Removing the baffles of your muffler will result in a louder, attention-grabbing exhaust note.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are synonymous with a deep, loud exhaust sound. "Loud pipes save lives" is a phrase heard often among Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, and they practice what they preach. The exhaust note of a customized Harley-Davidson motorcycle may be even louder than the horn that comes standard on the bike. However, most motorcycles do not come standard with a loud exhaust like the deafening ones you hear sometimes on the road. Often, this sound is the result of a modification you can make to your exhaust at home using a few basic tools and some general motorcycle knowledge.
Instructions
1. If you have a dedicated motorcycle work-lift, set the Harley up on it so that you can reach the exhaust more easily. If you do not, simply set it on its kickstand so it won't fall over.
2. Using a set of combination or socket wrenches, remove the mounting bolts that hold the exhaust on the motorcycle. Most bikes will have two bolts on the cylinder head and two on the rear mount for each pipe. Remove the exhaust from the motorcycle. Cover any openings in the engine with a towel or rag to protect its working parts from the elements while you work on the exhaust.
3. Cover your vise with a rag or towel to protect the chrome finish of the exhaust, and clamp an exhaust pipe in it securely at the muffler to cut down on vibration while you drill through the baffles (Step 4).
4. Attach a metal-cutting drill bit to your hand-held drill. Insert the bit through the end of the muffler and drill carefully through the first and second baffles of the exhaust. Drilling through all three will result in low power from the engine and won't make much difference in terms of sound, so leave at least one baffle intact. Be sure to drill the holes as close to the center of the baffle as you can, as an off-center hole may cause "whistling" as air moves through the exhaust.
5. Remove the exhaust pipe from the vise and reattach it to your Harley using the bolts removed previously. If you have a torque wrench, refer to your owner's manual and tighten each bolt to the specifications found therein. If not, tighten each bolt about a quarter turn past "snug."
6. Start up the bike and have a listen. Rev the engine a few times to get a feel for your new deep, loud exhaust tone, then take your Hog for a ride to show off your new note on the road.
Tags: loud exhaust, deep loud, deep loud exhaust, each bolt, exhaust note
You may want to repair the custom seat on your motorcycle.
The seat of a motorcycle can be damaged due to friction or because of alternating climatic conditions such as rain and dry weather. Cracks or tears in the seat covering and discomfort while riding the bike can be the two major reasons why motorcyclists may choose to repair or change out their motorcycle seats. The seat of the motorcycle is repaired by replacing the seat covering and the foam padding material of the seat.
Instructions
1. Remove the seat from the motorcycle. Depending on the bike, the seat can be removed using the ignition key or by undoing the bolts securing the seat with an Allen wrench.
2. Remove the staples in the back of the damaged seat covering using a flathead screwdriver or a staple puller, and pull the old seat cover from the seat pan.
3. Remove the old foam from the seat pan using a metal scraper and a wire brush.
4. Measure the length and breadth of the foam padding material required for the new seat using the tape measure. Alternatively, you can use the old seat covering for measurement to determine how much material you will need to purchase.
5. Purchase or order the vinyl coverings for the seat. Vinyl coverings can be purchased from crafting stores and motorcycle shops.
6. Spray adhesive on the seat pan, place the foam on the seat pan, and allow it to cure for 24 hours.
7. Cover the foam padding with the new vinyl covering and staple the sides to the seat pan using the staple gun. Secure the seat covering to the foam padding using 3/8-inch staples in the staple gun.
8. Remove any wrinkles on the covering by pulling the fabric and securing it with staples.
9. Remount the seat on the motorcycle and secure it by re-bolting any nuts or hinges that were taken off while removing the seat.
The voltage regulator on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle takes the AC current supplied by the stator/rotor and converts it into 12 volts DC. The regulator is typically located on the front of the motorcycle, mounted to the frame. It is an non-repairable part and it must be replaced when it breaks. Checking its function involves the use of a digital multimeter and a trouble light.
Instructions
Regulator Bleed Test
1. Unplug the regulator from the engine crankcase.
2. Touch a trouble light to a known ground on the motorcycle and to the pins in the regulator plug, one at a time.
3. The regulator is bad if the trouble light comes on. If not, reconnect the regulator plug to the engine crank case.
Voltage Output Test
4. Place transmission into neutral and start the motorcycle.
5. Place the positive and negative leads of a digital multimeter onto the positive and negative connections of the battery. Set the multimeter to read DC volts.
6. Rev the motorcycle engine to 3300 rpm. The multimeter should read between 14.3-14.7 volts. If it is outside of this range, the regulator is bad and must be replaced.
Tags: trouble light, digital multimeter, must replaced, positive negative, regulator plug
To paint your own projector screen, you will need patience, a wall dedicated to your project and some special paint. This is not a project with which you should try to take shortcuts nor should you just jump into. It takes planning and preparation.
I will take you through the basic steps of planning, layout, preparing the surface for and painting a white projection screen for a home-theater projector. I am emphasizing white here since it creates a screen for a projector that produces 3,500 lumens or less. For projectors that produce more than 3,500 lumens, use gray paint. If you are unsure of the lumens produced by your projector, refer to the projector's owner's manual or contact the manufacturer.
You should expect to pay about $135 for a good quality two-part screen-paint system and tape. I recommend buying Digital Image Screen Paint from http://www.screenpaintsupply.com/Home_Page.php.
Instructions
Planning and Layout
1. Look around the room and find a suitable wall to paint the projector screen on. Be sure you have enough room for the screen and at least two additional inches on all sides for the black-tape border.
2. After selecting the wall, remove everything from the wall.
3. Your projector should already be mounted and ready for use. Turn on the projector to determine the location and screen size. A general rule for an HDTV-compliant projector is that the viewing distance be around 1.5 times the screen diagonal. So if your couch is 12 feet away from the wall, an 8-foot-diagonal screen is a good start.
4. With the projector on, mark the corners of the illuminated area with a pencil. Cycle through the channels of your cable or satellite box slowly until you find the largest high-definition image. Mark the corners of this new illuminated area with a pencil on the wall. Sometimes there are variations in the dimensions of the illuminated area from channel to channel. Marking the largest illuminated area ensures your picture will always be contained with the borders of the screen. After marking the corners of the screen, turn off the projector.
5. Carefully align the straightedge with the pencil marks for the largest illuminated area. It is best to have help with this, so that you can keep the straightedge level. Use a pencil to join the lines to form the border of the screen.
Preparing the Wall
6. Use painter's tape to create a border that will not be covered up during the preparation of the wall. Align the edge of the tape with the pencil lines on the wall. Take your time; do not rush through this process.
7. Make the room as dark as possible. Then turn on a flashlight and hold it at a shallow angle to the wall so the light skims the surface. Inspect the entire area to be painted for raised areas or other imperfections. Mark these areas with a pencil to make them easier to find later.
8. After all the imperfections have been identified, use a putty knife, sandpaper and sheet rock mud to repair these areas. The flatter and smoother the surface of the area to be painted, the better the end result will be. If there are very large dips in the wall, you may have to use a trowel and sheet rock mud to make the surface as even as possible. If you do not have any areas to repair, then skip ahead to step 5.
9. Once the screen area has been repaired, go over the entire area again with fine-grit sandpaper to ensure that the entire area is smooth and free of any raised areas.
10. Remove any excess dust from the wall by using a clean dry cloth and a wet-dry vac.
11. If the wall is a dark color, apply two coats of white primer to cover up the existing color on the wall. If the wall is already white, skip to step 7.
12. Apply the screen-paint primer to the screen area. Some manufacturers suggest two coats of primer. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for best results.
Completing the Screen Area
13. After the primer has dried, stir the screen paint's top coat. Be sure to turn the can upside down and shake it vigorously for 2 minutes. Then apply the paint to the wall according to the manufacturer's instructions.
14. Remove the painter's tape and allow the paint to dry. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for suggested drying time.
15. Use 48mm black tape to form a border around the screen and to increase its contrast. The tape available from Screen-paint Supply (http://www.screenpaintsupply.com/Products.php) looks like black velvet and adds an extra dimension to the screen.
16. You can use also use wood molding for a border instead of the black tape. However, using molding is more time consuming and labor intensive, as you will have to prepare and paint the molding before installing it.
