Brahma's update at 83K miles

[Boog]

I cannot remover the nut on the header flange, this is frustrating. I have been hitting them with PB Blaster for days now to no avail. Looks like I will have to order new studs and that looks like weeks for shipping. :-(

[Boog]

I cut the dome off the top of the nuts in hopes of getting the nuts off the studs. In the end, not a bit of luck. It appears the studs are too far gone to use. I order new studs and nuts, they arrive in a week or so, thus no riding for me today.

[Boog]

In the meantime, I can clean the hub and assemble the rear wheel.

What a mess

This too is yucky

But cleaned up pretty well.

[Boog]

Now to clean up the screws and holes for the disk.

A jeweler's tool and wire brush help.

Time for new blue stuff.

[Boog]

Elie is always ready to help, though she does not think much of my mess.

After much trial and tribulations (lots of looking back at previous pictures) I finally got the rear wheel back on.


It seems right, I think...

[PBJ-on-Toast]

Thanks for sharing this with us and for all the pictures and descriptions! I know it adds a lot of time to your repair to do all that but it will really help some of us out when we need to tackle the same job.

[Dr.D]

……and some people think I spend a lot of time cleaning my bikes?🤣😂

[PBJ-on-Toast]

Unfortunately when you put the bags back on you won't be able to see that wheel at all. 😁😈

[PBJ-on-Toast]

True

[Boog]

And future cleaning will be so much easier

[Dr.D]

You’re going to clean it again in the future? Lol

[Boog]

Well? If I do it will be easier... In theory anyway...

[Dr.D]

Well? If I do it will be easier... In theory anyway...

I’ve learned to keep up with mine a bit better after having to work so hard getting my wheels in good shape. I bought my Rocket used so most of the damage was really allowed by the original owner. Here is the rear two years after my restoration and having used White Diamond on them once since then. Holding up pretty well I think.

[Tripps]

That's like when someone wears new white sneakers, makes me want to throw some dirt on it, lol.

[atlsrt44]

……and some people think I spend a lot of time cleaning my bikes?🤣😂

I was told one time there are riders and there are rubbers. Why cant you be both? Ride and like a clean bike

[Dr.D]

We are riding rubbers. You know that just doesn’t sound good? Bikes are rideable art.

[Boog]

And it begins. Several of the studs were too studdley to go in easy. I had to clean out the whole and even use the tap on a couple of them.

I am extracting the last original stud here. Pretty easy to remove using the double nut method.

Finally got all six studs in.

The Viking header is in place but not super tight yet.

Here on the left side, I tied the pipe to the pannier frame to hold in place.

Then I had to call Pretty Pillion for help. Trying to hold that nut in place while I screw in the bolt was a real PIA.



That was premature. I thought I could move the can back enough to slide the cross over pipe in, I was wrong. So off the pipe come and then I will insert the cross over.

This is the clamp on the left side. It kicked my butt for close to 30 minutes before I finally figured out how to get it in place.

[Boog]

This is the clamp for the right side. Notice it has an inner piece. One must align this inner piece in the cut out in order to get it over the pipe.


I had one heck of a time getting the right can on. Notice here the can is in a bind. Simply work it around and twist and it will eventually go on.

Here is another shot of the bind.

Once in place, the magic Viking weld is in place and looks **** sharp!


Brahma is officially off the lift now. I need to replace the panniers and load a new tune. I am having serious issues getting TuenECU downloaded though and am not feeling very happy towards the computer gods right now...

[Boog]

Brahma is back on the road today and is happy to haul me to work. The Viking full dual system sounds great with a lower tone at idle. My highly calibrated seat-of-the-pants sensor tells me I have more torque now.

It is so wonderful to be out of the cage!

[Sparky]

Looks GREAT Boog........Congrats...👍