Category: Hobbies

Posted on

Wheel plastic troubles on my PC800

Since replacing my front tire a month ago I’ve been having a heck of a time figuring out how to get the plastic to snap back on correctly.  The left side piece is not reconnecting correctly.  There were a few posts on IPCRC from a few months ago with someone having the same troubles. I tried to follow the suggestions there but to no avail. Anyone have any ideas how to make my front wheel shroud whole again?

The mud is from doing a little off-roading/gravel/mud roads with the bike.  At the top of the plastic semi-circle you should be able to see where the plastic is separated.  Click through the picture a couple times to get a HUGE version to see what I’m talking about.

Here’s a close-up.  I can’t get the tabs to attach to anything and it seems that maybe the left side plastic is warped or something?

Looking at it from the front.  The right side plastic (left in this photo) is just fine.  The left side piece is screwed up though.  Any thoughts on how to fix it?

Posted on

Voltage meters for my PC800

Since I was already installing heated riding gear and because of all of the stories of faulty rectifiers and dead electrical systems, I decided to install an analog voltage meter.  I chose the Honda Marine voltmeter [Note: links to this keep changing so your best bet is to go google “Honda Marine Voltmeter” and you should find one for sale]. The gauge is waterproof and lighted.  Rather than buy it from some random website, I decided to get it from my local marine supply store.  Next time I’ll buy it online.  The local store took forever to get it and then charged me double what it would have cost online.  They even charged me for shipping!

While I was at it I decided to get an idiot light because I suspect that if I didn’t have it, I’d end up being an idiot someday.  I ordered a Signal Dynamics Heads Up Voltage Monitor. After going on several rides with it installed, I can say that I am VERY glad that I chose to install both an analog gauge AND an idiot light.

To make the hole for the analog gauge I found an appropriate sized hole saw at the local home improvement store. The small hole for the LED for the idiot light only took a little drill that I had in my tool chest.

I ran wires for the gauges back along the right top frame tube to the auxiliary fuse block I installed in the trunk. Most people hook a voltage gauge directly to the battery. I chose to connect mine to the fuse block instead. Sure, I might lose 0.05 volts going through some extra connections but I think it’s better to be cautious with my bike’s voltage anyway. I don’t need to squeeze every last tenth of a volt out of the system. At least not yet anyway…

My setup. The idiot light LED is in the upper left corner of the speaker blank. It ends up being in the extreme bottom portion of my peripheral vision when my head is up while riding. So far it hasn’t been distracting at all although I haven’t ridden during any dark nights yet. There are plenty of photos of other people’s setups on IPCRC. This is just the way I did it because I liked it this way. I’d be interested to see what other people come up with for their installations in the future 🙂

Posted on

Cigarette lighter socket installation on the PC800

During the bike overhaul last month I decided to install a cigarette lighter socket on my PC800.  The most logical place to me to install it was in the “glove box” compartment on the left side of the dash.  While buying some antifreeze at the local auto parts store I found the cheapest aftermarket cigarette socket they had and bought it.

Installation was pretty easy.  I found a drill bit that was the right size and popped a hole in the front side of the “glove box.”  The cigarette lighter socket slid right into place and screwed down tight.  I then proceeded to go overboard with the black silicone RTV, covering the ENTIRE length of the outside of the socket with the stuff.  Better safe than a shorted out socket, right?  Right?!?

I ran the wires for the socket around the front of the instrument panel and down the top frame tube on the right side.  I chose to go on that side of the bike because I had another set of wires installed over there for a voltage meter in the dash and figured I might as well put both sets of wires in the same set of zip ties.  Previously I had installed an auxiliary fuse block in the trunk which I wired the cigarette lighter socket into.  I made sure to put a 15 amp fuse (and make everything from there to the socket rated for 15 amps) so that when I get an electrical compressor, I can use the cigarette lighter socket up front.  Most of the ones I’ve seen for sale online require a 15 amp fuse.

Unfortunately I was so excited to install the socket that I didn’t take any photos of the installation process.  Instead, here is a photo of it all done.  The socket and the plug cap are at the top end of the “glove box.”  The screwdriver is so I can pop of my radiator cap to make sure I have enough fluid (replaced the coolant recently).  The two knobs at the bottom at the photo are part of my Heat Troller installation.  It looks like there should be plenty of space in there to charge a cell phone or Ipod while riding.  Wouldn’t recommend doing that in the rain though 😉

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress