fastbob

Second day at home now and very much on the mend now . It's hard to believe that two days ago I was shuffling around on oxygen with a big tube sticking out of my side carrying a container of my own blood . I'm generally rather squeamish but I guess when there's nowhere to go , acceptance just kicks in . When I saw how much came out in the initial insertion I could barely believe my eyes . And the colour of it ! Sorry , just trying to come to terms with what's just happened to me .

Ten days in hospital and I'm finally on my way home . I have nothing but the highest of praise for every single one of the army of people of all races and creeds who cared for me from the Doctors to the lovely ladies who brought me a cuppa in the morning and everyone inbetween . It has truly been a privilege to watch such an amazing organisation in action and we must do everything to preserve this jewel in England's crown . Thank you NHS !

It's worse than that . When I was in the bike trade people would buy a Arai and Siddis on the Saturday show off to their mates at the weekend and want a refund on Monday .

Day eight in the Hospital but I'm hopefully on the road to recovery. . Ten minutes of screaming this morning as a surgeon inserted a drain into my lung through my back . Seems I've had the constant urge to cough because I've been walking around with at least a litre of blood in my left lung as a result of the broken rib . Comfortable now .

It dosen't hurt at all unless I cough .

Looking back on it , seems more likely that I fell onto the chair rather than off it .

Well , turns out that I've got a broken rib ! Coughed myself unconscious and fell off a garden chair two weeks ago and been in agony every time I coughed since .

Well , those were very optimistic words . I got progressively worse and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance on Sunday morning where I remain at the moment . I'm on intravenous antibiotics and waiting for some improvement in my breathing to kick in . It has to be said that this is a real wake up call regarding my weight which has to be big contributory factor . I'm going on a diet as soon as I get out of here .

Most stoned fuckwits off a council estate can ride a bike or scooter better than all us old farts put together . Counter steering my arse .

There is absolutely no answer to this question . It's a matter between you , the bike and the corner ..And the next one , and the next one etc etc . I know someone will be along to tell you about vanishing points , camber , counter steering , racing lines etc etc well good luck with all that . Personally I think you should just hum a little song and ride your bike .

Morning . There are clear signs that I'm on the mend now . What a rotten weekend !

I did . I got Co Codamol .

Good morning . Well not really . I've coughed so much today I think I've dislodged a rib . I really don't know what to do anymore . I've slept for two days now I'm wide awake just counting down the minutes to the next agonising coughing fit .

Being ill . I went for my Covid Booster on Wednesday and they offered me a Flu jab at the same time . I already had a mild cold so I did ask whether this was advisable . They said it would be fine . Well it's not fine . I've been doubled up wracked with uncontrollable coughing since Thursday . On Thursday evening I sat outside for a bit and coughed myself unconscious . I must have slumped sideways off my chair because when I came too with a horrible scream I had scraped my forehead right down the wall leaving a nasty abrasion . Thank God I haven't got pebbledashing . When I tried to get up I was overtaken with a terrible urge to vomit . Friday was basically a missed out day and I'm still in a rotten state now , coughing until my head explodes and aching all over while slipping in and out of horrible little pointless dreams . I've got no appetite and although I know I must , I don't want to drink anything . Can't even do my model planes because I keep making mistakes . So how's everyone else's weekend ?

Ah , now that's a good point . If all the correct torque settings had been adhered to from day one of the motorcycle's construction , there wouldn't be any problems at all . Most torque settings are intended to protect threads from OVER tightening . Take the case of camshaft journals that are barely finger tight before the torque wrench goes click .

He will feel it get exponentially harder to turn but then it will begin to plateau out , so to speak . That's when you STOP because that's as good as it's ever going to get . Continue past this point and it will get easier to turn as the thread strips . It's up to the judgment of the individual and the location and function of the bolt as to whether you leave it in place or go for a Helicoil next time around . Also , please bear in mind that this sort of practice is mainly applicable to older bikes that have passed through the hands of a series of DIY " Mechanics " of unknown expertise ..

I think the second passenger was added to take over the steering when the first two guys were exhausted .

Well that wasn't quite the reaction I was anticipating . Here you go , stick a big bore on it while you're at it . What's not to like ? the bike's made in China anyway.

I'm not just talking about axle nuts . I'm talking about the assumption that using a Torque Wrench makes everything guaranteed to be perfect .

Go on give it a go . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185625710021?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=9yaVSyO-Sly&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=9xhDzDPcSSK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I won't be doing much bike related until April now unless I have another go at my ER5 .

That's the job of the adjusters . A Torque Wrench is a dangerous tool in the wrong hands . Use one on a partially damaged but serviceable thread and it won't be serviceable any more . It's no good saying " But it didn't go click " if you've already felt it go tight and then go loose again . This all stems from kids being given PlayStation instead of Meccano .

Stop , think ....what is the PURPOSE of tightening the axle bolt ? Is it to exert a certain level of pressure on the spacers that fit between the bearing centres ? Or is it to just stop the thing coming undone " By itself " ? Well let's put it this way , I have never used a Torque Wrench for anything except engine building and I have never had a wheel spindle fall out of a bike . I just stick a wrench on the nut , tighten it right up until it's rapidly getting progressively tighter and then give it an extra graunch that hurts my hand a bit .

Much better .

F**k that .