********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 1 Sep 1995 06:05:49 -0400 (EDT) From: "M. David Walthour" To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: New Member Info Name: M. David Walthour Location: Millersburg, Pennsylvania Email: walthour@epix.net PC Model year: '89 Bought Used/New: Bought new in 1992 Modifications made to bike: The 89 did not have the retaining strap (plastic) on the radiator/coolant recovery tank cover. I used a teflon coated stainles steel leader (8 inch with swivels on both ends--fishing stuff) to serve as a safety retainer so I don't lose the cover. Recently installed the tall windscreen to replace the stock one. It changes the handling of the bike somehwhat because of the higher center of wind pressure, and I have not decided yet if I like actually looking through it instead of over the old one. Replaced the stock Dunlop K555 tires with the K177s that they say are made for it. Funny how Honda puts the K177s on the GW and not on the PC when they are sold new. The new tires improved the handling somewhat, making peg dragging much easier;-) That's all for now. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 01 Sep 1995 08:31:46 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Shoei shield To those of you that are interested in the double pane shield fot he RF200 (and others). It is an OEM part, the part number molded on the shield reads: C - 20 - W. The regular clear and smoke shileds read C - 10. Maybe the W stands for winter? Good luck. Juan ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 2 Sep 1995 08:35:34 -0400 From: TedJ101@aol.com To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: PC800 Cruise Control I am interested in installing a cruise control on my wife's PC800. Has anyone had any experience doing that? It appears to me that it will require a certain amount of plastic reworking at the very least to accomplish it with something like a Vista Cruise. Any recommendations would be appreciated. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 3 Sep 1995 20:21:13 -0400 (EDT) From: "M. David Walthour" To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Cc: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control On Sat, 2 Sep 1995 TedJ101@aol.com wrote: > I am interested in installing a cruise control on my wife's PC800. Has > anyone had any experience doing that? It appears to me that it will require > a certain amount of plastic reworking at the very least to accomplish it with > something like a Vista Cruise. > > Any recommendations would be appreciated. > I installed a Vista Cruise on mine, and it was quite simple. The flange on the bottom of the Vista Cruise fits neatly below the little ledge on the lower side of the handlebar cover. By cutting a small rectangle out and fitting the flange into it, the throttle lock works nicely. The only other thing that must be done is to pull the rubber hand grip back slightly, but there is enough play in the thing to give you the space for the Vista Cruise assembly. I have had no trouble with mine for the past three years. This was one modification that I forgot to put in my original posting. It has been part of the bike since about the third week I owned it, and I forgot that it was there, though I use it quite often. Enjoy. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 4 Sep 1995 15:33:36 -0700 From: larrycol@ix.netcom.com (Larry Collins) Subject: For sale(?) 1994 PC800 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu With much regret, I am considering selling my bike (I've only been on it about 10 times this year). It deserves to be ridden more and I have no excuse for this unusual behavior. 7,500 miles Excellent condition no extras Atlanta area $6,000 OBO -- Larry Collins (404) 396-6986 Automated Data Systems, Inc. 2102 Asbury Square Atlanta, GA 30346 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Bryce Ulrich To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 09:54:30 TZ Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control Same goes for me. I REALLY like that little cruise control. -bryceu ---------- | From: "M. David Walthour" | To: | Cc: | Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control | Date: Sunday, September 03, 1995 8:21PM | | I installed a Vista Cruise on mine, and it was quite simple. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: "J. Burach" Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 13:33:18 -0400 To: , Bryce Ulrich Cc: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Re: PC800 Cruise Control On Sun, Sep 3, 1995 8:21:13 PM at M. David Walthour wrote, and Bryce agreed: >I installed a Vista Cruise on mine, and it was quite simple. OK, guys, I'm sold. How much does a Vista Cruise go for? - Jeff --------- ,~~v~~, ,'. .', === + === / ~ \ /\_m m_/\ .\ /. / \ / \ `\m/ \m/' Iggy the Hamster says 'hi'! ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: "J. Burach" Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 13:38:59 -0400 To: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu Cc: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Re: Louder Horn On Sun, Aug 27, 1995 8:15:38 PM at Juan A. Goula wrote: >Tom, I am very happy that I did not go through the trouble of starting with >the louder horns. Air horns were not that hard to install and sound great! >(even _my_ ears hurt a bit when I let gagers have it :-). Kent did go >through the trouble of having both systems working at the same time plus the >originals to have a "nice guy" mode. I just skipped the whole thing and >stuck to the air horns only working through the stock horn button with no >relay. (no problems so far, and I'm not shy about using the horns). >Besides, it will give you the wonderful oportunity to undress your bike from >the waist up! (yeah, right..) When I tried this with a set of Fiamm dual horns, it blew the fuse. I replaced with a 15 amp fuse, which blew too. I conclude that the compressor is bad (ie. stuck). Have you (or anyone else using the Fiamms) had this problem. Did I do something wrong? - Jeff ------- Microsoft Network is prohibited from redistributing this work in any form, in whole or in part. Copyright 1995 lawyer@pipeline.com. License to distribute this post is available to Microsoft for $1000. Posting without permission constitutes an agreement to these terms. Please send notices of violation to lawyer@pipeline.com and postmaster@microsoft.com. ,~~v~~, ,'. .', === + === / ~ \ /\_m m_/\ .\ /. / \ / \ `\m/ \m/' Iggy the Hamster says 'hi'! ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 05 Sep 1995 12:24:51 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Louder Horn >When I tried this with a set of Fiamm dual horns, it blew the fuse. I >replaced with a 15 amp fuse, which blew too. I conclude that the >compressor is bad (ie. stuck). Have you (or anyone else using the Fiamms) >had this problem. Did I do something wrong? Jeff, I'm not sure... What is the max amp draw claimed on the compressor? if it is over 15 amps then you know what the problem is. To test the compressor you can try hooking it to a baterry charger, no horns, to see if it spins. (a car battery should work just as well.) If it spins it's ok. Could be that the horns are plugged (unlikely). If the compressor does draw more than 15 amps you will need to hook the compressor with a relay (with an inline fuse of course). It is a pain, but worth the trouble if you are risking a melted switch, Honda probably wants your soul and change for one of those! :-) It could also be that you have a short in the horn switch, but you probably ruled that out by now. Could this be one of the improvements that Honda did on the post '89 bikes? What year is your bike Jeff? BTW, the horns I installed on my bike are Hella, not Fiamm. Good luck! Juan ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 05 Sep 1995 12:30:15 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: Re: PC800 Cruise Control >>I installed a Vista Cruise on mine, and it was quite simple. > > > >OK, guys, I'm sold. How much does a Vista Cruise go for? You can get one for 15-20 dollars. Installation is not as straight forward as on a bike with "normal" handlebars, but nothing a well equiped swis army knife can't handle. Juan ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 08:08 -0800 From: ESTES@polar.eielson.af.mil (CORY) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: RE: Re: PC800 Cruise Control >I installed a Vista Cruise on mine, and it was quite simple. The flange >on the bottom of the Vista Cruise fits neatly below the little ledge on >the lower side of the handlebar cover. By cutting a small rectangle out >and fitting the flange into it, the throttle lock works nicely. The only >other thing that must be done is to pull the rubber hand grip back >slightly, but there is enough play in the thing to give you the space for >the Vista Cruise assembly. I used a Vista Cruise, too, but cut the flange off the bottom of the thing and used a very-short-but-fat sheet metal screw to attach it to the handle- bar cover below the throttle twist grip. I'd had some trouble in the past w/ the little flange not being able to handle the job, so I felt more comfortable w/ this arrangement. It works perfectly and has since '91. Cory From owner-pc800 Wed Sep 6 15:53:43 1995 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control (from "M. David Walthour" ) (at Sun, 03 Sep 1995 20:21:13 -0400 (EDT)) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Wed, 6 Sep 95 15:53:34 Hi M. (M. David Walthour), in <950902083534_89578613@mail04.mail.aol.com> on Sep 03 you wrote: > am interested in installing a cruise control on my wife's PC800. Has > anyone had any experience doing that? It appears to me that it will require > a certain amount of plastic reworking at the very least to accomplish it with > something like a Vista Cruise. > > Any recommendations would be appreciated. I have posted about my experiences modifying a BMW Wrist Rest for the PC. No changes are required for the PC. The Wrist Rest Does require some machining though. While the cost is a bit high and the effort to modify not inconsequential, IMHO, the result is the nicest throttle- lock I have ever operated. I do have a web page describing this work. Unfortunately, SwRI disallows the use of public web pages due to the view that publicly- available material is the same as published material. If you are truly interested in a wrist rest conversion, you might first check the maillist archive. If you are still interested, and will agree to not hold SwRI accountable, etc. for *anything* contained in the web page, I'll explain how to get to it. Note that this method is entirely to make it clear that this is not a publically-available web page and thus is not to be considered published material... :^( Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 21:13:32 -0500 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: mskeller@ionet.net (Michael S. Keller) Subject: RE: Re: PC800 Cruise Control >I used a Vista Cruise, too, but cut the flange off the bottom of the thing >and used a very-short-but-fat sheet metal screw to attach it to the handle- >bar cover below the throttle twist grip. I'd had some trouble in the past >w/ the little flange not being able to handle the job, so I felt more >comfortable w/ this arrangement. It works perfectly and has since '91. Did you try the notch in the handlebar cover first? If so, did you find a way to fill it or is it still there below the screw? I tried the notch route on Ruby's '90 PC and it didn't hold for a 100 mile trip, though it worked OK in the garage. -Michael AB5EL [TeamOS/2] mskeller@ionet.net ---------- Microsoft Network is prohibited from redistributing this work in any form, in whole or in part. Copyright 1995 mskeller@ionet.net. License to distribute this post is available to Microsoft for $1000. Posting without permission constitutes an agreement to these terms. Please send notices of violation to mskeller@ionet.net and postmaster@microsoft.com. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 06:59:55 -0500 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: mskeller@ionet.net (Michael S. Keller) Subject: RE: Re: PC800 Cruise Control >I used a Vista Cruise, too, but cut the flange off the bottom of the thing >and used a very-short-but-fat sheet metal screw to attach it to the handle- >bar cover below the throttle twist grip. I'd had some trouble in the past >w/ the little flange not being able to handle the job, so I felt more >comfortable w/ this arrangement. It works perfectly and has since '91. Did you try the notch in the handlebar cover first? If so, did you find a way to fill it or is it still there below the screw? I tried the notch route on Ruby's '90 PC and it didn't hold for a 100 mile trip, though it worked OK in the garage. -Michael AB5EL [TeamOS/2] mskeller@ionet.net ---------- Microsoft Network is prohibited from redistributing this work in any form, in whole or in part. Copyright 1995 mskeller@ionet.net. License to distribute this post is available to Microsoft for $1000. Posting without permission constitutes an agreement to these terms. Please send notices of violation to mskeller@ionet.net and postmaster@microsoft.com. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 08:05 -0800 From: ESTES@polar.eielson.af.mil (CORY) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: RE: Re: PC800 Cruise Control Mike wrote: >Did you try the notch in the handlebar cover first? If so, did you find a >way to fill it or is it still there below the screw? I tried the notch route >on Ruby's '90 PC and it didn't hold for a 100 mile trip, though it worked OK >in the garage. I'd had trouble w/ the flange on other bikes, so with the initial installation on the PC I started out from the beginning looking for a better way. I looked through my collection of screws and junk to find a screw that would be strong enough to battle the pull of the throttle return spring and still be short enough to not do damage *inside* the housing itself. The one I found was even black! I used a razor saw to cut the flange off, drilled a couple of pilot holes, and was ready to ride in five minutes. My hand gets numb fairly easily, so the throttle clamp is about the first thing I install on any bike I own. Could live w/out it, but don't want to have to! Cory From owner-pc800 Fri Sep 8 13:38:50 1995 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: fuel vapor problem results Date: Fri, 8 Sep 95 13:28:21 CST Well, the short news is that I have a new vacuum petcock for my PC. For Free!!! I haven't talked to Honda yet, but the local dealer indicated that Honda agreed that the diaphram failed prematurely. I had already come to the conclusion that if Honda couldn't provide the part at a reasonable price, I was just going to put a fuel pressure regulator on the bike, drop it to gravity feed, and forget about the valve. With this in mind I asked if a pressure regulator might not improve the life of the diaphram, and the conclusion was that it probably would not since they believe the failure was due either to a design problem or a chemical reaction... Chemical reaction? Yep. I've been running name-brand 92+ octane because it really makes a difference down south here in the heat. However, as we pretty much know, 92 octane fuel usually contains a lot of additives to assist older/problem engines. So it certainly is possible that the failure was due to a chemical reaction... Question to all who are experiencing an inordinate fuel smell: What octane fuel are you burning in your PC? I'd like to get back to Honda with the results. Thanks Much! Kent Polk: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu (DoF #) : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently" ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 9 Sep 1995 06:20:40 -0400 From: TedJ101@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu, walthour@epix.net, bryceu@microsoft.com Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control In a message dated 95-09-05 14:32:38 EDT, lawyer@pipeline.com (J. Burach) writes: >OK, guys, I'm sold. How much does a Vista Cruise go for? Walter, About $17 at Chaparral. