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Removed the right side panel on my 17. It was filled with 68,000 miles of dead bees.

@Skoot, damn impressive, especially seeing HMFIC overseeing the operation himself. That's a lot of machines to Germany, thanks for sharing the pic!

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 2:35 pm So, you are going to have TWO Germany FJR's? So many questions.

The first '09 came home a couple years ago. I'll let Skoot add the details...

~G

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 2:35 pm So, you are going to have TWO Germany FJR's? So many questions.

Not quite. As Jorge alluded to above, my other '09 came back home after the 2023 trip. It needed some love I couldn't provide for it there. So, sadly, this is a replacement. Not an addition.

But, if you still want some cuddle time I'll see what I can do.........

I have acquired new spark plugs - fingers crossed I don't snap another one tomorrow...

If you do, I'll personally come over there, get your balls out of Annette's purse and toss them into the St. Clair river.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:17 pm If you do, I'll personally come over there, get your balls out of Annette's purse and toss them into the St. Clair river.

Well that was ballsey!

Got all the valve clearances checked on David's FJR, looked quite good and uniform, and no re-shimming required after 85k kms. This was its second check. Dealer did the first one and idjit mechanic used excess RTV on the valve cover gasket gluing the half moons in. And actually glued in the water pipe/o-rings with RTV. I spent two hours cleaning up the RTV, meticulously scraping it off and carefully not allowing it to drop into the engine. Head shaker...

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 9:43 am Got all the valve clearances checked on David's FJR, looked quite good and uniform, and no re-shimming required after 85k kms. This was its second check. Dealer did the first one and idjit mechanic used excess RTV on the valve cover gasket gluing the half moons in. And actually glued in the water pipe/o-rings with RTV. I spent two hours cleaning up the RTV, meticulously scraping it off and carefully not allowing it to drop into the engine. Head shaker...

Cleaning up gasket surfaces is the biggest PITA, and the most tedious job, especially if someone used excessive amounts of it. So glad I had the Pros from Canuckistan do mine last year at Intech Day.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 9:43 am Got all the valve clearances checked on David's FJR, looked quite good and uniform, and no re-shimming required after 85k kms. This was its second check. Dealer did the first one and idjit mechanic used excess RTV on the valve cover gasket gluing the half moons in. And actually glued in the water pipe/o-rings with RTV. I spent two hours cleaning up the RTV, meticulously scraping it off and carefully not allowing it to drop into the engine. Head shaker...

Don't you just love working on someone else's previous clusterf*** and mess? Me too!

Finally got to wash 2024 of of it...

I used Permatex Right Stuff Black back in 09 when I did my first valve check. Only put it on the valve cover and very sparingly, it sets up and feels just like the gasket material very flexible. Still holding thru 3 more checks! Bummer is I haven't seen the 24 hour product on the shelf for awhile now.

Panman wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 5:20 pm I used Permatex Right Stuff Black back in 09 when I did my first valve check. Only put it on the valve cover and very sparingly, it sets up and feels just like the gasket material very flexible. Still holding thru 3 more checks! Bummer is I haven't seen the 24 hour product on the shelf for awhile now.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Permate ... e&ie=UTF-8

Took her out for a couple of hours. She likes the cool weather. 48 when we left..50 when we returned. She wanted rid of the winter gasoline…something fresh.

Maybe a little too early in this area. I did find some snow on the road (nothing major, nothing dangerous, it was 20s yesterday) where the sun wasnt warming the road. I seem to have shrunk over the winter so put the seat in low for now. She needs another wash…roads and driveway are not the greatest this time if year.

I use Permatex Ultra Gray, it's a bit runnier and easier to put on gasket surfaces, and gives a longer working time... I prepped the valve cover a good half hour+ before installing it, works as a good glue just partially set up. After install, it allows the rubber gasket to conform to the flat cylinder head, half moons seat nicely. She's all buttoned up today, even did a steering head bearing retorque.... that MV riser plate slowed me up, but I got 'er done.

Fired it up, let it go until the fans came on, nary a leak or drip anywhere. Let it cool down, coolant reservoir dropped a bit as expected, and I ran it again just fer fun. All stable, good to go.

Careful, I might glue your door shut with RTV...

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:17 pm If you do, I'll personally come over there, get your balls out of Annette's purse and toss them into the St. Clair river.

2nd set of new sparkplugs installed, without incident. With anti-seize applied.

Also levered on the Roadsmart 4's (removing 3/4 worn RS3's). Installed freshly serviced forks (I break spark plugs, not forks). Replaced the clean final drive fluid with more clean final drive fluid. Inspected all brake pads, Cleaned calipers. Lubed rear brake pedal pivot.

All that is left is coolant drain and fill and oil change, reinstall side panels.

w

Rode to work. After months off the bike and 2 weeks it torn apart in the garage, I have no "extra" parts leftover. I'll be riding tomorrow and Thursday.

Clutch and brake flush tonight, time permitting and plugs when they arrive. Good to have the bike in one piece, running great.

Installed XPEL Gloss Surface Protection Film on the new right side fairing panel. I bought a roll of XPEL so I had to make templates using engineering paper, you know the stuff with lots of lines.

Rode it to work...first time this year

Spininprop wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 1:29 pm Rode to work. After months off the bike and 2 weeks it torn apart in the garage, I have no "extra" parts leftover. I'll be riding tomorrow and Thursday.

Clutch and brake flush tonight, time permitting and plugs when they arrive. Good to have the bike in one piece, running great.

I have a set of plugs if you don't want to wait. You're welcome to them and then just send your set my way when they arrive. Let me know.

Rode mine to work, again.

Washed her this afternoon, with wifey and daughter washing their own bikes. We’ll ride Cherohala tomorrow.