Break a wrench, or just need some new wrenches? Keep an eye out for bargains at your local hardware, auto parts or home improvement store.

Jerry’s, our local home improvement store, had a sale going on some wee metric wrench sets. I snagged up 2 of wrench sets for $7 each. One set is now in the Ural’s toolkit in the trunk. The other set is in a drawer in the garage where we keep the bicycle tools and accessories.

Not a bad deal. $7 got me 9 metric wrenches, each with an open and ring end:

• 10mm
• 11mm
• 12mm
• 13mm
• 14mm
• 15mm
• 16mm
• 17mm
• 18mm

Adding these to my Ural toolkit also makes it easier to have 2 wrenches for a task – one to tighten the bolt, one to hold the nut.

Did I mention I’m not mechanically inclined?

Oops.

It might be chrome-vanadium and a decent toolkit as toolkits go, but if you still don’t know your lefty-loosey from your righty-tighty, then you’re gonna break s%&^.

So much for the 15mm end of this 14mm/15mm wrench.

On the plus side, I think I’m finally getting down the left/right thing. Mainly, I think lefty-loosey/ righty-tighty is a bunch of feckin’ nonsense. I can never get it set in my brain which way exactly constitutes left — they both can be left, to my odd mind.

How about just… clockwise for tighten, and counter-clockwise for loosen?

So far, that’s working for me. And the rest of the tools are still in one piece.

For now.

Gotta say, I haven’t added much to my Ural yet, save for some mud guards (for the knees) and, once Raceway gets them in stock, a lock for the trunk. I want to have the bike a while before I start going accessory-crazy, but still, there will come a point where Jodie and I will know what we want to add. And that’s where recommendations like these will come in quite handy: Soviet Steeds - Most useful Ural accessory?

“So what’s the most useful accessory you’ve installed ? Mine’s gotta be the extended reverse lever. Very handy, no more bending over while holding in the clutch”

Follow the whole discussion: Soviet Steeds - Most useful Ural accessory?

Far as I know, Ural’s come stock with a wee strip of something around the trunk lid, both to help keep the weather out, and to keep the lid and the trunk metal from clashing/marring paint, etc. Not exactly the heaviest-duty weather-stripping around, of course, but it is something. But is it enough? What can you get for your Ural trunk that’s better? Find out in this discussion: Soviet Steeds - Anyone use a rubber?

“Seal around the trunk lid ? Wink If so, what kind ? I want to keep the rain out and prevent the metal on metal contact. I was looking at a couple of automotive types for door and trunk but they are way too big to fit the Ural. Maybe I’d have better luck at an RV shop ?”

Follow the whole discussion: Soviet Steeds - Anyone use a rubber?

Never thought about this being an issue before. But when it comes to a Ural, now and again you pretty much need to check every visible bolt — right down to the humble bolt on the parking brake, as goes this discussion on Soviet Steeds: Parking Brake Screw

When I went to engage the parking brake I noticed that the screw that is attrached to the parking brake which holds the foot brake down was missing. My question…. Could someone look at the parking brake and describe to me what kind of screw I need to replace it? I remember it had a nut on it as well

By the way, the solution is simple: a M6-1 by 30mm long bolt.

Follow the whole discussion: Parking Brake Screw

When you’re new to something, like being a newbie novice amateur mechanic, fixing even little things like broken turn signals can take some time. I read some message boards, asked some questions and checked with my dealer — which didn’t take nearly as long as it might sound — and had my turn signals working again quickly. Here’s how it all went down:

• Part 1 - Replacing a Broken Ural Turn Signal: My Patrol’s turn signals stop working mid-ride. Probable causes.
• Part 2 - Replacing a Broken Ural Turn Signal: Narrowing down the causes to the flasher unit
• Part 3 - Replacing a Broken Ural Turn Signal: Replacing the flasher unit with a new replacement (covered under warranty, but NAPA part #263 Lit. TS Flasher is another replacement option)

The story so far

Now that I’ve got a good bead on what’s wrong with my turn signals (probably the flasher unit – Part 2) after my turn signals died on me (Part 1), it’s time to get this thing fixed.

Waiting for new warranty replacement flasher

I was going to do this whole thing about going to the auto parts store, but I wound up not having to do anything but wait. Turns out the flasher unit was covered under Ural’s excellent warranty. When I got home from work this afternoon, my new flasher unit had arrived from Raceway. Granted, it’s the same as the one that konked out, but I certainly can’t complain about the price (free).

Pictured above is the old flasher unit, now on its way to Raceway so Jim can take care of whatever he as a dealer needs to take care of with Ural. As for me, the new flasher unit is installed and working… for now.

Dielectric grease on the flasher unit? Dielectric grease is one of these things that I don’t yet know much about (will probably merit its own post), but I know enough from some of the other Ural guys to carry a wee tube of it in my trunk’s kit bag. Someday I’ll learn what it does.

I checked to see if I should slather some on the prongs before installing the new flasher unit, and Wallybob on Soviet Steeds sorted me out. Short answer? No. He also recommends snagging an extra flasher unit, as this one probably will konk out at some point. Good idea.

What if this flasher unit konks out too?

Warranty is warranty. If the flasher unit konks out again, I’ll ask for a replacement, but I’ll also ask if there are options for upgrading to a higher quality unit. Or maybe Ural can reimburse me, or reimburse up to the cost of the original. Something like that.

If I do need to go for a new flasher unit, WKinNJ on Soviet Steeds has this recommendation:

NAPA part #263 Lit. TS Flasher. Little pricy at 25.99 and snug fit because it’s a little larger in diameter but now I can drive without fear of getting run over.

For now though, my turn signals are working again. Time to get back on the road!

Having a windshield or fairing on your motorcycle is very much a matter of personal preference. So far, I’m not fussed about having one, but may consider it at some point. If you’re kicking around getting a windshield or fairing for your Ural motorcycle, you may want to check out this discussion on the IMZ Ural Message Boards: Ural Windshields

“I am not a big fan of the Ural fairings and was wondering what everyone else out there used and approximatly what the cost is. I would like to see an all clear windshield that doesn’t have to punch a ginormous hole thru the air, but yet gives me some relief from the constant air in the face”

Narrowing down the problem

In Replacing a Broken Ural Turn Signal, Part 1, my turn signals had stopped working and I was using the knowledge on the Soviet Steeds message boards to get the gist of what was going on. Now I’m narrowing down the problem, and I’m pretty sure it’s the flasher unit (as opposed to other wiring or fuse issues). Read the rest of this entry »

The dreaded flasher electrical gremlin strikes my Ural Patrol

I’m typing this from Eugene’s 5th Street Beanery, where, despite 8 oz. of a 16 oz. coffee coursing through my veins, I must report my first true problem: On the ride over, my turn signals stopped working.

Luckily, I knew this might happen. Read the rest of this entry »