omw41

Thanks guys. You are the best. I like the Ford swap idea. What do you mean by B/S?

1988 Comanche Base. OK, I'm going for a drag strip utility vehicle look on my Comanche. I would like to replace the round "Jeep" wheel covers that slip over the lug nuts with the 60s style "Moon Eyes" hubcap look. Has anyone ever done this or does anyone know why it can't be done? Thanks

After looking at the battery, I am just going to replace it too. It is over 7 years old and it's a 2 year battery, so it just makes sense. Special thnaks to Mountainman because if he had not pointed it out I guarantee I would have just never given it a second thought. :bowdown:

The miles are at 48k. I paid 1600 for the bike. I bought it two years ago. It had 32k on it then. I drove it home from Fredericksburg (100 miles)? It needed tires, and cleaning up. I also did the timing belts because the guy was not sure if it had been done or not. My Goldwing had the full Vetter package, but I took off the rear section because I did not like the extra weight, or the way it handled. Also it makes it tough to get to the rear brakes and any other stuff that is back there like the shaft drive. Even simple wheel cleaning is compromised. You can pop the side bags off, but there is still a huge bracket that gets in the way. Vetter was after market. The product was well made and its sitting in my garage ready to be put back on. I'm not putting Craig Vetter down or anything. The guy is a living legend in the motorcycle world. http://craigvetter.com/pages/CV_Lecture ... outCV.html I added a 70s era sissybar and the right soft luggage will strap up to that nicely and give me enough for three days on the road. 8) The 79 (mine) is the last of the Generation 1 Goldwings. Generation 1 is 1974 to 1979. :brows: Honda did not come out with their own Goldwing faring packages until the generation change in 1980. :yes: You're in Kentucky. I'm in Virginia. Should we ride and meet halfway? :rotfl2: Back to the truck, and Mountainman's points. There is something I don't get. If there is a dead cell in the battery, would the battery show as fully charged on my home battery charger? I have a decent Black and Decker. It's about a 40.00 dollar unit. I'm getting ready to go out now and start tearing things down. First out will be the battery, but there is no doubt the alternator has got to come out. Oh yeah. I was looking online. What amp alternator do I get? I saw a few choices. I have no AC and no power steering. It's a Commanche Base.

It's a 1979 Goldwing. You have a Vulcan right? That's a great touring bike. I had a 1988 Vulcan SE 1600.. Now that was a bike! I'm about to buy the wife a 1976 KZ 400. It's her first bike. I am down with the rattle can. It looked flat black though. When I got my truck (I paid 600.00 for it), the guy had painted it silver with a paintbrush. I ran out to Wal-Mart, bought about 8 cans of their 99 cent primer and went to work. You sound just like me when it comes to the "touching up" thing. Thanks for the info on the tires and rims. I am going to do that on mine. I am going to check out your thread too.

Sorry for the size. I am still figuring out how to resize. I read Pete's "how to" post for posting pictures and it was real easy to follow.

Dadinator: I really like the look of your truck. What size tires are those and will they fit stock rims? Also, the paint job looks cool. Did you do it yourself? As soon as I finish reading the instructions on how to post pictures, I'll post my truck. Excellent! The wrecker is here. :wavey:

Thanks guys. I bought the truck about 10 months ago. It was not what I would consider "abused," but it was rarely maintained. It is always good advice to check things before throwing money away. I can check the battery at home with my charger; it has that option, but I can tell just by looking at it that the alternator is going to need to be replaced. If it's not the problem, it soon will be. In my experience, an alternator and a water pump are usually a given on any used car purchase where the ride has 100,000+. When I bought it, one of the first things I did was replace the battery terminals, and cables, so I hope that's all still good, although after things "fried" yesterday, who knows? It was the weirdest thing. I have never actually seen an alternator "smoke" like that. Thanks for the pricing points on the alternator. I think I'll look online for a good price. As I write this, my wife is out at the Big Lots right now waiting on the tow truck. Now that's a good woman!

1988 Commanche 4 cyclinder 168K...Ok so I go to Big Lots. I come out with my purchase, get in to start the truck...nothing, and I mean nothing. I think I smell "electric." I go out, open the hood, and there is smoke coming out of the alternator. This has to be a no-brainer, right? It has to be the alternator, right? From the looks of it it has never been changed. The thing I do not understand, is I had no warning at all. No warning lights or anything in the days before it quit. I have AutoZone, Advance, everything is close by. I know there will be a core charge, so I will take the old one out first, but does anyone know if the "new" one I buy will come with the pulley? Any other tips on this repair? I'm lucky. My truck has no power steering or AC or anything to make it complicated except taking out an alternator that has been in there for 24 years. :rotf: Get out the breaker bars and WD 40. :wall: BTW, this is a great site with really knowledgeable folks on it. Thanks again. :thumbsup:

Brilliant. You told me everything I need to know. :cheers:

Hi. I just picked up an 88 Comanche Base with the 4 cylinder 150 2.5 TBI-Manual Four Speed. The body is straight; the interior is about a 7 out of a possible 10. It needs the basics: tune up-tires brakes, paint job. It runs great though. I went 60 mph all the way home on the Interstate. The truck has 160k on the odometer. My question is does my motor have a timing belt, or chain? This may sound idiotic, but I do have to get it changed right? I did a search on the MJ Tech forum for 2.5 Timing Belt, but I kept coming up with some post about Frankenstein or something. Nevertheless,I have learned so much just by reading the site. You guys are the best. :wrench: :help: