Showing posts with label removal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label removal. Show all posts

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Removing Handlebar Endweights on Honda CB500X

Started my first modifications on the CB500X ADV bike this weekend.  As always its a learning experience.

In order to install a set of Barkbusters handguards the handlebar endweights have to come off so that the aluminum guards can be attached in a wraparound fashion, attaching where the weights once were.  Looking at the endweights you see the Phillps style screw holding them down.  The weights however just spin and spin so that won't work on its own.

Then you try and hold the weights while using the screwdriver...nope, you can't get a good enough hold on the smooth and round weights to exert enough torque on the screw.  The trick to getting them off?  Duck tape.

Taking duck tape you put down 3 or 4 layers with 1/2 the tape width on the weight and 1/2 on the grip  itself which does not spin at all.  Doing this nearly immobilizes the weight (it may move a cm or less but essentially freezes it in place).  Then get out your ratchet drive.  Nope, a simple Phillips cannot get enough torque on the screw even with it held still.  The ratchet wrench connected to a Phillips drive is enough to get the job done and with a little effort the screw will break free and as soon as it does it spins off by fingers with ease.

This trick should work on any Honda as it is apparently quite common for newbies with bikes (like me) to be stumped by this one looking to make some initial modifications.  My screws were not Loc-Tite'd in place (some have stated that their Honda's had Loc-Tite on their weight screws) but you can see in the photo that the screws are machined to have flat spots in them, locking them in place.

Monday, January 28, 2013

US Recalling F-22s from the UAE...

Today Iran reportedly launched a rocket into space carrying a monkey which, again, reportedly, returned to Earth safely.  Now I'm not sure I believe the poor monkey returned safely, it doesn't surprise me Iran might be looking to rachet things up a bit similar to North Korea.

A year ago we deployed an unknown number of F-22s to the United Arab Emerites (F-22s to the UAE). 

Today, six F-22s passed through Pease Airbase here in NH (photo at left is their overflight of the NH area) on their way back to Holloman AFB in New Mexico along with their accompanying seven support tankers and aircraft (F22s come through Pease...).  Holloman's current 21 F-22s are scheduled to transfer to Tyndall AFB in Florida next year but for now it is home to the 49th fighter wing.

If this was merely a shuffle of airplanes with "reserve" F-22s coming in to replace these that were on their way home, wouldn't you keep the support aircraft in place in the UAE?  We've frequently seen A-10 squadrons heading back and forth to Afghanistan via the Westfield, MA and they aren't typically accompanied by their support staff--because that support staff is still needed for the ongoing operations in Afghanistan with replacement aircraft already in place or on their way.

Not so here.  Instead it appears you have a wholesale removal of the F-22 squadron from the UAE, replacement unknown.  If I was Iran, or Russia, or China, I'd be sending my satellites for a quick scan of the UAE base where these were stationed to see if there is ANY presence left (blow up ballon F-22s don't count).

Why would you do this now given Iran's posturing, Syria's crumbling and Isreal's doubling down on a conservative government?  Who knows?!?!  If I did, I wouldn't be sitting here working at a bank.  If I had to guess, the original, April 12th deployment was a quid pro quo with Isreal in an attempt to show them that we had their back and would bring forces to the table for their defense in exchange for more time/lack of action on their part.  Their removal would signal to me the end of this relationship, meaning either Iran no longer represents a threat (unlikely), Isreal is unconcerned with Iran's developments (equally unlikely) or the US wants to get out of being drawn into any sort of Isreal/Iran conflict with its world class fighters sitting on the ground as Isreali/Iranian fighters fly overhead.  Look for a significant development in the Isreal/Iran conflict in relatively short order (1-2 months).