Prop shaft UJ lubrication

A while since I did this job, its awkward and messy.

The only way I can get on the prop-shaft universal joint grease nipples is with a needle style grease gun adaptor.

After lots of fiddling, depress the nipple ball bearing with the point of the gun and squeeze until the 'crack' and a little ooze indicating the UJ is full. Rear under the disassembled handbrake half-moon,

Front,

Healthy amount of oil in the tunnel, my diff slowly drips some out perhaps half a cup a year and keeps the tunnel area happily lubed. Visual inspection of  all the fuel lines/cables and diff flange bolts while the covers were off - all still secure, attached and no sign of chafing.

Sena SMH5 intercom

More prep for a passenger on the Vienna run, time to finish the intercom modifications.

Components

I'm using a Sena SMH5 motorcycle intercom installed on Howard Leight LO4 shooting ear defenders. The SMH5 is an older model - trying to hit the sweet spot between functionality and price + this version retains the large jog wheel rather than push buttons for volume.

Functionality

- Stereo sound

- Intercom

- Bluetooth audio in from any source

- Music sharing - one headset feed from the radio can share with the passenger

- Phone audio in/out

- Runs from battery, but also functional while being charged from USB 5v - so I can charge it on the run.

The radio is already modified to transmit on bluetooth so this change means I get my default music playback + with the push of a button can talk to the passenger. As a bonus it will also talk to my phone - but thats a mixed blessing - when I'm driving the Zero the last thing I want to be doing is taking phone calls!

Installation

Mods to the ear muffs filing out some grooves to route the wires.

The right ear speaker cable is looped over the headband and secured - one stitched, the other glued. Lets see how robust Gorilla glue really is.

The speakers sit inside the ear muffs attached with velcro, the ear pads clip in - so can be removed for routing cables and re-installed to hide them.

Controls Reference

On the bench and stationary in the garage functionality checks out, needs a test run.

The mic boom attachment may need some adjustment - by design its meant to have another support around the chin area in a helmet which I cannot provide, it may need its velcro fastening replaced with a 3M sponge pad or some 3M dual lock. 

Dungeness day tripping

Headed south today on a run to Dungeness, no particular reason - the sun is shining, the Zero is roadworthy and I'm in the mood for some driving.

Pause at the Britania Inn for refreshment and lunch,

Wander on the beach in fantastic warm weather to let my dinner go down,

Industry, the power station, 

Lighthouses, the first with a curious helter-skelter spiral breakwater at the bottom,

Then return north, the clouds closing in, but some luck here and there with clear roads,

..and of course a random downpour whose silver lining is chance for me to check out the flick wipe's new button location. It worked perfectly without needing to remove my hand from the wheel.

...sun is back, Kent country roads at their best!

A little footage of the return journey:

Perfect

Luggage space

Vienna run pending and potentially I have a passenger so creating some options for 2x kit bags. The second sitting on top of the full boot.

2x seat belt bolts replaced with eyelets behind the seats and a stainless bar across the roll brace diagonals. This should provide plenty of bungee hook on places as well as a physical stop/barrier stopping anything sliding off the back,

Longer bolts to secure extra eye-nuts on the inside.

The rear bar brackets real use is for 25mm tube retail display setup - they seem to be die cast then chromed. The bar between a separately sourced polished stainless tube. The arrangement does compromise boot access somewhat - but all the changes are fully reversible.