Virgin No More: First Bift Job Done!

[tarbe]

Virgin No More: First Birf Job Done!

Many thanks to Jim Reiss (El Mariachi) for his patience taking me through this job, not to mention letting me use his tools, his air, his parts washer, and his garage! I owe him big-time - thanks Jim!

I finally get to change my sig from "Awaiting Birf Job" to "Fresh Birf Grease".

It does feel good. I swear the front end feels tighter...

I'm still a rookie, no doubt about that. But I sure am grateful to Jim for helping me get past this first big job on this 'Cruiser. I hope someday I will be expert enough to pass along the favor to another.

 

[Riley]

Congrates Tim!!

I know that's a good feeling. how's your knees?

My knees really hurt after I work on the front knuckles. But maybe I'm just old though.

Even older than Ken.

 

[tarbe]

Riley

I am 4 months older than you, so you know I can feel it in a couple places! Nothing that a shower and a bowl of ice cream won't fix!

I am glad I can still do this stuff, though. There are guys our age that either can't or won't. I wouldn't want to be in either camp.

Now if I can just get my wife to let me use the money I "saved" to buy a new bumper or sliders...

 

[flintknapper]

You beat me to it.

I am getting ready to do mine pretty soon now. Got to make up a list of stuff for C-DAN (or actually have HIM tell me what I need) and get started.

Maybe after the next 60,000 you, me, and EL M, can get to together and have "Birf" party. We can do them all at my place or where ever.

 

[Romer]

Congrats. You couldn't find a better teacher than Jim. He really knows Cruisers. He talked me out of buying because it was a peice of crap (rust) and he looked at it without even knowing who I was. Great guy!

 

[tarbe]

I am getting ready to do mine pretty soon now. Got to make up a list of stuff for C-DAN (or actually have HIM tell me what I need) and get started.

Maybe after the next 60,000 you, me, and EL M, can get to together and have "Birf" party. We can do them all at my place or where ever.

Certainly the most time is spent just cleaning stuff. Extra guys can really help make the job go a lot faster.

I would be more than willing to lend a hand to help make your job go faster. Jim was walking me through and we did everything, including new trunnion bearings in about 7.5 hours. It would have taken me two full days if I did it alone and feeling my way through! And you just can't overestimate the number of paper towels you'll use! We went through 5 rolls of the heavy blue shop towels.

Just tell Dan you want the de-lux birf job package! Options are which brand wheel bearings you want (if any) and whether or not you want new knuckle bearings. I went ahead and did all new bearings as I bought the vehicle with 111,000 miles and wasn't certain what I had.

 

[wb1948]

Well this newbie did it with no guidance(smirks)

 

[flintknapper]

Certainly the most time is spent just cleaning stuff. Extra guys can really help make the job go a lot faster.

I would be more than willing to lend a hand to help make your job go faster. Jim was walking me through and we did everything, including new trunnion bearings in about 7.5 hours. It would have taken me two full days if I did it alone and feeling my way through! And you just can't overestimate the number of paper towels you'll use! We went through 5 rolls of the heavy blue shop towels.

Just tell Dan you want the de-lux birf job package! Options are which brand wheel bearings you want (if any) and whether or not you want new knuckle bearings. I went ahead and did all new bearings as I bought the vehicle with 111,000 miles and wasn't certain what I had.

I definitely need the whole "Shebang". Does the deluxe package include spindle bushings? I want to replace every seal and bearing, do the repack, and a brake job. I am sure the parts god will know what I need (the second time I'll know).

 

[Junk]

Congrats. No pics?

 

[elmariachi]

Congrats. No pics?

Pics are for . We shot DV video and I am dubbing it to DVD. Any takers?

 

[97lc_bw]

Jim,

I am interested in the dvd. I sent you a PM.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I will be doing my first Birf job next Saturday. One of my wheeling buddies is a mechanic and his dad is the shop owner so he is going to help me do my Birf job in the comfort and convenience of his shop. I plan on taking pics also so I will post up when done.

 

[Junk]

Pics are for .

Oh, so you DID take some pics too then

 

[tarbe]

Congrats. You couldn't find a better teacher than Jim. He really knows Cruisers. He talked me out of buying because it was a peice of crap (rust) and he looked at it without even knowing who I was. Great guy!

No doubt! A good guy and a credit to the cruiser community. He offered all this help before we ever even met.

I will be cleaning out stranger's knuckles and birfs to pay my dues back to the cruiser clique

 

[tarbe]

I definitely need the whole "Shebang". Does the deluxe package include spindle bushings? I want to replace every seal and bearing, do the repack, and a brake job. I am sure the parts god will know what I need (the second time I'll know).

By spindle bushings are you talking about the one thin metal bushing under the upper knucle cap? If so, we just re-used it and I believe that is the standard practice. There was no bushing on the bottom (this was a '97). I think I've read here where earlier models might have a bushing on the bottom cap.

We did replace all the seals, wipers, gaskets and bearings. The Mobil 1 gear lube was awfully clean coming out. No birf turds..kinda hated to waste it with only 24,000 miles on it. But of course, fresh went back in.


BTW - forgot to mention that I went with new rotors and 100 series pads.

All I can say is WOW! What an improvement in braking power. My cruiser now stops more like a car than a truck pulling a trailer. Really a worthwhile upgrade.

 

[elmariachi]

By spindle bushings are you talking about the one thin metal bushing under the upper knucle cap?

I think he means the bronze bushing in the back of the hub spindle. The one you mentioned that had the elliptical lubricating grooves in it.

We actually didn't take any pics, but the video we shot came out pretty good. For anyone who's never done this, 40 minutes of color footage could come in handy. Its rated PG-13 for mild violence and brief vulgarity.

 

[landtank]

What, no nudity!

 

[tarbe]

So you caught my cussing when the lower trunnion bearing fell out and rolled across the dirty floor? Shame on me...

 

[elmariachi]

So you caught my cussing when the lower trunnion bearing fell out and rolled across the dirty floor? Shame on me...

Yep, you killed our "G" rating with the MPAA.

Oh, I've got some non-Cruiser related nudity I could tack on the end, but I am trying to keep my production costs down by avoiding a divorce.

 

[JAPFPE]

Me too

Tarbe,

I completed the same preventive maintenance activity a couple of weeks ago including upgrading to 100 series pads. Wow, what a difference ! It's a great feeling to complete such a tedious task and be able to immediately feel the results !

Someone did mention sore knees in the thread. I was suffering from "flat foot" for a couple of days due to all the stretching of those lower leg muscles.