What did you do to your FJR today?

[Cav47]

I installed speed bleeders on the FJR and my other 4 bikes. I finished bleeding all the brake lines this morning and even did a clutch bleed on the AE. Now I've got to dispose of a lot of dirty brake fluid. I guess I'll use the kitty litter method. I have nowhere else to dispose of any of it.

I changed the oil in the FJR at Bob's Tech Day. When I got home from that shindig, I changed the oil in the other 4 bikes. Fluids are done. Time to ride more and worry less about maintenance.

My used bike fluids go into the big jugs and back to AutoZone. They recycle oil and anything else for no charge. Maybe you can do the same.

From what I'm told, brake fluid should not be combined with oil and taken to AutoZone for recycling. They only accept oil. Brake fluid is a different animal.

Had no idea about the prohibited mixing of liquids...........neither does my AutoZone.

Tell me about this Kitty Litter method.

[FJRoss]

Brake fluid is not a hydrocarbon oil. It is a organic fluid that is water miscible (multiple alcohol, glycol, ether and ester functional groups).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid

Disposal, if you are not taking it to a recycler.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/ho ... rake-fluid

[wheatonFJR]

Brake fluid is not a hydrocarbon oil. It is a organic fluid that is water miscible (multiple alcohol, glycol, ether and ester functional groups).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid

Disposal, if you are not taking it to a recycler.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/ho ... rake-fluid

Thanks for the info.

[extrememarine]

Next sustantial engagement for my FJR is a 5-6 day ride through Wisconsin and Michigan's western U.P. in July. Based on who we're traveling with, I'll be ordering new rain gear shortly.

I'm sensing a lot of peeps here getting the bike ready for something. Of course it varies, but that matters not. The important part is that people are getting ready to RIDE. A far cry better than this time last year.

Ride on.

[N4HHE]

I've had micro USB's fail on a few devices... should be outlawed... why not the more robust mini Garmin put on other GPS's like the 550 and 396.. or go with USB C.

Just because the mini-USB is bigger doesn't mean it is more robust than micro. The mini on my Garmin ViRB is shot. Kaputs.

Years ago faced with the decision to use micro vs mini on a PCB I was doing I downloaded datasheets for all the interesting components at DigiKey. The relatively new micro components claimed 10x greater number of life cycles than the mini, same manufacturer. Just now for sample size of one, an Amphenol mini is 5,000, micro is 10,000. USB-C is same 10,000.

Anyway, suggest calling Garmin, and the conversation may be steered to an XT for a real good discount......... meanwhile, perhaps a good cell phone repair place can replace the micro USB connector.

Agree a good cell phone repair shop should be able to do it. Likely not have the connector in stock but a good tech should be able to find it on DigiKey. I used to do a lot of that sort of thing designing PCB, ordering parts, building prototype and small quality. And then I had to make it all work. In retirement I don't have as good of a magnifying glass as I did then. Still have my soldering iron and hot air reflow machine.

[ionbeam]

In retirement I don't have as good of a magnifying glass as I did then. Still have my soldering iron and hot air reflow machine.

Amazon carries Carson CP-60 Optical Pro Series with 4 different clip on lenses (1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, 3X). I have found this setup to be good enough to do SMT repair work and has a reasonable focal point distance for work down to 0201 (about the size of a grain of kosher salt).

[FJRPittsburgh]

Brake Fluid Disposal at Home

Smaller amounts of brake fluid don’t always warrant the trip to an automotive shop or waste treatment center. If you have kitty litter, a bucket or pan of some sort, and a sealable garbage bag, brake fluid can be absorbed, evaporated, and thrown away in 3 easy steps:

Pour brake fluid into a pan of clean kitty litter. Fill a large, flat-bottomed bowl or tray, or a metal pan you’d use for catching car fluids, with about a half-inch of kitty litter. Then, pour the brake fluid over the kitty litter, or, when draining old fluid from the car, have the bowl set up to collect it.

Leave the pan uncovered and let it sit for 3-4 days. Make sure the pan is left somewhere away from pets or children due to toxicity, and far from sources of heat or flame because of flammability. It will be absorbed by the kitty litter and, since it is alcohol-based, it will evaporate over the course of a few days.

Throw out the litter once all the fluid evaporates. After a few days, shake the tray to check for leftover fluid, and let it sit longer if any remains. Once it’s completely dry, pour the litter into a plastic garbage bag, seal the top, and toss it out with the rest of your trash.

Hi Cav!!!

[Red]

Brake Fluid Disposal at Home
Smaller amounts of brake fluid If you have kitty litter, brake fluid can be absorbed, evaporated, and thrown away in 3 easy steps:
Pour brake fluid into a pan of clean kitty litter.
Leave the pan uncovered and let it sit for 3-4 days.
Once it’s completely dry, pour the litter into a plastic garbage bag, seal the top, and toss it out with the rest of your trash.
Hi Cav!!!

FJRPittsburgh,

I just have this vision of some archeologist finding that bag of kitty liter in maybe 400 years,
and wondering what kind of cats we had which could excrete stuff like that.

[N4HHE]

In retirement I don't have as good of a magnifying glass as I did then. Still have my soldering iron and hot air reflow machine.

Amazon carries Carson CP-60 Optical Pro Series with 4 different clip on lenses (1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, 3X). I have found this setup to be good enough to do SMT repair work and has a reasonable focal point distance for work down to 0201 (about the size of a grain of kosher salt).