17.The screen is now complete. Depending on the paint used, it may take several days for the paint to completely dry and provide the best possible picture. I do recommend the two-part paint system from Screen Paint Supply. But there are other, cheaper alternatives like Behr's "SilverScreen" color (Color Chip: 770E-2) available at Home Depot. The basic steps in this article are the same regardless of which screen paint you choose.
Tags: illuminated area, with pencil, entire area, from wall, manufacturer instructions, area painted
The Chevy Silverado is a workhouse of a pickup truck. The 2500HD and 3500HD models are made for towing heavy loads. The Chevy Silverado 1500 is the more passenger friendly version that benefited from a redesign in 2007. Luckily, the electrical systems of all Silverados hit more than they miss. Still, it pays to know where to look if you do experience electrical problems.
Instructions
1. Expect the more common electrical system problem to affect the lights. When interior lights start flickering or just don't want to work at all, your first step is to check fuses and relays. If that checks out, look for a loose wire connector. Don't forget to check the ignition switch too.
2. Examine the ground cable from the engine to the firewall, particularly if you're experiencing more than one electrical problem. Connections particularly come loose around the firewall.
3. Check your wiring if you flip a turn signal and instead get emergency flashers coming on. This happens sometimes when trailer wiring has been added, causing electrical system problems.
4. Consider having the BCM or Body Control Module replaced if your Silverado repeatedly blows out the same fuses or if it seems like you're experiencing one electrical problem after another. This job must be done at the dealer so that they can flash the computer after replacement.
5. Contact GM if a relatively new Silverado starts acting up. It could be that there is a TSB (technical service bulletin) or recall that addresses the problem. If so, give your dealer the TSB number and expect to get your repair made for free.
Tags: Chevy Silverado, electrical problem, more than
Troubleshoot Problems on the DSC Home Security System
You are concerned with the security of your home and the safety of your family. You invested in a DSC Home Security System because the company has been in business for over 30 years and has a reputation for manufacturing trustworthy systems. You rely on the electronic system to keep intruders from entering your home, so if your system is not working as expected, you do not feel protected. Troubleshooting the problem might save you the trouble of a service call. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Press the pound key (#) to stop the security system from repeatedly beeping. Check to see if the "System" or "Trouble" light is illuminated.
2. Press the star key (*) and then press the number 2 key. See if a number is displayed on the screen or if a zone number is illuminated.
3. Change the battery per the panel's instruction manual if a number 1 appears on the display or the 1 zone is illuminated. If 2 is illuminated or appears on the display, the system does not have electrical power. Check your home's electricity and breakers.
4. Check the home phone lines for a dial tone if 3 or 4 is lit up or displayed. These are both indicators of an interruption in the phone line connected to the system. If you have recently changed to cable telephone or have had DSL installed, contact your security company for assistance. The company may need to install a filter or update your settings.
5. Change batteries in any wireless security devices, such as motion detectors or other sensors, if any other number is displayed or illuminated.
Tags: Home Security, Home Security System, Security System, your home, appears display, number displayed
The fairing on this motorcycle protects the rider from the wind.
Properly speaking, there are two fairings on the front of a 2000 FLHTCU. The big batwing that protects you from the wind when you get in the wind is the outer fairing. It, with the windshield, attaches to the rest of the chassis with a total of seven screws. Once it comes off the inner fairing remains. The inner fairing holds the instruments, radio, stereo speakers and other amenities Harley sells with Electra Glides. It is also easily removed by unfastening just four screws. There are a few steps before a rider can reach those last four screws, however.
Instructions
1. Drape a folded blanket over the front fender and wheel to protect the finish.
2. Loosen and remove the three Torx screws just below the windshield in front of the fairing and the two screws just outside and below the speakers inside the fairing with a Torx head driver.
3. Expose the two outer fairing screws just below the fairing cap on the right and left side by turning the handlebars all the way to the left and all the way to the right. Loosen and remove both of them with a Torx head driver.
4. Remove the wire connector at the back of the headlamp assembly by simultaneously squeezing both sides of the connector with your fingers and pulling. Straddle the front of the bike and lift the fairing off with both hands to expose all the wiring harness connections beneath. Lift the loose windshield off the front of the motorcycle.
5. Pull the turn signal connectors apart into halves. Pull the passing light connector apart into halves.
6. Unfasten the passing light bracket from the forks with a Torx head driver and remove the passing light assembly.
7. Turn the ignition key left to "unlock." Turn the cam shaped ignition knob right to "access."
8. Slide a small screwdriver under the ignition knob and push up the release button under the left side of the knob. Push the key down, turn the knob left and lift the knob off the rest of the ignition switch to expose the switch post and switch nut.
9. Loosen the switch nut with a small combination wrench and pull the nut, spacer and collar off the switch post. Pull the broad chrome skirt on the bottom of the inner fairing up and off.
10. Loosen the clutch cable adjuster nut and the clutch cable adjuster lock nut on the clutch cable near the left down tube with two combination wrenches. Completely slacken the clutch cable.
11. Remove the clutch control pivot pin and retaining ring with a flathead screwdriver. Loosen the clutch lever bracket with a Torx head driver and remove the clutch lever from the bracket.
12. Disconnect the clutch cable from the end of the clutch lever. Feed the clutch cable through the weatherproof grommet in the bottom middle of the inner fairing.
13. Cut a small square from a typical, 1/8 inch thick cardboard, produce box and insert the square between the front brake lever and the brake lever housing to protect the stop signal plunger from damage. Remove the switch housing and master cylinder from the right side of the handlebars with a Torx head driver.
14. Pull the throttle off the right end of the handlebars using a flathead screwdriver. Disconnect the idle and throttle cables wrapped around the inside end of the throttle.
15. Feed the idle and throttle cables through the weatherproof grommet in the bottom middle of the inner fairing.
16. Disconnect the cigarette lighter from the exposed wiring harness. Loosen and remove the six speaker adapter screws with a Torx head driver. Remove the speaker adapters.
17.Disconnect the fuel gauge and voltmeter from the exposed wiring harness. Loosen the four screws that hold the inner fairing to the fairing bracket with a Torx head driver.
18. Pull the bottom of the inner fairing and slide it off the mounting pegs. Pull the bottom of the fairing mounting bracket to free it from the mounting pegs.
19. Pull the inner fairing from the mounting bracket and remove the inner fairing.
Tags: inner fairing, head driver, Torx head, Torx head driver, with Torx, with Torx head, clutch cable
Kyäni is a multi-level marketing company (MLM) that produces nutritional supplements intended for consumers who have an interest in natural solutions to their health ailments. Kyäni produces their products using the "wonders of Alaska," including Alaskan blueberries and omega-3 fatty acids from wild Alaskan salmon. According to the official Kyäni website, the company's use of wild Alaskan blueberries creates a product that is "shaping and changing the lives of people all over the world."
History
Based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Kyäni Inc. was founded in 2005 by current CEO Michael Breshears and Dick Powell. Both founders are from highly successful business backgrounds and together invested $300 million to get Kyäni started and ensure a long-term future for the company. Kyäni was officially introduced to the world when it was launched with a new corporate marketing team in 2007. Today, Kyäni products are sold in all 50 states as well as in Mexico, Europe and Asia.
Products
Kyäni offers two types of products: liquid supplements and a gel capsule. Kyäni Sunrise is an antioxidant-rich drink composed of Alaskan blueberries and other nutrients. Kyäni Sunset is a soft gel capsule that contains omega-3 fatty acids from wild Alaskan salmon and Tocotrienols, or pure vitamin E. Kyäni Nitro FX is a liquid supplement derived from the juice of the noni plant.
Availability
Kyäni products are only available through Kyäni distributors and cannot be purchased in any other retail environment. Many Kyäni distributors have their own websites and they offer sales online. The Network Marketing Distribution model used by Kyäni is intended to introduce the products to consumers in a personal way rather than having the products sit on a shelf with no explanation as to what they are or how they work.
Benefits
According to Kyäni's website, by incorporating the wild Alaskan blueberries, or "miracle berries," into their product, they are able to provide a nutritional supplement with higher levels of antioxidants, more disease-fighting power and more nutritional power than any other fruit or vegetable available. Kyäni claims that their products help promote healthy cholesterol levels, improve circulatory and cardiac health, promote a healthy immune system and help maintain, repair and defend cells.
