Wilsons Sandbox

Things finally got slow enough 'round here to do my doohickey. Started yesterday. I also replaced the drive sprocket; clutch and water pump seal at the same time. I hate to say this, but with 45k on my A9, the doohickey and spring were perfect. They were in perfect operating condition. They were the factory originals as well. I am going to replace the doohickey and spring though, I am this far into it, and so I might as well. As a side note, there were 6 over tightened and stripped out bolts on the case. I will be re - tapping for Christmas. PauL M. Bober

Steve .. with that many miles on my A9, it also was perfect. I did change it out for a better spring and the obviously thicker made doohickey. I also had a spline issue. Better check your front counter sprocket. My sprocket kinda ate the spline a bit. Does make for an expensive repair if you are not aware there is an upgrade for the cheesy factory retainer! PauL M. Bober A9 420 KTM

Just a note: I just completed my doohickey upgrade last night on my A-16 with only 11,000 miles on it. The adjuster itself was sound, no cracks or other breaks. However the spring was laying in the bottom of the engine cover with one end missing! I probed the engine case with a magnet - could not get very far in and fretted and fretted. A piece of spring steel was loose inside my engine!!! Then I took the advice of Eldon Carl and pulled the clutch side cover and water pump to clean the oil screen and hope perhaps I could get better access to the engine with my magnet. The spring piece had been stopped (along with a bunch of silicone and gasket material) by the screen. What a relief! The moral of the story is - DO upgrade your doohickey no matter how new your bike and DO take the time to inspect and clean the oil screen. Be sure to polish the hole the spring goes in on the lever - mine was razor sharp. Ron in Montana, A-16 A-8 H-D Road Toad

Hey all In my tail box I like to have a box or 2 to keep smaller loose, or fragile items. Otter box, (Otter is a brand) is kind of Pricey, aprox $30. like the box listed below. I found a Water tight, hard plastic 7.25 x 6.75x3.5 (Aprox) for $9.95 at .....WALLY WORLD (Walmart) They had Blue green & clear. PS. TWO THUMBS UP! For, the Towelettes that fred has listed, My lady came home with the same thing, (PAID MORE, $9.95, Freds $5.95) They are PRESSED like a sponge into a little bitty pill shape, 1/2x3/4 (aprox) and you (can) hold it in your hand and pour a little water on it and watch it take shape. it Turns into a TOWEL 9x13.75 they remind me of "HANDY-WIPES" A semi tough little rag we grew up with. Thin but reusable (if semi gentle and dry quick.) I WILL be ordering a package from Fred for my self. (MY tank bag, truck, Tail boxes ETC) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I did my doohickey upgrade yesterday, including the torsion spring. It is the second time I have done a doohickey upgrade. The first on an older bike, several years ago. A couple of posts on YouTube suggested getting the torsion spring anchored on the end that hooks onto the doohickey was a real struggle. One indicated it took two people and a couple of hours. Here's a hint: take a flat blade screw drive and put a notch in the blade with your Dremmel tool. Also get one of those screwdriver looking things that has a hook on the end where you usually find the screwdriver blade. Use the screwdriver with the notched blade to push against the torsion spring as you move it toward the slot in the doohickey where it is to be hooked. When the end of the clip gets to where it is to be anchored, use the hook to pull it into place. It will take about a minute or less. If any of you live in King County, Wash., on the eastside, I have the tools and would be glad to help you do the upgrade. Joe Grove Issaquah, Wash.