Lok-Tite:

After I broke my subframe because I missed seeing a loose nut, I use blue Loctite on everything. :0)

loktite is a very good idea. Use blue for most of it. There is a green wicking loktite for those pieces you want to secure but don't want to unfasten to get the goop on the threads.

Double nutting or drilling and safety wiring is a good thing if you have the tools and the patience.

I use nail polish to put a stripe across fasteners and the adjoining pieces once I tighten them down. I can tell at a glance that I touched them with a wrench and if they have moved since then.

Look at the lock washers- the Russian ones are notorious for breaking. Then they fall out and that bolt is loose again!

Urals are just like any other bike-you want to give a good looking over from time to time to make sure all is right and tight!

Have fun(I am sure you will- these things are a blast)!

Blue Loktite and nylock nuts where possible are good cheap insurance.

Lonnie

Boy, this forum is great. Thanks a lot for all the good advice. I will certainly put it to good use.

Paul

Thanks Mike, This Forum is terrific and I plan to take a lot of that good advice and put it to work.

Paul

All I can say and I know I'll get some flack, at 79, and in your condition, I'd back away from any Russian bike, I'll never own Russian bike again. I think it's a poor choice. I went from a Harley to a Russian POS. Just my opinion, good luck and buy the extended warrantee. My friends new Ural's warrantee just ran out while sitting in the Ural shop waiting for parts, 400 miles away! At our age, I’d rather be riding than waiting on parts. Unless you're buying it to use as a flower planter, I’d back away from it, I’ll send you a free tube of Lok-Tite, red, blue?

By the way, are you the gentleman that called me about 3-4 months ago about my Diesel Bike?

Dave

Thanks for the advise Dave but I'm committed now and looking forward to the challenge. (Blue) :O)

PaulBee

Ok, I'm going shopping for your Lok-Tite, I'll also get you a tube of anti-seize for your new challenge, I just hope your challenge doesn’t turn into a headache. Send me an address to send them to. I don't know what year Ural you’re getting; I could offer some advice for things to look out for, only if you want it.

Like I said, good luck and hope it works/runs fine for you and I’m wrong.

Dave

Not trying to give you the flack you thought, as you won't change your mind over anything I have to say here. I found your reply about the warrantee a bit strange and tried to check on the company's position if the same happened to me or others. You didn't say if the maintenance on the other fellow's rig was scheduled stuff or something that he had done that was not covered under warrantee or not. Therefore, it was a bit difficult to get solid answers with only part of your story as an example. However, I did find that at least one person recently had their warrantee extended by the company for the full amount of time they had the bike in the shop. I have also seen similar circumstances in favor of the owner listed on the IMZ ste in the past, but they don't keep all the old posts, so I could no tpull exact examples in their search. I am assuming that the company works with folks on a case by case basis. I know they gave me extra time on my warrantee, even though I didn't purchase my Troyka from a Ural dealership. I am thiking that your friend could have asked for the additional time from IMZ, and if his work was a warrantee issue, likely have gotten it. I wasn't there though, so I don't know the exact circumstances. I have seen a multitude of times that IMZ did replace warrantee items, when it was very questionable if the part was covered or not. Owners themselves have posted this at the IMZ site.

As another foilist said in seveal previous posts on various Ural web boards, "Urals aren't for everyone." Everyone has their own particular tastes, but over the years the rigs have become more and more reliable. In fact, the most common problem for new rigs these days on most Ural sites seems to be broken flashers, and not the alternators, same electrical gremlins, and loose bolts of the past. You find many of the sites have the owners spending more time in telling jokes and discussing ride events or riding accessories, than actually discussing major problems that were the QA problems of the past. Often, the problems discussed at these sites are of the owner's making, and not something from the factory at all.