Business Structure
Kyäni teaches distributors to use a 3x7 Forced Matrix. This matrix is similar to a pyramid scheme in that it encourages distributors to build a downline that increases with each consecutive level. For example, the first level requires recruiting three distributors. The second level requires each of the first three distributors to recruit three more distributors and so on until at least seven levels (2,187 distributors) are recruited. Each distributor is expected to purchase $100 worth of Kyäni products, and the distributor at the top of the matrix earns 3.5 percent of sales made on all levels and 10 percent of all personal sales.
Warning
The claims made by Kyäni for nutritional superiority and the ability to help reduce and prevent certain ailments are not backed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Be sure to research products thoroughly to find what works best for you. While Kyäni's website promises the allure of numerous bonuses and incentives such as a "Drive your Dream Car" program to its distributors, many people lose money in multi-level marketing businesses.
Use needle nose pliers to replace a zipper pull tab.
A broken tab on the zipper of your favorite pants, dress or boots can seem like the end of the world. It's easy to think your perfect piece of clothing is forever ruined by the loss of a simple pull tab. However, replacing a zipper pull tab is one of the easiest repairs you can do at home. With the right tools and a few spare minutes, you can salvage that well-worn sweater with ease. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Lift the small metal piece that holds the pull tab in place. This will be located on the front of the piece that moves up and down the zipper, know as the "slider." Take special care not to damage the slider or the piece that holds the tab in place. If you bend it too much it may break off entirely, so work slowly and carefully to avoid this mishap.
2. Remove any remaining pieces of the old pull tab using the pliers, if necessary.
3. Carefully slide the new zipper pull in to place underneath the lifted piece of metal. Secure it with your hands so that it does not slide around.
4. Bend the metal piece that secures the pull tab back into position. Once again, work slowly so that you don't accidentally break the slider.
Tags: piece that, zipper pull, metal piece, metal piece that, piece that holds, pull place, that holds
Replace the Ignition Switch on a Ford F250 With a Tilt-Steering Wheel
The ignition switch on your Ford F250 may need to be replaced if you are having trouble starting your truck. The ignition switch sends a signal to the starter motor which, in turn, starts the truck. When this switch fails, you will need to buy a replacement switch from Ford--many newer models of the F250 use a transponder key that requires a special ignition switch. Your key may also need to be reprogrammed. If your F250 does not use a transponder key, you can probably find a replacement switch at most auto parts stores.
Instructions
1. Place the key into the ignition and turn the key to the "II" position. If you cannot get the key to turn because the pins in the tumbler assembly have seized, skip this step.
2. Push the punch pin into the access hole directly under the ignition switch assembly.
3. Pull the ignition switch out of the steering column with the ignition key. If you could not get the key to turn in Step 1, pry the ignition switch assembly out of the steering column with the flat tip screwdriver while maintaining pressure on the punch pin.
4. Turn the new key in the new ignition to the "II" position and slide the key into the steering column until it snaps into place. Then turn the key to the "off" position.
Tags: ignition switch, Ford F250, steering column, column with, F250 With, Ford F250 With, ignition switch
Properly breaking in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle can add years to its life. Observing maintenance intervals, maintaining a moderate riding style and allowing the front and rear brakes to properly "bed-in" are important parts to caring for your new ride. This "bedding-in" is the process whereby newly installed brake pads are properly conditioned for good braking on your motorcycle. It will allow you to achieve maximum effectiveness and lifespan out of your new brakes.
Instructions
1. Start the bike and allow it to heat up to appropriate riding temperature.
2. Accelerate to 60 mph in a safe riding environment. Firmly apply the brakes to decelerate to approximately 10 mph. Do not come to a complete stop.
3. Re-accelerate to 60 mph speed and repeat the deceleration process an additional seven times.
4. Cruise your motorcycle at riding speed to cool the brakes for five minutes after the last deceleration process. Consider performing a second series of brake bedding maneuvers after the brakes have completely cooled, especially with performance brakes.
As part of a basic maintenance program, changing your Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic's engine oil regularly will prolong the service life of the engine and its internal parts. In order to keep the Softail's engine at its peak operating condition, its oil and filter should be replaced every 2,500 miles to prevent oil degradation, which can lead to premature wear. The procedure is similar for both the Evolution engine-equipped models and the newer Twin Cam-equipped models; however, the location of the oil drain plug will differ.
Instructions
1. Warm your Heritage Softail's engine and oil. Start the engine and let it idle in place for three minutes, then stop the engine. Mount your Heritage Softail on a service stand, or place a 3-inch block of wood under the motorcycle's side stand to elevate it into an upright position.
2. Push down on the oil tank filler cap, then twist the cap counterclockwise to unlock it from the oil tank filler neck. Pull the cap and its attached dipstick out of the oil tank to vent the oil system.
3. Locate the oil drain plug. Softail models built between 1984 to 1999 are equipped with an Evolution engine, which uses an oil drain hose placed in front of the transmission unit, on the left side of the motorcycle. Softail models built after 2000 are equipped with the newer Twin Cam engine, placing the oil drain plug on a cross-member below the rear of the transmission unit.
4. Place an oil drain pan under the oil drain plug or hose. Unscrew the drain plug with a 5/8-inch socket and a socket wrench, or loosen the drain hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver and pull out the hose plug. Allow your Heritage Softail's oil to drain for a minimum of five minutes or until the flow of oil slows to a thin trickle.
5. Clean the drain plug with a shop towel and replace its sealing O-ring with a new O-ring. Screw the drain plug into the cross-member, by hand, then tighten it to 20 foot-pounds with a 5/8-inch socket and a torque wrench -- this step applies only to Softail models equipped with a Twin Cam engine.
6. Wipe the drain hose with a shop towel, then push the hose plug into place. Tighten the drain hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver -- this step applies only to Softail models equipped with an Evolution engine.
7. Clean the area around the oil filter and the oil pump, located on the front left side of the engine, using a parts cleaning spray. Loosen the oil filter with a cap-style oil filter wrench, then unscrew the oil filter by hand. Clean the oil pump's mating surface and threads with a parts cleaning spray, then wipe dry with a shop towel.
8. Unpackage your new oil filter and pour up to four ounces of 20W50 motor oil into the filter. Let the filter's paper element absorb the oil for one minute, then spread a thin coat of oil around the oil filter's sealing O-ring. Screw the oil filter into place, by hand, until it is seated against the oil pump. Tighten the oil filter an additional quarter-turn, by hand. Wipe away any spilled oil with a shop towel.
9. Place a funnel into the oil tank filler neck, then fill the tank with 2.6 qts. of 20W50 motor oil. Remove the funnel from the oil tank. Push the oil filler cap and dipstick into the filler neck, then twist it clockwise to lock it in place.
10. Start the engine and let it idle for another three minutes, then stop the engine. Remove the oil cap and wipe its dipstick clean with a shop towel. Reinsert the dipstick into the oil tank filler neck until the cap is resting on the filler neck's rim. Withdraw the dipstick and take note of the oil level in relation to the upper and lower marks cut into the dipstick. If the oil level is below the lower mark, add a small amount of 20W50 motor oil into the oil tank, then recheck the oil level. Wipe the dipstick again with a shop towel, then reinstall the oil cap if the oil level is situated between both marks.
Tags: drain plug, shop towel, with shop, with shop towel, filler neck, Heritage Softail, drain hose
You may be able to restore your damaged Acer netbook.
The Acer Aspire One is a netbook, not a laptop. A netbook is a smaller, scaled-down version of a laptop. It does not have the memory capacity or graphics of a regular laptop. It also lacks a CD drive, which means you cannot restore the Acer Aspire One with restore discs. Instead, the netbook has a built-in factory restore feature. You can reset the Acer Aspire One to factory settings just using your keyboard. Only restore your netbook to factory settings if you cannot fix the problem any other way.
Instructions
1. Save any files or folders on your Acer Aspire One with flash drives. Drag and drop files onto the icon of your flash drive.
2. Go to "Start" > "Restart" to reboot your netbook.
3. Hold down "Alt" and "F10" when you see the Acer logo on the screen. The recovery menu will load.
4. Hit "Enter" and then "Next" to see your recovery options. Choose "Factory Restore" to set your netbook back to factory settings. Follow the instructions on the screen.
