PhilD'oh!

Vacation approved...which gives me about a 51% chance of actually getting the time off. I'll be in Savannah for training until Tuesday the 17th, so I'll probably just head toward Maggie Valley and meet you all there Thursday.

When I plumbed up my aux tank I used a metal quick disconnect ($$$) even though the plastic ones were more common on the forum for this application. Plastic just didn't seem right to me. Funny thing is, my fuel pump connections on both the FJR and Ural are all plastic. Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about my connection.

Exactly! It basically scrapes a clean connection, that lasts only a little while.

The dielectric grease isn't doing you any good here. You'd be better off carrying a can of electrical contact cleaner, fine sand paper, a nail file...whatever. Let's see if I can explain the nature of your problem one last time. Some of the ground terminals on your bike were designed to carry so much load that they are right on the border line of overload. Any degradation of the connection through them creates heat, which ultimately melts the terminal block and wire shielding, ruining their ability to do their designed job. By nature, dielectric grease does not conduct electricity...making your already marginal connection...worse. Pulling them apart to reapply this grease renews the connection enough to function...for a bit. The grease helps prevent corrosion, but it hurts the electrical connection. Fix it right. My offer is still open, btw.

+1

I dig it, but I'm very skeptical this will work even close to acceptable on a motorcycle. Plus, for me, all I have to do with my current gear is plug into the bike and I'm warm as long as the FJR has gas (11.2 gallons at a time, in my case) no matter what the weather. No batteries to charge, I can ride as long as I like. This is true for my helmet speakers too and the reason I rarely use the Sena. I hate charging batteries and having the devices they power quit before I'm ready to.

Come on up! I'll be back in the US on Monday and no trips scheduled for the next week.

I have an '09 FJR that I addressed this issue a long time ago. I ran my own grounds for the fans because they are high load items. Then I installed a "Brodie harness" that connects all the ground spiders together and adds two very good ground paths directly to the engine case. That was over 100,000 miles ago and all-season riding. No spider problems. For you, stop fooling around with the dielectric grease, it doesn't fix the problem. Cut the bad terminal off and solder all 6 wires together along with another 18 ga wire that you can attach to the engine case somewhere. You should also consider grounding the fans separately, like mine. Better yet, just ride up to Toledo next week and I'll fix you up. No charge.

BTDT

Looks like he's burning this one out, no problem. Nice job, Justin!

My son rode the SV650, which he really liked and I rode a GSXR750. The GSXR was fun, but would be completely wasted on me.

I wouldn't mind trying a Wee or a DR-Z.

Corporate Aviation lost the epaulettes a long time ago. We've now lost the shirt and tie as well, replaced with dress pants and embroidered polos. I hate the look. I used to be able to walk into an FBO and be recognized as flight crew. Now they often have to ask if I'm Pax or crew. I hate that. Plus, I have nowhere to put my pen.

I take my 11 year old camping. It'll be nice to have another place to strap crap down.

This is a good reminder. I'm often guilty of showing up not even knowing the route, just happy to be there. However, I have gone off on my own upon seeing a similar situation as you describe. If I can't step up, I'll do my own thing. I don't mind leading, but I'm not going to create a cluster f, fumbling around not knowing the area.

Spent the day welding up a rack for my hack.

I hate to speak too soon, but things are lining up for this trip to work for me. I have a bike trip the 5-9th, then roll into a training event in GA the 12-16. The 11th being a travel day, so I only have to add the 10th to my vacation, then I don't even have to come home. The 17th also being a travel day, I'll just add 18-20. By adding 4 days of vacation, I'll basically be 2 1/2 weeks on the bike.

Ohfercryingoutloud Tonik, stop fucking with the guy. He's right about the ones supplied to Kawasaki having to meet a certain spec and the NAPA ones maybe, maybe not, but we aren't talking about a fuel nozzle for a rocket motor here. It's a loop of metal the crushes to form a seal. I've used both OEM and off the shelf from the parts store. If you install it and tighten it properly and it doesn't leak once you get it all bled out and apply full pressure, then it'll be fine. It's not something that will develope a leak over time, in my experience. It'll either work right off or it won't. The question should really be - are you willing to risk additional down time if the cheap substitute fails on installation?

I bought my first piece of heated gear 10 years ago. I now have a spare set because I never want to be without it. I'll put the vest on in the summer if I know I'm going to be in the rain all day. Rain is always cold. Also, I'm a wuss.

Installed a new battery. Old one lasted 5 years and 100,000 miles.

Slow week at work, so I took my youngest son on a surprise camping trip, including a ferry boat ride.

I put a new tube, tire and new rear brake cable on my youngest son's bike. Does that count?

I'm interested.

Put 640 kilometers on the Urinal today and am more tired than a 1000 mile day on the FJR. I should have gone on What's ride instead of the Ural gathering, but I did run into a couple old friends.

Welcome! Good to see some young people around here.