The fact that a Ural wasn't the right choice for you, doesn't seem to jive with recommending someone else not to purchase one. That is, unless you can give some specific examples that are inherant to all Urals. After all, you may have gotten a lemmon. It could be that you expected something much more from the machine that it was designed to do. I have seen a few fellows post at the IMZ site where that was indeed the case. Buyer's remorse was quick to set in for them, but their woes were not something that was reflective of most of the Ural rigs being sold, in reality. Since the 750cc came into vogue, the rig has really improved in performance, durability, dependability, and owner satisfaction each year. Hard to find a complete sidecar unit being sold that can make the same claim these days.

One thing though, the warranty is touted as the best in the business. However, one has to hope that the phrase will change in the future to "the least used warrantee in the business."

No flack toward you not wanting a Ural to be in your stable. It is a personal choice, after all. However, I am very glad I made a Ural selection and would recommend them to anyone who knows just what they are getting and mates it with their expectations. Hope the dealer network improves in the future, but most of the maintenance is simplistic enough that I can do it myself. That is indeed a major accomplishment.
Huey

Thanks Huey and you too Dave, I appreciate all I am reading in this Forum and am happy to be one of its newer members.
I have researched Ural motorcycles and sidecars for 2 full years, which includes reading the history from their trip into Russia from Switzerland. I also have read the book by Carla King and even emailed her with a couple of questions. Her replies were positive, too. BTW:Carla runs a Triumph, I believe.
I was first attracted to them by the prices, something I could afford. Then as I began to read I got a bit apprehensive because of the troubles they were having early on.
From what I gather things have changed drastically over the past two years. My bike is a new 2007 Tourist LX. I am well aware of, you get what you pay for. I may be taking a risk. This was not the 1st risk I ever took. But, hell, I ain't getting any younger so I better move whole I still can. :O)

I even flunked the first written test I took for motorcycles driving in NH(I was stunned) :O), but I passed the 2nd time.

What I am most apprehensive about now is the learning curve for sidecar use. I can't wait to get on that rig and get a feel for her. Right now I'm over my ears in right curves, flying sidecars, left curves, weights for the sidecar, etc.

I owned two Harleys years ago and if I could afford it right now I'd buy a BMW.

PaulBee
pboufford@verizon.net

"Don't take yourself too damn seriously"

I wish both of you and all Ural and Dnepr owners the best of luck. The only Russian/Ukrainian item left on my Dnepr is the front end forks and a serial #, anyone needing a rebuilt telescopic Dnepr Front forks? I'm cutting them off as soon as I find another front-end.

I've been inside Ural engines; I post on the Ural/IMZ forum also. See ENGINE SEIZE and the bent crank shaft! http://imzwa.secureforum.com/

Any engine that utilizes multiple piece press together crankshafts (3 or 5 pieces) scares me. At least a Dnepr has a one piece forged unit. Casting quality is questionable; I guess I'm a perfectionist after working in the Aerospace, Power Generation, Oil Refining, Construction, and Industrial Manufacturing Industries. Not to mention some of the finest Wineries in the Napa Valley.

I've owned and restored/rebuilt Flat Heads, Hemi Heads, Nail Heads, Wedge Heads, Iron Heads, Shovel, Pan, Block Heads (never had a Knuckle), and multitudes of others. My 1966 Porsche 911 engine was a work of art. But I question why Ural owners call their bikes Foil Heads (as in tin?) Why do they refer to Urals as Foil Heads?

Dave

Dave sounds like you haven't worked at anything long enough to be an expert on any, maybe that goes for bikes, also.

Originally written by thekid on 6/25/2007 5:04 PM

Dave sounds like you haven't worked at anything long enough to be an expert on any, maybe that goes for bikes, also.

I'm sorry “KID” if I intimidate you, you’re not the first, not the last. I know I intimidated you by your snippy smart ass statement, now the whole forum knows also!

Where did I ever say I was an expert?

If I talk the talk, you can bet I can walk the walk.

Do you need a tube of Lok-Tite also?

