Aww c'mon mate, do it yourself! Kiwi (biker) DIY thread

[bogan]

I'm wondering whether the kiwi diy attitude is still alive and kicking, I figure bikers should be more diy oriented than you average kiwi. So what have ya done/attempted, and how did it turn out?

[Subike]

There are plenty on here like myself who are more than able to take a bike apart to its smallest part then reassemble it. Not a big deal really.
Customising of most bikes is a DIY operation.
But to answer your question , yes Kiwi DIY is alive and well
It just exists south of the bombay hills :bye:

[Virago]

I'll tackle anything - but finish nothing.

I'll freely admit that our house is a DIY disaster zone, affecting every room in the house.

My DIY motto: "Dwangs (noggins) make the best shelves".

[Brian d marge]

There are things that do need to be left to people that know what they are doing

on saying that, one of the reasons I bought my Enfield was to gain experience , I have finally got my workshop back on-line , MUCH smaller, so Ill have to subcontract the parts but I can design something , screw it up ( fails the flotation test )
I learn , no one else is inconvenienced by my ineptitude , all is good
This month Its a piston for the Enfield , Using CFD , and FEA ill try and improve on the current plug
Then ill spend the money , the wife will see the credit card and Bingo , it will be DIY for the rest of the month

Stephen

[bogan]

There are plenty on here like myself who are more than able to take a bike apart to its smallest part then reassemble it. Not a big deal really.
Customising of most bikes is a DIY operation.
But to answer your question , yes Kiwi DIY is alive and well
It just exists south of the bombay hills :bye:

good to hear its alive and well. Some fun times to be had with bike maintainance, so much quicker than for cages too :D


I'll tackle anything - but finish nothing.

I'll freely admit that our house is a DIY disaster zone, affecting every room in the house.

My DIY motto: "Dwangs (noggins) make the best shelves".

:laugh: that'll happen, my parents place is somewhat similar, but more unfinished painting tiling etc, than ungibbed walls.


There are things that do need to be left to people that know what they are doing

hmmm, i reckon there are more things better left to people with the right tools than those with the right experience, bloody satisfying to learn some new diy skills :yes:

[nallac]

bloody satisfying to learn some new diy skills :yes:


and the bonus of the tools ya need to buy to do the the job.................

[bogan]

heres my shortlist:

Biggest (physical) overly engineered woodshed for 2 cord, though the fmx ramp is almost as big.
Biggest (time) electric motorbike conversion, 2 years and counting. biggest completed one would be the van engine swap, carby to efi and in through the door!
Earliest, various spud guns, even made a pump action one to shoot paintballs
biggest failure, top end rebuilt on a kr1, rings didn't match the pistons and scored the cylinders big time.
biggest lols, trying to get a shitter bike going, battery was a bit knackered so were jump starting it with a car battery, still didn't go so we drained the carbs, straight onto the earth lead, probly should have let the fuel evaporate before tryng to start it again :mellow:

biggest list of projects on backlog, right now, and doesn't show signs of getting any smaller :D

[bogan]

and the bonus of the tools ya need to buy to do the the job.................

you buy them! fuck I borrow most of em, only buy if nobody else has got em, and if you know the right people that doesn't happen to often :Punk:

[nallac]

you buy them! fuck I borrow most of em, only buy if nobody else has got em, and if you know the right people that doesn't happen to often :Punk:

hell yeah...got mates that are mechanics,builders etc the old mans a retired sparky,got an engineering shop at work,bro in laws a sheetmetalist so a shit load of tools i can beg/ borrow or steal.
I still like to buy what tools i need/want,(up to a price point But) nothin like having a good selection of tools to play with.

[doc]

I still like to buy what tools i need/want,(up to a price point But) nothin like having a good selection of tools to play with.

A sporty was such a simple engine till that Buell bloke came along and complicated everything.Thats why you just play with the tools now , aye

[SMOKEU]

I leave it up to the pros. Otherwise it will end in disaster.

[bogan]

I leave it up to the pros. Otherwise it will end in disaster.

pffft, thats not the attitude, whats wrong with a little bit of disaster anyway, helps you learn :yes:

[SMOKEU]

pffft, thats not the attitude, whats wrong with a little bit of disaster anyway, helps you learn :yes:

If you knew what I'm like, you wouldn't want me anywhere near a spanner. I can manage an oil change, and a chain adjustment, but that's about it.

[Gibbo89]

If you knew what I'm like, you wouldn't want me anywhere near a spanner. I can manage an oil change, and a chain adjustment, but that's about it.

:stupid:


10 fuckin char

[Gremlin]

show me the inside of a computer no worries. Don't show me the inside of an engine, I have no idea how it goes together. Working on bikes = suicide for me...

[Brian d marge]

hmmm, i reckon there are more things better left to people with the right tools than those with the right experience, bloody satisfying to learn some new diy skills :yes:

and the wallets to pay for the messes they create

Stephen

[Grubber]

I stripped down my 97 Harley WG and custom painted the frame. Took me 3 hours to strip it. Nothin like the old school style.

