Absolutely hate it when you think you have the right parts to finish a job, but then find that the vendor sent you the wrong items. I’ve had these things for a couple of years thinking they were correct, so no recourse at this point but to just order the correct parts so I can finish the job. They will, however, get a note expressing my displeasure with their error…. and cc: myself for not recognizing the screw-up way back when I could have done something about it.
The parts I needed are the valve cover’s “o-ring” seals that the bolts pass through to hold it in place. The originals have been weeping oil for some time and I ordered the replacements so I could change them out the next time I pulled the cover. That was supposed to happen today. As upsetting as this was, all is not lost. The seals they sent me fit the Connie, so I have a few spares should I need them for that bike.
Today’s project was to check the valves on the KLR and generally go over the bike. With a little over 57K on the ODO, the last valve check was done over 8500 miles ago back in 2016. I intend on taking a 3-4 day camping trip over in WV to check out a couple of family gravesites that I didn’t get a chance to look for when I was there a few weeks ago for the Folk Festival. I simply ran out of time. The two cemeteries are separated by ~65 WV miles. If you’ve ever spent much time in WV, you can appreciate that.
When I leave the second cemetery, I plan on running down towards the New River at Fayetteville and check out the “ghost town” of Thurmond, then the old coal tipple conveyor at Nuttallburg. Both of those have been on my bucket list for a number of years and got sidetracked with the pandemic, then my wife’s Osteoporosis medical issues. The gravel road down to the latter is the whole reason for wanting to take the KLR. Given my shaky self these days, no way in Hades would I try to navigate it on the Connie.
FWIW – the valves clearances were exactly as they were 8500 miles ago; no shim changes necessary.
The parts I needed are the valve cover’s “o-ring” seals that the bolts pass through to hold it in place. The originals have been weeping oil for some time and I ordered the replacements so I could change them out the next time I pulled the cover. That was supposed to happen today. As upsetting as this was, all is not lost. The seals they sent me fit the Connie, so I have a few spares should I need them for that bike.
Today’s project was to check the valves on the KLR and generally go over the bike. With a little over 57K on the ODO, the last valve check was done over 8500 miles ago back in 2016. I intend on taking a 3-4 day camping trip over in WV to check out a couple of family gravesites that I didn’t get a chance to look for when I was there a few weeks ago for the Folk Festival. I simply ran out of time. The two cemeteries are separated by ~65 WV miles. If you’ve ever spent much time in WV, you can appreciate that.
When I leave the second cemetery, I plan on running down towards the New River at Fayetteville and check out the “ghost town” of Thurmond, then the old coal tipple conveyor at Nuttallburg. Both of those have been on my bucket list for a number of years and got sidetracked with the pandemic, then my wife’s Osteoporosis medical issues. The gravel road down to the latter is the whole reason for wanting to take the KLR. Given my shaky self these days, no way in Hades would I try to navigate it on the Connie.
FWIW – the valves clearances were exactly as they were 8500 miles ago; no shim changes necessary.
