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AK Steel Workers, Someone please explain this to me.

Now I realize you guys are contractually obligated to protest, or picket or hang out at the entrance of AK Steel and show your dissatisfaction with the whole contract thing since you are in the union and are locked out.

But if you want people to take you seriously you could show a little professionalism.

I mean, it’s not supposed to be a big party on the corner there. I realize you need some comforts. A barrel or two to build a fire for the chilly nights, an awning to keep the sun off you, after all it has been hotter than hell and there have been some heat warnings.

Yesterday I rode by and saw guys playing corn hole, and one guy standing out there in shorty shorts. Nothing but shorty shorts. Tan as tan can be, like he just returned from a Caribbean vacation. He looked like he was having a pretty good time too.

This thing is dragging on and nobody likes it. Your corner hang outs are starting to look like homeless shanties, but the folks hanging out there look like they are ready for a NASCAR race. You don’t look all that dissatisfied to be there. I haven’t seen anyone carrying a sign, or banner in months.

I’m not going to get into who’s right or who’s wrong or whose taking advantage of whom in this whole mess. But the least you folks could do is look and act respectable while you’re protesting the lock out. I would be more inclined to have sympathy for your cause if you did.

If you have absolutely nothing better to do but hang out and catch a tan at the picket line, then there is something seriously wrong with your outlook. You will look good with that tan though, when you’re interviewing for your next job if and when AK breaks the union because it doesn’t appear that they take you guys seriously either.

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2006 FJR Steering Head Service (Check and Tightening)

OK, so I’ve had my 06 FJR for almost a month. About 2400 miles or so into ownership I noticed a little thunk up front every time I hit something hard.

I checked the front end as part of the 600 mile service, but while in Vermont, when I checked I felt a little play in the steering head.

Not to worry, it just needed a little TLC and tightening.

To do this on an 06A really couldn’t be easier. Put the bike on the center stand and support the front end. (Get it off the ground). I do need/want to build one of those front end stands that straddle the bike and support it with straps but I haven’t had time to do that yet. For today I just stuck my floor jack under it with a board on the headers and gave it a couple easy pumps.

The tools for this are really simple.

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Horse Shopping

Apparently finding the right horse for Claudine and Cisco is turning out harder than we originally thought.

There are lots of ‘cheap’ horses out there and lots of bad ones too.  There are lots of bad expensive horses out there as well.  It aint easy.

For crying out loud we went and looked at one Walker that looked like it was beaten all to hell.  Was missing a shoe and they still wanted $2500 for him.  He almost looked malnourished on top of that.  They thought nothing of having of saddle him up and taking him for a ride to feel his gates even though he was missing a shoe.  (What in the world?)  Of course we declined.  

Of course we’re not looking for just any old horse.  It can’t be too dominant (for Cisco’s sake), and it has to be a gated horse.  We’d prefer another Missouri Fox Trotter, but there are other breeds we’d consider as well.  We’ve looked at a couple Walkers, a Paso Fino, and even a Walkaloosa.  But still no luck in finding the right one.

So if you happen to know of a likely candidate, or a horse that’s gated, of good stocky build, 15 hands or taller, that is sound, and needs a good home let us know. 😉

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FJR Scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance.

Today 8/1/06 Mileage: 3444
Oil Change.

4.2 qts of Yamalube 20-40
Purchased (5) Qts @ $4.20 a quart and a crush washer from Honda-Kawasaki-Yamaha of Middletown (my least favorite dealer) they don’t stock the 20/40 in the gallon jug and they are oh so friendly there.

Total bill: $23.27 with tax.

$.85 for a dang crush washer, I need to buy these elsewhere and of course they only had (1). They only stock (5). These are the same morons that didn’t stock a brake lever when I dropped the ZX-11. The same lever that fits about, oh, 80% of the bikes Kawasaki makes. Go figure.

I already had the oil filter, bought two when I purchased the bike.

I also changed the rear drive fluid (again), still had some left over from the original quart. (Actually did that two days ago at 3200 miles).

I need to do a throttle body sync (again), and tighten my steering head bearings, there is just a little bit of play, I mean ever so slightly. I already ordered the tool and am waiting for it to come in.

I’ve also started noticing a little drive line thunk, at take off but understand that’s just the way it is, I only really notice it if I roll backwards and unload the driveline.

At 10k I’ll probably pull all of that apart and re-grease it unless this becomes a bigger issue.

Throttle play seems to be getting a little sloppier too, I might have to do the throttle mod. I’ll try to adjust some of it out when I do a TBS on the next free afternoon.

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Vintage Motorcycle Days 2006

Wow, OK so I have missed this event for the past 2 years. Well no more, It’s only 2 and a half hours up the road and it’s a blast. Next year I’ll do the whole weekend I think.

This year Gar and the gang were back for more racing. Let me start over. If you don’t know what VMD is and no it’s not a Venerial Motorcycle Disease. It’s everything, racing, motocross, fleamarket, freak fest, you name it.

Geared towards vintage motorcycles but just about anything on two wheels goes.

Gar and Cooter both have motards. Cotter a DR 650 and Gar a brand new KTM SMX 520. Gar has had a run of bad luck at VMD with bikes that get there and won’t run. So this was to be his year with a brand new bike.

However… This is Gar we’re talking about. On Friday night during practice, a plug that goes where a starter would be in his case (if he had electric start) came out spewing oil on the track and putting a rider down. This angered some folks, not to mention Gar. This is also a brand new bike, and a RARE bike. The plug thing, well, it’s not supposed to come out. In fact it’s hard to get out if you want it out. But, we’re talking about Gar. Being that this is a new and rare bike and this plug isn’t supposed to come out means that no dealer will ever stock this part. Ever. Gars weekend of racing is pretty much done.

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Of course we tried to fashion a cover of some sort and with what we had available and with permatex but when I left Saturday it still leaked. 🙁

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They re-did the job Saturday afternoon before I left with some super duper permatex and let it cure over night, and it worked! So apparently Gar is racing today.

I spent most of the day in the pits with the guys dorking around with Gars bike. But did wander over and watch a couple races. It’s pretty sweet watching all this vintage (and not so) stuff on the track.

I took a few photos too.

Lots of photos on the gallery here.

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