Radiator repairs
I removed the damaged radiator Tuesday (Jim talked me through a few of the more difficult aspects) and took it to the motorcycle radiator repair shop in Fontana. I wish I had taken before and after pictures. The radiator off the bike was more tweaked than it appeared on the bike.
I picked up the repaired radiator today. It looked fantastic, almost new. They had to repair a small leak at the base of the radiator and then they tested under pressure before returning it to me. They had great friendly service for a very reasonable price.
I think the fan blade will be here tomorrow. In anticipation, I decided to reinstall the radiator. I got as far as two bolts. I couldn't find the third so I'll have to pick one up from Hahm's in the morning. Some of the next few installation steps involve the use of a torque wrench. Since I don't know how to use a torque wrench, I'll need to wait for O. His plane gets in late tomorrow.
Undaunted, I decided to try and change the brake and clutch levers. I got the Pazzo levers today. They really look great. The guys on the SV1000 forum say it takes 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of reading the instructions and not clearly understanding them, I again decided that it would be best to wait for O.
Poor O. I've learned a lot about motorcycle repairs and maintenance in the last couple of years. But, I still don't know a lot about tools. I still have problems cracking bolts and I sometimes over-tighten or under-tighten bolts. I'm getting better bit by bit but I'm often concerned that I'll damage expensive parts by my lack of knowledge in this area. I'll keep trying because it really feels good to successfully perform maintenance on your own bike...kind of like picking and eating veggies that you grew yourself. :)
