Anyone else ever feel like maybe they just aren't supposed to own a Harley?

[JustDave71]

These things are fcking high maintenance and some of us apparently have gremlins crawling all over us and those gremlins transfer to the bike and !#@$!@#$!@#$!@#$!@#

seriously.

I'm this close to just breaking my own heart and selling this motherfcker.

you put hours and hours into something, get it good and then BAM there's something else

if I had hair I'd pull it out but it's hard to pull out 1/8"

for the record, I just snapped an allen socket off in a little bolt after brain-farting and using a fcking torque wrench on something that fcking small. That little set screw is what allows me to tighten or loosen my neck stem, so...

and all this after spending way more time than necessary replacing a brake switch and bleeding the brakes which for some reason took almost an entire bottle of fluid and now the pads seem to be constantly hitting the rotor (can hear them)

and and and and and and AND

hahhahahah I'm losin it.

[Sleeko Deluxe]

HAIR?! Who wants hair in a place like this?

[JustDave71]

Originally Posted by Sleeko Deluxe

HAIR?! Who wants hair in a place like this?

HAHAHHAHAHA lookin at your profile pic that's perfect. I'll bet you get better gas mileage than others

I'll get over it. I just can't believe how NOT smoothly things go.

[bigal51]

Dave, The fact that your attempting to do some of your own maintenance says a lot about you. You have a beautiful Bike and Most motorcycles built in '95 are probably not licensed anymore. Your doing all the right things, If you don't make a living working on bikes, you are going to have these little setbacks. By the way, If you bled the brakes right, They will rub a little. Go for a ride and bed the brake pads in!

[stupidglide]

Originally Posted by JustDave71

These things are fcking high maintenance and some of us apparently have gremlins crawling all over us and those gremlins transfer to the bike and !#@$!@#$!@#$!@#$!@#

seriously.

I'm this close to just breaking my own heart and selling this motherfcker.

you put hours and hours into something, get it good and then BAM there's something else

if I had hair I'd pull it out but it's hard to pull out 1/8"

for the record, I just snapped an allen socket off in a little bolt after brain-farting and using a fcking torque wrench on something that fcking small. That little set screw is what allows me to tighten or loosen my neck stem, so...

and all this after spending way more time than necessary replacing a brake switch and bleeding the brakes which for some reason took almost an entire bottle of fluid and now the pads seem to be constantly hitting the rotor (can hear them)

and and and and and and AND

hahhahahah I'm losin it.

Dave, I have owned just about every major brand of scooter out there, Triumph, BSA, Norton, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, and even had a Moto Guzzi for a very short (and completely INFURIATING) period of time. I have had more than a few Harleys, and I never had to take off the exhaust to change the oil (Kawasaki) never had to rebuild the brakes to change the pads (Triumph) I could go on and on, but you get the idea. THEY ALL have their faults, but overall, the Harleys and the Triumphs gave me less problems than all the rest. Hang in there man, and don't sweat it. The miles that pass beneath you as you ride what you have so lovingly built, always make it worthwhile

[arealinvestor]

That's why I pay an Indy to do that sh*t 4 me!!!

[Coupe55]

Originally Posted by JustDave71

These things are fcking high maintenance and some of us apparently have gremlins crawling all over us and those gremlins transfer to the bike and !#@$!@#$!@#$!@#$!@#

seriously.

I'm this close to just breaking my own heart and selling this motherfcker.

you put hours and hours into something, get it good and then BAM there's something else

if I had hair I'd pull it out but it's hard to pull out 1/8"

for the record, I just snapped an allen socket off in a little bolt after brain-farting and using a fcking torque wrench on something that fcking small. That little set screw is what allows me to tighten or loosen my neck stem, so...

and all this after spending way more time than necessary replacing a brake switch and bleeding the brakes which for some reason took almost an entire bottle of fluid and now the pads seem to be constantly hitting the rotor (can hear them)

and and and and and and AND

hahhahahah I'm losin it.

a mechanical piece of artwork and MOCO is better to me than my mother....HA! fooled you all this time, I never mentioned the H word

[Jeffytune]

As a ASE master tech, I have always wanted a Motorcycle that is as reliable as a modern car is.

And as soon as someone builds one.......

Motorcycles and car are just not the same, but they are far better then they used to be by a long shot.