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 10 Sep 1995 23:12:55 -0400 From: JeffHamltn@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control Recent thread regarding a cruise control had this comment: >I used a Vista Cruise, too, but cut the flange off the bottom of the thing >and used a very-short-but-fat sheet metal screw to attach it to the handle- >bar cover below the throttle twist grip. I'd had some trouble in the past >w/ the little flange not being able to handle the job, so I felt more >comfortable w/ this arrangement. It works perfectly and has since '91. >Cory I also installed the cruise control this way. I drilled a tap hole for the screw in the handlebar cover, a similar hole in the Vista Cruise and finished the installation in about an hour. I tried the "slot" method but didn't get a firm connection. I've used the "mechanical" connection for 2 1/2 years now and its as solid as the day I installed it. Jeff ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 10 Sep 1995 23:14:26 -0500 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: mskeller@ionet.net (Michael S. Keller) Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control >>I used a Vista Cruise, too, but cut the flange off the bottom of the thing >>and used a very-short-but-fat sheet metal screw to attach it to the handle- >>bar cover below the throttle twist grip. I'd had some trouble in the past >I also installed the cruise control this way. I drilled a tap hole for the >screw in >the handlebar cover, a similar hole in the Vista Cruise and finished the >installation >in about an hour. I tried the "slot" method but didn't get a firm connection. Did you perform any repair on the cover after making the switch to using a screw? I've considered whether to attach it this way or use a nut and washer inside the handlebar cover as stress relief. I haven't decided yet, but the slot method didn't work on my wife's PC. -Michael AB5EL [TeamOS/2] mskeller@ionet.net ---------- ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: pckwong@hkuxa.hku.hk (VR2XVI) Subject: Hazardous light switch To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 11 Sep 95 19:11:47 WST Hi all! Anybody tried install a switch to flash all four turning lights? The simple way, install a waterproof switch on handbar cover, connect 12V to a flasher thro' the switch, then to the turning light wires, of course, add two diode/rectifier to isolate that two wires. Any comments? Since I don't have a service manual on hand, any way to get use of the factory installed flasher? -- ***************************************************************************** * Philips Wong, VR2XVI <-- HAM '84 HONDA GL1200A <-- Wow! * * PCA420 <-- Royal HK Gold Wing Aspencade * * Aux. Police '90 HONDA PC800 <-- New toy! * * 101177 <-- GWRRA # HONDA CBX750 <-- Police bike * * Police Training School taught : YAMAHA 650 <-- Police bike * * " I have the honor to be, Sir, your YAMAHA 250 <-- Police bike * * obedient servant! " '89 MITSUBISHI <-- For fun & * * L300 4WD for sale! * ***************************************************************************** ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 10:23:30 +0600 Mon, 11 Sep 1995 11:23:14 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: Waldo Meeks Subject: pc800 - A Hot Topic If you have a hondaline tall windshield installed on your pc800 suggest you replace it immediately with RIFLE shield (middle height will be same as hondaline height) to prevent dashboard melt down. RIFLE gives much better wind protection also. Has anyone else experieced this melting problem. Honda refuses to take blame for this misdesign stating they can not control the sun when acually they have controled the sun by producing a magnify glass. In response to KENT I live in Georgia and run 87 octane fuel in my pc without any spark knock at all under any condition. Runs great. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 08:27 -0800 From: ESTES@polar.eielson.af.mil (CORY) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: "Chatterbox" Owners! I remember we had a thread running about "Chatterbox" communicators a while back. Any of you owners of these dreaded, nasty, terrible, rotten, things want to sell? Juan and I have had great service from ours. He's had his pair longer than I've had my unit and is as happy with his as I am with mine. (I may be a LITTLE HAPPIER than he is, as I paid LESS for mine! ;'}) Any way, we've got a friend or two who would like some, and since some of you HATE yours so much I figured I'd give you a chance to unload the things. :-) Direct e-mail would be great so as to keep from clogging up this net: estes@polar.eielson.af.mil Thanx, Cory From owner-pc800 Mon Sep 11 11:28:26 1995 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 08:28:30 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: pc800 - A Hot Topic >If you have a hondaline tall windshield installed on your pc800 suggest you >replace it immediately with RIFLE shield (middle height will be same as >hondaline height) to prevent dashboard melt down. RIFLE gives much better >wind protection also. I've actually seen the damage done to the dash of a 90 PC. Makes me glad I got the rifle shield in the first place. >Has anyone else experieced this melting problem. Honda refuses to take >blame for this misdesign stating they can not control the sun when acually >they have controled the sun by producing a magnify glass. An HSTA member, "Fireman" Joe, has a 90 PC with the tall shield. He showed me the damage to his dash and he claimed that all of it had happened during their trip up here, which is interesting since the sun rays are pretty oblique this far north. The damage looked like what a cigarette would leave if you left it burning on the dash surface, without any of the black stuff, of course. Any insight as to what time of day the damage ocurrs the most (i.e. what angle of sun light?) As for a fix, I hear an old cotton T-shirt placed over the windshield works fine, though it doesn't help while you are riding. ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: pc800 - A Hot Topic (from Waldo Meeks ) (at Mon, 11 Sep 1995 10:23:30 +0600) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 12:19:31 Hi Waldo (Waldo Meeks), in <9509111523.AA00839@hpc.uh.edu> on Sep 11 you wrote: > In response to KENT I live in Georgia and run 87 octane fuel in my pc > without any spark knock at all under any condition. Runs great. Thanks. I mainly was interested in hearing from those who have the fuel leak problem, but it might be handy to hear from the rest in order to see if there is a pattern the other way also. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R3) with TCP; Mon, 11 Sep 95 14:13:10 EDT ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 95 13:57:24 EST From: stevea@uscsumter.uscsu.scarolina.edu To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re[2]: pc800 - A Hot Topic I previously posted a message regarding the melting of my dashboard by the wind shield and as far as I can tell, it is caused only when parked, and I think mostly when the sun is at a 90 degree angle to the bike. I called Honda 2 years ago and complained loud enough to have them replace my dashboard (though they never verbally accepted responsibility for bad wind shield design.) When asked how to prevent it, they suggested covering the dash. I was the one who posted the info re: the tee-shirt on the wind shield... and it does work. I forgot it ONE DAY, and returned to find a small bubble in the same old spot! Be careful. I also trashed it with Rain-ex, as the rainex bottle I used did NOT have a polycarbonate disclaimer written on it like they do now. DO NOT USE RAINEX on polycarbonate... I learned a very costly lesson! Those with info on wind shields who want to -mail me directly: stevea@sc.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: stucky@twg.com To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 14:22:08 -0800 Subject: RE: fuel vapor problem results Kent, I was running 89 octane for the first 10,000 miles (bought it with 9,500 miles on it Oct 93) and subsequently have been running it with 87 octane with no problems. The gas smells started to be noticeable at about 18,000 miles. I'm currently at 22,000 miles and would like to get Honda to fix it.... Rich >Well, the short news is that I have a new vacuum petcock for my PC. > > For Free!!! > >I haven't talked to Honda yet, but the local dealer indicated that >Honda agreed that the diaphram failed prematurely. I had already >come to the conclusion that if Honda couldn't provide the part at >a reasonable price, I was just going to put a fuel pressure regulator >on the bike, drop it to gravity feed, and forget about the valve. >With this in mind I asked if a pressure regulator might not improve >the life of the diaphram, and the conclusion was that it probably >would not since they believe the failure was due either to a design >problem or a chemical reaction... > >Chemical reaction? Yep. I've been running name-brand 92+ octane >because it really makes a difference down south here in the heat. >However, as we pretty much know, 92 octane fuel usually contains >a lot of additives to assist older/problem engines. So it certainly >is possible that the failure was due to a chemical reaction... > >Question to all who are experiencing an inordinate fuel smell: > > What octane fuel are you burning in your PC? I'd like to get > back to Honda with the results. > >Thanks Much! > >Kent Polk: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu >(DoF #) : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently" > ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 13:11:20 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results I am burning regular unleaded (no particular brand). In my part of Arizona fuels are oxygenated for about half of the calendar in order to improve air quality. > What octane fuel are you burning in your PC? I'd like to get > back to Honda with the results. > >Thanks Much! > >Kent Polk: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu >(DoF #) : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently" > > > ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: 11 Sep 1995 13:13:36 -0800 From: "George Korbel" Subject: Re: PC800- fuel vapor probl To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu RE>>PC800: fuel vapor problem results 9/11/95 After reading Rich's note I have feeling that s... is going to hit the fan soon. I bought my 90 model with 3,000 miles in April 94, now have 17,500 miles. Never smelled anything, YET. Always run 87 octane gas. My mileage is 45-50 miles/gallon. George -------------------------------------- ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: 9/11/95 12:18 PM To: George Korbel From: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Kent, I was running 89 octane for the first 10,000 miles (bought it with 9,500 miles on it Oct 93) and subsequently have been running it with 87 octane with no problems. The gas smells started to be noticeable at about 18,000 miles. I'm currently at 22,000 miles and would like to get Honda to fix it.... Rich >Well, the short news is that I have a new vacuum petcock for my PC. > > For Free!!! > >I haven't talked to Honda yet, but the local dealer indicated that >Honda agreed that the diaphram failed prematurely. I had already >come to the conclusion that if Honda couldn't provide the part at >a reasonable price, I was just going to put a fuel pressure regulator >on the bike, drop it to gravity feed, and forget about the valve. >With this in mind I asked if a pressure regulator might not improve >the life of the diaphram, and the conclusion was that it probably >would not since they believe the failure was due either to a design >problem or a chemical reaction... > >Chemical reaction? Yep. I've been running name-brand 92+ octane >because it really makes a difference down south here in the heat. >However, as we pretty much know, 92 octane fuel usually contains >a lot of additives to assist older/problem engines. So it certainly >is possible that the failure was due to a chemical reaction... > >Question to all who are experiencing an inordinate fuel smell: > > What octane fuel are you burning in your PC? I'd like to get > back to Honda with the results. > >Thanks Much! > >Kent Polk: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu >(DoF #) : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently" > ------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ (8.6.10/LLNL-1.18/llnl.gov-03.95) by Post-Office.UH.EDU (PMDF V5.0-4 #8380) 11 Sep 1995 14:15:21 -0500 (CDT) 11 Sep 1995 14:14:19 +0600 11 Sep 1995 14:14:15 +0600 (8.6.9.1 (TWG $Revision: 5.0 $ $Date: 1994/10/20 10:44:13 $)/$Revision: 3.2 $) with SMTP id TAA13651 for ; Mon, 11 Sep 1995 19:14:11 +0000 (GMT) <16723-0@mercury.twg.com>; Mon, 11 Sep 1995 12:14:13 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 14:22:08 -0800 From: stucky@twg.com Subject: RE: fuel vapor problem results To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Reply-to: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 19:45:32 -0400 From: SethMiller@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results > Question to all who are experiencing an inordinate fuel smell: > What octane fuel are you burning in your PC? I'd like to get > back to Honda with the results. 87 octane - never needed anything higher. FYI, on the fuel smell problem (which my bike exhibits, more strongly all the time), I tried a couple of diagnostic activities: 1) I checked my vacuum petcock with a hand vacuum pump and guage - it held 30+ inches of vacuum for an indefinite period of time - no leakdown at all, so I doubt that it's leaking... 2) Just to be sure, I temporarily replaced the petcock with a vacuum tee fitting - no change in the fuel smell problem was noted. So maybe the problem isn't the petcock, at least in my case... Kent, did you notice an improvement when you replaced the petcock..? - Seth ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from SethMiller@aol.com) (at Mon, 11 Sep 1995 19:45:32 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 22:45:01 Hi SethMiller (SethMiller), in <950911194531_96863210@mail02.mail.aol.com> on Sep 11 you wrote: > 1) I checked my vacuum petcock with a hand vacuum pump and guage - it held > 30+ inches of vacuum for an indefinite period of time - no leakdown at all, > so I doubt that it's leaking... Where did you check the pressure? There are two diaphrams, one for vacuum and one for fuel in the petcock. My vacuum side was still in good condition. > 2) Just to be sure, I temporarily replaced the petcock with a vacuum tee > fitting - no change in the fuel smell problem was noted. So maybe the problem > isn't the petcock, at least in my case... one other thing to check for: is the fiberglass engine cover over the rear cylinder discolored? I.e. brown? > Kent, did you notice an improvement when you replaced the petcock..? Don't know yet. I finally got around to replacing it tonight. Though I had been running with a brass tee and the smell went waaay down and the gas mileage is back to just over 50 mpg city. The last few weeks I was getting less than 40mpg under the same conditions (with the damaged petcock). Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 01:37:58 -0400 From: SethMiller@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results Hi again Kent, >Where did you check the pressure? There are two diaphrams, one for >vacuum and one for fuel in the petcock. My vacuum side was still >in good condition. Well, I checked on the vacuum side, and not on the fuel side. But if the vacuum diaphram is not leaking, and there is no evidence of an external leak, where could the fuel be going? (unless the leak is too small to be visibly detectable, but enough to allow vapors to escape. Quite possible, I guess...) >one other thing to check for: is the fiberglass engine cover over >the rear cylinder discolored? I.e. brown? As above, no visible indication of a leak (and believe me, I have looked... several times...) > I finally got around to replacing it tonight. Though >I had been running with a brass tee and the smell went waaay down and >the gas mileage is back to just over 50 mpg city. The last few weeks >I was getting less than 40mpg under the same conditions (with the >damaged petcock). Well, let us know how it works out. I have noticed a mileage drop as well, coincident with the vapor smell... Hmmm... OK, you convinced me... I suspect the petcock again... I'm glad that you got your dealer to replace it free. Having just moved to a new area, I have no relationship with the local dealer, so I doubt that I would get any consideration from them - unless we are able to convince Honda that a problem exists. Failing that, there is NO WAY that I will pay $100+ for the part, especially given the apparent very high failure rate (why expect the replacement to last any longer than a year or two?). I think that I would rather correct the flaw by finding a more reliable replacement from another model line. Anyway, thanks for keeping us posted as you work through this... - Seth ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 11:01:34 -0400 (EDT) From: "M. David Walthour" To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results On Mon, 11 Sep 1995 SethMiller@aol.com wrote: [snip] > FYI, on the fuel smell problem (which my bike exhibits, more strongly all the > time), I tried a couple of diagnostic activities: > > 1) I checked my vacuum petcock with a hand vacuum pump and guage - it held > 30+ inches of vacuum for an indefinite period of time - no leakdown at all, > so I doubt that it's leaking... > FYI there is no vacuum petcock on the PC800. There may be some confusion on CA models with the purge valve and the air control valve which are vacuum operated. Get the Honda Service Manual, it shows the whole system in detail, though it doesn't explain all the details. A good mechanic would be a reasonable investment too. Nuff said;-) Knowledge is not everywhere, but information seems to be..... ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from SethMiller@aol.com) (at Tue, 12 Sep 1995 01:37:58 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 09:25:56 Hi SethMiller (SethMiller), in <950912013756_97191562@emout04.mail.aol.com> on Sep 12 you wrote: > >Where did you check the pressure? There are two diaphrams, one for > > Well, I checked on the vacuum side, and not on the fuel side. But if the > vacuum diaphram is not leaking, and there is no evidence of an external leak, > where could the fuel be going? (unless the leak is too small to be visibly In my case it was dribbling out the drain line, which is between the two diaphrams. I *never* could catch it draining until it got so bad It was actually pouring out the drain line. The reason was that the drain empties onto the rubber pad on top of the rear cyl. and mostly evaporates there. If it gets worse, it spills onto the fiberglass cover and evaporates there, apparently leaving some residue behind. The problem is that that rear cyl. gets pretty hot and by the time you get the covers off, the fuel is gone. need to figure a way to catch the drip in the act. :^) Need to have ti drain on something that will provide the telltale residue. > that a problem exists. Failing that, there is NO WAY that I will pay $100+ > for the part, especially given the apparent very high failure rate (why One of the mailorder places did have it for around $80, but still... > expect the replacement to last any longer than a year or two?). I think that > I would rather correct the flaw by finding a more reliable replacement from > another model line. That's somewhat what I told Honda, however I believe the PC petcock is quite unique. I think the closest thing to it is the one for a CB900. At least I think it was a CB900. It mounts between the 2nd and 3rd carb on the 900. All the rest of the vacuum petcocks mount to the tank, thus wouldn't work. I think we're back to using a pressure regulator like cars do... Again, anyone having the vapor smell, please check your petcocks for leakage and get back with me. Besides keeping me from looking like a complete idiot for telling Honda that it appears several of us are having the same problem, the results may very well influence Honda to stock the diaphram as a separate part (yes, they did state that). Unfortunately they also said that the price drop for just the diaphram may not be that great due to stocking expenses. :^( Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from "M. David Walthour" ) (at Tue, 12 Sep 1995 11:01:34 -0400 (EDT)) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 10:21:24 Hi M. (M. David Walthour), in on Sep 12 you wrote: > FYI there is no vacuum petcock on the PC800. There may be some confusion If you define 'petcock' as having a manual option, you are correct. More correctly, it is a vacuum-operated fuel valve that sits between the fuel pump and the carb bowl inlets and shuts off fuel flow when there is no vacuum. It is mounted on the rear of the air filter canister. Some sort of fuel restriction *is* necessary on mine, as the fuel pump *does* provide enough fuel pressure to force the carb bowl float valves open. I'm still thinking of installing a fuel pressure regulator. Before I installed the new petcock (when I was running with the fuel tee), I smelled gas right after I shut off the engine. I am certain it was the carb bowls overflowing as fuel dribbled out of the carb drainlines. With the new petcock, it doesn't do this and I don't smell fuel anymore (so far). Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 13:02:18 -0400 From: SethMiller@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results Well, after reading about Kent's experiences it sounds as if the vacuum petcock is indeed the most likely cause... Most annoying... I suppose that I am just so spoiled by the PC's reliability that I can't accept actually having to spend money on replacement parts! Anyway, I agree with Kent... the more individuals that call Honda, the better the chance of something being done about it. I think that there is a chance, given the number of individuals experiencing this problem, that Honda might actually be responsive (especially considering the possible liability implications of ignoring a fuel leak-type problem). How do we contact them..? ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from SethMiller@aol.com) (at Tue, 12 Sep 1995 13:02:18 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 12:40:12 Hi SethMiller (SethMiller), in <950912130218_17220622@emout04.mail.aol.com> on Sep 12 you wrote: > Anyway, I agree with Kent... the more individuals that call Honda, the > better the chance of something being done about it. I think that there is a > chance, given the number of individuals experiencing this problem, that Honda > might actually be responsive (especially considering the possible liability > implications of ignoring a fuel leak-type problem). > > How do we contact them..? Your User Manual has the phone number if you want to call. Verify in some way that the petcock is the problem before you call. If you are certain, you are really supposed to take it to your local Honda dealer and have them check it out. If they agree, they will call Honda. Make sure you mention you are associated with my case (even though my case is 'resolved') and PLEASE inform me so I can put it in the record I am keeping. Honda does know me now and they are expecting me to be calling them back regarding what the rest of you find. My dealer also requested that I relay what you guys find as it will make a better case if other customers start having similar problems. Thanks Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from SethMiller@aol.com) (at Tue, 12 Sep 1995 13:02:18 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 12:42:28 Hi SethMiller (SethMiller), in <950912130218_17220622@emout04.mail.aol.com> on Sep 12 you wrote: > better the chance of something being done about it. I think that there is a > chance, given the number of individuals experiencing this problem, that Honda > might actually be responsive (especially considering the possible liability > implications of ignoring a fuel leak-type problem). BTW, this is a warranty item, so it should be no problem whatsoever if your bike is still under warranty. I do recommend you get it taken care of before it goes out of warranty though :^) Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 19:06:09 -0400 From: JeffHO@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results Hi, Kent. My '95 PC has had the fuel vapor problem sporadically. I've been running it on 92 octane gas--why, I don't know. Roger Prince just put me wise to the fact that he gets better mileage with regular octane, so I've made the switch (thanks Roger). Too early to tell if the vapor problem is gone or the mileage is up, but it looks good so far. >>Keep the rubber side down and don't sneeze in your helmet.<< ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 15:52:29 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Fuel mileage ... > Roger Prince just put me wise >to the fact that he gets better mileage with regular octane, so I've made the >switch (thanks Roger). ... Now that you mention it, I've noticed that too. Any one have an explanation for this phenomenom? ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 22:14:31 -0400 (EDT) From: "M. David Walthour" To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results On Tue, 12 Sep 1995, Kent Polk wrote: > Hi M. (M. David Walthour), in on Sep 12 you wrote: > > > FYI there is no vacuum petcock on the PC800. There may be some confusion > > If you define 'petcock' as having a manual option, you are correct. > More correctly, it is a vacuum-operated fuel valve that sits between > the fuel pump and the carb bowl inlets and shuts off fuel flow when > there is no vacuum. It is mounted on the rear of the air filter > canister. > > Some sort of fuel restriction *is* necessary on mine, as the fuel > pump *does* provide enough fuel pressure to force the carb bowl > float valves open. I'm still thinking of installing a fuel > Kent, the auto fuel valve does not regulate the flow of fuel from the pump. As far as I can tell, it only keeps what fuel is in the lines from siphoning through the carbs when the engine is shut off. If you are experiencing a leak, check for it by removing the top shelter, but first I would put the bike on the center stand, start it and take a look at the carb drain tubes down by the left foot peg. The poor mileage that several writers have noted might more probably be a problem with the float valve in one or both carbs, which is the only way that fuel would come out of those overflow tubes with or without the engine running. The auto fuel valve does not serve the same purpose as the vacuum petcocks on gravity feed bikes, since it is higher than the fuel tank, and with the pulsed pumping action delivering fuel in direct relation to engine speed, there is no need of a pressure regulator in this system. Honda has used a variation of this system on every fuel pump equiped bike in the line. An ignition pulse causes the fuel cutoff relay to send a single pulse to the fuel pump, not a continuous flow of fuel. It is a volume flow, not a pressure system, which makes a pressure regulator unnecessary. I would be very surprised if you don't have a fault in one or both float valves. As to the brown deposits noted by some in the region directly below the auto fuel valve, my bet is on the crankcase breather tube which enters the airbox just in front of it. That tube can easily come loose, and leave precisely the deposits that were noted. Crankcase fumes often contain unburned fuel, which may be the cause of the problem for some of the folks who are concerned about the gas odor. The standard disclaimer about this information applies. A qualified mechanic should be engaged when in doubt about anything pertaining to our motorcycles, because everything is a safety concern. Dave ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from "M. David Walthour" ) (at Tue, 12 Sep 1995 22:14:31 -0400 (EDT)) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 22:29:42 Hi M. (M. David Walthour), in on Sep 12 you wrote: > Kent, the auto fuel valve does not regulate the flow of fuel from the > pump. As far as I can tell, it only keeps what fuel is in the lines from > siphoning through the carbs when the engine is shut off. If you are The fuel pressure regulators regulate the *pressure* of the fuel produced by the fuel pump. That is why they are called *pressure regulators*. You can usually dial in the desired pressure on the downstream side of the regulator via a screw. There is currently *not* one on the PC. > experiencing a leak, check for it by removing the top shelter, but first > I would put the bike on the center stand, start it and take a look at the > carb drain tubes down by the left foot peg. The poor mileage that several > writers have noted might more probably be a problem with the float valve > in one or both carbs, which is the only way that fuel would come out of > those overflow tubes with or without the engine running. The auto fuel That was one of the first things I and others looked for. There was no evidence of fuel in the end of the tubes - they were clean, which is not what they would be if they had ever had fuel run down them. > valve does not serve the same purpose as the vacuum petcocks on gravity > feed bikes, since it is higher than the fuel tank, and with the pulsed > pumping action delivering fuel in direct relation to engine speed, there [...] I don't believe you have been reading my postings well enough. You appear to be getting a few things confused. To recap, 1) there is nothing wrong with my float valves 2) the fuel pump most certainly does produce enough pressure to force the float valves open under certain circumstances. (I saw it happen) 3) I am considering *adding* a pressure regulator upstream from the vacuum petcock. I understand that it very well may not be needed, but I have seen the residual pressure on the supply side of the petcock when the engine is shut off, and it is much more than what gravity will produce. The first time I pulled the supply hose off the petcock, it shot fuel clear across my garage. This was probably an hour after the bike had been shut off. I also know that this pressure *can* occur while the engine is running because I set up a test where I attached a hose tothe drain and ran it into a plastic bottle. I don't recommend this technique as it resulting in spewing fule all over the place since I didn't seal the entrance to the bottle - (would have been even more stupid to have done that :^) I was expecting little trickle, but got a high-pressure stream instead. > As to the brown deposits noted by some in the region directly below the > auto fuel valve, my bet is on the crankcase breather tube which enters [...] > contain unburned fuel, which may be the cause of the problem for some of > the folks who are concerned about the gas odor. Not in my case. > The standard disclaimer about this information applies. A qualified > mechanic should be engaged when in doubt about anything pertaining to our > motorcycles, because everything is a safety concern. This was meant as a joke, right? (Surely...) Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 08:47:14 +0600 Wed, 13 Sep 1995 9:15:32 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: Waldo Meeks Subject: Re: Fuel mileage At 03:52 PM 9/12/95 -0700, you wrote: >... >> Roger Prince just put me wise >>to the fact that he gets better mileage with regular octane, so I've made the >>switch (thanks Roger). >... > >Now that you mention it, I've noticed that too. Any one have an explanation >for this phenomenom? Contrary to popular belief the higher the octane number the slower the fuel will burn. This is why when spark knock occurs the fuel is burning to rapidly for the piston to reach the top of the cylinder thus one solution is to use a slower burning fuel (higher octane). One should use octane numbers where spark knock does not occur. If spark knock is not occuring there is no gain in using higher octane fuel except to releave excess pocket money. The higher octane fuel does not have time to completely burn and this may account for loss in fuel mileage. 87 performs great in my 90 pc during all conditions. Mileage 51-54. By the way I have not noticed any fuel vapor smell yet. 90 PC 16K miles. Question. I am noticing premature wear on the left hand side of my rear tire. Has anyone else experienced this? I suspect the one adusting shock set up. Any recommendations on after market rear shocks for the PC (Koni, Progressive etc.) that will allow damping and adjustment on both sides. Waldo ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 08:35:12 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Fuel mileage >Contrary to popular belief the higher the octane number the slower the fuel >will burn. Not always true. From Motorcycle Online : Wrenching with Rob "Chemical Soup: The Meaning of Gas.": "...leaded high-octane race fuels burn slower than most unleaded fuels, and may reduce performance in stock or lightly modified motorcycles. A high octane rating itself, however, does not mean that the fuel is slow burning." [...] >where spark knock does not occur. If spark knock is not occuring there is >no gain in using higher octane fuel except to releave excess pocket money. [...] > 87 performs great in my 90 pc during all conditions. Mileage 51-54. Mine does too, the only reason why I ocassionally use higher octane is to try to clean the carbs with the higher detergent content found in more expensive fuels (maybe I'm deluding myself?) :-) >Question. I am noticing premature wear on the left hand side of my rear >tire. Has anyone else experienced this? I suspect the one adusting shock >set up. I don't know if the reason is mechanical, but I've never heard of a PC having this kind of abnormal wear. It could be that the roads in your area have a very agressive "crown", a hump in the center meant to shed rain water away from the road. So you would be "leaning" to the left all the time, even if you are going straight. That would most certainly account for the uneven wear on the left side. Nothing like stimulating conversation first thing in the morning! Good luck. Juan ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: daniel.do@mogur.com (Daniel Do) Subject: Steerin wheel bearng rep? Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 14:39:00 GMT To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: daniel.do@mogur.com Subject: Change steering wheel bearing at home??? I hear a few people have problem with the wheel bearings? Do you guys change them at home and what parts are required? I need the parts numbers if the repair work is doable? TIA. --- * SLMR 2.1a * The best things in life are for a fee. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 14:10:20 -0300 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: daniel@nstn.ca (Daniel MacKay) Subject: Re: Steerin wheel bearng rep? Daniel: >I need the parts >numbers if the repair work is doable? TIA. Well, no. Just nip into your local Honda dealer, they have all the numbers on fiche, and the change-to numbers on computer. You can just point to the object you want on the fiche screen, and they'll order it. It's better than looking up the numbers yourself, because if you don't get what you pointed at, it's the dealer's problem, not yours. -dan -- Daniel MacKay daniel@nstn.ca Homo habilis Nova Scotia, Canada ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:56:22 -0400 From: SethMiller@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Tire Wear > Question. I am noticing premature wear on the left hand > side of my rear tire. Has anyone else experienced this? Yes! > I suspect the one adusting shock set up. Maybe, but for what it's worth I have only noticed the problem with Metzler ML2's. The OEM Dunlops wore quite evenly (lasted about 14k miles), then I installed the Metzlers, which wore out very prematurely (about 7k miles) and primarily on the left side (yes, I kept the tire pressure spot on, Kent). After the Metzlers, I went back to Dunlop K177's, and have had no more uneven wear problems (so far, but they are still fairly new). Most of the others on the list feel that the Metzlers are the better tires (and they probably are, if handling is your primary concern), but they certainly did not wear up to expectations in my case. UNLESS, of course, you are running the Dunlops and seeing the problem, which would certainly point towards a suspension-related vs. tire-related problem. I'm curious to know, since I hate ruling out the Metzlers based on one bad experience which might not even be their fault... I also considered crowned roads, etc., as a possible cause, but the wear was so pronounced that I kind of discounted those kind of things. I would have sworn that the swing arm was bent or something, but the bike has never been down and handles normally so I rather doubt that as well. Plus, of course, I noticed no problem on the first set of tires in 14k miles... a mystery, so far... At least my front wheel bearings appear to be in good shape (inside joke)... > Any recommendations on after market rear shocks for the PC > (Koni, Progressive etc.) that will allow damping and adjustment > on both sides. I believe Kent posted some information regarding this earlier and it is in the archives, but perhaps it would be worth re-transmitting since I have noticed several individuals request it lately. I'm kind of interested myself, because with abou 25k miles on my bike whatever minor amount of damping that was available in the OEM shocks is long gone... - Seth (5.65c/IDA-1.5 for ); Wed, 13 Sep 1995 16:53:57 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 16:55:26 -0700 From: Peter Hively To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Tire Wear Hi, I had the same problem with ML2's on my PC, I rode the thing rather aggressively on twisty roads and both tires were worn out on both sides in 4500 miles!!! I admit I rode the bike harder then most in the twisties but Metzeler agredd this was unusual and gave me another set of tires, the 2nd set wore out just as fast as the first. I think this was a known problem with early ML2's, and the later ML2 Plus is supposed to address this. I ended up selling the PC when I got a great deal on a BMW R100GS, but when I see a PC on the road I miss mine. What a great bike! One thing I will say for the ML2's, they did stick and handle VERY well! Peter ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 14 Sep 1995 07:01:59 +0600 Thu, 14 Sep 1995 8:01:27 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: "Waldo E. Meeks" Subject: Re: Tire Wear Seth. > >Maybe, but for what it's worth I have only noticed the problem with Metzler >ML2's. The OEM Dunlops wore quite evenly (lasted about 14k miles), then I >installed the Metzlers, which wore out very prematurely (about 7k miles) and >primarily on the left side (yes, I kept the tire pressure spot on, Kent). As a matter of fact the premature wear is occuring on ML2's. These tires are suppose to last over 12000 miles on a Gold Wing even. Should be much more on PC. This tire will only go approximately 7K. I am not happy with the slight tire roar either. I believe I will return to Dunlop at half the price. >I believe Kent posted some information regarding this earlier and it is in >the archives, but perhaps it would be worth re-transmitting since I have >noticed several individuals request it lately. I'm kind of interested myself, >because with abou 25k miles on my bike whatever minor amount of damping that >was available in the OEM shocks is long gone... I agree. Should be posted again. Thanks. Waldo E. Meeks Georgia Southen University ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Steerin wheel bearng rep? (from daniel@nstn.ca (Daniel MacKay)) (at Wed, 13 Sep 1995 14:10:20 -0300) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 22:17:37 Hi Daniel (Daniel MacKay), in on Sep 13 you wrote: > >I need the parts > >numbers if the repair work is doable? TIA. > > Well, no. Just nip into your local Honda dealer, they have all the numbers > on fiche, and the change-to numbers on computer. You can just point to the > object you want on the fiche screen, and they'll order it. > > It's better than looking up the numbers yourself, because if you don't get > what you pointed at, it's the dealer's problem, not yours. -dan I just swapped out all my wheel bearings a few weeks ago. Well, actually I haven't gotten around to doing the rear since the left bearing was backordered and I had already replaced my rear tire before the bearing came in. Anyway, I still have the boxes with aftermarket bearing no's somewhere. I'll try to find them. Each bearing ran about $9 or so from my local MC shop. The same bearings from the cheapest bearing supply house here in San Antonio was $16 ! It's a fairly rare bearing for the bearing houses, but not for the MC market. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 13:06:09 -0400 From: SethMiller@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Fuel Smell Problem For all those who are following the above subject, I performed some additional troubleshooting last evening and have the following results to post: My vacuum-controlled petcock valve is *not* leaking. It just isn't... I'm sure... In a way, I wish it was because at least I would know for sure where the gas smell is coming from... BUT, I did notice something very interesting that might account for it: Each carburetor uses three band clamps: one that connects the carb throat to the air cleaner box, another that connects the bottom of the carb to the rubber intake runner, and a third semi-invisible one *below* the rubber engine beanie. The third clamp connects the rubber intake runner to the intake manifold on the head. These bottom-most clamps are hard to find, but you can lift the rubber cover and see them with a narrow beam flashlight. Both of the rubber intake runners appeared to be leaking at their connection to the intake manifold; there was a lot of grundge below them that appeared to be a mixture of fuel and oil (oil probably from the crankcase ventilation that is forced back into the air cleaner). Sure enough, both of the clamps sealing the intake runner to the head (again, both of these are BELOW the rubber engine cover) were loose. I went through the trouble of removing the carbs and the rubber cover so that I could tighten the clamps and properly clean everything out, but it looks like you could get a long-shaft screwdriver in there to tighten he clamps without any disassembly (although it wouldn't be easy...) Anyway, planning a trip this weekend... Can't wait to see if the problem improves.... - Seth ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Fuel Smell Problem (from SethMiller@aol.com) (at Fri, 15 Sep 1995 13:06:09 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 13:00:43 Hi SethMiller (SethMiller), in <950915130608_100309254@emout06.mail.aol.com> on Sep 15 you wrote: > BUT, I did notice something very interesting that might account for it: > > Each carburetor uses three band clamps: one that connects the carb throat to Great! I already checked them and didn't find a problem with mine, but if one is loose, there's a chance that this is the problem with some of the others. Thanks Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: A "NEW" member Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 13:48:34 -0700 From: Gaye Grabill Hello, I am now the proud owner of a slightly, (OK, extremely) used 1989 PC. I've been following the list for some time now; picking up hints from you experienced riders. Finally found a PC in my price range, and snagged her as soon as I could. I'm looking forward to being a more active participant in the email, and enjoying many rides through Oregon and Washington... -gaye -- Gaye Grabill gaye@percy.rain.com ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 12:30:08 -0400 From: TedJ101@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: A "NEW" member In a message dated 95-09-15 17:51:26 EDT, gaye@percy.rain.com (Gaye Grabill) writes: >Finally found a PC in my price range, and snagged >her as soon as I could. I'm looking forward to being a more active >participant in the email, and enjoying many rides through Oregon >and Washington... Gaye, Welcome to the "club". Having just come back from Washington and having savored some of the roads out there, I think you will find the PC a wonderful bike for the area. The PC handles better than it has any right to which makes it a natural for the rural areas of the Pacific Northwest. Let us know how you like it. 16 Sep 1995 16:18:50 -0700 (PDT) ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 04:17:36 -0700 From: _spain@UG.EDS.COM (Harrison Spain) Subject: Re: A "NEW" member To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu >Hello, I am now the proud owner of a slightly, (OK, extremely) used 1989 PC. >I've been following the list for some time now; picking up hints from you >experienced riders. Finally found a PC in my price range, and snagged >her as soon as I could. I'm looking forward to being a more active participant >in the email, and enjoying many rides through Oregon and Washington... Outstanding! Welcome to the group :-). How many miles were on her? I'm curious how many miles a PC can handle before retirement :-). | Harrison M. Spain | Voice: (714) 952-6114 | | Systems Support Manager | Fax: (714) 952-5371 | | EDS Unigraphics | Internet: _spain@ug.eds.com | | Cypress, CA 90630 | UUCP: ...uunet!ug!_spain | ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 17 Sep 1995 19:57:06 -0400 From: FEHER1@aol.com To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: New List Member Hi, I was pleased to locate a list of other pc800 owners! Name: Kathleen Feher Location: Southern Illinois (Metro-St. Louis area) Email: FEHER1@aol.com PC Model Year: 1990 Bought Used: Purchased in March, 1995 Couldn't resist that shiny RED color. I've been riding about three years. My husband and I are week-end riders, we really enjoy relaxed rides around our area. He rides a Yamaha, Virago 750. We are looking forward to some beautiful Fall rides when the trees start to change colors. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: A "NEW" member Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 08:26:06 -0700 From: Gaye Grabill >Outstanding! Welcome to the group :-). How many miles were on her? I'm >curious how many miles a PC can handle before retirement :-). > She had 24,200 when I bought her. I put another 500 or so on her in the last few days. We went up around Mt. Hood this weekend, a nice ride with a few twisties thrown in for good measure. She really handles very nicely, I was quite happy with the ride. I need to work on my "riding in the wind" techniques tho... ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 10:55:06 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson) Subject: Webbing Ok all you internet surfers, wax up your boards 'cause the new edition of the PC800 web page is now available. http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/RMR/pc800.html This edition doesn't have the distilled wisdom of the last year or so of listserv activity as I had hoped. I realized that a reorganization was needed to add that kind of volume of information so I concentrated on that. I did however add a bunch of pictures which I hope you will check out and enjoy. My next goal is to edit down the archives into a digest. Any comments, suggestions, input, whatever, let me know. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 15:02:34 -0400 From: NThompso@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: New List Member In a message dated 95-09-17 20:15:18 EDT, you write: > >Name: Kathleen Feher >Location: Southern Illinois (Metro-St. Louis area) >Email: FEHER1@aol.com >PC Model Year: 1990 >Bought Used: Purchased in March, 1995 > >Couldn't resist that shiny RED color. >I've been riding about three years. >My husband and I are week-end riders, we really enjoy relaxed rides around >our area. >He rides a Yamaha, Virago 750. >We are looking forward to some beautiful Fall rides when the trees start to >change >colors. OK guys, it looks like we have a lady in our midst (finally). Better clean up our act. ;-) What kind of mileage did it have and if its not being too personal, how much did you pay? Any modifications? What does the hubby think of the PC? ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 15:02:34 -0400 From: NThompso@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: A "NEW" member In a message dated 95-09-15 17:51:03 EDT, you write: > >Hello, I am now the proud owner of a slightly, (OK, extremely) used 1989 PC. >I've been following the list for some time now; picking up hints from you >experienced riders. Finally found a PC in my price range, and snagged >her as soon as I could. I'm looking forward to being a more active >participant >in the email, and enjoying many rides through Oregon and Washington... > > Welcome. What did you say the mileage was? How much was your price range? I see we have a Pacific Northwest contingent forming to compete with the Texans who took an early lead on this list. Let us know if you folks get together for a F2F. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: A "NEW" member (from NThompso@aol.com) (at Mon, 18 Sep 1995 15:02:34 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 14:28:17 Hi NThompso (NThompso), in <950918150232_102462383@mail02.mail.aol.com> on Sep 18 you wrote: > Welcome. What did you say the mileage was? How much was your price range? > I see we have a Pacific Northwest contingent forming to compete with the > Texans who took an early lead on this list. Let us know if you folks get > together for a F2F. Speaking of Texans, tx.moto is holding a 'DaleFest' the weekend of October the 15 at Bandera, Tx (foothills of the Hill Country). I expect a whole contingent of you Texan PC riders to show up... So far, I'm the only PC rider who ever showed up at these thingies on a PC, and usually end up leading variations of the 33x loop ride (the long one with the cliff run, the tunnelvision-rollercoaster and the critterscamperrer). We also usually have a flowerpicker's ride that Jerry Dunham usually leads. Covers a good chunk of the best MC roads in Texas. Check out tx.motorcycles for more info. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: New List Member (from NThompso@aol.com) (at Mon, 18 Sep 1995 15:02:34 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 14:30:34 Hi NThompso (NThompso), in <950918150232_102462365@emout06.mail.aol.com> on Sep 18 you wrote: > OK guys, it looks like we have a lady in our midst (finally). Better clean > up our act. ;-) I cleaned and polished my boots. Does that count? Can't image where they got all that $#%$ from... Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Webbing (from thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson)) (at Mon, 18 Sep 1995 10:55:06 -0700) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 14:35:45 Hi Neill (Neill Thompson), in <9509181753.AA23846@trg.trglink.com> on Sep 18 you wrote: > http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/RMR/pc800.html > > Any comments, suggestions, input, whatever, let me know. Thanks. I'd like to see a list of names, part numbers, etc. for aftermarket parts, Like those wheel bearing number I was going to try to find, as well as the other 'projects'. I have a Web page with some of that stuff, but SwRI won't let me make it available until access is restricted in some form so it won't be viewed as published material. Haven't come up with a reasonable way to do that. :^( Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: A "NEW" member <950918150232_102462383@mail02.mail.aol.com> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 12:37:52 -0700 From: Gaye Grabill >In a message dated 95-09-15 17:51:03 EDT, you write: > >> > >Welcome. What did you say the mileage was? How much was your price range? > I see we have a Pacific Northwest contingent forming to compete with the >Texans who took an early lead on this list. Let us know if you folks get >together for a F2F. She has slightly over 24,000 miles on her; I paid $2900 for her. She's been down a few times and is a little rough around the edges cosmetically, but she runs like a charm. Oh, BTW, make that 2 "ladies" on your list, I think I qualify too! ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 21:32:30 -0400 From: HTBIII@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Trunk won't close In a message dated 95-08-28 14:14:29 EDT, bryceu@microsoft.com (Bryce Ulrich) writes: >A more likely culprit is the rubber "springs" just under the passenger >seat next to the hydraulic lift. They can be adjusted to give the seat >some lift when you pull the trunk release. The intent is to give you >one-hand trunk release operation but if they are adjusted too far you >may not allow the upper latch to get close enough to catch. > > Tell me more about the rubber springs. I would love to have a one-handed trunk release, but I can't seem to figure out where they are (or how to adjust them). Am I missing something, or is this one of the few and famous changes (I have a '90 model)? Thanks, Tom Byron (htbiii@aol.com) 1990 PC800 Arlington, Virginia with Novell_GroupWise; Mon, 18 Sep 1995 18:43:30 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 18:39:45 -0700 From: Jerry Kidby To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Webbing -Reply fantastic good news! just spent 90 days off on sick leave and the last 2 weeks at work trying to catch up on close to 5000 e-mail messages and subscriptions etc. I have hard copy of the archives at home and agree that a digst would be very nice to have. >>> Neill Thompson 09/18/95 10:55am >>> Ok all you internet surfers, wax up your boards 'cause the new edition of the PC800 web page is now available. http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/RMR/pc800.html This edition doesn't have the distilled wisdom of the last year or so of listserv activity as I had hoped. I realized that a reorganization was needed to add that kind of volume of information so I concentrated on that. I did however add a bunch of pictures which I hope you will check out and enjoy. My next goal is to edit down the archives into a digest. Any comments, suggestions, input, whatever, let me know. (5.65c/IDA-1.5 for ); Mon, 18 Sep 1995 16:27:39 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 15:24:47 -0700 From: Peter Hively To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Webbing For wheel bearings, try CBR Bearing at 1 (800) 769-5388. Tell Charlie I sent you. Peter Hively, who sold his PC to buy a BMW R100GS and is happy but still misses the PC from time to time.... ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 23:15:42 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Northwest Hey Northwesterners... we've only got a few weekends left...anyone up for a trip to Mt. St. Helens????? dave and steve gross ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Trunk won't close (from jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula)) (at Mon, 18 Sep 1995 18:04:38 -0700) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 09:58:58 Hi Juan (Juan A. Goula), in <199509190204.SAA01419@jarvis.ims.alaska.edu> on Sep 18 you wrote: > >Tell me more about the rubber springs. I would love to have a one-handed > >trunk release, but I can't seem to figure out where they are (or how to > >adjust them). Am I missing something, or is this one of the few and famous > >changes (I have a '90 model). > > I also had to adjust them. They look like mini suspension rubber stops, not > like springs. They are located in the underside of the trunk lid, about 5 I also have a '90 and it doesn't have these. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Trunk won't close <199509190204.SAA01419@jarvis.ims.alaska.edu> Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 12:20:06 -0700 From: Gaye Grabill >>Tell me more about the rubber springs. I would love to have a one-handed >>trunk release, but I can't seem to figure out where they are (or how to >>adjust them). Am I missing something, or is this one of the few and famous >>changes (I have a '90 model). > >I also had to adjust them. They look like mini suspension rubber stops, not >like springs. They are located in the underside of the trunk lid, about 5 >inches apart and they are about 3/4" in diameter. Black rubber, can't miss >them. They are also threaded like a big bolt, so all you have to do is Hey, I just went out and fixed mine. Wow! No more of the following scenario: Set stuff down Hey! Not on the saddle, idiot pick stuff up set stuff down on the ground fish out key open trunk pick stuff up off of Wet (this is the northwest!) ground oops, that was a paper bag! sigh. pick stuff up off parking lot put soggy stuff in trunk close trunk. Now I can just open the trunk and put my stuff away! Thank you very much! ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 17:22:35 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: Trunk won't close >I also have a '90 and it doesn't have these. Hello Kent. I went back to look at a picture of your bike ( the one where you have tha haunches removed and the trunk lid up) and if my eyes do not deceive me I'm pretty sure I can se the left hand rubber stop. It is 5-6" forward and to the side of the lid mounting point for the gas strut. Kinda hard to miss them. Maybe they fell off? I'd hate to see what Honda charges for those! I'll go take a look at the shop manual to see wht the "official" name is for them. Maybe someone can get a manual diagram scanned for those who are still not sure of what we are talking about. Good luck! ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 21:58:20 -0400 From: JeffHO@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Webbing -Reply Neil: just checked out the new PC800 web page. Nice job! I enjoyed the photos (tip of the hat to Kent also--I'm going to follow your air horn example some day), and I look forward to the archive and completion of the "modifications" area. Not sure I like the '96 colors. Has anyone seen one of these in person? Thanks for your work! <> ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Trunk won't close (from jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula)) (at Tue, 19 Sep 1995 17:22:35 -0700) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 19 Sep 1995 21:12:15 Hi Juan (Juan A. Goula), in <199509200122.RAA03469@jarvis.ims.alaska.edu> on Sep 19 you wrote: > >I also have a '90 and it doesn't have these. > > Hello Kent. I went back to look at a picture of your bike ( the one where > you have tha haunches removed and the trunk lid up) and if my eyes do not > deceive me I'm pretty sure I can se the left hand rubber stop. It is 5-6" But mine are just pushed in. There's no adjustment. Prying it up a little, I think I can see what the adjustment is supposed to be. Is it not something like a threaded piece of rubber whose threads fit in a little groove cut in the side of the hole? And this really is supposed to be adjustable? Hmm. maybe time time to pay my dealer a little visit... Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Bryce Ulrich To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 19 Sep 95 17:00:03 TZ Subject: Potentail owner looking for info/feedback Read this in the last issue of Motorcycle Tour and Travel. Fellow wrote a letter asking that his name and address be published so others could write him and let him know about their experiences with the PC. How about a care package from all of us? I thought I'd collect some of the info from the Web page, some excerpts from the archives, and a few trip reports. If you'd like to add anything to my package please email it direct to me at bryceu@microsoft.com or send it direct to: Dennis Kingsbury P.O. Box 428 Laurinburg, NC 28352. Thanks! -bryceu His letter reads: ----------------------- I'm planning to buy a new bike next spring and I could use your help. One of the bikes I'm considering is a Honda Pacific Coast. I don't know anyone who owns one and haven't found much info on it in any magazines. If you would print my post office box number I'd greatly appreciate an PC800 owners lettin me know about their experiences with the bike. Especially concerning reliability as a commuter and comfort on long rides, etc. Thanks. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 01:26:34 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Trunk won't close hey I gotta try that... ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 95 09:04:24 EDT From: m14494%caasd1@MWMGATE1.mitre.org (Michael J White) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re[2]: Webbing -Reply > Not sure I like the '96 colors. Has anyone seen one of these in person? I've seen them, and I don't like them. The Lipstick Red just doesn't suit the PC; as I've said before, it's like the pretty, intelligent girl next door painted up like a hooker. I also don't like the new "grey" on the lower body; it's so dark it's almost black. I much perfer the silver-grey. My favorite PC color scheme is the original Pearl White (which is what I have); the 1990 dark red is a close second, followed by Black. The new red is a distant fourth in my humble estimation. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 08:22:20 -0500 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: mskeller@ionet.net (Michael S. Keller) Subject: '96 Color >Not sure I like the '96 colors. Has anyone seen one of these in person? Yes. Ruby and I share the opinion that it looks cheapened with the black undercarriage. The color wouldn't be so bad if Honda had kept the silver bottom. But if it helps sell them. . . . -Michael AB5EL [TeamOS/2] mskeller@ionet.net ---------- ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 08:36:22 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson) Subject: Re: Potentail owner looking for info/feedback Suggestion. Zip him off a postcard and alert him to this email list and to the web page and tell him if he can't get access to one or the other or both, he should write back to you and you will try to assemble it for him. That might save alot of work for you if he's not serious enough to write back or if he has or knows someone who has net access. >Read this in the last issue of Motorcycle Tour and Travel. Fellow >wrote a letter asking that his name and address be published so others >could write him and let him know about their experiences with the PC. > >How about a care package from all of us? > >I thought I'd collect some of the info from the Web page, some excerpts >from the archives, and a few trip reports. If you'd like to add >anything to my package please email it direct to me at >bryceu@microsoft.com or send it direct to: > >Dennis Kingsbury >P.O. Box 428 >Laurinburg, NC 28352. > >Thanks! > >-bryceu > > > >His letter reads: >----------------------- >I'm planning to buy a new bike next spring and I could use your help. >One of the bikes I'm considering is a Honda Pacific Coast. I don't >know anyone who owns one and haven't found much info on it in any >magazines. If you would print my post office box number I'd greatly >appreciate an PC800 owners lettin me know about their experiences with >the bike. Especially concerning reliability as a commuter and comfort >on long rides, etc. Thanks. > > > > > ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 09:12:33 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: Trunk won't close >But mine are just pushed in. There's no adjustment. Prying it up a >little, I think I can see what the adjustment is supposed to be. Is >it not something like a threaded piece of rubber whose threads fit in >a little groove cut in the side of the hole? And this really is supposed >to be adjustable? Hmm. maybe time time to pay my dealer a little visit... Kent, yes, they are indeed threaded. On yours they are probably just screwed in all the way. I don't think they are left hand threads either. >One hand operation to open the trunk lid. >This adjustment should be in the owners manual or at least in the shop manual. I looked last night and the owners manual has nada on that subject. The shop manual, however, does mention them, on page 2-26. It does not show _where_ they are. For that you have to look at pages 2-18/19 where they are talking about removing the gas strut. They are not labeled but clearly visible. An oversight on an otherwise excellent manual. As for the name, ready boys and girls? Honda calls them "adjusting rubbers" or "screw rubbers!" = : - o. Either Honda has to clean up their language or I have to clean up my mind (probably the latter) :-). I should be out riding instead of being here in the office. Its 70 degrees outside! All the trees are bare and I was sure we were going to have to put the bikes away this week. Looks like the motorcycle gods are smiling on us. ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 11:42 -0800 From: ESTES@polar.eielson.af.mil (CORY) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Safe Motorcycling! Juan wrote: >Honda calls them "adjusting rubbers" or "screw rubbers!" = : - o. >Either Honda has to clean up their language or I have to clean up my mind >(probably the latter) :-). Be of good cheer fellow PCers!!!! In the '90s we all know that "rubbers" save lives, after all they hand them out to school kids! You can now ride with your helmet held high knowing that you are practicing "safe cycling." I feel even better about my PC, knowing that such important safety measures have been "built in." I've been wondering when the MSF was going to include condom use in my teaching manual! Again, PC's at the cutting edge of society! Cory From owner-pc800 Thu Sep 21 00:24:12 1995 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 01:27:47 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: '96 Color as soon as I have some $$ to piss away, I'm going to replace the silver plastic parts on my 89 Pearly with the black ones from the 96...I think it would look VERY cool customized like that. And then I want to wait till next year and see honda's new bike..the one with the Goldwing engine in a Shadow A.C.E. frame.... dave ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 08:45:20 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: '96 Color >as soon as I have some $$ to piss away, I'm going to replace the silver >plastic parts on my 89 Pearly with the black ones from the 96...I think it >would look VERY cool customized like that. Why not just have them painted? You can probably get exactly the color you want, and it would be cheaper. I remember someone in this list that had his PC painted all white. How about posting a picture of that one on the web page, Neill? ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 11:37:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Johan Lai To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: '96 Color On Thu, 21 Sep 1995, Juan A. Goula wrote: > >as soon as I have some $$ to piss away, I'm going to replace the silver > >plastic parts on my 89 Pearly with the black ones from the 96...I think it > >would look VERY cool customized like that. > > Why not just have them painted? You can probably get exactly the color you > want, and it would be cheaper. I remember someone in this list that had > his PC painted all white. How about posting a picture of that one on the > web page, Neill? > ________________________________ > Juan A. Goula > School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences > University of Alaska Fairbanks > AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG > 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX > ________________________________ > > That was my PC. Unfortunatly I don't have a scanner, but I can mail a picture to someone for scanning. As for the painting process, you'd have to find a good paint shop that does plastics often so they don't use the wrong paint that'll eat up your panels. The whole job costed me $400. You could probably get away with around $100 if it's just the lower panels. Watch out for drippies. You know, the excess runoff of the paint when the coat is too think when applied. ========================================================================= Johan Lai UUCP Mail: None Unix Systems Admin Internet Mail: jlai@filenet.com Engineering Services Snail Mail: 3565 Harbor Boulevard FileNet Corporation Costa Mesa, CA 92626 '89 PC Cassandra ========================================================================= ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 10:31:39 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson) Subject: Bike Pictures >Why not just have them painted? You can probably get exactly the color you >want, and it would be cheaper. I remember someone in this list that had >his PC painted all white. How about posting a picture of that one on the >web page, Neill? >________________________________ >Juan A. Goula >School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences >University of Alaska Fairbanks >AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG >1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX > ________________________________ Hey, I would love to get a nice picture of an '89. The black is hard to photograph without losing alot of detail in the shadows. If any of you have a decent snapshot, I can scan it and put it up. 3"x4" landscape works best and I'll return the snapshot. The address is P.O. Box 86764, Phoenix, AZ 85080. Be sure to include your return address. BTW, I thought I would relate a fairly funny story. I Periodically do net searches for "Honda Pacific Coast" just to see if anybody else is doing anything that we should know about. On a recent search, I found the following URL: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~tbachman/homepage.html. In the text of the home page, the guy says he is interested in getting a Honda Pacific Coast and he includes a picture. A picture of _my_ bike!!! I nearly fell off my chair. I'm surfing the web and I find a picture of my bike on someone elses page! Then I remember that I posted a copy of the picture on the rec.moto archives. I guess in so doing it becomes public domain. The picture in question also appears as the number 2 picture on the pictures page of the PC800 web page. I thought I should send him some mail and let him know that I'm glad he likes my bike but he did not include an email address on his page. Maybe I'll try some of the person search routines but I haven't pursued it yet. I also recently found the following in a list of motorcycle clubs. Does anybody know about this. It looks familliar but I don't have any details. HONDA PACIFIC COAST OWNERS CLUB 4316 Marina City Drive, No. 321 Marina Del Rey, CA 90202 P.S. Juan: I was noticing your post about the leaves and putting the bike up for the season. Just this morning I was noticing that here in Phoenix, its beginning to get almost comfortably cool in the morning commute. I mean, I still sweat under the helmet and I am still a long way from needing a jacket, but now, the breeze can produce some cooling effect unlike the summer "convection oven effect"(R). (The squids are still riding their crotch rockets in their typical atire: no helmet, a pair of really cool shades, no shirt, shorts, and a pair of ratty low-top sneakers.) Sorry to hear that your season is winding down. My comfortable riding weather is just returning. ;-) ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Bryce Ulrich To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 22 Sep 95 10:41:52 TZ Subject: Removal of front wheel bearings While planning to do a brake job this weekend I thought it might be a good idea to go ahead and do the wheel bearings as well. I've picked up the parts (bearings, dust seals) but in studying the service manual I'm curious how to get the bearings our of the wheel hubs. That is I don't see any easy way to extract them. Special, readily avaialbe tool I hope? -bryceu '89 PC800 "Pearl" ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Removal of front wheel bearings (from Bryce Ulrich ) (at Fri, 22 Sep 1995 10:41:52 +0000 (TZ)) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 15:20:04 Hi Bryce (Bryce Ulrich), in <9509221844.AA25814@netmail2.microsoft.com> on Sep 22 you wrote: > While planning to do a brake job this weekend I thought it might be a > good idea to go ahead and do the wheel bearings as well. I've picked > up the parts (bearings, dust seals) but in studying the service manual > I'm curious how to get the bearings our of the wheel hubs. That is I > don't see any easy way to extract them. > > Special, readily avaialbe tool I hope? As with most MC wheel bearings, you have to drive the old ones out and press/drive the new ones back in. If you have never done this, I'd tend to recommend that you get a little assistance... You have to be careful to not damage the dust seals, and putting the new bearings back in requires a decent amount of care. You could probably mess up your hub pretty quickly if you don't know how to do it. Most bike shops are pretty reasonable about wheel bearing replacement. Actually, the one I go to only charges an extra $5 to remove the old bearings when they are swapping tires for me, and that's a bargain in anyone's book since getting them out often requires a bit more patience than putting new ones back in, even when you know what you are doing. Tools? A large enough press is *real* handy... But usually hard to get hold of. I just use a long, skinny punch (mine is about 15" x.5"). You have move the bearing-holder cylinder (heck, I don't know what it's called) to the side a bit so you can get a firm set on the opposite bearing. Note that the next step will destroy the bearing... Now tap the opposite bearing out, taking special care to make sure you are tapping on the *bearing*. AFter you get that one out, you just drive the near bearing out from the other side. As to the dust seals, sometimes you can get them out before you start on the bearing, sometimes you have to just drive them out with the bearing, but watching them so's they don't get destroyed. To put new ones back in, I usually use the old bearings as a sort of punch. Specifically the outer race if I have one available since a full bearing with might allow the inner races to contact eich other. (maybe paranoid, but it's because I can't see what you are doing). You *do not* want to tap on anything but the outer race of the new bearing. Anything else will most likely damage the new bearing. Note that the bearing is a tight fit, so you have to keep the bearing about the same distance in the hub all the way around at all times. Remember to re-insert the bearing-holder cylinder before you start on the second bearing... If you aren't sure. get some experienced help. You can waste some good money real quick by a simple slipup.. