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dhansen

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Posts posted by dhansen

  1. Another vote for dropping the pan and adding the hose clamp just in case. There have been more than a few unexplained filter self removals that ended in ruined engines.

     

    I always keep an extra pan gasket hanging on the wall if needed. I do not use any gasket seal other than a good coating of oil. Works for me.

  2. What with the Forum Upgrade and all, maybe Jaap's avatar might even cheer up . . .

     

    That avatar still gives me the creeps!

     

    I've been lying low for awhile now and just learned of Ratchet's fate. I must say part of me will miss him. As others have said, he was always quick and kind to help me with any questions I might have.

     

    Jaap, you did what you had to do. More power to you and thanks for all you've done to produce and maintain the most valuable Guzzi resource on the 'net.

     

    Here's to many more years!

  3. I think Dave may be on to something here: the combination of ethanol's high vapor pressure, warmer avg. daily temps, and a vent system notorious for getting pinched (& therefore, not venting) may all add up to MPH's vastly differing experience from that at MI?..

     

    I was thinking along the lines of higher ambient temperatures myself. Here in Maine my V11 seldom sees temperatures over the mid 70's F. No signs of trouble here yet despite the 10% ethanol.

  4. Do you own a dVOM or know anyone that does? Do you know how to use one and why you will be using it?

     

    Yes............ummmmmmmmm, yes and ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, yes!

     

    What I really want to do is install a voltmeter to catch the moments when I see the lights get bright and the engine starts missing. As I said, very intermittent and fleeting. I've checked and cleaned most all ground connections (might be something I've missed) and added a ground from the regulator case to the engine. No change.

     

    So far, I have not been able to observe voltage readings when the lights are brighter than normal. It only seems to happen when out riding. Every time I've checked voltages with the VOM (in the driveway or garage with the seat off) all has been normal. The bike has been doing this since I got it and given that the original Spark 500 lasted almost 7 years, I doubt that this issue is related to the fluids I found under the battery. Who knows though?

     

    Someone from Germany posted here saying they were seeing the same intermittent brightness in their lights but did not mention the missing problem that I get at the same time. I tried PM'ing him but have not received a reply. I'd be interested to know if he ever discovered the cause. I first posted the symtoms I am having about 2 years ago and no one else (except the guy in Germany) has ever mentioned the same problem. I have none of the problems others have had with failed voltage regulators or the wiring associated with them.

     

    Blah-ba-blah-ba-blah.

  5. I was thinking that in general, there is more likelihood of batteries being overcharged, rather than batteries freezing: but maybe some people are in places where batteries will freeze: thankfully it doesn't get that cold here!

    You guys have the additional headlamp-always-on demand on the system. While we have that now on current models, we didn't with the V.11s and their more weedy alternator.

     

    Have you observed and traced 'the wet-spot' yet DH?

     

    Nope, no sign of any leak. Haven't even checked the voltage on it yet though, hope to mess with it this weekend.

     

    Last ride of 2009 was something like December 14th, so it sat in the bike for about a month before I pulled it out. IIRC the coldest night it would have seen was about 15 deg f.

     

    We didn't see the 50 below temp here on the coast. That big pond out there moderates the temperature. Did see it 25 below once but that was 26 years ago. Zero is the coldest so far this year. The old Spark 500 battery went through 4 winters here in the bike in an unheated garage (first three years were in San Fransisco) and seemed no worse for it. Always started the bike in the spring without recharging, even in the 7th year when it later died.

     

    I am having what could be an issue with the voltage regulator. I've posted about it here before. It is very much intermittent and I doubt serious enough to cause an over charge condition. Could be wrong though!

  6. So, I peeled back the label on my battery to see what I could feel under it. This port appears to be completely sealed but I wonder if this is supposed to be some sort of vent? Absolutely no sign of moisture here. It is interesting that there appears to be a shallow channel in the plastic that would allow gasses to escape from under the label. (There is adhesive on the label around the port. It decided to stick to the battery in the corners rather than pull away with the label).