[nallac]

A sporty was such a simple engine till that Buell bloke came along and complicated everything.Thats why you just play with the tools now , aye

At least mister Buell managed to extract some much needed horsepower.

Just waiting for some parts to turn up ex the US for a big time birthday for my Toy.
Top end gaskets,pistons & rings,clutch & primary chain,might do the update oil pump gear while
i'm in there.

[vifferman]

Being a DIYer is, in some ways, the bane of my existence. I can afford to pay to have things done, but knowing I can do them myself, I tend to do them myself.
Biggest jobs tackled were building the garage and adding a third on to my first house. Next biggest would be completely renovating the kitchen of our house in Roundabouta (the city formerly know as Tauranga). This involved closing in two doorways, removing the H/W cylinder and the cupboard it was in, and the wall attached to the cupboard, and building the whole kitchen from scratch (apart from the benchtops). This included tiling, stained glass work, the cabinetry, plumbing, wiring, painting, varnishing, plastering, etc etc.
So... working on the bike is relatively easy, but I don't do tyre changes (although I have in the past). 'Bout time I paid someone else to do it, I reckon...

[bogan]

I stripped down my 97 Harley WG and custom painted the frame. Took me 3 hours to strip it. Nothin like the old school style.

haha, there was probly only 3 bolts left, rest shook out beforehand :bleh: have done similar on an old rm80, excluding drying time only took about a day!

[F5 Dave]

I'm wondering whether the kiwi diy attitude is still alive and kicking, I figure bikers should be more diy oriented than you average kiwi. So what have ya done/attempted, and how did it turn out?
Well I was feeling kinda frisky, but the wife had a headache. . .:love:

[SMOKEU]

show me the inside of a computer no worries. Don't show me the inside of an engine, I have no idea how it goes together. Working on bikes = suicide for me...

Same; I can assemble a computer piece by piece even when I'm really pissed and it will still work!

[Grubber]

haha, there was probly only 3 bolts left, rest shook out beforehand :bleh: have done similar on an old rm80, excluding drying time only took about a day!

Funny enough, it was pretty damn good like that. Everything tight as a button. Good project though. Enjoyed that side of Harley but hated the ride. They handled like shit right from new and still do. Hence the Triumph now....much better!

[jim.cox]

So what have ya done/attempted, and how did it turn out?

Built myself a house :)

Was definately a learning experience

[HenryDorsetCase]

Ive done a LOT of DIY over the years as well. Having said that I did contract out some of the stuff (like rang window companies and said: get rid of this shit and put in new DG windows). Havent needed to for a while now, but kept all the tools... as you do.

I used them this weekend as it happens: but only for a couple little jobs.

Bike-wise I have had a few cracks at things but tend to buy newish, reliable-ish stuff now that doesnt need much work.

[Little Miss Trouble]

I've always liked to understand how things work & make things myself, not afraid to get my hands dirty etc so now that I own a bike that isn't under warrenty I've learnt a bit already to do with wiring etc, next job is to do oil/filter/plugs etc
I don't have many tools myself yet so do a trade off - garage usage & knowledge for bourbon

[bogan]

Built myself a house :)

Was definately a learning experience

can imagine it would be, hope to find out myself eventually! Much experience beforehand or just jump in the deep end?


I've always liked to understand how things work & make things myself, not afraid to get my hands dirty etc so now that I own a bike that isn't under warrenty I've learnt a bit already to do with wiring etc, next job is to do oil/filter/plugs etc
I don't have many tools myself yet so do a trade off - garage usage & knowledge for bourbon

Sounds like a good deal all round, especially if the helper is only a supervisor (sits on shed couch drinking free bourbon and telling a wench to wrench!) don't spose you live near palmy? :lol:

[Kornholio]

next job is to do oil/filter/plugs etc
I don't have many tools myself yet so do a trade off - garage usage & knowledge for bourbon

Nodrog Racing would be the man to see for that :scooter:

[Little Miss Trouble]

can imagine it would be, hope to find out myself eventually! Much experience beforehand or just jump in the deep end?



Sounds like a good deal all round, especially if the helper is only a supervisor (sits on shed couch drinking free bourbon and telling a wench to wrench!) don't spose you live near palmy? :lol:


So far I'm more of the helper but it won't take long for that to change:Punk:

[Little Miss Trouble]

Nodrog Racing would be the man to see for that :scooter:

Yep, shall enlist his help again when I'm ready to do that

[bogan]

So far I'm more of thr helper but it won't take long for that to change:Punk:

yeh, quickest way to learn is to do the job while someone more experience looks over your shoulder I reckon.

[davebullet]

I diagnosed and replaced the thermostat in the old '92 Accord shitter yesterday.

Not one leak. I even took the wrong end off (top hose into head) rather than the bottom hose. I had no idea which end the thermostat lived in, and couldn't be arsed googling.

I didn't torque it either. Just even turns both side of the housing until she felt good and tight.

