Matt and Ashley Faus

I just finished installing 4 new spark plugs and a new air filter in my motorcycle. This was the deepest I’ve gotten into the engine. Both the air box and the spark plugs are right outside of the combustion chamber. The one thing that makes working on a motorcycle difficult is that everything is so closely jammed together. It’s hard to get tools into the crevices to work on stuff.

Anyway, it only took me about 3 hours to complete this stuff, which I’d say is pretty good considering I’ve never done it before. I think my mechanical skills are improving. I took it for a test ride afterwards, and the new air filter makes a noticeable difference. I “upgraded” by replacing the stock air filter with one built for racing. This makes the low-end revs sound much louder and gives a considerable improvement to acceleration in the 5-9K RPM range.

I have one major complaint, though. Why on earth do battery manufacturers make their terminals with removal nuts? The bolts that attach the wires to my battery can be removed with a Phillips-head screwdriver, but those bolts screw into two removal nuts hiding within the terminal. So, when I’m unscrewing the bolts from the battery terminal why would I think to look for a nut falling out of it?! Why can’t they just place some permanent threading directly on the terminal? Long story short, I finished everything I needed to do (except change the oil - I need to get an oil pan) and I went to plug my battery back in. Then I notice that there is no nut. UGH. I look around the garage for a bit, but I knew I wouldn’t find it.

So, I used two zip ties. Take that, you stupid freakin’ lost nut!

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