Maintenance Tips & Tricks

NPeteN said:

Is there a difference between these and a wet bandana?.

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robs ss said:

In another thread our good, and now sadly departed, friend Texas Slick (Rob) started on Tools You Have Made.
I thought one on maintenance hints might be appropriate. I've put this in the Commando section to manage volume and line of interest. Other forum areas may like to follow suit if desired.

I'll start the ball rolling with a small one (because I've just done it!):
To keep the lower pivot on my long RGM kickstart tight and moving smoothly I do two things.
1.Insert a thin belleville spring between the upper boss and the arm to apply some spring tension here. (22.5 x 11.2 x 0.6mm on eBay - cheap!)
2. After putting a plastic bag over the exhaust pipe and frame, I spray TAC2 into the joint as I work the arm in and out. I leave it like that overnight and clean the mess with a couple of pieces of kitchen paper the next day. Lasts me 6 months (say, 250 kicks) before needing it again.

Cheers (...and RIP Slick!)

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Bonzo said:

Hey up Rob.

Like MichaelD, I too ordered the belleville washer from your link, and I'm delighted with the result - cheers

I tried google for solutions to my floppiness but the results were somewhat bizarre

Not wishing to derail the thread (because that never happens on this forum ), how did your tank stud repair go?

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robs ss said:

I'm glad it worked for you!
Not so good with the tank unfortunately. One side is perfect but the other seeps very slightly.
I have to pull it apart, reclean the surfaces (more carefully!) and have another go. Stopping the inner, male threaded part from turning during tightening is an issue.
Cheers

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Bonzo said:

Yes, My lad drilled a couple of holes either side of the stud and I used a pair of circlip pliers to hold it while wrenching up the nut.

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MichaelD said:

Errm, doesn't drilling a couple of holes in your tank have unwanted side effects?

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Post in thread 'Fuel Tank Fun.'

Mar 30, 2025

johnm said:

Its a very nice feeling when your children start doing things for themselves. And then one day you realise they can do things you never could.

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He's always been the same actually. I remember when he was really tiny and I asked him to crawl into the tiniest of spaces in our attic to stuff some insulation in there - actually, quite a big job. I can see him now, he was sweating like a pig up there - really grafting, and he wouldn't stop until it was dead right. Getting quite emotional thinking about that now actually.

Yep, proud indeed.

• Bonzo

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robs ss said:

I should, on reflection, radius the top of the Z-plate (with a Dremel) where the cable passes over. You know - a smooth groove for the cable!

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