The GS Deadly Sins

[gearhead13]

I have done an entire carb sync without a fan But I am quick, and shut it off while I am hooking it up and getting ready. Nowhere to plug in a fan

 

[tkent02]

I don't use fans to synch either, but the total running time is maybe four minutes, spread out over about twenty minutes or so. If it gets to a few minutes running and I'm not done yet, shut it down and wait a little while.
The engine gets hotter waiting at a long light.

 

[Syd]

I wish to add...

Never use Armour All to clean your GS seat.

 

[marvinsc]

I wish to add...

Never use Armour All to clean your GS seat.

I did that once on my first bike, the next time I hit the brakes I almost went over the bars.

 

[oldbikefixer]

Never oil the chain with the bike running in gear.I got lucky,still have my fingers.Other haven't been so lucky.

Actually, if you're using a spray can of chain lube, the only real danger here is that the bike might accidentally roll off of the center stand. Be sure to block the front wheel...

 

[tkent02]

The wheel will usually turn nice and slow just running the engine in neutral.

 

[RobG1970]

I wish to add...

Never use Armour All to clean your GS seat.

or your tires...........

 

[mvalenti]

No matter how careful you are, disconnect your battery and bike is in neutral when working connecting your starter solenoid... Unexpectedly completing a circuit and.. GS, exit stage left.... Don't ask...

 

[7981GS]

No matter how careful you are, disconnect your battery and bike is in neutral when working connecting your starter solenoid... Unexpectedly completing a circuit and.. GS, exit stage left.... Don't ask...

What did it damage besides your pride?

Eric

 

[SVSooke]

Actually, if you're using a spray can of chain lube, the only real danger here is that the bike might accidentally roll off of the center stand. Be sure to block the front wheel...

Just don't do it.Was mostly done had a rag in my hand and turned to look at something.Next thing I knew my hand was in the sprocket with my right hand ring finger on the adjuster stopping the engine.Clutch leaver was just out of reach.I was luck because the teeth mostly straddled my fingers but the nail on my index finger is very funky now.Less than 1/2 an inch different placemet on the sprocket? Well I don't want to think about that(shutters).Believe me it's not worth the risk.

 

[mvalenti]

What did it damage besides your pride?

Eric

Kinda chugged like a choo choo. the positive side of the battery was loose so I was able to pull it off before it dropped.. Kinda laughed about it after... Wish I caught it on video...

 

[Good Times]

I'll add one. Never take your calipers off and then put them back on, take a ride around the block while returning to find that the scraping sound was the result of you putting both pads on the same side of the disk.

 

[Guest]

Never jump your bike from a running car battery.

I hear this all the time but has anyone ever had any issues when doing it?
Anyone?
(yes I've done it, many times.. To the same bike)

 

[Guest]

I wish to add...

Never use Armour All to clean your GS seat.

Did that once...all it takes. Never did the tires though....Lubing the chain, always have done using the motor and 1st gear, never a incident. I've always worked around large farm machinery, exposed chains, belts and such, you learn quick not to poke parts of your body near that stuff. Closest thing that gets near the sprocket is the tube from the can. Once done, I grab the gear shift and pop it out of gear and kill the motor.

 

[Tom R]

Like the other list of deadly sins, they're only truly deadly if you believe they are - otherwise they're just bad ideas and most people get away without too much damage.
Over the years (mostly back in my 20's), I've gotten away with 4 or 5 of those sins without damaging my bike off the road.
One thing not on the list that did kill a Honda of mine about 15 years ago is using that hard gasket sealer. It breaks off and clogs oil ports, a truly deadly sin.

 

[Tom R]

I hear this all the time but has anyone ever had any issues when doing it?
Anyone?
(yes I've done it, many times.. To the same bike)

Dozens of times without any known issues.

 

[eddiev]

I hear this all the time but has anyone ever had any issues when doing it?
Anyone?
(yes I've done it, many times.. To the same bike)

My take is this: If you have a healthy battery that is discharged there is no problem jumping from a car battery. The issue is that a car battery has the potential to push out a lot of current. That current is determined by the load, your battery in this case. If on the other hand your battery is defective (a shorted out cell etc.), the load, essentially a short circuit or close to it, now can cause a tremendous current draw from that monster car battery. Even more with the running engines alternator. I think this is were we hear cases of batteries blowing up. If a battery is shorted you can potentially draw hundreds of amps from the car battery into this little battery.

 

[gearhead13]

I understood that jumping from a running car is more likely to cook your R&R or stator. I got a jump from a guy at a gas station from a portable booster and after that my R&R was toast.

 

[Steve]

My take is this: If you have a healthy battery that is discharged there is no problem jumping from a car battery. The issue is that a car battery has the potential to push out a lot of current. That current is determined by the load, your battery in this case. If on the other hand your battery is defective (a shorted out cell etc.), the load, essentially a short circuit or close to it, now can cause a tremendous current draw from that monster car battery. Even more with the running engines alternator. I think this is were we hear cases of batteries blowing up. If a battery is shorted you can potentially draw hundreds of amps from the car battery into this little battery.

You are correct, the donor vehicle is not going to supply any more current than the bike demands, but current draw is not the main issue.

The problem is that the voltage regulator (R/R) on the bike is going to try to regulate ANY voltage that is applied across its terminals. Its terminals are basically connected to the battery at all times. If, for example, your R/R has a set-point of 14.1 volts and your donor vehicle is putting out 14.5 volts, your bike is going to try to regulate that down to 14.1. The donor sees that as a load and compensates by increasing the current flow to maintain its own voltage set-point. Your R/R can only handle so much current (probably about 25 amps) and most car alternators are capable of putting out well over 100 amps. Guess which one dies first? :-k

I understood that jumping from a running car is more likely to cook your R&R or stator. I got a jump from a guy at a gas station from a portable booster and after that my R&R was toast.

Yep, the power that needed by the sarter is measure in WATTS. Watts are calculated by multiplying volts by amps. To minimize the number of amps that the booster is required to deliver (requiring heavier-duty parts, larger wires, etc.), they run a slightly higher voltage. THAT is what cooks the R/R, as detailed above.

.

 

[Guest]

My take is this: If you have a healthy battery that is discharged there is no problem jumping from a car battery. The issue is that a car battery has the potential to push out a lot of current. That current is determined by the load, your battery in this case. If on the other hand your battery is defective (a shorted out cell etc.), the load, essentially a short circuit or close to it, now can cause a tremendous current draw from that monster car battery. Even more with the running engines alternator. I think this is were we hear cases of batteries blowing up. If a battery is shorted you can potentially draw hundreds of amps from the car battery into this little battery.

This is exactly the way I understand it. But still, I have yet to ever hear of or seen first hand of anyone having any ill effects while doing it.
Also spoke to a friend of a friend who is a bike mechanic who says lots of things *can* go wrong while jumping a bike from an auto but running the auto while doing so is not one of em, provided the charging system is in proper working condition in the first place.(which is pretty much what you said)
Like I said, I've done it many times on several different/and alike bikes with no problems.
But on the other hand, if it works fine without running the automobile then do it this way..