I was doing the design, writing the software, and laying out the boards so usually used 0603 but occasionally there was some reason for 0402 (I forget what, likely shipping time). If space available and any chance a resistor value needed to be tweaked after prototype was built I'd use 1/4W with 0.500" hole spacing. And if I could I'd use 10 mil traces on 25 mil grid. Can't always leave that much space.

Mostly used a round florescent desk light with about 6" glass magnifying glass. Good thing it was glass because I often worked close enough to bump the lens with hot soldering iron tip. The headset magnifier you listed looks awfully good too! Currently have an LED light on arm with about 5" glass lens. Not as powerful as what I had at work.

My 595 often has problems hearing my rear TPMS sensor. Have swapped front/rear. Replaced batteries about every 9 months past 5 years. Online sources suggest poor solder joint on shielding inside the Zumo. I haven't taken it apart yet but a friend's identical 595 can almost never hear my TPMS when we tried on my FJR in the same mounting bracket.

There are times I am tempted to solder the 595's battery connector. No amount of tweaking the pins has been a permanent fix. DeOxIt plus spreading the pins lasts longer than just one or the other.

[Cav47]

Brake Fluid Disposal at Home
Smaller amounts of brake fluid If you have kitty litter, brake fluid can be absorbed, evaporated, and thrown away in 3 easy steps:
Pour brake fluid into a pan of clean kitty litter.
Leave the pan uncovered and let it sit for 3-4 days.
Once it’s completely dry, pour the litter into a plastic garbage bag, seal the top, and toss it out with the rest of your trash.
Hi Cav!!!

FJRPittsburgh,

I just have this vision of some archeologist finding that bag of kitty liter in maybe 400 years,
and wondering what kind of cats we had which could excrete stuff like that.

Can I just pour it on the neighborhood cat the keeps killing all the birds, bunnies, mice, and anything else small? He constantly is leaving carcasses on the deck near the water feature. ( I would never do that, but if that groundhog under the shed ever got dead by the cat, I would feed it anything it wanted)

[D-Eagle]

Oooh, those groundhogs are a menace and hard to get rid of. I trapped the one under my deck but from everything I have read sounds like I got lucky.
Usually they are too smart to go in the traps. Sounds like you need more cats.

[extrememarine]

I "removed" over a dozen of those things from my folks place about 2 years ago. Their dog even assisted - he treed one; yes, chased it up a tree. They are out in the country, so it was an easy task of keeping a .22 handy. In the 'burbs, you're a little more limited I suppose. Maybe a crossbow or air rifle??

Oooh, those groundhogs are a menace and hard to get rid of. I trapped the one under my deck but from everything I have read sounds like I got lucky.
Usually they are too smart to go in the traps. Sounds like you need more cats.

[ice station zebra]

Rode the Algonquin Loop with 4 buddies including lunch stop at Ragged Falls on the Oxtongue river. Fantastic weather and road conditions except for a patch of gravel on the 507 just south of the OPP station. Not a bad thing really as that stretch of road was in need of resurfacing. Hopefully it'll be done in time for CFR!

[wheatonFJR]

Received two packages today. On Monday, ordered the MV Motorrad riser plate...shipped from Deutschland on Montag, arrived today/Mittwoch!

Ordered comfort bike shorts/longpants from underarmour on Monday, also arrived today.

Both of these items are related to NAFO. If you want to see the animals in person, ya gotta be there. Get signed up!

[fontanaman]

A shout to Ray! I am taking advantage of his suggestion to get my Garmin 590 repaired by Short Tronics, Inc at palmdr.com. They will replace the broken micro usb connector for $67. Nice.

A local shop wanted $120 and Garmin wanted $180 for a refurbished 590 while offering no discount on a XT. I don't want an XT because with the 590's I understand the lack of function issues, not so with the XT. Further I have 590 cradles on both bikes and I can carry a spare GPS when on longer trips in case one craps out. As dim as the screen maybe I can see it and two 590's might be better than one XT.

Thanks again Ray.

[rbentnail]

There are times I am tempted to solder the 595's battery connector. No amount of tweaking the pins has been a permanent fix. DeOxIt plus spreading the pins lasts longer than just one or the other.

This will be my next farkle. I m fed up with having my 595 in the powered cradle for 8-10 hrs, taking it out and it telling me the battery is dead. What a crap connector.

[gixxerjasen]

Received two packages today. On Monday, ordered the MV Motorrad riser plate...shipped from Deutschland on Montag, arrived today/Mittwoch!

My plate and my replacement parts I lost always ship super fast from them. They are awesome.

[N4HHE]

Why bother with kitty litter? Why not pour into a pie pan and light it on fire?

[Bugnatr]

Received two packages today. On Monday, ordered the MV Motorrad riser plate...shipped from Deutschland on Montag, arrived today/Mittwoch!

Ordered comfort bike shorts/longpants from underarmour on Monday, also arrived today.

Both of these items are related to NAFO. If you want to see the animals in person, ya gotta be there. Get signed up!

Try to keep your pants on buddy, nobody wants to see your fancy undergarments.

[wheatonFJR]

Received two packages today. On Monday, ordered the MV Motorrad riser plate...shipped from Deutschland on Montag, arrived today/Mittwoch!

Ordered comfort bike shorts/longpants from underarmour on Monday, also arrived today.

Both of these items are related to NAFO. If you want to see the animals in person, ya gotta be there. Get signed up!

Try to keep your pants on buddy, nobody wants to see your fancy undergarments.

Understood...and not offering. But thanks for that sage advice. Showing off your bike shorts...Is that a Minnesota thing???