5. Choose your time zone and language when the customization menu appears. Reboot the netbook when you are prompted.
One common trike conversion is the Honda Gold Wing.
Motorcycle trikes are three-wheeled motorcycles that normally have larger engines, safer and more comfortable seats, and more stable turning abilities. Just like cars, most trikes are outfitted with hydraulic disc brakes as they offer increased stopping ability and ease of use not offered by other brake types. However, if you change the brake fluid or there is a problem in the brake lines somewhere, you can introduce air into the hydraulic system which leads to inconsistent braking. The fix for this type of problem is bleeding the brakes.
Instructions
1. Locate the brake reservoir for the rear brake. It should be near the brake lever and will look like a black box or carton. Use the screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding the cap on the reservoir and remove the cap.
2. Use the appropriately sized crescent wrench to loosen the bleed valves on each of the rear wheel cylinders of the trike. Have your helper pump the brake pedal until you see brake fluid come out of the bleeder valve.
3. Begin pouring brake fluid into the reservoir while your helper continues to pump the brake pedal. Continue this process of pumping the brake pedal while pouring fluid until you see a solid stream of brake fluid coming out of the bleeder valves instead of intermittent streams. This indicates that all of the air has been removed from the system.
Riding a motorcycle has many advantages, such as maneuverability, fuel efficiency and fun. Unfortunately, safety is not included in the advantage list. To counter the inherent danger of riding a motorcycle, many Harley riders have taken to removing the baffles from their stock exhaust pipes, making the bikes louder and more noticeable on the road. "Loud pipes save lives," so make your motorcycle louder by removing a few of the stock baffles from the muffler.
Instructions
1. Reference the owner's manual to determine how the exhaust is bolted to your model of Harley-Davidson. Set your motorcycle on its kickstand or center stand so that it will not tip or fall over while you are working.
2. Remove the bolts that hold the exhaust to the motorcycle. Most bikes will have two bolts holding each pipe to the cylinder head and two in the rear connected to the frame. Separate the exhaust system from the bike completely and clamp it in a vise. Be sure to protect the chrome finish of your exhaust by covering the vise with a rag or towel.
3. Drill out two baffles with a metal cutting drill bit on your hand held drill. The muffler in the exhaust will likely have three or four baffles from the factory. Do not remove all of the baffles as this will require re-jetting of the carburetor. Instead, leave one or two in place so as not to sacrifice performance for loudness.
4. Turn the pipes upside down and smack them with your hand to knock out any remaining metal from the baffles. Reattach the exhaust system to the motorcycle cylinder head and mounting points. Be sure all bolts are tight so they do not come loose while riding.
5. Fire up your Harley and listen to the new exhaust note. It should be louder, fuller and more ear-catching than before.
The right motorcycle graphic will personalize your bike and make it unique. There are three different types of motorcycle graphics. Permanent professional graphics, are often the most costly, but are permanent and are completely customizable to whatever design you like. Decals are another option in motorcycle graphics. Decals can be permanent, but are not as unique and cost much less than professional graphics. The third type of graphic that can be applied to your motorcycle is a reusable, removable graphic. These can cost as little as $5 a piece and are easily removed.
Instructions
1. Decide what kind of graphic is best for your motorcycle. A permanent graphic is best if you know your style will not change. A decal provides a professional look but can not provide a completely unique graphic. A reusable, removable graphic is best if you know you will want to remove or change your graphic on your bike.
2. Find a motorcycle or custom automotive shop through the phone book or online. These types of places are the best to go to for a professional graphic design and application. You can even purchase decals and have them applied there as well.
3. Design a graphic with the graphic specialist that is original and suits your style. For decals, several decals can be arranged together to create a more unique design.
4. Purchase removable and reusable graphics for your motorcycle at a graphics distributor, automotive accessory store or even a sign shop. A sign shop can often times help you design a personalized graphic.
5. Look online for graphic designs and to purchase decals and removable graphics. Be sure that if you purchase a decal -- because it can be permanent -- that you know apply it, or find a trained professional to apply the graphic.
Tags: graphic best, motorcycle graphics, your motorcycle, best know, graphic best know
Owning a Zippo lighter is about smoking in style. No matter the tobacco of choice, your Zippo is going to accumulate soot and grime over time, not to mention general dirt from sitting at the bottom of your bag or pocket. This accumulation causes the Zippo to lose its gleam, the metal becoming an insipid gray. Every now and again you should polish your Zippo to regain the aesthetic that made you purchase the lighter in the first place.
Instructions
1. Apply metal polish to the body of the metal casing of the Zippo lighter.
2. Leave the polish on the lighter for a couple of minutes to allow the polish to break up the grime.
3. Buff the Zippo lighter using a microfiber towel. Rub the metal in a circular motion until all of the polish has gone.
4. Apply more polish to the logo on your Zippo lighter. Again, leave the polish for a minute or two to break up any grime.
5. Use a horse-hair detail brush to make sure the polish has been worked into all details on the logo and lettering.
6. Rub any excess polish into the Zippo lighter with your microfiber towel. Keep repeating these steps until your lighter gleams.
Tags: your Zippo, Zippo lighter, break grime, grime over, grime over time, microfiber towel, over time
Chevrolet suggests you replace the spark plugs in Chevy Silverado engines every 60,000 to 100,000 miles depending on the amount of wear the truck endures. The Chevy Silverado is available in five different models: the Silverado, 1500, 1500 Heavy Duty, 2500 Heavy Duty and 3500. All of these models have different aspects, but the process for replacing the spark plugs is the same.
Instructions
1. Remove the black, negative battery cable. Allow the engine to cool. Depending on the temperature and climate it may take the engine 30 minutes to 2 hours to cool.
2. Gain access to the spark plug wires that are located on the side of the engine. Lift the plastic cover on the side to access the spark plug wires.
3. Grasp the spark plug wires by the boot of the wire. The wire boot is the cap that connects directly to the Silverado engine. Turn the boot halfway to the right and then halfway to the left to loosen the wire from the plug.
4. Attach the socket to the spark plug. Turn the wrench to the left to unscrew and remove the old spark plug.
5. Clean the inside of the wire boot with the wire brush. Lightly spray the boot and threads of the new spark plug with silicone lubricant.
6. Insert the new spark plug into the engine and manually screw it in place. Use the tension tester tool to find the tension of the spark plug. The appropriate tension level is printed on the spark plug's packaging. Tighten or loosen the spark plug to achieve the required tension.
7. Replace the spark plug wires. Turn the plug back and forth to lock it in place. Replace the plastic cover back onto the engine and return the battery cable to the battery.
Upload a video to Facebook and watch the comments roll in. The process is actually very easy, and it lets you share good times with friends, and even tag them!
Instructions
1. Before you even try to upload a video to Facebook, save it to your PC with a common name, something that's easy to remember, and not a bunch of random digits. You'll save yourself time in the next step. Facebook supports the typical video formats - mov (Quicktime), avi, wmv (Windows Media) - and many, many more.
2. Sign in to your Facebook home page. At the top of the page, click "Profile" to get to your unique wall. Then click on the tab "Video." If you don't see a video, tab, click the plus sign (+) and then add "video."
3. Click on "+ Upload." The uploaded videos can be accessed here, just like a video photo album.
4. Click "Browse" and locate file on your computer (because of the name, you should easily find it.) After you find it, select it, and click "open." The upload will begin shortly.
5. It may take some minutes to fully upload and be viewable to others. There is a box you can check that will inform Facebook to let you know when the video is ready to be viewed. While you're waiting for the video to upload to Facebook, you can enter information about the video, like the title and any comments you may have. When it's finished uploading, it'll be on your wall and the home page for all of your friends to see (and friends of friends if your privacy settings allow.)
Motorcycle windshields canbe altered acording to the rider's needs.
Motorcycle windshields are made from one of two different manufacturing materials, Lexan or Plexiglas. Plexiglas has approximately 3 percent of the impact resistance of Lexan and typically shatters on impact. Because of this, Plexiglas is not legal in many states for use as a motorcycle windshield. Lexan can be cut and formed very easily even at room temperature and, therefore, it is quite easy to modify the shape or height of a motorcycle windshield that is made with Lexan.
