Oh come on!!!!

[Grimly]

So who else has had a Oh come on!!!! Moment while wrenching on their bike?

Worst one was when I was adjusting valve clearances on a friend's GPz1100. I stuffed every orifice with a rag, to totally avoid the missing nut/bolt down the engine scenario.
When I'd finished and buttoned it back up, there was a missing cam-cover bolt...

I absolutely knew it wasn't in the engine... somebody was taking the pi55. Turned out I was right.

[derickson104]

The first new tube I installed. After hours of fighting the tires (taking them to the local tire shop to have the bead broke after busting three 2x4's building levers), burning through cans of silicone and plenty of knuckle skin it went back together. The tube was inside. The tire was on the rim. The valve stem poked through. Victory! Or not. When I put air in it that familiar hiss of having been too cavalier with the spoons started. It was a head dropper and forehead massager for sure. "Seriously!!!" Nonetheless, I keep coming back for more!!

Anyone else have a fun time learning tubes, tires and rims???

[eil]

The first new tube I installed. After hours of fighting the tires (taking them to the local tire shop to have the bead broke after busting three 2x4's building levers), burning through cans of silicone and plenty of knuckle skin it went back together. The tube was inside. The tire was on the rim. The valve stem poked through. Victory! Or not. When I put air in it that familiar hiss of having been too cavalier with the spoons started. It was a head dropper and forehead massager for sure. "Seriously!!!" Nonetheless, I keep coming back for more!!

Did exactly this a couple weeks ago. My weekends have been full up since and I haven't had a chance to order up a new tube yet.

[GelandeStrasse]

Bike mechanic's life saver

And pray the thing you dropped is ferrous

[Steveb64]

Dropped the whole damn set of feeler gauges down the cam chain tunnel. At least it was relatively easy to get out.

The worst I ever had - I'd been working on my engine the night before my first road race (on a road bike), and was doing the final engine button up. Got the cam cover back on, and then noticed it was missing one of the rubber 'D' seals that go at the end of the cams. Well, I pulled the cover off - no sign. I looked down every hole I could find in the engine, looking for a sign of it - nothing. Finally, I pulled the whole damn engine out, and tipped it upside down, and shook the sh1t out of it! Still nothing. And you know how heavy those 4 valve 1100 engines are? On your own? Anyway, decided F it, I'd put it all back together (I had a spare 'D'), and take my chances. Next morning, bike loaded on trailer, and girlfriend was picking up some tools, and she bends down, and picks up something off the floor... - 'D' - "Is this what you were looking for?"

Worth it too - I got a third overall in the F1 class, my first time out road racing on a road bike (I'd used my IT465, with road tyres on it, the year previously).

[JustRide]

So last week my valve shims finally arrived and I was able to adjust my valves. The mail ran late that day so I didn't get start until it was almost dark. Well this is the first time in the last 12 years that I don't have a garage to work in because I am renting a place to live in until I am done remodeling my house. So anyway I'm out on a small concrete patio of sorts trying to adjust my valves in the dark with a treble light.

All was going well and I was almost finished when I I felt something hit my hand and fall into the head. Oh come on!!!! I thought as my heart sank. Instantly all I could think about was having to tear the motor apart because something fell down the cam chain tunnel. Wait a minute what the hell could have fallen. Then I realized that it was the little knurled nut that holds all of my feeler gauges together. It had come loose from all of the back forth motion of using the different gauges to set the valves. Luckily though it fell just to the side of the number 3 intake valve and I was able to get it out with needle nose.

Lesson learned. Remove and use one feeler gauge at a time especially when working under less than perfect conditions or at the least check that nut regularly lol. So who else has had a Oh come on!!!! Moment while wrenching on their bike?

I need to adjust my valves as well and I believe its the same bike as yours, a 1982 GS1100GL. How long did it take and how difficult was it. I am pretty good with doing my own work so I try to do all my maintenance myself.

[mhobryan]

not bike related but definitely a doah! moment.

Back in college I was a 'student mechanic' (aka grease monkey) at the university garage. was changing the oil on a diesel box truck; it took 12 qts of oil IRRC. I was doing it in 'the pit' because it wouldn't fit on a lift. Finished changing and realized i put the wrong weight oil in it, so drained it and repeat. Checked the dip stick and it was dry; I was like WTF? I had forgotten to put the drain plug back in. Of course, since it took 12 qts, the catch pan was already full, so had 3 gallons of oil I had to clean up as well.

I'll tell ya one thing, after the 3rd oil change that oil sure was clean on the dip stick