Purchased a VN800 a couple weeks ago, been 2 years since my last bike and have been eyeing Drifters for awhile.
(https://www.dropbox.com/sc/atfqzb1g9dbtsd3/AADLD55G9N71rDCYCE3JxxqTa?raw=1)
Totally in love with this bike, but not loving that fact that it says Indian on the tank, makes me feel like its a wannabe.
The paint job (hard to tell in this pic) is amazing though, so I'll have to consider replacing those badges and what it will do to the paint.
Nice scoot! Welcome to the forum!
Ok were in NS do you call home, Fred and Driftingirl are in NS and you have Paul at Paul's bike shop.... in Sackville NB.
http://www.paulsbikeshop.com/
Depends on how that decal was installed, and what it is, if it is being held on with the normal 2 sided tape then some fishing string and patients ans some goo gone and it should be ok. Then buy the correct period ones for the year of the bike. Were did you find it. Never saw it on Kijiji......
and WELCOME.
Welcome, Downs. So let's see some better pictures of that paint job, eh?? I can understand your issues with the "Indian" on the tank... some like it, some don't.
Welcome aboard, Downs! And nice scoot!
BTW, I agree with you about that "Indian" logo: the Drifter is a Drifter, even though its design is reminiscent of old Indians... 8)
Thanks for the welcome guys.
CDNRatman I'm in Lower Sackville, got the bike in Windsor.
Have seen pauls bike shop in ads, I think I remember him having a drifter or two go through.
Might be out on a big ride today (gotta love fall on the east coast) I'll try and snap some pics then.
Downs....welcome to the forum...not much on the Indian logos myself, but if you have to do them, I like that Indian script. Nice 800 anyway.
When I am down east this coming spring I'll make it a stop point in Lower Sackville and we can have a visit.
Welcome to the madhouse, Downs. You can use a hair dryer(carefully) and heat the logos up, then gently pry the off using you fingers only. And put a piece of stiff plastic under the opposite end when prying or lifting so as not to mark the paint. My wifes cousin (retired bodyshop owner) used straight hot water at a trickle to remove stick-on trim rather than a hair dryer.
CDNRatMan - Do you like beer? I have a bar in my basement with 4 taps of hoppy goodness.
Thanks 49Reo - I ended up losing my headlight and 1 of my light bar bulbs yesterday, so I'm on the hunt to find out how to replace them.
Maybe tackle the tank badge over the winter.
Downs, for medical reasons I do not drink anymore.
Ok you lost your headlight and a spotlight or is the bulb just burnt out? If they are burnt out then easy but the spot lights do not replace them with anything stronger then a 25 watt bulb.
Dental floss works well for removing logo's. Heating them up with a hair dryer first would make it even easier.
Sorry all, busy at work.
Ya the bulb went I assume, bright still works, used that for the ride in.
So I should just be able to pull up to any parts place an ask there?
Will they have a book like Canadian Tire where I just look it up?
I didn't buy the lightbar or anything so don't know sizes.
Standard H-4 55/60. Two screws, one on each side below the center line. Each screw has a bushing on it...do not lose it! The spot light, if it's a F&S uses a 25 watt H-3...one screw on the bottom. PITA to get lined up again!
here are some pics
(https://www.dropbox.com/sc/xtcpsrk33lunnvf/AABHxjcn99xHTWwBVo1St4zla?raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/sc/lpnr238fd6lhz7e/AABwgdZhqrXN5h39_oCBuIYMa?raw=1)
my headlight and light bar
(https://www.dropbox.com/sc/zx0ibahdgzh7jy1/AABVrjbJF3g3QBtYwfmOW0NAa?raw=1)
oh and me and my bike
(https://www.dropbox.com/sc/civ7wvacx2ctutc/AACkZJ9pA5vP1LgnRzP0iCHaa?raw=1)
so standard sized headlight and spots I think
nothing too out of the ordinary...
Not sure why Troll is upset about the PITA animal people but yes do not lose them little tiny wee bushings they are a really hard part to replace.
Is it a 99? Awesome colour scheme and some glossy paint. Are you missing a grip end? Light bar does look like a F/S one and so it would be 25 watt H-3 bulbs. It does look like the Indian logo should come off really easy and then a bit of goo gone and some shining and you are back were you started, and then to find the correct period badges would be nice.
