Tech Session in Spring 9/9, 10 or 11- Kouba Links

[Georgiapeach]

Ok, so I am begging here. Just got in my Kouba Links and Mark is going to be out of town all Weekend! Anyone want to come to Spring (Spring Cypress Blvd and Champion Forest) and have a tech session on installing Kouba Links on a Suzuki DRZ400S? Basically, I know what to do, just need someone to help make sure I don't drop the bike off the bike jack and for moral support. Also, we have to press out the old bearings and press them back into the Kouba, I have a vise and instructions on how to do this. If you are interested, give me a ring at home (281) 655-0301 or cell (713) 542-9512. I will be home alone all weekend (sad face) - If we do it tonight, it won't cut into anyone's riding time Sat or Sun. Georgia Rennick

[Squeaky]

A bunch of us will already be up in Huntsville working on our bikes - any chance you can get it up there for us all to lend a hand?

[Georgiapeach]

Thanks for the offer, but it is too tall for me to ride, at the stock height I cannot touch both feet. No worries if no one can make it, I just realized I need the corbin seat to really get it to a comfortable height and that is not in either. So I can wait. Where in Huntsville? I could take the street bike up there and visit for a few.

[Squeaky]

How long are your legs? I could swap with you if you want me to ride it up there on my way, but my Strom is a little tall too so we'd have to figure something out if you can't reach on that either.

I'll try to remember to call you in the morning if we can get something worked out. It'd be a shame to miss out on maintenance day when you have some work to be done on the bike.

[Texas T]

I've got a meeting at the Sheriff's Dept until about noon-1 pm on Sat. How long are you guys gonna be at Scott's? I could always ride Georgia's bike up there after my meeting.

[Squeaky]

I would imagine well past 1 since I will be getting there between 11 and 12 and I always take longer than everyone to finish my bike... :shrug:

Heck, Brian's trying to steal my chance on a DRZ! Someone stop him quick!

[Texas T]

Heck, Brian's trying to steal my chance on a DRZ! Someone stop him quick! Actually, I was just trying to find a way to get it up there for YOU to ride, and then you go and accuse me of something treacherous. Hmmmmph!!!

:rant::nana

Georgia, if you read this and are agreeable to it, post a reply and I'll check the responses before I leave the house in the morning at about 6:30 - 7 am. If not, no offence taken. Squeaky will just have to figure out another way to chisel you out of a ride.
:p

[Tourmeister]

No doubt we will be here long into the afternoon... hehe.

GeorgiaPeach, my address is:

1617 Woodland Lane
Huntsville, Tx. 77340

Pop that into map.yahoo.com and it will bring you right to our driveway.

Adios,

[Georgiapeach]

Texas T, If you want to come and pick up the bike that would be great. does Scott have a vise? we'll need it to press out the oem bearings and repress them into the kouba's. Squeaky, I am 5'5" with 30" inseam, I would not be comfortable riding your bike as I would be scared to death I would drop it and that would not be a good ride. Anyway here is my address:

9118 Memorial Hills Drive, Spring, TX 77379. Spring Cypress Blvd just 7/10 of a mile West of Champion Forest Drive. I'll be here, call the cell first, as I may be in the garage. (713) 542-9512. Thanks alot.

[Texas T]

Ok folks... If SCOTT does not have a vice and we need to cancel the trip someone needs to leave me a message at 281-250-3334 (my phone will be off for the meeting). Otherwise I'll call Georgia when I'm ready to leave Conroe and head towards her place. That could be anywhere from about noon till 1 pm, so figure that we won't get to Huntsville till about 2-3 pm.

[Tourmeister]

No vice ;-)

[Georgiapeach]

I left a message for Brian not to come. Here's why: woke up real early decided to take the bike down 'cause I had to fix the handguards. Then I decided to see if I could put the bike up on the jack myself. Ok a little problem need a sturdy short plank of wood, got one. Get the bike up no problem, tie it to jack. Let's see if I can break the bolts on the links, with the help of a 4ft pipe for leverage, no problems. Ok, I think I will just take the links off myself. Took some tapping and chain manuevering, but off they come. Ok, let me see, Kouba says to press out the bearing with a 15-16mm bolt and a socket. Hmmm, don't have big enough socket. Road trip to Sears, take old link with me. Got 1-1/4" socket, big enough for the bearing to go through, now what to press it with? Looked around and found those trailer bolt thingy's that you put the cotter pins in - looks like it will work with minor modification. Get back home, phew...bike is still in driveway on jack...get drill with sanding drum and bevel the edge of the cotter pin bolt thingy so it kinda fits inside the bearing and won't slip. Put socket on the big side of the old link and the bolt on the small side and start cranking the vise. Gosh it was so easy! Then put old bearings in kouba's line up on the vice again and press in - voila. Back to the bike. Line up both links in first hole closests to engine hand tight nut, go to other side, lower bike til rear matches length of kouba and thread the other bolt - this is where the chain got in the way and I had to go back and fourth a couple of times and had to tap this one through. And I was done. So then I think, well let me try to raise the forks by myself. This did not go so well, jack the bike back up again and loosen nuts on upper & lower locations, can't move forks - oh no, one fork is actually falling out of the triple tree. Try to put the jack down and the dumb thing was stuck on one of the stops, but I could'nt figure out what was going on with it. Somehow got the forks backup to where they were and decided to call it a day. I didn't realize the jack had these stops on it and could not figure out why the darn thing would not go down! Finally wrestled the bike off the jack without dropping it - don't ask me how. When I pushed the jack out, then I saw the silly stops and lifted the arms to let it go down all the way. So, I learned something about jacks today. I'm really glad I did this myself, because now I have really learned something - watching someone else do it is just not the same. But I still have to wait for the Corbin so I can touch both feet. If anyone else ever has to put Kouba links on their DRZ I will be happy to lend my experience and the tools. I am going to lie down on the couch now, my back is killing me. Let me know when you guys get together for another Tech session I would love to meet more of you. Bye for now.

[Texas T]

Great job, Georgia.