Instructions
1. Determine how much of the windshield you wish to remove.
2. Trace the shield's top outline onto the cardboard.
3. Cut the cardboard at the trace line.
4. Place a 2-to 4-inch-wide strip of blue masking take on the inside of the shield where the cut will be made.
5. Place the cardboard onto the windshield and trace the top outline onto the masking tape.
6. Place the windshield front side down onto the band saw table, using plastic or the used cardboard to protect the face.
7. Cut along the line, drawn on the masking tape, and remove the top piece of the windshield. The more care used in this step, the less sanding that will be necessary.
8. Using the 80-grit sand paper, begin sanding the top of the windshield; as this begins to smooth, switch to the 220-grit sand paper to achieve a very smooth, curved surface.
9. Use methyl ethyl keytone solvent on a soft cotton rag and wipe it carefully along the newly sanded top edge. This will turn the top edge clear. Be careful not to get any of the solvent on the windshield surface as this will create a blemish in the surface.
Harley-Davidson Sportster shifter shafts penetrate the outer primary drive cover. On Sportsters with mid-mount controls, the shifter foot lever mounts directly to the shifter shaft. Sportsters with forward controls have the shifter foot lever connected to the shifter shaft through intermediate linkage. Since the primary drive case contains oil to lubricate the primary drive and transmission components, the shaft is sealed with a shifter shaft seal, which looks like an O-ring when installed but is actually an O-shaped sleeve. This seal prevents oil leakage and water intrusion. Age and high usage can cause the shifter shaft seal to deteriorate and fail.
Instructions
1. Note the position of the lever or linkage on the shifter shaft splines before disassembly.
2. Remove the shifter foot lever or shift linkage lever pinch screw, using a ratchet and Allen driver. Pull the foot lever or linkage off the shifter shaft. Slide the rubber shifter washer off the shifter shaft.
3. Pull the old shifter shaft seal out of its recess in the primary chain-case cover using a spring-hook tool. Use caution to avoid scratching the finish on the primary cover.
4. Lubricate the inside and outside of the new shifter shaft seal with fresh chain-case lubricant. Slide the new shifter shaft seal onto the shifter shaft until it bottoms out in its recess in the primary chain-case cover.
5. Install the rubber washer, shifter foot lever or linkage, and pinch screw, positioning the lever or linkage as it was prior to disassembly. Tighten the pinch screw to 16 to 20 foot-pounds, using a foot-pound torque wrench and Allen driver.
6. Wipe lubricant from the primary cover using a clean, soft, shop rag.
Tags: shifter shaft, foot lever, shaft seal, shifter shaft seal, lever linkage, shifter foot, shifter foot lever
A cable splitter reduces electrical signal over the distance an electric current travels. The job of the cable splitter is to break up a signal into separate electrical paths. A cable splitter divides an electric signal to an array of ports on the splitter. This division of electrical current is run from the cable outlet to multiple televisions within a home. Your digital cable company typically supplies about 1 gigahertz (GHz, or 1000 megahertz) of electrical signal, or frequency bandwidth, to your cable outlet. You do not need a cable splitter higher than 1 GHz.
A larger splitter will distribute less signal strength to each port. This decrease in signal strength occurs because each additional port divides the electrical signal from the source, as well as the distance the signal has to travel. Try to even out the cable signal distribution to all of the televisions in your home. Read the numbers located on the out legs of the splitters. Each number indicates how much of the cable signal is lost after running through that out leg. The numbers represent decibels (dB), which measure amplification of a signal. A typical double splitter has 3.5 dB amplification lost on each out leg.
The amount of signal lost indicated on the splitter occurs between 50 and 100 megahertz; higher frequency means more loss over distance. The number engraved on the backside of a cable splitter is the shielding specification for the splitter (the amount of leakage resistance). Subtract the shielding numeric value from the out leg to determine how much signal is lost.
Passive/ Active Cable Splitters
Active cable splitters utilize a power source to slightly amplify the digital signal to make up for lost signal through a passive splitter. Passive splitters do not run on a source of power. There is one input side to the splitter, with two or more out legs.
Cable Splitter Setup
Cable splitters work in conjunction with other components in a cable setup. The first thing necessary is the incoming cable line, which runs through the cable splitter. The cable splitter will typically have one out leg running to a modem, which is connected to a computer. Another out leg on the cable splitter runs to a cable amplifier. This cable amplifier can have up to eight ports. Hook up your additional modems and televisions to one of the ports on the cable amplifier. The amplifier can also be placed before the splitter in the cable system to improve picture quality and the overall function of your cable modem.
On occasion, the cable splitter set up may produce too much signal, which can lead to poor color or distorted images on your cable television screen. To rectify the more complex cable setup signal, a two way splitter is placed on the cable modem. Additional splitters help run the signal out of the system and into the air.
Tags: cable splitter, cable amplifier, cable splitter, electrical signal, signal lost
Carburetors are an important component in gasoline powered engines, mixing fuel vapor and air to create efficient combustion, which converts to mechanical power. Motorcycle carburetors come in a multitude of options, designed for street, off-road, casual ride and racing. Keihin offers five lines of carburetors for every motorcycle engine model and type. Keihin carburetors cover the gamut, from inexpensive bolt-on designs, enhancing handle and performance of motor-cross dirt bikes, to full-throttle super-charged carburetors, used for high-performance super-bike racing.
FCR:
Keihin FCR Carburetor models 33MM, 35MM, 37MM, 39MM and 41MM are all engineered with a durable and dependable flat valve, air brake acceleration air pump. The flat valve and slide are hard-coated and engineered to run clean on rollers, for a smooth ride. This is the perfect enhancement or replacement part for all four-stroke engines.
PWK:
Keihin PWK Carburetor models 28MM and 29MM are 83 mm by 147.4 mm in size. The 33MM and 35MM units measure 91-mm by 164.3-mm. The larger PWK models are 36MM, 38MM, and 39MM. These are designed with a width of 91 mm by 171.6 mm in height. The PWK carburetors are designed with a semi-elliptical section valve, providing riders with enhanced air flow. The PWK is a more powerful carburetor than the FCR, providing riders with more rapid engine revs on top, without letting the engine go flat.
PE:
Keihin PE Carburetors models 20MM through 28MM are 83 mm in width, ranging from 136 mm to 150.9 mm in height. Keihin PE models 30MM through 38MM are each 95 mm in width, ranging from 157.8 mm to 182.5 mm in height. These PE carburetors are designed with a chrome-plated round slide valve for two-stroke engines. they are an inexpensive bolt-on carburetor designed to increase performance and ride on mini-cross dirt bikes and scooters.
PWM:
The Keihin PWM Carburetors are Keihin's top performer. The PWM is available in three models: 38MM, 39MM and 40MM. Each measures 75 mm in width by 154.5 mm in height. This high performance carburetor was designed with a shorter length, giving the throttle an unparalleled response on top end cycles. The larger float bowl and quad vent system allows two-stroke engines great air flow, enabling them to run in the worst conditions. Keihin PWM carburetors are ideal for fast and furious motor-cross and street-racing bikes.
FCR Street:
Keihin FCR Street Carburetors, available in 32MM, 33MM, 35MM, 39MM and 41MM models, all come in a wide-range of horizontal and downdraft styles and options for two, three and four-cylinder engines. Keihin FCR street carburetors are used by super-bike racing teams around the world. These high performance carburetors are available for application to any road racing bike.
The motor mount on the Harley Electraglide is between the engine and the frame at the bottom of the engine connected to a cross-member. To change the motor mount you are going to have to get the Harley up off of the ground using a motorcycle jack. The only other tool that you are going to need will be a ratchet set to remove the bolt that is holding the mount to the frame.
Instructions
1. Lift the Harley up using the motorcycle jack. Don't place the motorcycle jack on the mount when you lift the Harley.
2. Locate the motor mount on the underside of the Harley between the engine and the cross-member. Place the car jack under the engine and raise the engine up to take the weight off the mount.
3. Remove the bolt that is securing the mount to the engine and frame using a ratchet set. Pull the mount out from between the engine and the frame.
4. Slide the new motor mount between the engine and the frame. Insert the securing bolt and tighten the bolt using a ratchet set.