Hey Downs, welcome to the forum! Nice Drifter, great to have you here.
Ride Safe! 8)
YES, I lost a bar end the other day.
Unlike my previous bike that had a bolt through, these ones are threaded.
I think because the po put on those aftermarket grips.
I tend to ride late in the season so thinking of getting heated grips, which would fix the situation.
:o PITA....Pain In The A$$...and they sure are.....both versions!
:o oh I thought you were on about the people that want to stop hunting and eating and have us eat hay and rabbit food.....lol....
Downs your from Lower Sackville, so image no more cod tongues, or flipper pie, life would never be the same......
Quote from: Downs on September 28, 2015, 17:47:58 PM
I tend to ride late in the season so thinking of getting heated grips, which would fix the situation.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but since the Drifter only has a single stator, you want to think about power management. With driving lights, heated grips may be the limit of what you can do power wise. I'm not sure how much more you could do. Maybe Troll could weigh in on this as he's the guru here.....
So what does it take to put a double stater in the Drifter?? anybody done it?
pcarrell fair point, I've also got some night running neon (again po) but that would probably put me at the max power draw I can handle
Quote from: greenbarn on September 28, 2015, 22:10:54 PM
So what does it take to put a double stater in the Drifter?? anybody done it?
Seems to me that I remember that question being broached before, and it basically came down to the point that it was easier and cheaper to swap out the motor for a Classic motor and the related parts (like the extra rectifier and such) then it was to upgrade a Drifter motor. Of course, if you still want the Drifter feel to the Classic motor you'll have to swap in a Drifter cam, as the cam grind is different, but yeah, it's a bigger job then you'd think.
Downs, old sock, save the coin and go to CTC and buy a pair of neoprene fishing gloves for them down east cold days and your hands will be toasty warm. Cost of gloves $15.00, cost of warm fingers priceless.........
Until I get a chance to actually check part numbers, I will say that I believe you can install a Nomad charging system with two stators and a double rotor inside the regular alt case. I know you can wire in the second reg/rec unit and put the two of them in the front, under the radiator. Sometimes that whole assy. shows up on eBay....Installing a classic engine won't help, since it has the same single stator system...That being said, I run my electric clothes off mine with no problems. The only thing I do is shut off the electric element if I'm in slow moving traffic. You can check out the part numbers yourself at partzilla.com
I didn't know the Classic was a single stator too. I thought only the Drifter was.
Only the Nomad is dual stator, in the 1500 configuration
No more tank badges yay!
Fishing wire and goo gone did the trick.
(https://www.dropbox.com/sc/0prdjhaone2l511/AAD7vMVHoP4zam74IsYx2p4na?raw=1)
Unfortunately after I put the new headlight bulb in, nothing.
Put the original back in that still had the high beam working and now its not either.
Wiring is above my base knowledge so this may have to go into the shop to be sorted.
Ok did you check the fuses?
and the badges on the fender?
Ummm, Ratman..........I don't think the headlight issue is related to the badges on the fender. I could be wrong, but I suspect I'm not. :D
Just a silly question, but you did start the engine before checking the headlight, right?
Is that a silly question?
no I didn't actually start the bike just turned on power
am i silly?
wasn't going to worry too much about the fender badges since they at least say indian drifter
#1. :o Sorry PC but that was 2 questions in there, next time I type slower for you....... ::).......
#2. Sorry Downs on the 800 you have to bump the engine to make the head light turn on, it does not come on with just the key, the engine has to turn over.
#3. ok and another question ok PC.....I was just asking about the fender badges because it sounded like you were going to remove all Indian references.
Quote from: Downs on September 29, 2015, 18:07:21 PM
Is that a silly question?
no I didn't actually start the bike just turned on power
am i silly?
wasn't going to worry too much about the fender badges since they at least say indian drifter
The charging system has to come on line to energize the headlight relay. Actually a smart move on their part, since it keeps you from running the headlight without the engine running and not charging the battery. If you use the kill switch after the engine is running, the headlight stays on, so the odds are the new bulb you put i would have fixed the problem...no sense in taking it to a shop for something as simple as that. Save your money for the complex things...
So yes, I just confirmed that the original light still works in bright mode.
So once the torrential rain storm we are getting for the next few days passes I should be able to just swap that bulb back.
thanks very much for all the great advice guys
really appreciated