Finally took the plunge

Message

dogblue · #1 Post by **dogblue** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:36 pm

Hello Folks,

Been lurking here for some time and have now finally taken the plunge and bought a very cool silver Falco that was advertised here a couple of weeks ago (thanks Kevin, loving the bike!). I'm grinning like an 'effing idiot every time I take it out at the moment...what a bike.

Ebay stand is already on it's way and I've soldered the wiring at the white and brown plugs from the Regulator/Rectifier after three dash re-sets in less than a week...grrr!

Next on the list is to fit the hugger that came with the bike but I've encountered a bit of an issue. The bike came without the hugger or chain guard fitted so there were no bolts and I'm having a bit of a mare trying to work out what size they should be. I've tried both M5 and M6 with no luck...M5 too small and slip through the threads and M6 too big. Can anyone tell me what size they are supposed to be? I'm a little worried that they are supposed to be M5 but the threads have stripped and that's why neither the guard or hugger were fitted.

Any advice will be very gratefully received.

Aladinsaneuk · #2 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:47 pm

https://www.apriliayorkshire.co.uk/cata ... UPORfg5AX8

that is full aprilia parts list - so you should be able to work it out - M5x9 i believe is what you want

(Others will tell you solutions to stripped thread - my quick and dirty solution is naughty!)

D-Rider · #3 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:25 pm

Yeah I thought that they were M5 (certainly the fairings use a combination of M5 & M6 and the swinger plastics certainly use M5 - not sure if there are any M6 on there).
If they are stripped I'd be tempted to drill them out and tap them M6 .... as a temporary solution before fitting a Mille swinger .... ah - there I go - talking mods already and I've not even welcomed you yet .....

Welcome

fastasfcuk · #4 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:22 am

i'll welcome you in dogblue, hope you enjoy the bike.

HisNibbs · #5 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:00 am

D-Rider wrote:If they are stripped I'd be tempted to drill them out and tap them M6

My thoughts too.

Welcome and I think you will enjoy the best all round road bike available......

Syltiz · #6 Post by **Syltiz** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:53 am

Hi and Welcome. Post up some pics if you can.

HowardQ · #7 Post by **HowardQ** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:55 pm

Yeh, welcome to the site dogblue.

You've bought yourself a great bike with a load of character, I'm sure you'll love it.

dogblue · #8 Post by **dogblue** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:17 pm

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

Cheers for that parts list link Aladinsaneuk, that's going straight in my favourites. My mind is now boggling at what your quick and dirty solution is! And cheers for confirming what I suspected everyone. It looks like I'll be cracking out my, as yet unused, tap and die set and re-tapping them out to M6. Mmm, I do like the sound of that Mille swinger though. Mrs dogblue may have something to say about that after reluctantly agreeing to me spending all that cash on the bike in the first place...but I'll soon win her round...looks like this forum may prove to be pretty expensive!

I'll stick some pics up as soon as it stops pi**ing down. It seems like it's been raining for about 3 months down here.

Aladinsaneuk · #9 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:36 pm

quick and dirty method

(used when selling on stuff in the past....

clean tread with airline if possible - then paint nail varnish remover on
allow to dissipate - be careful btw as it can mark alloy....

then mix up some araldite - you want a semi hard or stiff mix

apply to hole with matchstick - leave it 10 minutes

then offer all parts up and tighten - gently

leave over night to harden, then a nudge tigter in the morning

as i said, very quick and dirty

Olig7475 · #10 Post by **Olig7475** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:09 am

Welcome dogblue, now get your arse over to the bar and buy us all a drink!!!!!!!!

BTW, you had better lock up your credit card, these guys are firce when it comes to mods, I used to be a wealthy man until I got me a Falco and signed on to this forum.

Looking forward to the pics mate, enjoy the bird.

Oli

AlBeeFalco · #11 Post by **AlBeeFalco** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:32 am

Welcome dogblue, I too was a long time lurker then made the big move in March this year. Enjoyed every minute on the bike since.

Did 320 mile round trip to Donington MotoGP last Sunday and despite rain all the way home still got off bike smiling!

Great all rounder, You won't be disappointed

DavShill · #12 Post by **DavShill** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:48 pm

Welcome Dogblue..........and AlBee too... lots of good and reliable advice here. Enjoy the ride.

Stu_Vtwin · #13 Post by **Stu_Vtwin** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:31 pm

Welcome dogblue. I'm a newbie here as well having recently purchased a Falco.

Sounds as though your enjoying the bike as much as I am. Good luck with the hugger, hopefully i'll be fitting one soon.......

Look forward to seeing the pics

dogblue · #14 Post by **dogblue** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:50 pm

Well, I've now christened my new tap and die set. All drilled out and re-tapped to M6 without too many dramas. Me and the old man had to improvise a little bit when we couldn't get a drill into the horizontal swing-arm bolt hole but a drill bit in the tap holder thingy and turned by hand seemed to do the trick. Haven't fitted the hugger yet as I'm waiting for some shorter M6 bolts to arrive.

Thanks for the advice (and an introduction to the darker arts Aladinsane

).

It's nice to see a few of us recent converts here too (nice looking bike there Stu_Vtwin). It finally stopped raining long enough to take a couple of pics this weekend too.

https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=5136

Shame they're taken in my shabby looking garage block, my villa in Monaco is being re-pointed at the moment.

Thanks again!