     

    103525.jpg

  7. I have same thing happening. Can't see source. Not impressed. KB :sun:

     

    Good, I'm not alone then Baldini.

     

    Ratch, I'm thinking along your line too. I have added an additional inner shield to cut down on the amount of water and road grit that is spit onto the shock and battery but, despite the new shield, there were a few bits of grit under the battery and I assume some water got up there too. It isn't a big stretch to think that water could have picked up some acid from the battery.

  8. For many reasons I had not taken the battery out of the V11 Sport yet for this winter. I did this afternoon and was surprised to find a bit of liquid in the tray under the battery. I sprinkled a small amount of baking soda in the liquid and confirmed it was acidic from the resulting foam.

     

    Obviously, I'm now wondering if the darn thing is leaking a little. The battery is 1-1/2 years old with two riding seasons on it and has always functioned as it should. I can't see an obvious leak point but there was what looked like condensation on the bottom of the battery case. I left a message with the Customer Service folks at Odyssey so we'll see what they say.

     

    Anyone else ever find moisture under their battery?

     

    TIA, Dennis in Maine.

  9. You can't be arsed? Well, **** you pal.

     

    It was a simple, sincere question and I'm sorry you took offence. You didn't even need to reply if it bothered you. You could've left it for a member of this forum with better manners. I was simply wondering how the inclusion of an extra component would permit an extra .5 quart. What the **** was so wrong with that?

     

    Molly

     

    One of the hardest things about interacting amongst ourselves via computer forum is judging the character or intent of someone by a random posting. There isn't a more finer kind of fucktard out there than Pete. I hope you'll cut him some slack (not that he needs it though) this time and not be predjudiced by his reaction. Sometimes life gets in the way and it tends to cloud our civil nature.

     

    The V11s have been around long enough now that just about anything and everything that can go wrong with them has and I'd venture to guess just about every issue with them has been fully covered here if not beaten to death. The search function is your friend and will usually turn up more info than you could ever hope for in trying to answer your questions. Once you've exhausted that route, feel free to ask away. There is always someone willing to jump in and set you straight.

     

    Dennis. Still waiting for life to get out of my way.

  10. You appear to have forgotten a major premises of global warming theory, that it creates not just an overall planetary warming, but irregular weather, including heat waves as well as deeper freezes, longer droughts as well as greater floods, glaciers melting as well as record blizzards, etc.

     

    Gosh Dave, that just about covers every possible variation we might see in our weather. No way the AGW believers can ever be wrong. Be sure you send Uncle AL a big check to feed his ministry and ease your concience. <_>

     

    Dennis

  11. That is a really cool picture! The middle one looks like someone broke its neck though. Sport fairing on Lemans brackets or what?

     

    Strange, yes. A small fairing like that on a frame mount just doesn't look right.

  12. Broke my nose surfing huntington beach in LA on Saturday. That's much more interesting.

    And painful. :huh:

     

    Get lost or something ferg? Awful long drive to do a little surfing.

     

    Broken nose is painful but not as bad as what the sharks that smelled the blood could do!

     

    Dennis

  13. how come we (the US) never hear about foreign elections like you hear about ours? I have no idea who the PM of england is nor the PM of france tho I heard his wife/gf is HOT. umm and the rest of europe I couldn't even begin to tell you, WHY don't they just have a president of europe? :lol:

    -snip-

     

    Hey ben, don't worry about it. You are not alone. I'd bet 90% of us haven't a clue either and could care less. The world revolves around the USA, right?

     

    All americans should be required to stand back and see how we look to the rest of the world.

     

    With yesterdays election, the scene has improved slightly.

     

    Dennis

  14. * Sigh *

     

    Its been 30 years now since I've been down that road. Sitting here in Maine on the cusp of winter the thought of spending time down in the desert seems very inviting.

     

    The highlight of that ride was stopping at Manzanita Ranch and having an ice cold cup of fresh cider.

    Wonder if they are still in business.

     

    Dennis.

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