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 13:06:03 -0400 From: JeffHO@aol.com To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Web page Sending this again because it apparently got mangled: Neil: just checked out the new PC800 web page. Nice job! I enjoyed the photos (tip of the hat to Kent also--I'm going to follow your air horn example some day), and I look forward to the archive and completion of the "modifications" area. Not sure I like the '96 colors. Has anyone seen one of these in person? Thanks for your work! <> ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 21:26:18 -0400 From: JeffHamltn@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: fuel vapor problem results Kent, I regularly get a fuel smell but I've never investigated it. Usually its noticeable right after I shut the bike off. I've also noticed what look like fuel stains down the outside of the engine. Since I've been reading your thread about your problems with the valve (which I confess I still don't quite understand) I'll have to look more carefully into my problem. It may be the same as yours. Jeff Hamilton ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 22:15:13 -0400 From: JeffHamltn@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: PC800 Cruise Control In a message dated 95-09-11 00:23:39 EDT, you write: >Did you perform any repair on the cover after making the switch to using a >screw? I've considered whether to attach it this way or use a nut and washer >inside the handlebar cover as stress relief. I haven't decided yet, but the >slot method didn't work on my wife's PC. > >-Michael AB5EL [TeamOS/2] No, since the slot is on the underside of the handlebar cover, I wasn't bothered by its existence--just left it there. Jeff Hamilton (JeffHamltn@aol.com) ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 22:42:13 -0400 From: Spirit737@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Web page After a lot of thought I went for it and bought a new 96 pc today. I could have got the 95 for $500 less but decided I liked the red. For some reason it looks less bulky. Any way I'm a reentry rider and really excited about the bike. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 01:26:02 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: season winding down? come on ya weenies... I ride all year round in Seattle...except if it's snowing...it's just a little rain :>) dave ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 01:21:45 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: '96 Color $400??? thats about the same as replacing the silver with the black...I'll go that way... unless I trade it in for a new goldwing..... dave ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 01:26:08 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: bryceu@microsoft.com, pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Removal of front wheel bearings copy of letter sent to bryce in seattle here's how ya do it..step by step STEP 1: Call University Honda for appt. STEP 2: Get your Visa/MC Card out of wallet Step 2a: Get vaseline...may or may not be needed STEP 3: Call Dave Gross STEP 4: Meet at Starbucks for a mocha, look at cute women (if single) STEP 5: Pick up PC 2 hrs later... all happy, well and better at Honda Shop STEP 6: Test drive Goldwing or Shadow ACE...look at photo of new bike for '96, the CRUISE WING...1500CC Goldwing engine in a cruiser frame...drooool STEP 7: go home :>) dave ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sun, 24 Sep 1995 17:01:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Johan Lai To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: '96 Color On Sun, 24 Sep 1995 DGrossSEA@aol.com wrote: > $400??? > > thats about the same as replacing the silver with the black...I'll go that > way... > > unless I trade it in for a new goldwing..... > > dave > I think you missed part of the message, Dave. The $400 was for the whole bike. Afterward it was all done, I didn't think it was a bad price because there were so many pieces to paint. The guy was actually real nice about it because he repainted several pieces due to the drippies. ========================================================================= Johan Lai UUCP Mail: None Unix Systems Admin Internet Mail: jlai@filenet.com Engineering Services Snail Mail: 3565 Harbor Boulevard FileNet Corporation Costa Mesa, CA 92626 '89 Cassandra ========================================================================= ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 07:52:22 edt From: Roger_Prince@DGC.MCEO.DG.COM To: "pc800"@MSC.MCEO.DG.COM Subject: Forwarded: Re: fuel vapor problem results ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Roger Prince:DGC Date: ## 09/25/95 07:56 ## Both my '90s have done this, smell only after shutoff for a few minutes. I don't know if they did this right from the beginning. I haven't noticed if the '95 does it. I'll have to pay particular attention since I'm so used to it. I usually use 87 octane fuel but I use premium at various times. The use of premium is probably just a waste of money. MTBE seems to be a necessary evil these days. Most of New England is supplying reformulated fuel. I'm not sure if "regular" has more or less or same MTBE than premium. Roger ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: JeffHamltn@aol.com:dg-smtp Date: ## 09/23/95 21:26 ## Kent, I regularly get a fuel smell but I've never investigated it. Usually its noticeable right after I shut the bike off. I've also noticed what look like fuel stains down the outside of the engine. Since I've been reading your thread about your problems with the valve (which I confess I still don't quite understand) I'll have to look more carefully into my problem. It may be the same as yours. Jeff Hamilton ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Forwarded: Re: fuel vapor problem results (from Roger_Prince@DGC.MCEO.DG.COM) (at Mon, 25 Sep 1995 07:52:22 -0400 (edt)) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 09:20:40 Hi Roger_Prince (Roger_Prince), in <9509251252.AA00038@adam.WEBO.DG.COM> on Sep 25 you wrote: > Both my '90s have done this, smell only after shutoff for a few > minutes. I don't know if they did this right from the beginning. I > haven't noticed if the '95 does it. I'll have to pay particular > attention since I'm so used to it. > I usually use 87 octane fuel but I use premium at various times. The > use of premium is probably just a waste of money. MTBE seems to be a > necessary evil these days. Most of New England is supplying > reformulated fuel. I'm not sure if "regular" has more or less or > same MTBE than premium. They started reformulated here also this summer. I used premium during the summer here in S.A. because the heat would cause preignition in the rear cylinder with even 89 octane on occasion when I first bought the bike and just kept using it. I decided to try lower octane again after the petcock was replaced. I've run two 87 octane tanks through now and and the bike is running great, so something in the fuel content may have changed in the past couple of years. ================================================== > From: JeffHamltn@aol.com:dg-smtp > Date: ## 09/23/95 21:26 ## > Kent, I regularly get a fuel smell but I've never investigated it. Usually > its > noticeable right after I shut the bike off. I've also noticed what look like > fuel > stains down the outside of the engine. Since I've been reading your thread > about your problems with the valve (which I confess I still don't quite > understand) I'll have to look more carefully into my problem. It may be > the same as yours. That really does sound similar to my problem. I first noticed it right after shutting off the engine. As it got worse, I could smell the gas whenever I stopped at a light for a minute or two. Expect that when the engine is consuming enough fuel the pressure on the diaphram is reduced, thus less/no fuel escapes. When you stop (especially when you shut the thing off), the fuel pressure behind the diaphram is more than normal and if it has a place to leak, that's most likely where it would do so. Also, I seriously doubt carb bowl valves would leak *after* the engine has been shut off unless the vacuum diaphram isn't shutting off the fuel and in that case the runoff would be out the carb drain tubes, not dripping on the engine. Also, try to verify that the smell is from *raw* gas. The vapor recovery leak that someone mentioned might have a slightly similar smell (but not the same). Please keep me posted on the results of these two. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 11:12:24 -0500 Mon, 25 Sep 1995 12:15:41 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: "Waldo E. Meeks" Subject: PC WINDSHIELDS FOR SALE FOR SALE 1 NEW (NEVER USED) STOCK 90 PC800 WINDSHIELD $80.00 INCLUDING SHIPPING 1 USED (BUT LIKE NEW) PC800 HONDALINE TALL WINDSHIELD $80.00 INCLUDING SHIPPING GOES TO FIRST RESPONDER Waldo E. Meeks Georgia Southen University ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 10:12:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Johan Lai To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Bike Pictures You got it! Letme go snap a few shots of Cassandra (my repainted '89) and I'll mail it to ya. Johan On Fri, 22 Sep 1995, Neill Thompson wrote: > >Why not just have them painted? You can probably get exactly the color you > >want, and it would be cheaper. I remember someone in this list that had > >his PC painted all white. How about posting a picture of that one on the > >web page, Neill? > >________________________________ > >Juan A. Goula > >School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences > >University of Alaska Fairbanks > >AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG > >1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX > > ________________________________ > > Hey, I would love to get a nice picture of an '89. The black is hard to > photograph without losing alot of detail in the shadows. If any of you have > a decent snapshot, I can scan it and put it up. 3"x4" landscape works best > and I'll return the snapshot. The address is P.O. Box 86764, Phoenix, AZ > 85080. Be sure to include your return address. > > BTW, I thought I would relate a fairly funny story. I Periodically do net > searches for "Honda Pacific Coast" just to see if anybody else is doing > anything that we should know about. On a recent search, I found the > following URL: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~tbachman/homepage.html. In > the text of the home page, the guy says he is interested in getting a Honda > Pacific Coast and he includes a picture. A picture of _my_ bike!!! I > nearly fell off my chair. I'm surfing the web and I find a picture of my > bike on someone elses page! Then I remember that I posted a copy of the > picture on the rec.moto archives. I guess in so doing it becomes public > domain. The picture in question also appears as the number 2 picture on the > pictures page of the PC800 web page. I thought I should send him some mail > and let him know that I'm glad he likes my bike but he did not include an > email address on his page. Maybe I'll try some of the person search > routines but I haven't pursued it yet. > > I also recently found the following in a list of motorcycle clubs. Does > anybody know about this. It looks familliar but I don't have any details. > > HONDA PACIFIC COAST OWNERS CLUB > 4316 Marina City Drive, No. 321 > Marina Del Rey, CA 90202 > > P.S. Juan: I was noticing your post about the leaves and putting the bike > up for the season. Just this morning I was noticing that here in Phoenix, > its beginning to get almost comfortably cool in the morning commute. I > mean, I still sweat under the helmet and I am still a long way from needing > a jacket, but now, the breeze can produce some cooling effect unlike the > summer "convection oven effect"(R). (The squids are still riding their > crotch rockets in their typical atire: no helmet, a pair of really cool > shades, no shirt, shorts, and a pair of ratty low-top sneakers.) Sorry to > hear that your season is winding down. My comfortable riding weather is > just returning. ;-) > > ========================================================================= Johan Lai UUCP Mail: None Unix Systems Admin Internet Mail: jlai@filenet.com Engineering Services Snail Mail: 3565 Harbor Boulevard FileNet Corporation Costa Mesa, CA 92626 "System Administration: It's a dirty job, somebody said I had to do it." ========================================================================= ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 12:54:42 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson) Subject: MC rentals in Mid-Atlantic Hey guys (and gals). I am making plans for a trip back east to see my parents in early Nov. They live in Wilmington, DE. I was wondering if any of you east coasters know of any MC rentals available in the Delaware Valley. It obviously doesn't have to be a PC and for variety sake, it might be nice if it wasn't but I don't want to be picky. I was just thinking of a day ride around the old stommping grounds. No big deal. Thanks in advance for your help! Neill Thompson '94 PC800 with Novell_GroupWise; Mon, 25 Sep 1995 15:55:34 -0400 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 15:54:06 -0400 From: JAN DEROOS To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Address or Phone Number for Rifle Windsheild? I too, have noticed the 'melt-down' effects of the tall Hondaline windshield. I purchased an '89 PC this summer and regularly ride it to work. I had a particularly bad encounter last week on a beautiful sunny day, when I came out at 4:30pm to find my windshield burning a 'trench' across the dashboard. Can someone post the Address or Phone number for Rifle, so I can order one of their windshields for the bike? Prof. Jan A. deRoos - jad10@cornell.edu School of Hotel Administration Cornell University ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 15:17:02 -0500 Mon, 25 Sep 1995 16:20:20 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: "Waldo E. Meeks" Subject: Re: Address or Phone Number for Rifle Windsheild? At 03:54 PM 9/25/95 -0400, you wrote: >Can someone post the Address or Phone number for Rifle, >so I can order one of their windshields for the bike? Rifle's toll free number is 800-262-1237 California time. Suggest 22 inch rifle shield if you are replacing the tall hondaline. About the same height due to the angle difference. (althought I cut an inch off my rifle after I tried it0. The tallest rifle shield will be much taller than the Hondaline tall. I also suggest the tint instead of clear. Waldo E. Meeks Georgia Southern University (IBM VM SMTP V2R3) with TCP; Mon, 25 Sep 95 14:10:47 EDT ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 13:48:34 EST From: stevea@uscsumter.uscsu.scarolina.edu To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: season winding down? come on ya weenies... I ride all year round in Seattle...except if it's snowing...it's just a little rain :>) dave Best of all... I moved to South Carolina, where you can ride COMFORTABLY almost all year! I do wear a jacket in the Winter (ha-ha) Steve ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Bryce Ulrich To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Mon, 25 Sep 95 12:42:32 TZ Subject: Resolved: Removal of front wheel bearings Thanks for the feedback/advice on my project. I finally gave up on trying to get the old bearing out by punching them through and decided to haul it down to the dealer. I-90 Honda had said ealier on Friday that they'd do it for free if I'd bring them a half-case of Mountain Dew. As it just so