit a certain satisfaction in, "Living to fight another day"; once I finally get something accomplished. :thumbup:

 

[JayBros]

And I dread having to fluff up* the rear tire, so let's not go there today. :shocked:

( * thanks to MurphyBrown for that one. I love it!)

Now that's a great term for crawling around with a gauge and pump chuck.

 

[Chupaca]

Well Put....

I gave up on cars back when I could no longer get my hand in the engine compartment....:roflblack: These machines are pretty close but once you peel the outter shell off become easy to work on. Now I have worked on bikes all my life so may have a different view but still have the same feeling when it's done and I'm back on the road after dismanteling and reassembling the spyder with no parts left over. My other advantage is I have an RS so I have a lot less to deal with. I know we hate instructions and manuals but get a shop manual even if only for backup and things will be scary but workout...or find a good tech and hang on to him ..:thumbup:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I've always been afraid to start removing the tupperware on my Spyders, too. If I do it wrong it'll never go back right. Heck, even if I do it right, I might not be able to put it back on right. The F3 will be much better in that regard - less plastic.

[Love reading your prose, SpyderCodes. :thumbup:]

 

[ARtraveler]

Can't add much more than :agree: and :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I've always been afraid to start removing the tupperware on my Spyders, too. If I do it wrong it'll never go back right. Heck, even if I do it right, I might not be able to put it back on right. The F3 will be much better in that regard - lest plastic.

[Love reading your prose, SpyderCodes. :thumbup:]

We see lots of Spyders that weren't put back right. Just think of them as a giant puzzle. Use a couple of small bins, one for each side and put all of the fasteners that you remove in the bin. When you finish you shouldn't have any leftover fasteners. I don't like punching the mirrors either so I make Joe do that. :roflblack::roflblack:

 

[robmorg]

Spydercodes, you are entirely correct about working on the Spyder. I'd even go so far as to say that the complexity of what you have to go through to work on the dang thing takes some of the joy out of ownership - not a lot, just some.

And BTW, even though you never have personally lost a small pet down one of those black holes does NOT mean that you were wrong about the possibility of that happening. (I haven't either, but I can tell you that I always take my hamster, Duke, inside the house before I open the seat latch.)

 

[Bob Denman]

[Love reading your prose, SpyderCodes. :thumbup:]

:agree: It's nice to see some "musings", that aren't full of gloom & doom... :thumbup:

 

[missouriboy]

Now that's a great term for crawling around with a gauge and pump chuck.

And what's even worse, I do all my tire "upfluffing" hyea:with a bicycle hand-pump! pps:

 

[Tango]

Gave up on the seat bolts. Use zip ties now. Real easy. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

 

[Crisis]

Spoiled

I have been a power boat owner for over 40 years. Mostly inboards. The manufactures on boats seem to start with the engines and build the boats around them. You have to be a contortionist to work on them. Changing spark plugs always is accomplished with a bloody mess, mine. Not to mention the tools that are forever lost in the deep dark bildge. Oh, and don't forget the endless trips to the car and back home for the tools you've lost, dropped overboard or forgotten.

I'm very happy in my garage, working out of my huge Craftsman tool chest, using the excellent Spyderlovers how to videos, and utilizing the wealth of technical support from members here while working on my Spyder! I guess I'm just plain spoiled.

BTW. I'M ON BOAT # 11 :banghead:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

I gave up on cars back when I could no longer get my hand in the engine compartment....:roflblack: These machines are pretty close but once you peel the outter shell off become easy to work on. Now I have worked on bikes all my life so may have a different view but still have the same feeling when it's done and I'm back on the road after dismanteling and reassembling the spyder with no parts left over. My other advantage is I have an RS so I have a lot less to deal with. I know we hate instructions and manuals but get a shop manual even if only for backup and things will be scary but workout...or find a good tech and hang on to him ..:thumbup:

NO PARTS LEFTOVER ????? How is that even possible ??

also remember which screws had washers and which ones don't and where they go. :shocked:


Cruzr Joe

 

[Bob Denman]