Tags: between engine, engine frame, between engine frame, Harley Electraglide, motor mount
If you do not have a DVD drive on your computer, or if your computer's DVD drive is not working properly, you can burn to a virtual DVD drive. When you burn to a virtual DVD drive, you are typically using ISO or BIN files, if you are burning movie files. Of course, you can also burn other file types to DVD. If you have a Windows-based computer, you must use a third-party virtual drive emulator program to burn to a virtual DVD drive. On a Mac computer, the standard Disk Utility application allows users to mount DVD files without needing a virtual drive.
Instructions
MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD-ROM
1. Download and install the freeware MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD-ROM from the Magic ISO Maker website (see Resources). It only works with Windows.
2. Right-click on the MagicDisc icon from your system tray, which is in the bottom right corner of your screen where the time is displayed. The icon looks like a hand holding a DVD.
3. Choose "Virtual CD/DVD-ROM" from the pop-up menu. Then select one of the virtual drives that is displayed. You can have up to 15 virtual drives with this software.
4. Click on "Mount" from the pop-up menu that appears. This allows you to browse for the ISO file that you want to burn. Select it and click "OK" to burn to the virtual DVD drive.
Virtual CloneDrive
5. Download and install the freeware Virtual CloneDrive from the SlySoft website (see Resources). It only works with Windows.
6. Double-click on the Virtual CloneDrive icon on your desktop and select the number of virtual drives you want. You can have up to 13 drives with this software. Click "OK" to close the window.
7. Open "My Computer" and you will see the virtual drives appearing alongside your regular drives. Right-click one of the drives and select "Virtual CloneDrive" from the menu and then "Mount."
8. Select an ISO or BIN file on your computer in the "Browse" window that appears. Click "Open" when you find it. Then burn the file to the drive.
VirtualDrive Pro 14
9. Download and install VirtualDrive Pro 14 from the FarStone website (see Resources). This program only works with Windows. As of September 2010, the price is $33.44.
10. Double-click the VirtualDrive Pro 14 icon on your desktop to launch the program.
11. Click on "Advanced Settings" from the Image Build Wizard screen. Select the source file that you want to burn and click "Save."
12. Burn the file by clicking "Start" on the Image Build Wizard screen. This burns it to the virtual drive for you.
Tags: Virtual CloneDrive, virtual drive, virtual drives, burn virtual drive, Download install, only works, only works with
In order to use the NHL logo or those of its member teams, companies must enter into a licensing agreement with the league.
Because of the power of its brand name, the National Hockey League closely monitors and controls the use of its logo as well as the logos of its teams and other properties. In order to use the league's official logos on products, companies must seek and receive approval through a licensing agreement with the league's marketing division, NHL Enterprises. Replica uniforms that bear the name of an NHL player must also have approval from the league's players' association.
Identification
The logos that require a licensing agreement in advance of their use on clothing and other products go beyond just the NHL logo and the logos of its teams. The league also owns the protected rights to other logos like the image of the Stanley Cup, the NHL Network logo, the logos for video games and other products that are produced in partnership with the NHL and the official website name and logo. Companies or individuals looking to use any of these must receive written permission from the league in the form of a licensing agreement.
Requirements for a Licensee
The NHL does not give out its licensing rights to just anyone. The league has certain minimum requirements that must be met before an application will even be considered. The company can't be a new entity, but must have an established five year history in producing products and sending them out to retail establishments, and at least five years in selling the product that it wants to sell using NHL licensed logos. Also, it is an absolute necessity that the licensing agreement be entered into with the actual manufacturer of the product, not the company promoting or distributing the licensed product.
Types
The NHL is open to new product categories as it evaluates licensing requests, but it does have a list of products that have included the league's name and logos in the past. Those product types include clothing, electronic equipment, novelties, hats, furniture, sports equipment, published works, toys, as well as trading cards and other collectible items.
Application Process
The NHL requires some specific information from companies seeking to use its name and logo under license. In addition to the regular contact data, the league also needs to have names and biographies of the companies top managers in addition to all publicly disclosed financial data. The league also wants to know what the company will do with the NHL license and need to see a history of the company in the retail business. The NHL is concerned with making sure that its logo will be used in a way consistent with its reputation and by stable organizations that will represent the league well.
Warning
NHL Enterprises does not take new creative ideas of products not currently in the marketplace unless it has asked for them in advance. Their information on applying for a licensing agreement includes a policy regarding this. The league wants to make sure that it avoids legal issues that may arise out of its creation of new products that might be similar to something sent in by another company. This would apply to new product concepts or designs as well as other kinds of creative materials. Companies who ignore this request are under the small print in the NHL licensing policy that essentially protects the league from future legal action.
Tags: licensing agreement, league also, products that, agreement with, agreement with league, companies must
Playing imported games on a Sony PlayStation 2 used to require a mod chip. If you lived in Europe and wanted to play a game that was only released in the United States (or vice versa), you would have to open up your PS2 and solder a special chip to the motherboard. Software called HD Loader has since been released that helps owners play these games much easier.
Instructions
1. Turn off your PlayStation 2 and connect your hard drive to the hard drive slot of your PS2. Turn on your PS2 and remove any disc in the DVD drive. Place the HD Loader disc into the PS2 and press the "X" button to start the program.
2. Select "Install" from the right menu, and HD Loader will ask you to insert your import game disc. Remove the HD Loader disc and place the game disc into the tray. Close the DVD tray. HD Loader will install the game onto your hard drive.
3. Remove the game disc from your PS2 and place the HD Loader disc back into the DVD drive and close it. Select your game from the list of installed games from the main HD Loader menu. Your game will start.
Repeat this process for any other games. Each game disc is about 4 gigabytes.
Tags: game disc, hard drive, Loader disc, American Games, American Games European, disc into, Games European
Planning a trip to Sturgis on bike week is exciting because there are so many things to do when you get there. The Sturgis motorcycle rally is in August, and bikers from all over the world travel the highways to South Dakota every year to attend.
Instructions
1. Plan your road trip to Sturgis. Use a map to plan your route. You might want to take the shortest way to save your energy for the rally. Or you might take the scenic route. Whether traveling by car or cycle, take rain gear and summer and winter clothing to be ready for a variety of weather conditions.
2. Book your hotel or camping site at least a year ahead of time. Accommodations and campgrounds take reservations from regulars when they leave from the previous year's rally. Call at least a year in advance or you may not be able to find a place to stay.
3. Choose the events that you would like to see, and buy tickets as soon as they're available. When Sturgis event lineups begin to come out, decide which entertainment, bike rides and other events you'll want to see. The Sturgis rally offers major concerts, many vendors and rocking bar bands, but there are 250,000 biker who want to go, too, so get tickets before they're gone.
4. Make time to take a Badlands ride. The scenery is something you will never forget. The ride goes through the Black Hills and onto the plains. The ride can take a full day to complete.
High Definition TV and gaming are quickly becoming the gold standard for video quality. But the PC has been doing HD for years, and you may not have even noticed. If your computer screen was made after 2005, there's a good chance it's already running in HD.
Instructions
1. Screen resolution measures the number of rows and columns of pixels.
Check the resolution on your monitor. If your computer is capable of resolutions of 1280 x 720 or higher, then you can play games in HD on your computer.
Under Windows 7, you can find it by clicking "Start," then "Control Panel," then "Appearance and Personalization," then "Adjust Screen Resolution." The current resolution will appear in the drop-down menu box, and other possible resolutions will be listed when you click on the menu.
In Windows Vista, click "Start," "Control Panel," "Appearance and Personalization," "Personalization," and "Display Settings," in that order. You'll see a slider labeled "Resolution." It will be on your current resolution.
Under Windows XP, click "Start," then "Control Panel," then "Appearance and Themes," then "Change the Screen Resolution." The "Display Properties" window will open, and the screen resolution will be listed under a slider in a box named "Screen Resolution."
2. Run the game you wish to play in HD.
3. Navigate to the "Graphics" section of the game options. Every game is different, but most have an "Options" button on the main menu, and a "Graphics" sub-section within it.
4. Change the game's resolution to 1280 x 720 or higher. Again, every game is different, but the resolution option should be fairly easy to find. If you can't find it, consult the game manual for its location.
5. Play the game in HD.
Tags: Control Panel, Screen Resolution, your computer, 1280 higher, Appearance Personalization, click Start, Control Panel then
A tape measure is needed to perform this adjustment.
