Such a FRUSTRATING machine!

[Chris Cochran]

I've had mine since May, and in that short time period I have learned a well-earned truth about the Voyager XII: It is FRUSTRATING to work on. I've been down in the garage trying to remove the center stand so when the "new" one I purchased arrives, I can install it more quickly.
There's apparently no such thing as working quickly on this thing. In order to remove the center stand the exhaust evidently also needs to be removed. I am building up more and more and more loose parts and have yet to actually DO anything that I've set out to fix or change, not counting the fuel filter.
Now the exhaust does not want to come off. Every bolt has been removed that needs to be, but it has been there for 36ish years and it looks like it wants to stay where it is, bolt/clamps or no bolts/clamps.
I had to walk away. No colorful language yet and no tool tossed across the room, yet, but I had to just walk away.
I am committed to doing certain things with it at home and I can do those things, but this is much more difficult than I imagined and whole orders of increased difficulty when compared to the 750.
I know this much, once it's back together and running, the next big thing that needs to be done to it will be by a shop. I'll just spend loads of cash to have some younger fella do it.

[Nails]

Yeah, the center stand seemed to be more difficult than necessary. I had a special "discussion" with the cross-over tube on the exhaust.

Most of my frustrations come from trying to take shortcuts from what the book says. Sometimes these pay off, but it's probably best to stick with the book the first time.

So I suggest, while on your therapy break, drinking a beer and looking over the manual one more time. And then maybe picking it up again in the morning.

Else use a bigger hammer.

[Chris Cochran]

"Tomorrow" is the operative word here as I have no plans to continue today. I actually do have a rather robust rubber mallet that will come into play assuming I can get enough room to swing it.

[Chris Cochran]

Ah, a good night's sleep made all the difference. There sure is a lot to remove to get to the center stand. I didn't even need to remove the entire stand, just the lower part.

So now, I've gone as far as I can until my replacement center stand arrives. Hopefully, the exhausts will just go back on without being anti-social.

(Did not need the rubber mallet.)

[Heavy Armor]

Yeah I've been super frustrated with working on this thing as well. It blows my mind how tight everything is packed and how many layers you have to dig through for simple stuff. And seems like there's no end to things that need refreshing, being as old as it is.

[Chris Cochran]

The funny thing is that my initial project was to rebuild the carbs. Still is my main goal. But, getting an operational center stand came first and that took me to levels of dis-assembly I wasn't prepared for. So, the center stand was my first diversion.

I've been looking at the bike and thinking that, once the center stand is working ("new" one due in perhaps Wednesday) that I may as well go ahead and swap out the rear tire now, since it's torn down to this degree already. It would save me time later. I've already got everything I need to do it, except for the balancing beads. (Which are due in between Wednesday and Friday.) Diversion number two.

And, of course, since the back wheel will be off, it would be the perfect time to lube the splines and change out the final gear oil. Diversion number three.

Perhaps THEN, I can actually get to doing the carbs!

[GrandpaDenny]

and don't forget to lube the swingarm bearings whilst you're at it

[Heavy Armor]

The funny thing is that my initial project was to rebuild the carbs.....

That's what I've been working on for DAYS now, just trying to get them back on. It a whole heap o' fun.

I miss my Ural, where you had to be careful to not accidentally kick the carbs off.