Comanche
Contributing Member
I had a pair of running lights installed on my trike.
Got my trike back yesterday and realized the right mirror glass was very loose as it just shook badly. I tried to synchronize my head bobbing to the timing of the mirror, but then I could not see the left mirror as it was not shaking. It also had something to do with my ability to see the road clearly.
So I knew the mirror had to be tightened. I figured it was a rather simple job and who needs professional mechanics. (A lot like I have a digital camera so I must me a great picture taker), but I digress. I asked on line how to tighten a mirror and got a lot of help like duct tape, call the dealer ship poo-poo heads etc. Finally, I called Dustin (dealership service manager) and asked him. He told me there were three screws one of which was on the bottom of the mirror. Of course I could not get to the one on the bottom of the mirror because the running lights I had installed there were blocking the hole to tighten the wobbly glass in the mirror.
Being rather deductive, I determined I had to remove the running light and its bracket to get to the hole to tighten the screw holding the wobbly mirror. I also realized the bracket holding the running light to the mirror was not really tight so I figured putting a piece of Velcro on the bottom of the light assembly would tighten the lamp to the bracket. Thank you IR Harry. (Probably the best and only thing I did right) I will do that on the other side when I get the courage. Back to my installation. Not having a clue what size wrench I needed to remove the nut from the bolt holding the bracket on the mirror I get a bunch of opened end wrenches as I am super astute to realize the light is below the bracket so a socket wrench will not work as there is no access to the nut. Thusly, an opened end wrench is needed. Of course, I got one that was too small and one that was too large, but as I am inordinately handy, I was able to get the nut off the bolt. I think this is where I spent about an hour in the frigging hot garage looking for the nut which I never found. I then without difficulty took the remainder part of the bracket off the mirror assembly and actually got a Phillips head screw driver and tightened the screw to make the mirror less wobbly. (See, I did not forget my original mission) although at that time I thought my primary goal was to find the nut which remains just out of reach somewhere in my stinkin hot garage.
What size nut did I need? How was I going to tell the man at the auto parts store what size and thread I needed. Then, it came to me that just maybe the nut on the other mirror bracket was the same size. (how I love it when a plan comes together) I got a bunch of (again opened-end wrenches) and was gratified to determine that the 13mm fit that nut.
I secured the loose light to my bike and drove to the auto parts store where the clerk asked me if I was a coarse or fine threaded nut. I probably am still looking at him with a what the f*** do you mean look when he said let’s have a look. He determined it was a coarse thread and sold me the minimum amount of ms. 1.25 nuts. Anyone want to buy 99 of these? Oh, never mind, I will probably need them.
I am announcing with great pride that I got the light and the bracket reinstalled on my bike and believe it or not, the light is pointing in the right direction.
When Comanche is around, who the hell needs professional wrenchers?
Tomorrow: Valve adjustments.
Got my trike back yesterday and realized the right mirror glass was very loose as it just shook badly. I tried to synchronize my head bobbing to the timing of the mirror, but then I could not see the left mirror as it was not shaking. It also had something to do with my ability to see the road clearly.
So I knew the mirror had to be tightened. I figured it was a rather simple job and who needs professional mechanics. (A lot like I have a digital camera so I must me a great picture taker), but I digress. I asked on line how to tighten a mirror and got a lot of help like duct tape, call the dealer ship poo-poo heads etc. Finally, I called Dustin (dealership service manager) and asked him. He told me there were three screws one of which was on the bottom of the mirror. Of course I could not get to the one on the bottom of the mirror because the running lights I had installed there were blocking the hole to tighten the wobbly glass in the mirror.
Being rather deductive, I determined I had to remove the running light and its bracket to get to the hole to tighten the screw holding the wobbly mirror. I also realized the bracket holding the running light to the mirror was not really tight so I figured putting a piece of Velcro on the bottom of the light assembly would tighten the lamp to the bracket. Thank you IR Harry. (Probably the best and only thing I did right) I will do that on the other side when I get the courage. Back to my installation. Not having a clue what size wrench I needed to remove the nut from the bolt holding the bracket on the mirror I get a bunch of opened end wrenches as I am super astute to realize the light is below the bracket so a socket wrench will not work as there is no access to the nut. Thusly, an opened end wrench is needed. Of course, I got one that was too small and one that was too large, but as I am inordinately handy, I was able to get the nut off the bolt. I think this is where I spent about an hour in the frigging hot garage looking for the nut which I never found. I then without difficulty took the remainder part of the bracket off the mirror assembly and actually got a Phillips head screw driver and tightened the screw to make the mirror less wobbly. (See, I did not forget my original mission) although at that time I thought my primary goal was to find the nut which remains just out of reach somewhere in my stinkin hot garage.
What size nut did I need? How was I going to tell the man at the auto parts store what size and thread I needed. Then, it came to me that just maybe the nut on the other mirror bracket was the same size. (how I love it when a plan comes together) I got a bunch of (again opened-end wrenches) and was gratified to determine that the 13mm fit that nut.
I secured the loose light to my bike and drove to the auto parts store where the clerk asked me if I was a coarse or fine threaded nut. I probably am still looking at him with a what the f*** do you mean look when he said let’s have a look. He determined it was a coarse thread and sold me the minimum amount of ms. 1.25 nuts. Anyone want to buy 99 of these? Oh, never mind, I will probably need them.
I am announcing with great pride that I got the light and the bracket reinstalled on my bike and believe it or not, the light is pointing in the right direction.
When Comanche is around, who the hell needs professional wrenchers?
Tomorrow: Valve adjustments.
