Technical Training Opportunities
The end of winter is in sight. To be clear, I’m talking about spring coming not the international scientific consensus on human influenced climate change and record high temperatures this past season. Anyway, service business is going to be booming with the warmer weather. This is a great time for technicians to catch up on
Yamaha Dry Sump Maintenance Tips
Many Yamaha sport quads use a dry sump oil system. A dry sump system stores engine oil in a remote oil tank instead of a deep crankcase oil sump in a wet sump engine. This makes the crankcase smaller and allows for the engine to be mounted lower in the frame. The disadvantage is a
Harley-Davidson Spring Plate, AKA The ‘Grenade Plate’
A grenade plate sounds like a piece of military equipment used to upgrade the armor of a vehicle or fit a grenade launcher to a rifle. Unfortunately this has become the nickname for a component found in the clutch pack of some of the most popular motorcycles on the road. The spring plate in the
Mechanical and Hydraulic Linked Brakes
Linked braking systems on motorcycles and scooters have become more common over the years. Hydraulic systems use proportioning valves, delay valves, and multiple master cylinders to combine the activation of the front and rear brakes in a smooth and logical fashion. Mechanical brake systems use equalizer junctions to link up the cables for the front
Hydraulic Tappets
1. Hydraulic tappets are used to eliminate or reduce the need for valve clearance adjustment. An engine without hydraulic tappets must have a gap between the tappet and valve or tappet and camshaft to allow for the change in clearance as the engine components heat up. If this clearance is too small the valve may hang
Torque Specifications
1. Tightening fasteners correctly is key in mechanical work. Most folks are familiar with torque specifications as the common form of estimating fastener tension by how much force it takes to rotate the component. The fastener tension can vary at an identical torque spec under different conditions, and it is the tension that matters. 2. The
Dual Sport Maintenance
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]otorcyclists will take the road less traveled to find a compelling ride free of the four and 18-wheeled tortoises that clog the pavement. Dual sport riders know that dirt and gravel roads are often sparsely used and are a great way to make a journey more interesting. Dual sport motorcycles are as popular as ever.
Big News From Big Buck!
In early June, Yamaha assembled the media in South Carolina for the unveiling of its 2017 ATV/UTV product lines.
Valve Clearance Adjustment for Kawasaki Ninja Models
The Kawasaki Ninja bikes are reliable and easy to service, but there are some differences over the years.
Vintage Machines
What is the goal with the bike – a beater to ride or show queen?
No Spark, Part 2
We go deeper into testing the specific components of the ignition system.
Motorcycle: No Spark at Plugs, Part 1
Investigating wiring problems [dropcap]A[/dropcap]t Cyclepedia.com we provide technical support to our members using our online manuals to service and repair vehicles. On a regular basis we get a service ticket from a member saying, “I’ve replaced my ignition coil, ECM and/or some other expensive part and I still don’t have spark. What should I do?”