happens, soft drinks are free here at Microsoft so I jumped at the chance (I hate to spend money on things I think I should be able to do myself but free is free!). Saturday morning I stopped by work, picked up the goods, and hauled it all down to the dealer. He laughed when I walked in and said it would only take him a minute. When all was said and done it was closer to 20 minutes 'cause they were in there so tight. Ha! I put on new EBCbrake pads front and rear and changed the brake, clutch, and shaft drive fluids -- what a tremendous difference! My braking is much, much better and the clutch fluid sure makes shifting easier. I had changed the fluids last summer as well and had forgotten what a difference it made. Others in the area say it's best to change the fluids every year because of all the moisture in Seattle and I think they made me a believer. Even the color of the fluid had gone from rather clear to an orange tint. Anyhow, I've got a week left to prepare for a 2 week ride with my lady friend. Our New England plans were ditched last month due to lack of funds (wanna go to Atlanta games next summer) so we've opted for a fall tour of Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Tetons. I'll let you all know the details when I get back. -bryceu ---------------------------------------------------------- Bryce Ulrich - bryceu@microsoft.com - 206/704-3205 Product Support Engineer: Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA '89 Honda PC800 "Pearl" AMA 332198/HRCA HM711115/HSTA 6140 ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------- | From: | To: Bryce Ulrich; | Subject: Re: Removal of front wheel bearings | Date: Sunday, September 24, 1995 1:26AM | | copy of letter sent to bryce in seattle | | here's how ya do it..step by step | | STEP 1: Call University Honda for appt. | STEP 2: Get your Visa/MC Card out of wallet | Step 2a: Get vaseline...may or may not be needed | STEP 3: Call Dave Gross | STEP 4: Meet at Starbucks for a mocha, look at cute women (if single) | STEP 5: Pick up PC 2 hrs later... all happy, well and better at Honda Shop | STEP 6: Test drive Goldwing or Shadow ACE...look at photo of new bike for | '96, the CRUISE WING...1500CC Goldwing engine in a cruiser frame...drooool | STEP 7: go home | | :>) | | dave | ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 13:53:01 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: season winding down? >come on ya weenies... > >I ride all year round in Seattle...except if it's snowing...it's just a >little rain :>) Well, so do Cory and I, except that when it snows here the snow _stays_ here until next spring. :-( And it is not the temperature that is a deterrant(sp?), ( I do ride snowmobiles after all) but rather that the risk factor goes up a few orders of magnitude. As we all know, with all that plastic and at very low temperatures all it would take is a kick in the rump while getting on the bike for a very expensive episode. Usually by Halloween the temperature hovers around -20 to -30 degrees F. (It really sucks to be a kid here in Fairbanks in some cases). Then you have the usual stupid drivers that don't realize that it will take 5 times the distance to do a panic stop, etc. etc. Not a very appealing environment to say the least. We have been lucky so far. Usually at this time of year it would not be unusuall to have do go on our last rides at or slightly below freezing. This year however we broke the high temp. record four days in a row. Not a bad " 'American Native ' Summer'. Cheers. Juan ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 15:28:23 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Re: Bike Pictures >P.S. Juan: I was noticing your post about the leaves and putting the bike >up for the season. Just this morning I was noticing that here in Phoenix, >its beginning to get almost comfortably cool in the morning commute. I >mean, I still sweat under the helmet and I am still a long way from needing >a jacket, but now, the breeze can produce some cooling effect unlike the >summer "convection oven effect"(R). Sorry to >hear that your season is winding down. My comfortable riding weather is >just returning. ;-) Gee, thanks Neill, that is just what I wanted to hear. Shoot, even Cory is in Hawaii enjoying some great riding weather! I might have to go down south to rent a bike for a week or so. Any recommendations? Anyone heard anything about Corbin's Triumph rentals? > (The squids are still riding their >>crotch rockets in their typical atire: no helmet, a pair of really cool >>shades, no shirt, shorts, and a pair of ratty low-top sneakers.) Boy, sounds like squids are just the same no matter where you are. How do they deal with all those juicy bugs you have down there splattering all over their chests and legs? :-) ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 09:07:47 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: thompson@trg.trglink.com (Neill Thompson) Subject: Go down south. was Re: Bike Pictures >Gee, thanks Neill, that is just what I wanted to hear. Shoot, even Cory is >in Hawaii enjoying some great riding weather! I might have to go down south >to rent a bike for a week or so. Any recommendations? Anyone heard >anything about Corbin's Triumph rentals? Sorry, I couldn't resist. I was at the AMA Superbike races here in town over the weekend and one of the vendors set up at the event was CruiseAmerica. They advertise in most of the rags. They are headquartered here in Phoenix and rent Wings, Shadows, and recently added Triumphs. Not sure what models or prices but I could look into it for you if you like. We could put you up for a couple of nights if you need a base camp. If you read my trip report, you know that I can recommend tours in the Arizona and Utah area. From now till about mid October is pretty much ideal weather. Not too hot but could get slightly chilly at altitude in the evening. Nothing an Alaska boy wouldn't call warm. ;-) >Boy, sounds like squids are just the same no matter where you are. How do >they deal with all those juicy bugs you have down there splattering all over >their chests and legs? :-) Most juicy bugs need some moisture in which to breed and since moisture in this area is about as unusual as suspenders on a rattlesnake...Not much in the way of bugs (except an occasional scorpion or black widow spider). Later, Neill ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 26 Sep 95 14:03:08 EST From: stevea@uscsumter.uscsu.sc.edu To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Address or Phone Number for Rifle Windsheild? I too, have noticed the 'melt-down' effects of the tall Hondaline windshield. I purchased an '89 PC this summer and regularly ride it to work. I had a particularly bad encounter last week on a beautiful sunny day, when I came out at 4:30pm to find my windshield burning a 'trench' across the dashboard. Can someone post the Address or Phone number for Rifle, so I can order one of their windshields for the bike? Prof. Jan A. deRoos - jad10@cornell.edu School of Hotel Administration Cornell University Rifle can be reached by fax at 805 466-9543 $189. with 20", 22" or 24" windshield (plus the lower attachment piece. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 26 Sep 95 14:13:14 EST From: stevea@uscsumter.uscsu.sc.edu To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re[2]: Address or Phone Number for Rifle Windsheild? At 03:54 PM 9/25/95 -0400, you wrote: >Can someone post the Address or Phone number for Rifle, >so I can order one of their windshields for the bike? Rifle's toll free number is 800-262-1237 California time. Suggest 22 inch rifle shield if you are replacing the tall hondaline. About the same height due to the angle difference. (althought I cut an inch off my rifle after I tried it0. The tallest rifle shield will be much taller than the Hondaline tall. I also suggest the tint instead of clear. Waldo E. Meeks Georgia Southern University Do you look through the wind shield... some suggest the clear if you look through it... To me, if you aren't going to look through it, why have it? ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 15:12:35 -0500 Tue, 26 Sep 1995 16:15:43 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: "Waldo E. Meeks" Subject: Re: Re[2]: Address or Phone Number for Rifle Windsheild? >Suggest 22 inch rifle shield if you are replacing the tall hondaline. About >the same height due to the angle difference. (althought I cut an inch off my >rifle after I tried it0. The tallest rifle shield will be much taller than >the Hondaline tall. I also suggest the tint instead of clear. > >Waldo E. Meeks >Georgia Southern University > > >Do you look through the wind shield... some suggest the clear if you look >through it... > >To me, if you aren't going to look through it, why have it? > I always set my windshields so that I look approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches above. This eliminates buffing of the helment and face but allows total visibility, particularly in the rain. I would not want to look through any bike windshield because of the distoration and because of lack of proper visibility in the rain and at night. Person preference should, of course, apply here. Comments: Authenticated sender is ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: "John Palfery" To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 20:52:01 +0000 Subject: Re: Resolved: Removal of front wheel bearings Priority: normal < friend. Our New England plans were ditched last month due to lack of > My wife and I were in Yellowstone over 4th July weekend. We were on 4 wheels (Suburban) returning to Wisconsin from Colorado via Wyoming and Montana. The roads in Yellowstone park between Old Faithfull and Mamouth Hot Springs are VERY BAD. We were told that overall the roads in Yellowstone have a lot of surprises for 2-wheelers the surface can change from OK? to be very broken up around the next sharp bend. Warnings are posted which are directed specifically to Motorcyclists. Just thought you would like to know, especially if you like to scrape the pegs around the twisties !! My wife and I are really enjoying the group interchange and I too have fixed my trunk to open one handed. Re "tall windshields" - I carry a small towell and drape it over the dash whenever I park in the sun to avoid the dash board meltdown problem. At the '95 HHoot I estimate that 30% or more of the PC's had damage of this sort. If I forget my towell I use my gloves wedged down between the grey plastic dash top and the windshield to shade the area that melts. Have a safe trip whatever route you decide to take. My wife wants to know if anyone knows of a VLX 600 Shadow page or group ?. John G Palfery (Palf.) John ________________________________________________________ John Palfery jpalfer@mail.atw.fullfeed.com ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 10:12:45 -0500 Wed, 27 Sep 1995 11:15:48 -0400 (EDT) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: "Waldo E. Meeks" My two windshields have been sold. Thanks ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 22:52:24 -0400 From: SethMiller@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Address or Phone Number for Rifle Windsheild? >Can someone post the Address or Phone number for Rifle, >so I can order one of their windshields for the bike? Rifle phone number is (800) 262-1237. I believe they are located in Paso Robles, CA. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800 Subject: Tranny problem now much worse Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 23:38:48 -0500 From: Jason L Tibbitts III Some of you may remember me reporting a problem with my transmission where I would occasionally miss an upshift. I passed this off as a lack of technique but now the problem has become so bad that I will occasionally lose third or fourth entirely. By this I mean that the shift lever offers no upward resistance even after repeated attempts to upshift. What I usually have to do is push down slightly to get it to "catch", then upshift. My fear is that somehow I have managed to bend a shift fork but I have no idea how I might have done this. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to transmissions but I know I'm no brute when it comes to shifting. Frankly I have no balls and tend to baby the bike; no power shifting here. She has less than 7K miles on her. As a related question, does anyone have any experience getting major problems fixed under warranty? - J< ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Trapped! Date: Wed, 27 Sep 95 21:57:45 CST Almost. Second time now... My PC doesn't gather much moss, with putting over 1k miles a month on it, but yesterday was the second time that's it's been trapped by construction. Both times I had to rescue it by pulling off both mirrors. The first time I parked the thing in my cousin's backyard for a weekend up in Dallas while my wife and I took a vacation. Came back and there's a fence built around it with a gate a might too narrow. "Oops" :^) Yesterday, I had the bike parked in the garage of the house I'm building and Overhead Door was putting in the garage door while I was down wiring up the septic. Came back to a note saying that the door didn't fit the rails he brought and he'd be back Thursday morning. Of course he left the door partially installed and nailed in place such that it'd take a couple of people to pull it down without damaging it. Sans mirrors, the PC made it out the adjoining rear door. Phew... Would have been a long walk home. Kent Polk: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu (DoF #) : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently" ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Michael S Keller Subject: Re: Tranny problem now much worse To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 02:08:12 -0500 (CDT) > Some of you may remember me reporting a problem with my transmission where > I would occasionally miss an upshift. I passed this off as a lack of > technique but now the problem has become so bad that I will occasionally > lose third or fourth entirely. By this I mean that the shift lever offers > no upward resistance even after repeated attempts to upshift. What I > usually have to do is push down slightly to get it to "catch", then > upshift. > > My fear is that somehow I have managed to bend a shift fork but I have no > idea how I might have done this. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to > transmissions but I know I'm no brute when it comes to shifting. Frankly I > have no balls and tend to baby the bike; no power shifting here. She has > less than 7K miles on her. If I remember correctly what I saw recently in the questions column of one of the magazines, it's possible that you haven't been using enough force when you shift and that a fork or forks got damaged from full engine power hitting them when you engage the clutch. Just an idea and probably not worth much. > As a related question, does anyone have any experience getting major > problems fixed under warranty? I have had none, but haven't had much fixed. My GL1500 required some attention on the reverse; the cables got misadjusted and I couldn't engage it. The service manager did the adjustment gratis. I had the bank angle sensor replaced before I received notice of the recall. I was asked only to wait until the rush faded a bit before I brought mine in, since I had had no problems with mine. I got it replaced during a slow service day when the service manager approached and asked for the key to my bike. -Michael ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Tranny problem now much worse Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 02:32:56 -0500 From: Jason L Tibbitts III >>>>> "MSK" == Michael S Keller writes: MSK> If I remember correctly what I saw recently in the questions column of MSK> one of the magazines, it's possible that you haven't been using enough MSK> force when you shift and that a fork or forks got damaged from full MSK> engine power hitting them when you engage the clutch. Just an idea and MSK> probably not worth much. Actually that might have something to do with it. I am in the habit of exerting as little force as possible to make the bike do what I want (part of babying the machine, I suppose). I prefer to nudge the lever as opposed to forcing it. Does anyone have a more technical explanation of why this might damage things? - J< ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Cc: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Trapped! Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 02:37:32 -0500 From: Jason L Tibbitts III >>>>> "KP" == Kent Polk writes: KP> My PC doesn't gather much moss, with putting over 1k miles a month on KP> it, but yesterday was the second time that's it's been trapped by KP> construction. I was once trapped in a spot that I thought perfect for a bike, until a car blocked me in. Brick wall in front, to the right and behind. Car to the left. No space to back up, but maybe enough space to go forward and around the front of said car. It took about half an hour of maneuvering, edging forward and back, putting it up on the centerstand and rotating it to get around. I didn't have to take the mirrors off, though. KP> Sans mirrors, the PC made it out the adjoining rear door. So it will fit through a door. I was wondering about that. - J< ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 28 Sep 95 09:19:56 edt From: Roger_Prince@DGC.MCEO.DG.COM To: "pc800"@MSC.MCEO.DG.COM Subject: Forwarded: Tranny problem now much worse ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Roger Prince:DGC Date: ## 09/28/95 09:24 ## I had the muffler replaced at 64k miles and the coolant return pipe seals replaced at 74k miles and 2yr 11mo of warranty. No problems. What year is your PC? I'd see the dealer before it gets stuck. Doesn't sound like it's going to get any better without some help. Roger ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: tibbs@sina.hpc.uh.edu:dg-smtp Date: ## 09/27/95 23:38 ## Some of you may remember me reporting a problem with my transmission where I would occasionally miss an upshift. I passed this off as a lack of technique but now the problem has become so bad that I will occasionally lose third or fourth entirely. By this I mean that the shift lever offers no upward resistance even after repeated attempts to upshift. What I usually have to do is push down slightly to get it to "catch", then upshift. My fear is that somehow I have managed to bend a shift fork but I have no idea how I might have done this. