Took Sofiya out for a maiden shakedown voyage with some cop friends of mine (no I have not received the tags yet from NJ DMV - hence the ride with cop friends!). She ran great, though she definitely was letting me know I departed before she was warmed up and ready. A little spittin at first that went away, she did once or twice give me a high idle (around 2K) at a stop light, but that all seemed to go away too. Only issue I had was the rear final drive vented on me, smelled the gear oil burning and it was smeared on the rear tire. Just had changed it out, book said it required 3.85 ounces in one spot, 3.5 in another, and I think 4.25 somewhere else. Think I put in around 4.0 ounces, so I guess that was too much. Drained it out, was surprised to see it looked kinda blue already, was that clear yellow color just 50 miles ago. Put in some fresh gear oil, closer to 3.5 ounces or less this time, thats about what I drained out. So what is the right amount of ounces of gear oil for these final drives?
Other problem, a design problem, is that heel-toe shifter. I have had several before where the heel is at the same distance from the trans, this heel is so set back in towards the trans I can never find it so I just use the toe. But, by doing this, I now know why I was scraping the previous owners melted boot rubber off the exhaust, because this eve after the ride I noticed the inside edge of my shoe was melted, the remains were on the muffler just right of the toe shifter. Also noticed the rubber boot on the toe shifter is gone, perhaps it melted off with my shoe! Has anyone designed a better heel-toe shifter? I would be interested in changing this one out.
Other than these 2 problems, loved the bike. It felt like riding a 1950's rig, and I love being able to wrench it myself. Definitely saw its flaw though, that being top speed. It struggled to do 60mph with my wife in the sidecar and a huge soft cooler full of beverages we took with us to the beach. Lots of looks and thumbs up all the way though, pretty darn cool.
Full Version: Maiden Voyage Shakedown
Congrats on the ride and welcome to the FOIL!
I always have put 3.5 onz in my final drive.... as to the shifter, it's one of those ya just have to get used to it and sticking yer out to port about 45 degrees and then using yer heel to shift. I think Mr. Cob welded on an extention on his shifter to help, if ya do a search you just might find his posts along with some nifty pics.
Enjoy!
I always have put 3.5 onz in my final drive.... as to the shifter, it's one of those ya just have to get used to it and sticking yer out to port about 45 degrees and then using yer heel to shift. I think Mr. Cob welded on an extention on his shifter to help, if ya do a search you just might find his posts along with some nifty pics.
Enjoy!
[quote name='klruff1' date='Apr 22 2007, 08:26 PM' post='78600']
Other problem, a design problem, is that heel-toe shifter. I have had several before where the heel is at the same distance from the trans, this heel is so set back in towards the trans I can never find it so I just use the toe. Has anyone designed a better heel-toe shifter?
Check out Delaware Dave's page here http://home.comcast.net/~uralmotorcycle/shifter.html
minemapper
Other problem, a design problem, is that heel-toe shifter. I have had several before where the heel is at the same distance from the trans, this heel is so set back in towards the trans I can never find it so I just use the toe. Has anyone designed a better heel-toe shifter?
Check out Delaware Dave's page here http://home.comcast.net/~uralmotorcycle/shifter.html
minemapper
I never got used to using my heel to shift, I just slide my foot and use the ball of my foot to upshift. Becomes second nature after a bit.
I think I read in my manual that is the preferred way to shift..... but I'm getting old.....
I think I read in my manual that is the preferred way to shift..... but I'm getting old.....
The heel shifter does take a little gittin used to, but I found that I get better shifts using it than useing my toe after I got it figured out. Probably just a personal thing. Congrats on your bike, if you don't love it yet....you will in a little while
60 mph fully loaded with the missus and a cooler fulla beverage?!? - dood, you were flying! 
Seriously, the heel/toe shifter just takes a bit of practice. Like the saying goes "It only seems kinky the first time"
If ya got the 750 transmission installed in yer Deco when they swapped your motor, you can easily remove the shifter and have it modified if ya need to, as there's an acorn nut that holds the shifter lever to the gearbox. Search Mr. Cob's posts, I think he modified his.
If ya still got the got the 650 gearbox, then ya just gotta deal with it or modify it in place. I don't think you can remove the shift pedal without tearing apart the transmission.
Seriously, the heel/toe shifter just takes a bit of practice. Like the saying goes "It only seems kinky the first time"
If ya got the 750 transmission installed in yer Deco when they swapped your motor, you can easily remove the shifter and have it modified if ya need to, as there's an acorn nut that holds the shifter lever to the gearbox. Search Mr. Cob's posts, I think he modified his.
If ya still got the got the 650 gearbox, then ya just gotta deal with it or modify it in place. I don't think you can remove the shift pedal without tearing apart the transmission.
There are as many ways to shift as to hold chopsticks young patowan....
I put my left heal on the swingarm bolt and press gently on the heal shifter, pull clutch as I release a bit of throttle and pop it down int the next higher gear. The little bit of pressure before the clutch in somehow turns thr GRRRIND int a nice kerchunk. To Down###### I use the toe shifter in the more conventional manner.
I put my left heal on the swingarm bolt and press gently on the heal shifter, pull clutch as I release a bit of throttle and pop it down int the next higher gear. The little bit of pressure before the clutch in somehow turns thr GRRRIND int a nice kerchunk. To Down###### I use the toe shifter in the more conventional manner.
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