Peacekeeper6 Mod Thread

[Peacekeeper6]

29) Show Chrome Short Spiral Antenna

Difficulty Level - 1.5

Tips - BEFORE YOU START, TAPE OFF THE AREA AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ANTENNA TO PROTECT THE BIKE'S FINISH. I forgot to do just that and now have a nice scratch.

Starting at the very bottom of the old antenna, I tried my best to unscrew it WITHOUT breaking the dadgum thing. After many turns of the pliers, I ended up breaking it, which was a blessing in disguise, because it revealed both the spiral part of the antenna which wrapped around the mounting bolt. Using a sharp box cutter, I cut off the remaining rubber part which covers this bolt. Only then can you unscrew this bolt (Numerous DIYers had a different way of removing the old antenna using a deep socket, but this didn't work for me).

Screw in the new mounting bolt into the base on the bike, because if you do it the other way, and screw in this bolt onto the base of the new antenna, you will discover that it is "bottomless" and will not leave you enough threads. The beauty of the new mounting bolt is that it can be screwed in using an Allen bit. Then, insert the new rubber base onto the new antenna FROM THE BOTTOM, BEFORE you screw it onto the bike. If you try to mount this rubber base AFTER you screw in the new antenna from the top, you will quickly find out that the rubber piece won't go all the way down (Please don't ask me how I know, lol).

Notes: The hardest part really is removing the old antenna. It is REALLY fixed on there because BRP used blue Loctite. If I didn't have such a difficult time removing it, I'd have given this job a 1.0. I haven't had a chance to try out the radio reception yet, but I've read some mixed reviews. However, I do like the look better, and it's going to be a lot easier to cover our Spyder during the winter months because it is only about half as long and quite robust. I've actually thought about installing a similar "dummy" antenna on the other side to balance it out, but I already have 2 flag holders. Don't really want our bike looking like a rolling 3-wheel porcupine.

 

[Rdrnr]

Finally got a chance to test out the Turn Signal Button/Shifter Pad by TCBoone and FrogmanDave during a ride last Saturday.

Turn Signal Button - works great. No more erroneous cancellation of the turn signals and looking like an idiot to other motorists. The safety factor is vastly improved because the button is easily accessible due to its larger size AND I don't have to look down anymore and seeing if I cancelled it. Anytime I can keep my eyes on the road is ALWAYS a good thing.

Shifter Pad - This mod is DA BOMB (that means "wicked good" to those who don't know the modern slang term). I thought about upgrading to the current improved version (the one that gets progressively thicker at the bottom), but I found that with my small hands and short fingers, I was only hitting the top half of the button, which means the newer version isn't going to do jack. The thickness is just right for me, and I found upshifting A LOT easier and a nanosecond faster, since my thumb can easily find the button to fire up faster upshifts. (Those with larger "Sasquatch" hands will definitely benefit with the newer shifter pad, I'm sure).

I believe that this mod wins the coveted easy-to-install/highly-effective Ratio Factor. And the fact that it was inexpensive compared to my other mods is just icing on the cake.

Where do I get mine?

 

[Peter Aawen]

Where do I get mine?

Go to 'Members' in the menu line that starts with 'Home' & click on it, not on anything in the drop down list below it;
when the 'Notable members' screen paints up, scroll down to 'Find member' in the middle of the left hand column and insert either one of the 2 usernames in the first sentence of the post you quoted above; and
then send that member a DM asking how you can get yours.

Do not discuss or negotiate purchasing anything on the public pages, do whatever may be necessary along those lines via DM.

Simples really...

 

[Rdrnr]

Go to 'Members' in the menu line that starts with 'Home' & click on it, not on anything in the drop down list below it;
when the 'Notable members' screen paints up, scroll down to 'Find member' in the middle of the left hand column and insert either one of the 2 usernames in the first sentence of the post you quoted above; and
then send that member a DM asking how you can get yours.

Do not discuss or negotiate purchasing anything on the public pages, do whatever may be necessary along those lines via DM.

Simples really...

I did that

 

[Peacekeeper6]

30) Ultimate Seat with Driver and Passenger Backrest

Difficulty Level - 1.5

Tips - BEFORE YOU START, USE RAGS OR ROLLED UP PAPER TOWELS TO COVER ALL THE HOLES UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, NOT JUST THE ONE BIG ONE BETWEEN THE SEAT HINGES!! (Because if you forget to wrap a rag around the brake master cylinder, you might just drop a spacer in it and you'll be forever cursing yourself for making such a stupid mistake, and you'll spend an hour trying to find that dadgum part, get frustrated at not finding it, and drive 30 minutes to the Can-Am dealer to order the part. Then, you MIGHT get REALLY mad at yourself because that said part is going to take a week to arrive, and start ripping away the right side body panels the next day, and just catch sight of the spacer in some dinky compartment lying conveniently horizontally, and in some miraculous way, just fish it out with a coat hanger. Don't ask...)

Anybody want any spare spacers??

It would help a GREAT deal if you have one of those power ratchet tool that drives nuts and bolts at a 90-degree angle, not only for the speed but for the limited space it operates on. Those two bolts that secure the seat at the rear ARE A PAIN, even if you have a boxed-end wrench that ratchets because you can only turn it, like, 10 degrees at a time. (Ho-hum...) This powered ratchet tool is the "bees knees", and has saved me COUNTLESS times in many of my DIY maintenance projects. If you do NOT have one, GET one. Trust me, it's the "cat's pajamas".

Ok, enough of these 1920s American slang phrases.

When you reinstall the spacers to put the new seat in, make sure to apply some grease to them so that they won't fall out. I think I applied too much, judging from some grease oozing out, but hey, I wanted to make dadgum sure that they wouldn't fall out. At least now, the new seat can be easily lifted up, lol. Have an assistant hold the seat up as high as it can go to easily (well, SOMEWHAT easily), install those long bolts with the square nut at the rear of the seat from the bottom. Also, I had a difficult time installing the new passenger backrest for some odd reason. There are 3 bolts that secure it, but I was having a difficult time getting the upper left one started. I think the angle might have something to do with it. In any case, BE PATIENT. Do NOT get mad and start torquing it down and end up destroying the threads of the bolt and seat. Just try to screw it in at different angles and sooner or later (after 57 tries and countless curse words), it will thread in properly.

Notes: This is BY FAR the most expensive mod I've installed. (Seriously, the dadgum thing actually costs MORE than the new couch with end recliners we just bought a few weeks after I purchased it). I bought the seat with the Pearl White Croc inlays and it looks AWESOME installed on our white RTL. The appearance makes it more stunning, but hopefully, the comfort is up to par with its looks. It seems more firm compared to the stock seat, but I haven't really tried riding with it yet. The gas strut doesn't hold the new seat up because it is slightly heavier, so I may have to upgrade the strut or buy that part that holds the seat up (or carry a small piece of wood). The passenger backrest seems more robust as well, but again, I haven't had any seat time back there. This Ultimate seat *looks* like it is wider than stock, but those white croc inlays (they just look TOO cool) may just be playing tricks with my eyes.

Anyway, I am hoping that with some seat time, it'll be the upgrade that I am looking for, because the stock seat just gives me hot spots after prolonged riding. I do like the fuel door thingie, but I don't like that it doesn't lock. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.