Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

Not at all - I’ve always put copper slip on plugs and torqued (in this case 12Nm) with a wrench.
Is that incorrect?

 

Maybe I’m correct after all

 

T120 Black wheels with Dunlop Roadsmart IV tires, 110/80R18 & 160/60R17.
Tubeless with Outex kit. Double front disks coming but have to wait till riding season is over.

 

First run on the Dunlop Roadsmart IV:s. Still rubbing in them though. I had no major problems with the Sportcomps except tramlining that really scared me a couple of first rides on the bike. That tendency is totally gone with the Dunlops. Turn in feels also sharper, more willing to turn. Maybe i lost a little agility to turn going to 110/80 & 160/60 instead of 100/90 & 150/70 but that balance between handling and looks weighted to looks. Also feels the front feels more soft or maybe compliant would be a better word, probably due to the Dunlop front being radial and thus having softer sidewalls. So satisfied with the change.

 

I have the Roadsmart IV SP on my Street Triple; I really like them. I also find them pretty confidence - inspiring in the wet. I currently have Bridgestones on my Fireblade, but am likely to get the Dunlops on that too.

 

The conflict here created is the torque setting of a dry verses greased fitting.
Naturally when a fitting/bolt is greased it will be tighter with grease on, even if torqued to the same setting, so the use of a torque wrench is something of dubious value.
Personally I put plugs into alloy heads with a touch of grease, to minimise dissimilar metals corrosion, then nip by feel using a short grip on a ratchet.

Each to their own, but you using grease and a torque setting is of debatable value.

 

Interesting, so would you suggest the torque value in the manual is based on a dry plug (even though lubrication is the norm) and should be reduced to say 10 Nm, rather than the recommended 12 Nm value being based on a lubricated plug?

A question to triumph (in fact every manufacturer) maybe that applies to multiple fixings that are assembled with a lubrication applied as part of build up.

 

Simple answer yes!
I agree with what you wrote there.

Friction is the real issue here and lubrication is skewing any provided torque settings.

I had a similar discussion years ago with someone regarding car wheel bolts. I always put a very slight trace of grease on the thread, being careful to keep it off the conical seats as that's what locks the bolts/nuts. Torque applied to the bolts will now make them tighter than intended by the manufacturer but seeing as we are discussing steel bolts into steel threads then I don't see it being an issue.

Into alumuinium alloys i.e. spark plugs, it may be wise to back off the torque setting slightly as you suggest.

 

Dry versus lubricated threads.

@Boothman et al a quick Google search popped this up for info.

 

Makes a mockery of all manufacturers quoting torque values in their manuals for spark plugs, or any other dissimilar bolt/thread applications then.

I’ll not be rushing to strip the fairing, tank and airbox off to take the plugs out and wind back in to a lesser value

 

Exactly, hence my initial comment here or to anyone unaware.
I didn't want to come across argumentative or condescending so I'm glad you've taken my advice in the manner it was intended.

 

Not at all - I was very much unaware of this and have been doing home mechanicing on cars and bikes for over 40 years. In all that time I’ve never thought to question the torque setting of plugs in the manual being for a dry rather than lubricated fix.

 

It seemed like a productive day exploring with their bike. Unfortunately, the rain put a damper on things. Nonetheless, it's commendable that they made use of the opportunity to tend to their bike's maintenance. Let's hope for better weather soon so they can embark on an exciting ride and capture memorable moments to share.

 

What a lovely overnight break, @Mrs Visor! I'm always so amazed at how just a short one night motorcycle outing can be such a boon to the soul. I enjoyed your report and the great photos, too. And, I'm with you, I'll opt for a cabin over a tent--particularly if it's going to be wet. However, I really can't use the wet part as an excuse, living as I do in the desert. I'd just take the cabin every time.

 

Hey no right or wrong answer here, just do what ticks your box and enjoy whenever you can.

 

Neglected to mention in my post on Saturday that when I took the tank off there was a K&N sticker on the air box . However, having already purchased the Triumph filter I proceeded to fit that and kept the K&N to one side.

Today I got the cleaning kit, vacuumed, washed, dried and oiled the filter. It’s now vac packed in a zip lock bag (to keep it fresh) and safely stored for going back in next service it’s due.

Note (IMHO) to others, if you fit such to your bike, better to put the sticker under the seat where it can be seen rather than on the air box

 

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at my local Triumph dealership--Arizona Kawasaki--KTM--Triumph, know to Steve and me simply as "Triumph World". It was time for Speedy's "annual physical" as I call my service interval. I don't ride my Speed Triple RS enough to go by miles for service, so have it serviced once a year in the fall. My current mileage is 9,115 and I got the bike at the end of November in 2018. Not many miles but the "smiles per mile factor" has been off the charts!



"Gonzo" (short for Speedy Gonzales) waiting for his turn in the shop. I did manage to nab a parking spot in the shade. Daytime temps here are still close to 100ºF.



I knew I'd be waiting awhile so asked Bruce, the one and only salesman at this dealership and a buddy of mine, if he would pop up some of his famous popcorn.



My "camping" spot for the afternoon


AZ--KKT is quite a large dealership and it was packed with motorcycles today. The last time I was here the pickins were slim. Not so today!







The service manager came out after a couple of hours and said the bike was nearly ready and that it was the new software download that was taking so long. But...after about another hour Gonzo was good to go and my pocketbook was $350 lighter. The upside is that other than a recommended brake flush, I should be good for another year!

 

Those bloody software updates - you'd think the dealerships were on dial-up connections

 

So went out with the wife for a potter through the country lanes staying reasonably close to home as the weather looked unsettled.
Breakfast/lunch at Boroughbridge and with a window seat we noted a high volume of classic cars knocking about. One was a lovely looking red Hotrod, umm I wonder where that was going?



Onwards via Thornton Bridge, aiming loosely for Terrington direction if you know it. At Bafferton the wife noticed a collection of interesting cars in a pub carpark, so a quick u turn and let's have a look.



A chat with one of the drivers filled us in on the route remaing and the fact that they were doing a Distinguished Gentlemans Drive...... and so we joined the little convoy.






And here's a few more interesting cars in the vineyard carpark.











We were invited to come in and have a glass of wine, or tea and coffee. When we walked in, the decoration definitely had a wow factor.

Picture limit reached

 

File limit reached above.... continuation of that post.



Hand painted by a local artist, Lynn Ward.
Upstairs had a slightly different theme but equally impressive.
Rain looking likely, the car park was now beginning to empty.



However, how many times do you come out of somewhere and find x3 Jaguar E types parked next to your bike?