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to transmissions but I know I'm no brute when it comes to shifting. Frankly I have no balls and tend to baby the bike; no power shifting here. She has less than 7K miles on her. As a related question, does anyone have any experience getting major problems fixed under warranty? - J< ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 11:05:46 -0300 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: daniel@nstn.ca (Daniel MacKay) Subject: Re: season winding down? Howdy. Well, I too ride anytime the road is clear, usually not below about minus 10~C, er, 14~F. I haven't noticed the plastic getting particularly more brittle at low temperatures -- I've ridden the all-plastic Helix for many years -- but one time last winter the saddle didn't un-squish when I got off (because it had moisture in it? the cold?.) Then when I opened the trunk, it hooked on the squished-down saddle and broke a dime-sized chip off the squarish bit at the top front of the trunk cover. Grrr. It looks like hell but I haven't replaced it. The saddle vinyl is also very fragile at below freezing temperatures, a small scratch or scuff will turn into a crack the next spring. I've also dropped the bike on ice at low speed at a stopsign- popped off and scratched the mirror housing, rollbar covers and my leathers. May put the bike up this winter and drive the Helix. -- Daniel MacKay daniel@nstn.ca Homo habilis Nova Scotia, Canada with Novell_GroupWise; Thu, 28 Sep 1995 15:27:00 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 15:23:13 -0700 From: Jerry Kidby To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: season winding down? -Reply I drive year round, but we live in the Banana belt - Willamette River valley! It seldom even freezes here. Just lots of rain which helps keep the dirt off! ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 22:14:46 -0400 From: DGrossSEA@aol.com To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: North Cascades any other seattle/nw people want to join us on sunday for a cruise to the north cascades?? >From Bryce: How about Brown Bag Cafe in Totem Lake at 8am? It's next to a Sheri's at the 116th St Exit on I-405. ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Green_Jerrold_D/atc_mail3-id@mail3-id.atc.alcoa.com Date: Fri, 29 Sep 95 09:59:19 -0400 Subject: Correction to profile data To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Re: previous e-mail PC800's i'm considering buying are 1994 and 1995 models, not '84/'85 as i indicated in my subscription request mailing. Current bike is an '80. Jerry (must be living in the past) green ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 10:00:34 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Riding in the rain >I drive year round, but we live in the Banana belt - Willamette River valley! >It seldom even freezes here. Just lots of rain which helps keep the dirt off! To those of you who live in the Banana (rain) belt, which kind of tire do you think handles wet roads best (or hydroplanes the least)? Have any of you had any problems with water seeping into the trunk through the top trunk bolts or through the sides? Just curious. ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 10:15:17 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: jgoula@ims.alaska.edu (Juan A. Goula) Subject: Riding in the rain >I drive year round, but we live in the Banana belt - Willamette River valley! >It seldom even freezes here. Just lots of rain which helps keep the dirt off! To those of you who live in the Banana (rain) belt, which kind of tire do you think handles wet roads best (or hydroplanes the least)? Have any of you had any problems with water seeping into the trunk through the top trunk bolts or through the sides? Just curious. ________________________________ Juan A. Goula School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks AMA # 532390 \\\\ HSTA # 4995RG 1990 Honda PC800 \\\\ 1993 Arctic Cat Panther DLX ________________________________ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Bryce Ulrich To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 29 Sep 95 11:39:05 TZ Subject: RE: Riding in the rain | To those of you who live in the Banana (rain) belt, which kind of tire do | you think handles wet roads best (or hydroplanes the least)? My PC800 had the Metzler ML2's when I first got it and I've stayed with them ever since while riding here in Seattle. I've noticed they get a little slick near the end of the treadlife so I've started to get in the habit of replacing tires every fall before they are really worn out. My tire dealer (Seattle Cycle Sports) also believes the ML2's to be the best all-around and rain tire for the PC. Of course I still ride more cautiously in the rain but rarely do I find myself in a "pucker-up" situation. Have any of | you had any problems with water seeping into the trunk through the top trunk | bolts or through the sides? I didn't have any leaking problems till I installed the trunk lights. After reassembly of the trunk lid I had problems with water coming in from the scews that hold the two sections together I took it all apart again and dabbed silicon sealer in and around the screw holes and put it all back together. The leaks never came back. -bryceu ---------------------------------------------------------- Bryce Ulrich - bryceu@microsoft.com - 206/704-3205 Product Support Engineer: Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA '89 Honda PC800 "Pearl" AMA 332198/HRCA HM711115/HSTA 6140 ---------------------------------------------------------- ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Bryce Ulrich To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 29 Sep 95 12:01:24 TZ Subject: RE: Riding in the rain Oh yea I forgot to add that I've ridden the ML2 in the snow once. I was coming home from a 1 week solo tour last fall and got caught going over Steven's Pass, WA. It was wet and slushy but definately covering the road. A snow plow spotted me, did a u-turn, and let me follow in his tire tracks until I got to the other side and the bare wet pavement. Needless to say I had a death grip most of the way 'though I can't recall slipping any. -bryceu ---------------------------------------------------------- Bryce Ulrich - bryceu@microsoft.com - 206/704-3205 Product Support Engineer: Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA '89 Honda PC800 "Pearl" AMA 332198/HRCA HM711115/HSTA 6140 ---------------------------------------------------------- ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: "Robert E. Marks" Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:34:45 -0400 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Bannana Belt I'll be visiting Portland, OR for a Mentor Graphics Conference for a week. I'll be arriving on Saturday, Oct. 21, to take advantage of the lower air fare and will have a day to kill on Sunday. Unfortunately, I can't afford to crate-up the PC, (and it's probably more trouble than it's worth.) Thanks for all the info on the trunk lid rubber-pad adjustments. It worked great on my '89 PC. My ML2s almost need replacing, I'll be watching for any recommendations. (Kent - still like the ones you switched to, ME33?). ============================================================================== Robert E. Marks CAD/CAM S/W development & support Lockheed Martin email: rmarks@motown.ge.com Moorestown, NJ ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800 Subject: Tire stuff Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 15:34:00 -0500 From: Jason L Tibbitts III The recurring talk of tires has me thinking. I recently had a huge screw driven through my rear tire and so went to get it replaced. The service people remarked that my bike had an odd set of tires on it: Dunlop K555s. Every other PC I've seen has K177s. My tires were on from the dealer and the bike was new. Is this an odd occurrence? The K555s were horrible (though I still have one on the front) and the K177 rear is much better. This means that it doesn't slide on dry pavement like the rock hard K555 did. Did anyone else get K555s with their bike? - J< Comments: Authenticated sender is ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: "John Palfery" To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 17:35:27 +0000 Subject: Re: Dunlop K555's Priority: normal I purchased my PC 800 new in march 1994 from Mike's Cycle in Menasha, Wisconsin. It came with Dunlop K 555's front and rear. I had one crash (the only one on the PC ) in the rain in Indianopolis. I was returning from the 94 HHoot fully loaded, one-up and in torrential rain. Lost it on a very slick, oily and tight connecting ramp. Rode it home with bars asquew and a funny wobble at 70mph or so. (Needed new stearing tripple trees top and botton, new fork tubes and assorted plastic parts. Did work myself, WOW what a job, took me three weeks of evenings and weekends. I didn't think it was the Bike or the tyres, just blamed it on myself and too much speed and too long in the saddle. I try to avoid riding in the rain when possible, not because I'm a wimp but just find DRY more enjoyable. Don't like getting the bike dirty! I grew up in GB riding Francis Barnets and BSA's ( Road Rocket) in the wet every day, "Lucas" permitting. Have you guys experienced problems with the K555's in the wet and the dry? How do you measure hardness. Somebody said they're too hard ? I have 11,000 mile on mine and have never had a sliding problem in the dry and I ride quite briskly through the corners. My K555's are two years old so I am going to replace them for next season. What is the consensus opinion on the best all-round tyre for the PC. I'm following this with interest ---------- John ________________________________________________________ John Palfery jpalfer@mail.atw.fullfeed.com with Novell_GroupWise; Fri, 29 Sep 1995 17:59:52 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 17:55:28 -0700 From: Jerry Kidby To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: season winding down? -Reply ok here in Porland the snow is just like mud like lets do a little offroad work! doesnt stop me I only park it for the one or two days that everything freezes up ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: season winding down? -Reply Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 20:25:32 -0500 From: Jason L Tibbitts III >>>>> "JK" == Jerry Kidby writes: JK> ok here in Porland the snow is just like mud like lets do a little JK> offroad work! Man. Here the season is just getting into full swing. It's finally getting below 90F. - J< (who rides 365.25 days a year, but not just because his bike is his only transportation) ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 29 Sep 95 22:21:11 CDT From: mskeller@ionet.net (Michael S. Keller) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Tire stuff On Fri, 29 Sep 1995 15:34:00 -0500 you wrote: >Did anyone else get K555s with their bike? That's the factory tire. -Michael AB5EL [TeamOS/2] mskeller@ionet.net with Novell_GroupWise; Fri, 29 Sep 1995 20:34:09 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 20:30:07 -0700 From: Jerry Kidby To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: season winding down? -Reply -Reply actually my primary ride is a 91 XR250L always ready for mud - just never been there yet when it snows: I would prefer the PC800 cause it has those 4 crash bars which cushion the tips :) ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu (Kent Polk) Subject: Re: Bannana Belt (from "Robert E. Marks" ) (at Fri, 29 Sep 1995 16:34:45 -0400) To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 23:23:39 Hi Robert (Robert E. Marks), in <199509292034.QAA20284@pyrite.MOTOWN.GE.COM> on Sep 29 you wrote: > Thanks for all the info on the trunk lid rubber-pad adjustments. It worked > great on my '89 PC. My ML2s almost need replacing, I'll be watching for > any recommendations. (Kent - still like the ones you switched to, ME33?). Metz. doesn't make the me33 radial anymore :^( I running with an ML2 rear and a Bridgestone Battlaxe front. I hesitate to recommend the combo yet, because the battlaxe isn't rated to operated with a bias-ply & I do get some extra tread-induced front wobble at low speeds. Not sure if it's related to the bias-ply or not as it was there at the very beginning. Haven't had time to see if that is a problem with Battlaxes in general or not. However, with the disclaimer done with, the battlaxe/ml2 combo handles *MUCH* better than the me33radial/ML2 combo. The bike is completely different. Ohhh for a rear radial... I'll have some time/place to maybe work the combo out during Dalefest. I haven't had a chance to get to any really fun roads with the house project. Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Re: Tire stuff Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 02:42:57 -0500 From: Jason L Tibbitts III >>>>> "MSK" == Michael S Keller writes: MSK> On Fri, 29 Sep 1995 15:34:00 -0500 you wrote: >> Did anyone else get K555s with their bike? MSK> That's the factory tire. According to the service manual: Tire Brand (Dunlop) K177F/K177 My friends with PCs here all got K177s on theirs from the factory. A dealer had K177s on all of his PCs and a couple of service people have remarked that the K555 is an exceptionally shitty tire. From my experience, I tend to agree. They'll last a long time but they don't have much grip and they're really, really bad in wet weather. - J< (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for ); Fri, 29 Sep 1995 21:23:30 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 21:23:30 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: dkgross@halcyon.com (David Gross) Subject: HELP I can't seem to unsubscribe my AOL address to this list...I want to transfer it to my Halcyon Account! (dkgross@halcyon.com) Bryce...my brother and I are going to try to go on sunday if the weather holds...Anyone else up for a Nothern Cascades trip??? dave ******************** Dave Gross & Baron George VonHelldog "It's gotta groove..." ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: Michael S Keller Subject: Re: Tire stuff To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 06:42:27 -0500 (CDT) > > >>>>> "MSK" == Michael S Keller writes: > > MSK> On Fri, 29 Sep 1995 15:34:00 -0500 you wrote: > >> Did anyone else get K555s with their bike? > > MSK> That's the factory tire. > > According to the service manual: > > Tire Brand (Dunlop) K177F/K177 Then I got it backwards. That's what I get for not looking in the book. I'll have to check what Ruby's PC has on it. She test-rode an '89 last year that had K555s on it. The dealer hadn't checked the pressure in them and it handled very poorly at first. It was still so-so with those tires on it. -Michael (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for ); Sat, 30 Sep 1995 09:37:02 -0700 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 09:37:02 -0700 To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu From: dkgross@halcyon.com (David Gross) Subject: Re: Tire stuff Cc: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu ive got 177's, but I'm thinking about ML2's for the next change...it rains alot in seattle. ******************** Dave Gross & Baron George VonHelldog "It's gotta groove..." with Novell_GroupWise; Sat, 30 Sep 1995 12:51:43 -0400 ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 12:50:54 -0400 From: JAN DEROOS To: pc800@hpc.uh.edu Subject: Any definitive answer to the 'fuel smell problem'? I've bought an '89 PC with 5000 mi. this summer and have put over 3000 mi. on since then. My bike has the 'fuel smell problem', although not badly. I've been following the thread with Kent, Seth and Roger. I'm thinking ahead to necessary winter work and am wondering if there is any consensus on the problem and a solution. I'd really like to fix it the first time. Just a note to all the PC'ers on the listserv, this service is really great for newcomers. I have learned alot about the bike from the group over the past two months and enjoy the colleagial atmosphere. Prof. Jan A. deRoos - jad10@cornell.edu School of Hotel Administration Cornell University Comments: Authenticated sender is ********** MESSAGE SEPARATOR ********** From: "John Palfery" To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 13:26:14 +0000 Subject: Re: Any definitive answer to the 'fuel smell problem'? Priority: normal Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 12:50:54 -0400 From: JAN DEROOS Subject: Any definitive answer to the 'fuel smell problem'? To: pc800@sina.hpc.uh.edu PC800's i'm considering buying are 1994 and 1995 models, not '84/'85 as i >indicated in my subscription request mailing. Current bike is an '80. > >Jerry (must be living in the past) green do your pocketbook a favor go 94 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ E.Y. Murphey ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ maybe a metaphor would help? email: EYonline@aol.com ey@forum.swarthmore.edu voice: 610-259-9861 (h) 610-853-5900 x3978 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~