200 mile thoughts...

[Gavin]

I got my two quarts of oil last night from Amazon...So I'm ready...as for the torque value...I don't know, but I'll ask Adam in service and post here the answer.

Gavin

[BrammoService]

Hi Gavin,

Here are the torque specs need for changing your oil.

•   Oil Drain Plug – 25Nm
•   Oil Fill Plug – 15Nm
•   Oil Check Screw – 11Nm

In a previous post I said that the oil capacity is about 1.15L when in fact you should only use about 1.0L when changing you oil. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

[Gavin]

Thx Adam


...now off to add this info to the Wiki...if I can...


Gavin


nope, I can't add to the wiki...probably a smart move by the management....

[Brammofan]

Flar, could you do that?

[Gavin]

I just did it...but a bit hamfistedly...

is hamfistedly a word?

if somebody wants to fix the wiki in an more elegant manner...go at it

So...I need a nice torque wrench...any recommendations?

Gavin

[Shinysideup]

I found a deal online a few years back on a 3/8" CDI Torque Products wrench, Model 1002MFRH-QR.  Dual scales cover 16.9 to 132.2 Nm and 10 - 100 ft. lbs. This is a Snap-on company and the wrench looks the business without the Snap-on premium.

Be sure to unscrew the handle back to "zero" (not below, not above) before stowing the wrench after each use, so you don't impair the calibration.

[flar]

I don't have a Wiki authoring account, but I submitted a request.  I can do some basic formatting, but I'd like to let Freepz continue his good work on that page.

[Brammofan]

You did fine... Thanks to you and flar for joining.

I have a torque wrench from craftsman that does the trick for me.

[Richard230]

I heard on the radio today that Sears is having a half-off sale on Craftsman tools this weekend.  I have a 3/8" and a 1/2" drive Craftsman "Digi-Torque" torque wrenches and like it a lot.  It is very easy to use.  If you do not have a torque wrench and can find one on sale, I can recommend the Sears Craftsman brand.

[Shinysideup]

I have a 3/8" and a 1/2" drive Craftsman "Digi-Torque" torque wrenches and like it a lot.

Richard has gone and done it... dangled some new-fangled gadget in front of me. So, after a little Amazon and eBay surfing, I ended up with a $92 (with shipping) Eastwood digital torque wrench as seen in the video below. I like the fact that it will store 5 different values...

[7racer]

Holy crap that's fancy.  Never knew there was such a thing as target angle!?

[Shinysideup]

Yeah, one of the valve adjustment bolts on my R1200R had that spec: 20 Nm then 180 degrees of turn. Of course, ya don't need a digital torque wrench to measure 180 degrees!

I have no idea whether this Eastwood brand is any good. Some of the truck forums seemed to dis the company as importing Asian goods and marking them up. Others reported good experience with their goods. Time will tell.

[implovator]

I just put another 200 miles on the Empulse bringing me up to 400 now. And I have a few more thoughts...

The recommended tire pressures of 42/42 seemed really high to me for a sportbike, but I stuck with them anyway.  Today I dropped them to the generic sportbike recommendation of 36/36. The lower pressure takes a little of the edge off of the sharp bumps. The bike is not wandering in corners as much and it feels way more planted. I'm not sure how stiff the sidewalls are on these Avons, but the lower pressure hasn't affected tip-in at all. And lastly, the larger and softer contact patches have taken a little of the road feel away, but in a good way. Before all of that road vibration made me a little nervous in corners.

I re-read the manual and saw that the 3500 rpm recommendation for break-in was only or the first 150 miles. Then from 150 to 600 you keep it under 5000 rpm. Despite still being in eco mode, I'm really enjoying the bike more with it up around 5000 rpms. It feels a lot snappier and I think it's helping my range.

[Gavin]

I "suspect" the 42psi is to help increase range...

I will probably run mine at 38psi unless Brammo yells at me ....

Gavin

[00049 (AKA SopFu)]

I'd be willing to bet the higher pressure is also partly due to the added weight. Even with 42 PSI, the contact patch is probably very close to what a lighter bike has with 38 PSI.

But I'll probably be dropping pressures, too, once I'm broken in.