Dave
This is one of my past engines:

In my car (One of only 72) Picture taken in 1979 Fairfield CA. I bought this car for $1,000 plus my 1959 GMC pickup powered my a Tri-Power Pontiac SD421 in 1977:

Also seen here many years later here:
http://www.moparts.org/moparts/carshow/2001/User2/jimk.html
Also Center Fold in Mopar Muscle in 1990

I have many others, but I like my Diesel Bikes out of all my past toys.
My next motorcycle engine:

Now to top it off, I'm not rich, I was put on Social Security for my mental disorder in 2004 (Bipolar, Tourettes, PTSD). VA Doctor knew I was crazy because I was running my Cummins on pure Walnut oil. My mission is to show others how to run thier bikes on non-toxic fuel, and get 100+ mpg. Now what have you accomplished?

See, when you are too clever, people call you crazy or a know it all, I just figure out things faster than most, and I can spot an ass a mile away.

For being the profectionist you profess, you could not have found many of the various engines and rigs you mentioned to be much different than a Ural in reality. HD has had a large history of negatives regarding parts flying off, falling off, dropping off and so forth. In some degree it was well deserved to have that negative press. Same goes for just about any other make out there, as at some point they have each had various problems. Ural did indeed have a similar negative press with the alternatior probems and electrical gremlins of the past. However, the past seems to be well behind them these days, and I suspect it is the same for HD as well.

Many sidecarists have quite a varied back ground of motorcycle and automotive experience. It really isn't a badge of honor to have such, as the Ural is generally simplistic enough that being a rocket scientist isn't a qualifier for ownership. The nomer of "foil head" is just a tongue and cheek expression that is a take off from the original foil hat joke that is at the core of the foil community. Referring to the engine as a foil head is much the same. From your post it didn't seem like you understood that and have somehow translated it to mean something else. The foil are good about putting themselves down in a joking manner, and also good about not taking themselves too overly seriously for the most part. Many ride other bikes as back up or just for fun rides and are just as quick to respond to anyone putting them down without good cause. Some love the Urals they ride, and some are well equiped to discuss problem issues that are related to the pros and con choices someone else may want to know about making a decision to purchase one or not. Me, I haven't had any real issues, so I am pretty pro at this point, but I can listen to someone who has had issues and learn from their take on things as well. There is a lot of give and take when it comes to real problems though, and not something that an owner did to themselved and was no fault of the manufacturer.

Actually I did look at your history at the IMZ site. You hadn't been there long and hadn't posted all that much as a member, judging by their statistics. Your posts regarding the seized engine were only solidified by you as to your theory that a back fire caused the problems with the crank bending. Just about everyone was more suspect of a hydrolock as the problem or even a broken shift cog. As you stated in the post, you didn't do a full tear down of the engine, so there was an absence of information to begin with. That was also the initial reason I was trying to find out if the information you were conveying about your friend and his particular warranty issue was correct or not. It didn't seem to jive with what my personal experience had been, nor with what others had said on the site. It seemed instead to be mis-information or misrepresented information. Jury is still out on that one though, as there wasn't enough info provided in your initial post to make that call at this point.

Shoot, I don't blame anyone for spooking over a crank made from multiple parts. That is, any more than a ton of others made the same way in the antique automobile industry. Shoot, flat head engines were known to overheat easily, but I still love them in a hot rod. Boxer engines will do the same in a Ural or a BMW, but I still love them. Like say, Urals are not for everyone.

Your background is nice and probably looks great on a resume', but who the heck cares when it comes to motorcycles that don't really take rocket science to operate and use? The common fellow is just as well equiped to have a nice machine and be every bit as much a perfectionist to boot. The most common problem on Urals are headscratchers that will fool you immediately, as the remedy is so overly simplistic, you just forgot to look at it first. Having every degree in the world is icing on the cake, but not necessary to have fun on a good machine and to maintain it properly.

As previously stated, Urals have come a long, long way in the past few years. They