Loss of a loyal companion

Not really done much on the Z750. We had to have one of our dogs put to sleep last week. it is easily the worst thing you ever have to do, and its not easy to get over. every time I think of him I start tearing up, and being male, I fight my brain away from the thoughts so as not to show too much emotion.

its been over a week, and I'm still finding it hard to concentrate on anything but the fact that there is a great big hole in our lives. my wife is taking it harder, but then he was her dog really. followed her everywhere. that's another reason i need to be strong. i have to support her through this.

how long will this continue? that's a question I have actually googled and there is no answer. this year has been a bad one for us. we lost our Labrador in January, and now we've lost another on. fingers crossed we don't lose any more this year, or for a few more years.

I have started work on a memorial slate for them, and i think that that will help me and my wife.

I thought that i had finished grieving for my lab (we do have 'our' dogs which are more either mine or my wife's, and the lab was mine), but losing another one has brought fresh tears for my loyal companion. it's also brought up more grieving for the other dogs we've lost over the years. it seems to have no end.

so if I do find a 'cure' for grieving, i'll be sure to let you know, although I may market it, as I'd be sure to make a fortune.

we did get a puppy recently (to train as a support dog), and she is doing a good job of keeping our spirits up. she is so bouncy, and we are currently trying to socialise her as much as possible. between training, socialising and playing with her, she really does help keep our minds in the present.

anyway, I'll get back to the Z750 now, I'm sure you've had enough of reading this.

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Project Z750 part 16

The piston puller has arrived. it looks like a pair of pliers, but works opposite so that when you press the handles the "nose" of the pliers expands. the idea is that you put the nose into the piston, grip very hard and turn and pull the piston so that it comes out. the theory is great, but actually using one isn't. in use you are trying to grip as hard as you can, and at the same time trying to pull the piston out of the caliper (as well as maybe turning it if it's stuck like mine). it took a herculean effort to get one of the pistons out, I was gripping as if my life depended on it, trying to twist the piston and pull it out of the caliper. when it turned (a little) it gave me renewed hope of getting both pistons out, and eventually the piston was out, so just one more left. so now on to the fifth and final brake caliper piston. I put the piston puller tool into the caliper, gripped with all my might (no laughing please) and twisted. Well something mo...

Project Z750 part 18

I have done a bit of reading on how to clean brake caliper pistons, and found an article that said you could use fine wet and dry to clean corrosion off them [ http://www.motorcyclenews.com/new-rider/choosing-kit/2006/november/jan26-05-how-to-service-brake-calipers/ ]. as it suggested using 1500 grit wet and dry, I decided to be cautious and start with 3000 grit. I cut the wet and dry into strips about an inch in width. I put some wd40 onto a strip and started polishing the rear piston. After quite a while I started to notice the difference. it was getting cleaner. well, it was working, but it was going to take a long time. well, I was patient and I really didn't want to rush it and ruin the pistons. Over the next couple of weeks, I polished all of the pistons using the 3000 grit wet and dry. As it seemed it was going to take the rest of my life using 3000 grit wet and dry, I decided to take a risk and bought some 2000 grit. yep I was really pushing my luck here. I cut the 20...

Project Z750 part 14

I thought that some photos would be in order rather just all that plain old boring text, so here is a front caliper and it's pistons: This is the caliper before I managed to get the slide off. the pistons show a before polishing started and part way through. Here are the pins that hold the pads into the calipers. again you can see the before and part polished (I hope you can tell which is which) I thought I would show a picture of the rear caliper in pieces: there are more bits for a single caliper than I realised. The rear is a single piston caliper. and one of the front calipers. the front calipers are twin pistons (as I hope you noticed) I dont think that I will be able to remove all of the corrosion from the caliper pistons, so it looks like I will be getting all new caliper pistons. I'll order them once everything has been cleaned thoroughly.

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