If you are going to do your own work, then make sure you have a FACTORY manual and a quality set of hand tools.
No, you don't need to have Snap-on or Mac, but Craftsmen would be the lowest in quality you want to use, for a hobbiest they will be just fine.
But Snap-on, Cornwell, Mac or Matco tools will last you your lifetime, and your kids lifetime as well.


And you wouldn't be dealing with that broken tool right now....

[JustDave71]

I hear you about the tools, jeff. When I get some cash I'm gonna get some higher quality allen and torx bits for 3/8" and 1/2"

actually have decent tools as my grampa was a machinist

LMFAO...as for paying someone to do stuff? ABSOLUTELY when it's something I can't do!

This bike's just been a series of frustrations, but I am now realizing that a lot of them are from previous owners not doing stuff right and not keeping things together.

pulled the rear caliper and discovered the pistons weren't moving evenly so went to auto parts and got a can of brake cleaner...

caliper pistons work like they should now.

pay someone to do that? Hell I don't have $150 to pay someone to clean some gosh darn pistons!

thanks for the encouragement, guys. I fcking love this bike. I really do. Just...get mad at it sometimes

[JustDave71]

I will say this, if there is anyone close to Fullerton CA that has a good level of experience and wants a hangaround...I'm all ears

[Johnny Ray]

I've been riding and wrenching over 35 years and have had those days that I felt the same way that you are right now my friend.

Thank goodness I can walk away from it, come back later that day or even the next day and pick up where I left off.

It's only metal and rubber we are dealing with and we can always either fix it or replace it.

[JustDave71]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ray

I've been riding and wrenching over 35 years and have had those days that I felt the same way that you are right now my friend.

Thank goodness I can walk away from it, come back later that day or even the next day and pick up where I left off.

It's only metal and rubber we are dealing with and we can always either fix it or replace it.

heh...can't really replace anything

part of the reason I'm so frustrated is that I am in a pretty good financial hole, and shouldn't be spending any money on anything but working my way out of it, but...heh...any time something goes wrong with the bike I have to fix it asap.

got the standard evo tick tick tick tick goin right now so probably need valves or lifters looked at -that part's beyond me right now and can't pay someone so I have that in the back of my mind.

anyway, back end's back together and the pistons appear to be squeezing evenly now, and backing off as they should. I think they were sticking a bit before.

gotta go cool off.

one thing about this bike...I can be FURIOUS and I get on there and go and forget about a lot of BS very quickly. Gotta love that!

[Electric Head]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ray

I've been riding and wrenching over 35 years and have had those days that I felt the same way that you are right now my friend.

Thank goodness I can walk away from it, come back later that day or even the next day and pick up where I left off.

It's only metal and rubber we are dealing with and we can always either fix it or replace it.

Man I felt like the original poster just after changing my tyres (and some other stuff I must admit). It's been a week now and all is forgiven, the new tyres and brakes are great, I'm glad I did it now. There's something about all the hard work and the sorry way it looks stripped and all the new scratches / rust, etc you see while working on it that brings you down a little.

[dog155]

Life would be a joy for you if working on them was not such a chore.Once you work through the bugs these bikes are pure enjoyment.My bikes give me Zero problems simply because I learned to address the little things that can aggravate, years ago.Never owned a bad one yet,hang in there.

[wkohn]

Originally Posted by JustDave71

These things are fcking high maintenance and some of us apparently have gremlins crawling all over us and those gremlins transfer to the bike and !#@$!@#$!@#$!@#$!@#

seriously.

I'm this close to just breaking my own heart and selling this motherfcker.

you put hours and hours into something, get it good and then BAM there's something else

if I had hair I'd pull it out but it's hard to pull out 1/8"

for the record, I just snapped an allen socket off in a little bolt after brain-farting and using a fcking torque wrench on something that fcking small. That little set screw is what allows me to tighten or loosen my neck stem, so...

and all this after spending way more time than necessary replacing a brake switch and bleeding the brakes which for some reason took almost an entire bottle of fluid and now the pads seem to be constantly hitting the rotor (can hear them)

and and and and and and AND

hahhahahah I'm losin it.

I am with you. I just had another $8.27 part (System Relay) to buy just to keep the thing running.

The Victory Cross Country is starting to look pretty good about now. I hear that Victory even stands behind it's warranty when on the rare occasion it is needed.