May she govern temperature for another 250,000kms

[Subike]

Well I have to admit that the most sucessfull DIY"s ever done resulted in
My sons
Thats one DIY you dont pay a professional for ! :scooter:

[Corse1]

I do everything myself if I can even if i can afford to pay someone..................but then again I have dutch heritage.:blink:

Here is a pic of my home made tail tidy just fitted tonight. It has come off again now for powdercoating:yes:

[Sable]

I do everything myself if I can even if i can afford to pay someone..................but then again I have dutch heritage.:blink:

Too true. I'm 19, have done 2 stroke top end rebuilds, caliper and fork rebuilds, stanchion straightening, stripped down a bike to nothing, painted the frame and reassembled it, swingarm and headstock bearings, built computers from scratch. No professional training but I've had most of it checked out and nothing's exploded yet. It's just a matter of having the balls to try it. Workshop manuals help too, not that I need them anymore.

[bogan]

I do everything myself if I can even if i can afford to pay someone..................but then again I have dutch heritage.:blink:

Here is a pic of my home made tail tidy just fitted tonight. It has come off again now for powdercoating:yes:

thats one of the best bits of being a diy'er I reckon, making something from scratch purpose built and unique to your requirements.

[Brian d marge]

. Workshop manuals help too, not that I need them anymore.

please pleaase use the workshop manuals

please

Stephen

[Corse1]

Oh and the internet. Where would I be without it...............you can find instructions to fix anything. And the info is free Hahahahahahahahahaha:Punk:

[tri boy]

And the info is free Hahahahahahahahahaha:Punk:


And always accurate..........:innocent:

[davebullet]

I do everything myself if I can even if i can afford to pay someone..................but then again I have dutch heritage.:blink:

Here is a pic of my home made tail tidy just fitted tonight. It has come off again now for powdercoating:yes:

Nice tail tidy, however without a plate your bike isn't legal.

[rustic101]

So what have ya done/attempted, and how did it turn out?

So far at a mates house I have:

Moved 12 ton of dirt by hand out the back, landscaped and built a deck,
Gutted the master bedroom, rewired, insulated, relined, painted, papered and hung doors, fitted av units and flat screen, laid carpet etc
Built a walk in wardrobe off the master bedroom,
Gutted, remodelled, rewired, re plumbed, and decorated the kitchen. Kitchen unit was installed by me but built by my mates brother in law.
Currently working on a new en suite have to get a bloody plumber in thought (that's the law grrr)

Next will be to hire a mini digger and landscape a new car pad, build a carport or garage and a new access way, terraces and stairs to the house.

On the list after that is gut, three more bedrooms (it'll be a quick job) rewire, insulate and redecorate. Then follow that up with the main bathroom and laundry. Unfortunately I have to get a plumber for that too as we are replacing the H/W cylinder. O and a Sparky to put a new switch board in...

[KiwiGs]

Me and SWMBO did most of the work redecorating our old villa. Which included a new kitchen, bathroom, turning the basement into a spare room and lots of painting!
The only thing I didn't do was install the log burner 'cause installation was part of the deal we got on it, which was lucky 'cause I didn't want to have anything to do with that 100 year old pressed tin ceiling....
When it comes to the bikes, so far I have done all of my own work.......

[admenk]

I managed to completely demolish a pie at lunch time - and a brilliant job I made of it as well, even if I do say so myself.

[Brian d marge]

ahh when it comes to house building stuff,,, i have, planted some sweetcorn and

reached for my wallet ( all by myself) and paid the nice man who did...everything

I have to put up the letter box , but I might call nice man back , ( safer)

Stephen

[martybabe]

I'm a Pom but I reckon I was a kiwi in a previous life, I've always just waded in and done stuff, born of necessity I guess as I never had the money to pay a 'professional'. Mixed results and a huge learning curve, just coming to the end of my fourth kitchen now, cock-ups a plenty but it's looking pretty cool. It's all about working out how to get round/cover up the mistakes I reckon...oh and sticking to one project at a time, man I get bored quick.

[bogan]

oh and sticking to one project at a time, man I get bored quick.

nah, I'm the opposite, get bout 5 projects on the go at once, so when you get stuck or bored of one just work on another :D

[martybabe]

nah, I'm the opposite, get bout 5 projects on the go at once, so when you get stuck or bored of one just work on another :D

Oh me too, I'm saying what's best to do if you can force yourself to.Me, always got half a dozen projects on the go, none of them ever 100% finished but ideally, complete one then move on, it's the right thing to do I just never seem to manage it. :shifty:

[Corse1]

nah, I'm the opposite, get bout 5 projects on the go at once, so when you get stuck or bored of one just work on another :D

My wife would have me doing more than 5 at a time. I like to have 3 or 4 on the go. Trouble is now we have gone through major renovations including new garage and there are so many little jobs left to do. Those are the ones that piss you off as you never seem to get around to them.

Bike maintenance or modification seems to take precedence much to her who must be obeyed annoyance :shifty: