July is taking off with a vengeance! Record heat all up and down the east coast and although it’s still pretty miserable here, we have it somewhat mild by comparison to other places this side of the Mississippi. I have a thermometer out on the front porch which stays in the shade. It has been registering in the high 60s to low 70s right after daybreak each morning. That’s about when I wake up these days. No need for an alarm clock yet so why bother. The highs are ranging anywhere from the high 80s to the low 90s and that’s with ample humidity to make things fun. I actually went for a little two-up ride on Monday and it was warm but not unbearable.

I managed to get the oil changed from the long ride. I did that what seems like an eternity ago, but was actually just last week one day. I was holding off pulling everything apart to check valves until this Monday…which I used to go riding instead. That put me to Tuesday  tearing the little pieces off to access the valve cover. That took the better part of the coolest part of the day and by the time I finished, I was so hot, sweaty and tired I put off actually doing the check until today…Wednesday. I went to lunch with a buddy after a quick cool-down shower and came home to relax during the hottest part of the day. Today I got out there and got the check done after struggling with the TDC fanagling! What a pain the ass! I would have to turn the rear wheel while sitting behind it, then get up and go look to see where the camshaft gears were situated, then go back to the rear wheel and turn it some more…on and on until I had TDC. This sitting down and getting up repeatedly turns out to be a very good workout for my leg muscles. My legs are as sore as if I had run several miles.

The bike has now had the valves checked and all are within spec range. I made a run to the dealer today after lunch and picked up a new air filter and some coolant. The filter needed replacing and the coolant level was down. Once I returned and got those items completed, I began the task of reconnecting the battery and putting all the accessory wiring back where it belongs. The bike started fine and now all that left is the plastic bits and pieces covering up the air box and the beak in the front. A few screws here and there and Bob’s your uncle!