[NMKawierider]

Dang..you are gett'n quite a list of upgrades there..

[doug80638]

It was time for the two year 1000 mile once over for the Z8.

Checked the valve lash and spark plugs. The lash was a little tight so they all got adjusted. The plugs looked perfect. The valve train looked spotless and the plastic chain guides looked fine as well. The engine turned over by hand very easily.  The bushings got greased and the machine got a bit of a cleaning. A general inspection shows everything in good order.

One of the bolts holding the netting in place fell out. Looks like I have to take off some panels to fix.

I wanted to add an oil/dipstick extension but it doesn't look like it will fit without bending some metal oil lines, something I was unwilling to do just yet. Any suggestions on how to do this safely?

I hope to add a marine grade charging port for easier tender hook-up. I just have to decide where to locate it. I'd like in it the dash but we'll have to see. Considering relocating the battery as well.

[NMKawierider]

I wanted to add an oil/dipstick extension but it doesn't look like it will fit without bending some metal oil lines, something I was unwilling to do just yet. Any suggestions on how to do this safely?

My 2015 has the rubber lines and I was always going to just use the 500's extension tube and stick but never got around to it cause I stopped checking it every ride...cause it's always full and clean. I was also considering one of those universal flex tube and stick-combos but that would have to be adapted somehow into the existing threads and seal well. IDK...Guess I'll just live with it for a while.

[flash]

hey Guys,
when we bought our EX i didn't get the power steering because i was concerned about
reliability of elect. items in that kind of environment, not just CF, but any manufacturer,
but i saw how reliable they are so i wished we had it on ours.
well i decided to try one of SATV easy steer units, Man, it was so easy to install.
and what a difference. i also ordered the original mounting plate so i didn't hafta fab.
one up, just had to cut and weld the steering shafts the rest is bolt on.
wish i had done it sooner.

[doug80638]

Differential oil changes at 1350 miles. An easy service compared to some of the other stuff.

Oil came out looking like new. Just a little bit of rubbings on the magnet.

I'm surprised at just how little oil goes into these things.  Maybe 16-18 ounces between the two of them.

[glenlivet]

Limb lifters. Help protect the windshield in those overgrown trails.

[Sockman]

Baby got some new shoes.

[James Taylor]

Because my Z Force is a only month old and I don't want to totally void the warranty I did a bit of MacGyvering to attempt to reduce the heat in the cab further and reduce the dust being sucked into engine air inlet.

I already have installed thermo tape on the exhaust pipe.

I realize that the best fix is to install snorkels but that would surely void the warranty. I will wait until the 1 year mark to install those.
 
I had a roll of thin aluminum sheet (0.5mm) left over from a house project so I made a simple deflector and installed it under the engine air inlet.

There are 2 spare 6mm threaded holes conveniently placed in the bed frame square tube, one either side of the air tube around 10" apart. I used those 2 holes to secure the Al sheet with 6mm bolts.

Photo 1 is what I started off with - around 13" x 13" sheet with a notch cut out for the air tube bracket and shaped for the curve on the bed

Photo 2 shows the air tube pulled out of the way to bolt the Al sheet to the bed frame

Photo 3 shows that I added another piece of Al sheet around 20" x 6" and also stuck some self adhesive automotive acoustic mat on it to give it rigidity and stop any tinny noises

Photo 4 shows the central panel back in place

I also took a full day and removed every panel in the seating area of the cabin that I could, including the bed and the front drive shaft tunnel so that I could install 20 square feet of 2.2 mm thick self adhesive acoustic mat most of which is backed with Al foil. I used it all up.

Not sure if I will see any benefit from the above but if you don't try then you don't learn.

[murdo]

Quote "if you don't try then you wont learn".
I think that was a very good try and maybe we all learn something. Good job.

[doug80638]

After blowing up a front OEM shock, I opted to put the Bandit 46 series 3 shocks on the front. A few hundred more than OEM, but ...

First impression is that the build on these shocks are far superior to the OEMs.

With zero preload and factory rebound and compression settings, these shocks lifted the front up quite noticeably, enough that I now have to re-adjust the toe the next time it's off the trailer.

The ride is significantly improved such that small bumps are simply floated over and larger bumps are handled with more finesse compared with the OEMs. Can't wait to see how they ride once they are dialed in.

Perhaps a set of Bandits for the rear will be on this year's Christmas list ;-)

This is a comparison with the OEM shock with Bandit springs on it.

[NMKawierider]

You can back the preload off a little more. I think I went only one turn. Then had to come up a little in the back. It took me just a little to find the right compression and rebound for my riding but.. it's great...and much more controllable on corners with my Reapers now. I almost can't wait to blow a rear shock so I can get a set of Bandits for it...lol



 

[hemioutlaw14]

Light and sound bar with rocker switch.

[NMKawierider]

After months of being in storage I serviced my air box Uni for the first time in two years (service the one in the can almost every ride), fired it up, blow the dust off of it, backed it out of the shop, re-spooled the winch cable (something you want to do sometimes) and ran it around the yard a bit before putting it away. She...and the cameras.. are ready for another season. Now all we need is for the trails to open back up.

[glenlivet]

Installed a radio.

[NMKawierider]

That's nice. I like it tucked-away like that.