5twins's latest activity

You can use the block of wood against the drain plug. That may be easier than trying to get it on the thin edge of the sump plate.

I don't know about Canada, but that may not be legal for us in the States here because it doesn't have a clear bottom to illuminate the...

Only what I've already suggested. Get a nice block of hardwood, maybe a foot or so long so you can really hit it hard away from the...

I just put some heater hose on the tang. The muffler doesn't get hot enough to melt it. It's been on there for years and works well...

Yes, it was the only good pic I had of correctly installed brushes, lol. My '78 came to me with one right, one wrong ..... I didn't...

..... but you should check it at both, especially if you're still using the stock ATU. They are made to advance the timing exactly 25°...

Yes, you want to cover that lower terminal on the starter motor where the heavy cable connects. When I got my '78, the starter didn't...

Also, your brushes are installed incorrectly. The brush wire should wrap around the outside of each bracket, not the inside as you have...

Early Yamaha mags needed tubes. You'll need to examine the wheels, particularly the webs of the spokes. They will be marked if the...

The first one looks like a spacer sleeve that inserts into one of the rubber grommets. A bolt then goes through it and the sleeve keeps...

I don't doubt that, especially where you live. Your hot, dry climate is tougher on them.

It looks like you've eliminated the headlight/starter safety relay (bad) but left that silly RLU in place (worse)?

The way the seal seat is designed, I don't think they are meant to or need to fit tight into the carb body. The seal works on vacuum...

Keeping the pivots well greased makes an amazing difference. If they're dry and rusty, the stand will bind up big time and be very...

Yes, there were several different styles or types. Kickers up through '80 had a bigger "foot". '81 and later had a smaller foot and were...

I should also add that I do this when the motor is hot. Set it on a cold motor and the chain may end up being too tight once things heat...

Since they've been discontinued in the States here, I got my last batch of BP7ES plugs from England. They've been reissued over there...

Typically, we use .003" on the intakes and .006" on the exhausts but as Gary just mentioned, your aftermarket performance cam may spec...

Yes, I try to do the clutch cable every year. The throttle cable doesn't seem to need re-oiling as frequently, maybe every 2 to 3 years.

I use motor oil to lube my cables. That spray cable lube is too thin and only lasts a couple days, lol. If off the bike, I'll hang the...

The only seals in your carbs are on the ends of the butterfly shafts. If you never replaced them then I'd do it. Again, this is a part...

Rebuild kits are not recommended. They are aftermarket and the quality of the parts can be bad. Many times the float needle and seat...

Looks like your forks have been installed wrong, left one on the right side and right one on the left. The axle should insert from the...

Any stock one will fit, not sure about the aftermarket custom ones. Some of them aren't as deep and don't have as much room inside.

Yes, cleaning that seal groove out is one of the most important steps during a caliper overhaul. Built-up crud in that groove is what...

You should NEVER clamp a fork lower in a vice, it's too easy to pinch it oval shaped and ruin it. You say the "new" one you got did...

Yes, you are missing the lower side covers. They have a couple of pegs on them that snap into those grommets, and a tab on the bottom...

Well actually, no, your original '77 springs aren't sacked, they differed in length from the '78 and newer springs ..... They also...

..... except that requires breaking the chain, harder and much messier than just pulling a muffler, in my opinion anyway.

I do, but they are the N.L.A. MAC headpipes. They swept up on the ends at what I think was the perfect angle, high enough to clear the...

It seems Yamaha put a little more time and effort into making the first year 35mm fork damper rods a bit nicer. They polished them up...

Not real critical I guess. The forks may top out occasionally on the road and every time you put the bike on the centerstand. You'll get...

Unfortunately no they won't. The headpipes on my '78 are the MAC brand and what MikesXS used to sell before they had their own made up...

You're going to find the '77 damper rods differ slightly from the '78 and newer ones, mainly at the top. The holes are the same so you...

I've never added a preload spacer to the aftermarket progressive springs, didn't need to. I think they're a little stiffer than the...

The Euro bar bend is my favorite and I put it on all my bikes. Because of the way the ends droop down slightly, I think these are about...

Drilling the holes did, not sure about the resurfacing. But I would think that having a fresh, textured surface for new pads to bed in...

Some more Lucas humor. Sorry, I can't help myself, lol .....

Yes, I heard the fuel system sort of "self-tunes" itself for minor mods. That's pretty cool. Are the bends that angle the mufflers out...

Well, the old BMW mechanic's "blend" was moly grease mixed with anti-seize. I have a jar I made up that I've been using for years.

I might swap in the new relay, to an important circuit like the "Ignition", and carry the old one as the spare. It would be interesting...

I think with that much movement, I'd go with grease. I only use anti-seize on non-moving parts (threads or the bolts themselves), or a...

The cut-out in a Special chain guard may not align with the more upright Standard shock mounting position. It's farther forward to align...

Yes, when I replaced the carb boots on mine, all I could get was the ones without vacuum barbs. So, I drilled them and pressed barbs in...

I've never had any issues getting the carbs in or out. I put the bike on the centerstand, straddle it and grip the sides with my legs so...

According to the Australian UNI site, you should use a 50-50 mix of motor oil and gas on these black pods. The regular foam filter oil...

Just like cars, Yamaha started making the new model year bikes in the late Summer or early Fall of the previous year. So, it's very...

Yes, definitely a '78 Standard model. As mentioned, it's a very good year. I've had one much like it for nearly 20 years now and just...

I would say 18ga. wire is fine. LED signals don't draw much and signals are only intermittent use besides.

Several years back, I got a couple of the Vintage Connections kits, one for bullets, one for spades, and the crimping tool. It wasn't...