The headlight on the Yamaha V-Star 1100 motorcycle must be aligned correctly for the light to properly illuminate the road while you drive. Adjust the headlight when it becomes misaligned, and check it each time you replace the bulb. Checking the alignment of the beam is an important part of motorcycle maintenance.
Instructions
1. Park the motorcycle in a level area, 25 feet from a light-colored wall, using the motorcycle stand. Point the headlight toward the wall.
2. Measure the distance from the center of the headlight to the ground.
3. Place a mark on the wall at the height you measured in Step 2. Place a horizontal strip of tape on the wall at the mark.
4. Place a horizontal strip of tape 6 inches below the first strip.
5. Turn on the headlight. Locate the adjustment screw on the front of the headlight. It is on the right side as you face the headlight.
6. Turn the screw clockwise to raise the beam. Turn the screw counterclockwise to lower the position of the headlight beam. Adjust the headlight's low beam until it centers on the low mark on the wall. Press the handlebar dimmer switch to turn on the headlight's high beam. Adjust the high beam until it centers on the high mark on the wall.
Tags: mark wall, Adjust headlight, beam Adjust, beam until, beam until centers
Bike week is an annual event held in Sturgis, S.D.
Sturgis is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota and for one week in the month of August, thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts ride to Sturgis for the annual motorcycle rally. For the duration of the event, the city barricades five city blocks, allowing only motorcycle traffic and parking so guests can view the bikes. During bike week at Sturgis, all visitors should observe city and state drinking laws to avoid fines or an arrest.
Open Container in Public
The city ordinance of Sturgis states that it is illegal to mix, consume or blend any alcoholic beverage with another beverage in a public place. It is also prohibited to have in one's possession in a public place any can, glass, bottle or other container of alcohol that has a broken seal. An exception of this rule is that open containers are allowed on the Sturgis Memorial Park property, but the alcoholic beverage must have been purchased from a licensed dealer on the site.
Open Container in Motor Vehicle
A person who occupies a motor vehicle on a public highway in the state of South Dakota and consumes an alcoholic beverage or has a package or open container with an alcoholic beverage will be charged with an open container offense. It is not against the law to possess alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle if the seal on the original packaging of the alcoholic beverage has not been broken or if the alcoholic beverage is away from the passenger area of the vehicle where no one in the vehicle has access to it.
Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor
In the state of South Dakota, it is against the law to furnish any alcoholic beverage to a minor that is 18 years old or older but less than 21 years old. It is also an offense to sell or give any alcoholic beverage to a minor that is 18 years old or older but less than 21 years old in the immediate presence of a parent, guardian or spouse that is over 21 years old.
Underage Alcohol Possession/Consumption
The first offense of underage alcohol possession or consumption in the city of Sturgis will result in a driver's license suspension of 30 days for a person under the age of 21. A second or subsequent offense will result in a suspension of driving privileges for a period of 60 days to one year. The court may grant permission enabling the violator to drive to work or school during specific times of the day and week.
Tags: alcoholic beverage, South Dakota, alcoholic beverage minor, beverage minor, beverage minor that, less than, less than years
Troubleshooting a Fat Boy's charging system generally means checking the individual components for proper function.
The charging system on a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy consists of the battery, the voltage regulator, the stator/rotor and the wiring harness. Troubleshooting this system generally means checking the individual components for proper function. Fortunately, there are well established parameters to determine the faulty component. Troubleshooting a Fat Boy's charging system can take considerable time, especially if a faulty connector is to blame. Plan to spend from one to three hours on this task.
Instructions
Battery
1. Test the voltage of the battery with a voltmeter. A fully charged battery should read 13 volts.
2. Charge the battery for a few hours with a battery charger then allow it to set for one to two hours. Retest the battery with a voltmeter. If the reading is not at least 12.8 volts, charge the battery for 10 hours.
3. Replace the battery if the voltage still reads below 12.8 volts..
4. Take the battery to a local auto parts store to have a load test performed. This test is typically free and can eliminate the battery as the source of trouble. Have the load test performed if the battery passes the voltage test.
Voltage Regulator
5. Verify that the regulator is clean and has a good connection to the engine crankcase. Inspect the regulator for corrosion.
6. Unplug the regulator from the engine crankcase.
7. Touch one probe of a trouble light to the engine case and the other to a pin on the regulator plug. If the light glows after touching either pin, then the regulator is bad.
8. Reattach the regulator connector. Start the engine and rev the motor to 3,000 RPM. With the motor revved, measure the voltage across the battery terminals with a voltmeter. The reading should be 13 to 15 volts. If the measurement is outside of this range, replace the regulator.
Stator/Rotor
9. Turn off the engine.
10. Disconnect the regulator plug from the engine crankcase. Measure the resistance between the crankcase and either hole in the stator socket with an ohmmeter. The reading should indicate no continuity. Any reading other than this indicates a grounded and damaged stator.
11. Measure the resistance between both holes in the stator socket with the ohmmeter. The reading should register between 0.1 to 0.2 ohms. A different reading indicates a damaged stator.
12. Start the engine. Rev the motorcycle up to 2,000 RPM. Measure the voltage across the holes in the stator socket with a voltmeter. The reading should be 32 to 40 volts AC. A reading less than this indicates a damaged stator/rotor.
Wiring Harness
13. Turn off the motorcycle, including all lights and accessories.
14. Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery with a 10 mm open-ended wrench.
15. Measure the current draw on the battery with an ammeter connected between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable. The reading should be less than 3 milliamps.
16. Use the ammeter and an engine wiring schematic to trace the flow of current to the faulty component if the current draw on the battery exceeds 3 milliamps.
The first Harley-Davidson dealership opened in 1904.
Consumers, both male and female, spend millions of dollars each year purchasing Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Harley-Davidson has been known for manufacturing quality motorcycles since 1903. This commitment to quality extends to gas mileage as well. Although the amount of gas used depends on how long or far you will be riding, Harley Davidson bikes are known for reasonable gas mileage. So, although you may not need to fill up often, removing the gas cap is a snap when it comes time to visit a filling station.
Instructions
Right Hand Threaded Fuel Caps
1. Insert the key. Hold the gas cap in place with your hand.
2. Rotate the key counterclockwise until it will no longer turn.
3. Return the key to the beginning position.
4. Rotate the gas cap counterclockwise to remove.
Left Hand Threaded Fuel Caps
5. Insert the key while holding the gas cap in place.
6. Rotate the key clockwise until it will no longer turn.
A Harley-Davidson Springer is a unique model in the fact that the owner must lubricate the front end differently than any other Harley-Davidson model. The Springer front end is a custom design by Harley-Davidson and any modifications to it may nullify the warranty. It is imperative that you maintain and lubricate your Springer front end -- particularly the steering head bearings and rocker bearings -- according to the service manual. The scheduled maintenance intervals for this process are at 500 miles, 2,500 miles and every 20,000 miles thereafter.
Instructions
1. Adjust the steering head bearing "fall away." To do this, lift the motorcycle off the floor with a motorcycle lift or jack so that the front and rear wheels are an equal distance off the ground. Remove the acorn nut and washer holding the upper triple clamp in place with a wrench -- located above the forks. Loosen the bolt holding the upper triple clamp in place, but do not remove completely. Turn the motorcycle forks completely to the left. Hook a piece of string through the hole in the rear of the front fender. Tie a plum bob to the string. Lay a ruler under the plum bob, with the plum bob pointed at the '0'. Insert a hex bearing retainer tool -- a specialty motorcycle tool -- into the holes for the upper triple clamp and hex bearing retainer -- just below and in the center of the upper triple clamp. Center the front tire and wheel on the jack. Tap the front wheel until it begins to "fall away" to the right. Adjust the hex bearing retainer with the retainer tool until the distance between having the forks turned all the way to the left and "fall away" right is four to six inches. The direction you turn the hex bearing retainer depends on the distance of "fall away". Retighten the bolt holding the upper triple clamp in place to 25 to 30 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Re-install the rubber washer and acorn nut and tighten to 30 to 35 inch-pounds.
