[Snow Fox]

I changed my oil today @ 41 miles because I'm doing the not so gentle break-in procedure and wanted to get any metal shavings out. View attachment 222195
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I'm glad I did.

Please post updates as to how the break-in goes. Years ago I opted for a similar not-so-gentle break-in strategy on a new pickup, and the engine blew at around 1500 miles. Coincidence? Maybe.

 

[Snow Fox]

I was reading an old post from former member qwerty explaining how that harder break in procedure was more suited to modern engines and not our old TDubs one. Hopefully I didn't mess anything up 🤪

I guess I'm probably gonna take a little easier for the rest of the break-in.

Wise decision, IMHO! 😛

 

[Snow Fox]

Cheap ebay impulse buy. Good enough for who it's for.
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What is it???

 

[Snow Fox]

Today Bel got herself a tattoo. Then I took her for a ride. 😋

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She's so shiny, sparkling clean! Love the tattoo!

 

[Snow Fox]

My TW sat in the nice warm garage while I took my Spirit to work. 34 degrees out. My van picked a bad time for the tranny to go.

Dang, that sucks about the tranny, and just when you saved $$$$ for TW goodies.

 

[Snow Fox]

This morning I swapped out my OEM shift lever for an IMS, and what do you know? I can fit my ginormous size 14 ROFLMAO dirt bike boot under it to be able to shift gears. Five thumbs up from me!

 

[Snow Fox]

Adjusting it upwards made it too high for me, and the shift lever isn't wide enough for my YUGE boots to fit.

 

[Snow Fox]

Blue Bunny's carb was leaking so I decided to swap in the Clone Carb just to see if it would work. I did change the throttle cable holder to the original. I was understanding this was a nightmare to change but I found it quite easy. Started up and ran just fine in the 5-minute shop run. I'm sure I'll have some fine-tuning to do but was happily surprised the clone started the TW up without any initial adjustments. If only the snow would melt (says the guy who just got back from Quartzsite) haha.
Clone Carb
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Also gonna change the standard size Seat Concepts seat (shown below) for a tall version (not shown) I recently acquired from a forum member.
One would think 6 days of riding in Quartzsite would satisfy the riding bug but it hasn't.
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Frosty Hollow is still frosty. Can't wait for spring to sprung!
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How do you rate the Concepts Seat? I need to swap my original seat out. It's icky.

 

[Snow Fox]

The standard size Seat Concepts is better than the OEM seat but it's not the plush last you all day seat one would hope for. My buttocks does like it better and I can ride in the saddle longer but any seat I've ridden in has its "time limitation". Even the Maddog Seat cover over the OEM seat is more comfortable for a while over the OEM seat.

Sounds like it's a bit of an improvement. So there's no such thing as an after market plush, all day seat? The OEM seat is brutal.😣

 

[Snow Fox]

After riding a horse the TW saddle ought to feel like a recliner.

I have a sheepskin seat saver on both my English and Western saddles, and I wear padded dressage unmentionables. The complicated life of a slim bae is no joke and the TW seat is like squatting on a rock. 😵

 

[Snow Fox]

Did the thing 😎 also put ride-on in the front tire, never used it before so will see how it all works tomorrow. Did 3oz of beads in the rear, curious to see how well it’s balanced. I rode it around the neighborhood completely unbalanced and couldn’t tell up to 40mph. But that’s not a good determinate. I’m going to run the stock sprockets for the moment, possibly until I get the swingarm extensions and I’ll just fit the new chain at the same time. I want to see how the tire has changed the bike first, before changing the gearing.

Had to place a spacer inside the brake drum to keep the 2 housings from clamping onto each other when the axle was torqued past 40nm. It would completely lock the wheel up. Doesn’t make sense to me. Checked parts diagrams and it doesn’t look like I lost anything, no missing spacers or anything like that.

if someone could please take a photo of this gap on their rear drum brake for me (a measurement would be awesome too) the photo is after the washer spacer was inserted to give it room to move.

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Please post your before and after experience with Ride On in the front tire. I have 3 cans coming from Amazon real soon and I would love your impression.

 

[Snow Fox]

Fred and Mr. Mine Mapper, this one's for you: It was in the 30's but the sun was warm, so I took the Dubs out to a Forest Service road that I haven't yet explored. The narrow road...if you could call it that...was plain dirt and lots of fun until it suddenly turned into terrain like something out of Fred's and Mr. Mapper's videos.

There was no place to turn around so I had no alternative but to go up a hill for a mile over solid, large, loose rocks from hell. Was I scared? Oh, you betcha! But know this. Watching your videos taught me that the TW is totally capable. I am the weak link in the chain of competence. Your video posts gave me confidence that I needed to be able to ride until I could turn around. Did I make it look pretty? Definitely not. Did I spider walk downhill riding the brakes? Yup, and shamelessly. Joselin Snow would be laughing her a** off if she saw me.

But I didn't die or drop the Dubs. I made it back to Hermit Haven bathed in nervous sweat and as happy as I could be over my mini accomplishment. About 2 hours ago, if you gentlemen felt something strange, it was me channeling your abilities in my head. Que up the Outer Limits theme song!

 

[Snow Fox]

I took my TW down the freeway today and I was flying past cars. Too bad it was rush hour and they were only doing about 40 mph. I had to make a run to the Honda dealer for some parts.

You had me going for a while! 🤣😂

 

[Snow Fox]

I rode the Dubs to one of my favorite artifact hunting spots, and after hiking several miles, I found some lovely pottery shards and 2 spectacular arrowheads. On the way home I encountered a Fred-style road comprised of large rocks for about 1/4 mile. Yeah, I spider walked it, but I didn't fall off! Who else gets drenched with nervous sweat besides me?

 

[Snow Fox]

That's cool. It must be nice to have a location where you can reliably find some historical artifacts. Do you sell what you find? I wouldn't mind having an arrowhead as a keepsake (assuming it wasn't illegal to export that is).

NM is spectacular for outdoor recreation of all kinds, right out the back door!! I don't sell any of my finds, but there are several artifact sites that sell nice pieces. I have a small but spectacular collection of critter skulls, artifacts, bones and tools, and petrified wood. Once in a great while I will trade something for a piece someone else has that I can't live without. But for me, the joy of collecting is finding treasures by myself.

 

[Snow Fox]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Hoot, ya cool ole codger!
😎🥳🥳😎

 

[Snow Fox]

The Dubs bucked me off.....again. Parking it in the horse trailer has proven to be a daunting challenge. After the front tire is in the trailer, the ramp bounces the rear tire and launches me into the back wall. I've gotta find another little house for the Dubs before I kill myself. I could use a few stitches, but alternatively, I have a compression dressing with ice on the owie with a few butterflies and it should be OK.

On the bright side, I had a super nice ride, practicing standing on foot pegs, and increasing speed on gravel. It was awesome!

 

[Snow Fox]

Is it possible to stand beside the bike and walk it up the ramp using engine power?

Gonna have to try walking it in!

 

[Snow Fox]

No Bueno!! And that was with gear on?!

1st gear launched me like a circus monkey. 😏

 

[Snow Fox]

Here’s a TW that gets walked into a cargo trailer converted to a camper. First gear, plenty of rpm & clutch slipping controls the progress up a ramp. I use the ramp from a hitch hauler. It hooks on a piece of aluminum angle bolted onto the trailer.

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Brilliant!!