Big Bike Service

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Hi.... Got a CBR 929 Honda, looked good outside, but on any bit of service I do on it I find more and more shoddy workmanship that has damaged components, and just plain neglect and lack of maintenance that has caused a lot of "decay". I finally ordered 20,000 baht of parts direct from Japan, and have installed most of them. I am stuck right now, because I bought new 530 DID x-ring gold chain (4200 baht at Red Baron BKK) and need to find a shop that has the correct riveting tool to put the master link in PROPERLY!! I have been to a few like the shop by the tracks on Chomsin Road, and the Chopper vendor south of there on Petchkesem Road, the Harley Shop on the Klong Rd. but none of them have the tools to do this work.

Any help greatly appreciated, otherwise I have to borrow a truck and take it to BKK...

PM me and I will give you a call

Thanks

[lomuamart]

I'm not a biker so hope I'm not misdirecting you, but there's a repair/rental place on Petchkasem Road just 50 yards or so north of Somtawin school on the same side of the road.
It looks like they only deal in big bikes and I regularly see customers in there and it seems like they're talking about servicing/repairs as they have brought their own bikes.

[Gin tonic - no lime]

That might be the 'Chopper' place I mentioned, but then again the spot you mentioned might be a bit further down. Will go have a look tomorrow in any case, thanks.

[usual suspect]

It may be hard to find that tool here. As you know that connecting link is known as a 'soft link' cos the ends of the 2 pins are not hardened..I reckon most places dealing with a chain such as yours would have a small anvil & a ball-pein hammer..sounds nasty & crude, plus hit + miss regarding seating the 0-rings on their
flanges correctly, but this is Thailand..& hammers are plentiful.
(Have you a mate coming out to see you? ask him to bring one..? or if you're gonna use a hammer you need
a pair of narrow-nosed 'mole-grips' to clamp side plate & 0 rings well before mushrooming the heads)

[Randy Cornhole]

mushrooming the head

Nice...

[usual suspect]

Sure the Thais will just use a short punch with appropriate-shaped dome on the end..that way the pin gets to spread against the side-plate also..crude yes, but if its ya only option..?

[richard]

RC

Are you thinking of hornblowers bar?

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Richard you would know the answer to that one

I have enough tools to use the hammer approach to the problem, but with something around 130 HP going thru that chain I want to be sure it is done properly. Would not want to have to deal with the mess if it ever let loose, not only the engine cases, but it could saw off your leg pretty fast too

Guess it is off to BKK and resume the search there. Thanks for the suggestions guys

[usual suspect]

OK G+T..wherever you go..sit with 'em while they do it, & good luck.
(dry season soon with us..you can clock-up many enjoyable miles then)

[hhfarang]

I seem to remember another thread about six months ago about someone in the same dilemma; needing service for a big bike to keep from trucking it to Bangkok. I searched, but couldn't find it. I don't remember the outcome of that one but I thought it may have helpful information. Was that here or did I read that thread on another site?

[usual suspect]

hh..you may be right..maybe a thread asking this question about big-bike servicing shortly after
C.P.Bike shop over towards the 'Phoenix' closed & the guy wondering about any other places covering big machines..??

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Did CP open up in another location, or close up for good? cheers!!

[usual suspect]

I'm sure if CP opened again..??
There was a rumour that some of the bikes they had for sale may have been a bit warm..(no,not cos they were out in the sun!)
Maybe check the site of the old shop..may be a poster/notification of new shop..??

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Ah ha... could see that the 'heat' could be a problem here, not much professionalism even at the motor vehicle registration and licensing bureaus. Seems anything can be achieved with a little tea money....

[usual suspect]

Yeah..& you're STILL no nearer to fitting that 'soft' link in your chain..??
The bike shop on the corner, right next to the rail-crossing on Chomsin Rd does motor-cross
in his free-time..they may have a tool..? (but not big enuf for 530/630 chains..??)

The go-cart track. The mechanic there may have one?
There is a bike-shop in Cha-Am (but I don't know where so you'd have to ask) that will build you
a 'special'..if he deals with 4-cyl motors..He may have a tool

Sorry don't have any REAL leads for you around HH..A trip to Bangers is looking like your next bet.