2. Adjust the rocker bearings. Use plastic ties to tie the spring fork legs and the rigid fork legs together -- on each side. Loosen the bearing retainer jam nuts and bearing retainers -- both located on the outside of the bottom of the forks -- with a wrench. Remove the acorn nuts and washers from each stud by loosening the spring fork pivot studs -- the part that holds the rocker to the fork. Tighten the bearing retainers to 25 to 35 inch-pounds with a torque wrench. Tighten the jam nuts while holding the bearing retainer in place with the hex driver to 95 to 105 foot-pounds. Remove the pivot studs. With a torque wrench rotate the rigid fork pivot studs and rockers 180 degrees. Reinstall the pivot studs, washers and acorn nuts, tightening them to 45 to 50 foot-pounds.
3. Sit on the motorcycle and be sure that you restore the front end and handlebars to their original position. Once you have replaced all of the parts, lower the motorcycle lift or jack and slowly test-drive the motorcycle.
Tags: bearing retainer, triple clamp, upper triple, upper triple clamp, fall away, pivot studs, clamp place
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle comes equipped with dual headlights mounted within the front fairing
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle comes equipped with dual headlights mounted within the front fairing. While access to the headlights generally requires removal of the outer fairing assembly, adjustment of the headlights does not. The adjustment procedure should be performed whenever the headlights have been replaced or if the headlight beam does not appear to be properly illuminating your travel path. The length of time required to complete this task should be between 30 to 45 minutes, depending upon skill level.
Instructions
1. Set the motorcycle on a level floor space within a garage or other suitable structure. Point the motorcycle towards a wall located 25 feet away. Have a friend sit on the motorcycle with the kick-stand up and the rider's weight compressing the suspension.
2. Measure the distance from the floor to the center of one of the headlights with a tape measure. Draw a horizontal line on the wall at the same height from the floor as the headlight.
3. Turn on the motorcycle ignition switch and set the headlights to the "High-Beam" setting, directing the light towards the mark on the wall.
4. Locate the right and left hex adjusters for the headlights at the bottom edge of the inner fairing. Turn the adjuster nuts with a 4.5 mm hex wrench to center the light beam straight ahead, level with the line on the wall.
Tags: Road Glide, comes equipped, comes equipped with, dual headlights, dual headlights mounted, equipped with, equipped with dual
Satellite radio offers many different radio stations, from, Hip Hop and Jazz to Classical and New Age, along with talk radio, traffic and weather. The best thing about these channels is that they are available no matter where you are. You can jump on your Harley-Davidson, turn on your favorite station and listen to it all the way across the country. This means no more channel surfing every hour or two. These instructions apply to a Harley-Davidson manufactured prior to 2004.
Instructions
Mounting Brackets and Antenna Installation
1. Locate the main fuse. This will be behind a triangle-shaped plate that is usually near the battery. Remove the main fuse before proceeding as well as the fuel pump fuse. If your Harley has a circuit breaker, disconnect the negative battery cable with a wrench.
2. Remove the fuel from the fuel tank with either a siphon or, if equipped with a cross-over hose, disconnect one side of the hose, plug the end of it and put a piece of tubing on the nipple. Remove the fuel line by pulling upwards on the attachment at the tank. Remove the bolts and then the fuel tank.
3. Use a hex head screwdriver to remove the two screws that hold the clutch lever to the handlebar. Then insert the two button-head screws into the mounting bracket, through the holes above and below the slot. Place a spacer over the threads of each screw. Insert the screw threads into the holes in the clutch lever clamp removed earlier.
4. Insert the four studs on the back of the satellite radio receiver through the four holes in the receiver's mounting bracket. Then mount the antenna bracket onto the back of the receiver's mounting bracket, using a lock nut in each of the bottom two studs. Install the antenna bracket onto the top two studs and add a lock nut onto each top stud. Use a wrench to tighten the lock nuts.
5. Clean the mounting surface of the antenna bracket and the bottom of the antenna with a damp shop rag. Then peel the liner from one side of the tape included in the kit and apply the tape squarely onto the bottom surface of the antenna. Peel the liner from the exposed side of the adhesive tape onto the antenna base. Position the antenna over the bracket without touching the tape to the bracket. Center the antenna over the bracket with the antenna cable towards the center of the vehicle. Press the antenna squarely and firmly onto the bracket and hold pressure for one minute.
Harness Routing and Connection
6. Use the unconnected end of the harness to follow the existing wiring from the left side handlebar switches over to the center of the handlebar.
7. Route the wires down through the upper fork bracket, past the steering head and back along the frame towards the seat.
8. Locate the main harness chassis ground connection on the frame. Use either the wrench or hex head screwdriver to remove the ground screw or nut.
9. Select the appropriate ring terminal to fit the ground screw or stud. Use wire ties and adhesive-backed clips from the kit to fasten the satellite receiver harness wires onto the frame. Verify that the harness wires do not pull tight when the handlebars are turned fully to the left or right fork stops.
10. Cut the black wire on the harness with wire cutters to easily reach the ground location then crimp the ring terminal onto the end of the wire. Install the ring terminal onto the ground connection and crimp it to hold the wire in place.
11. Locate the orange/white wire on the vehicle harness that leads to the rear lighting connector under the seat. Use wire cutters to cut the orange/white wire in a location that will allow for easy stripping and splicing to the orange/white wire on the satellite receiver harness. Cut the excess length from the orange/white wire on the satellite receiver harness to within easy reach of the orange/white vehicle harness wires. Then use the red button-splice connector from the kit to splice the three orange/white wires.
12. Open the cover of the fuse holder on the satellite receiver harness. Plug the two-amp fuse from the kit into the fuse holder and close the cover.
13. Check along the entire length of the wiring for any rubbing, chafing or pinch points.
Satellite Receiver Connection
14. Locate the jack wire on the satellite receiver harness. Then route the stereo jack to the "AUX-in" port on the face of the bike's radio.
15. Remove the rubber plug cover from the "AUX-in" port then plug the satellite receiver jack into the "AUX-in" port on the radio.
16. Fold the antenna cable in half then insert the connector on the antenna cable into the mating connector on the back of the satellite receiver. Route the antenna cable down the handlebar alongside the satellite receiver harness.
17.Use the wire ties and adhesive-backed clips from the kit, as necessary, to fasten the satellite receiver harness, jack wire and antenna cable onto the handlebar.
18. Verify that the harness wires do not pull tight when the handlebars are turned fully to the left or right fork stops.
Final Assembly
19. Reinstall the fuel tank.
20. Verify that the ignition/light key switch is in the "Off" position.
21. Reinstall the main and fuel pump fuses, or if you have a circuit breaker, apply a light coat of petroleum jelly to the battery terminal. Then reattach the battery cable.
22. Reattach the seat onto the bike and refill the fuel tank.
Recycling an old dresser puts a new spin on an old but still viable piece of furniture. It doesn't take much to turn an ugly dresser into a new and lovely addition to your home. There's no need for caustic strippers or heavy scraping. Sand paper, paint and patience, gives you the tools you need for your work of art. You'll get back to the basics, when it comes to refinishing this dresser. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Wash the dresser with soap and warm water to remove any old residue. Wipe it dry. Wear the gloves while sanding and painting. Tear the heavy grit sand paper to a size that fits around the wood block. Hold the sand paper in place on the block while sanding the dresser.
2. Sand the dresser by following the wood grain. Start at the top and work to the bottom of the dresser. Long even sanding strokes with applied pressure will start lifting the paint. Wipe the sanding dust from the dresser often.
3. Change the sand paper to the medium grit and continue sanding, this will smooth any ridges the heavy grit sand paper may have left. It isn't necessary to get down to bare wood in order to re-paint. It is only important to remove the shiny finish and have a smooth surface for applying the paint.
4. Wipe the residue with a clean damp cloth once the sanding is complete. Wipe once or twice to make sure all the residue is gone. If there are any shiny spots left, re-sand them. Let the dresser dry completely after wiping it clean.
5. Make sure to stir the paint well prior to applying it to the dresser. The first coat of paint will be the foundation. The second application of paint will be the finish coat depending on the color you are trying to cover. If the dresser was white and you plan to paint it red, apply a coat of yellow or orange as the foundation coat. Let that dry and apply 2 coats of red over the foundation.
6. Start at the top of the dresser and brush the paint on in one direction for a smooth application working in the direction of the wood grain. This is important for all coats of color.
Tags: grit sand, grit sand paper, heavy grit, heavy grit sand, paint will, paint Wipe, sand paper