Posts by gearhead

  • Has anyone had the control arms powder coated?

    The high temps involved with powder coating may alter the temper of the parts -- if they were tempered. You wouldn't want control arms going soft. Although great protection from corrosion, paint may also obscure cracking. These are very lightweight aluminum parts.

  • Extended hood hinge kits

    The following is NOT an extension kit (the hood will not open any further than stock), however, it allows one to easily open the hood with just one hand. This averts the occasional re-engagement of rear locks when opening the hood. It also helps to avoid putting a lot of stress on the hood skin (there are a few who have suffered splits in their hood skins just above the hood handle from the heavy yanking to open the hood). Just push down the release lever and give the hood handle a light tug. I just went out and opened my hood after sitting for awhile -- easy peasey. This kit may work with extended hinge kits -- but you need to ask the manufacturer about compatibility.


    Slingshot Hood Assist Kit - Slingshot Spot


    I installed this kit a year or so ago. Great quality hardware.

  • Radar detector

    The reason for covering front and back -- is that they can target your car both approaching (from the opposite lane) or while tailing you. I've had the Blinder alarm go off several times, and on all but one occasion I could see either a motorcycle cop off to the side of the road or an approaching cruiser. The laser guns not only measure speed, they also take a picture of your vehicle at the same time and overlay the measured speed on top of the photo -- stands up well in court.


    You need to cover both Left and Right sides (front and rear) as they target the light pods, which are the most reflective to their IR signal. I believe the cone of aim is a little over 18" in diameter at the distances they typically target your vehicle.

  • Radar detector

    Don't know which state you're in, but in Kalifornia it's mostly laser now. Radar might still be used, but it's more and more uncommon. Lasers are administered in the USA by the FDA -- not the FCC -- so jamming is legal. I'm using the Blinder HP-905, with all 4 corners covered by sensors/transmitters. I've also painted over all reflective surfaces with a "transparent" IR absorbing paint, to minimize any return (they target reflective surfaces like license plates and turn signal pods).

  • Engine Stumbling

    Just my 2 cents... I've had water in my gas on a few occasions. This causes intermittent engine stumbling and stalling. This should be less of an issue with the ethanol added to Kalifornia gas, but I've still had it. You can add some "dry gas" to the tank. If that cures the problem, don't go back to that gas station.

  • mirror adjustment

    I seem to remember that it is possible to pry the glass mirror off its backing plate (strong double sided stick tape) using a heat gun, that then gives you access to the internal plastic assembly. It could have been the "dark side" website which had the pics. I also seem to remember that the plastic gimbal tends to crack, so a small hose-clamp was used to cinch up and tighten that gimbal. Then, the glass mirror can be reapplied to the backing plate using 3M double sided body tape.

  • Finally located a video showing the opening of a Slingshot with the Metricks Slingshot Hood Spring kit

    I reinforced my hood lip (where you yank to open the hood) with carbon fiber using West System G5 flex Epoxy. Hoods have been known to split in this area due to the stress of yanking on that thin lip. Being an ex-machinist, the price seems to be what I would expect for small volume production. The aluminum parts are anodized and the springs have to be fabricated.


    Their order page doesn't seem to work with PayPal's -- PayPal just updated their web pages, so you may have to call in your order. I tried their checkout using different browsers, so that wasn't it.

  • Any upgraded rear wheel bearings available?

    Just my 2 cents... The rear wheel pulley is a hefty 14 lbs in weight. THAT can all by itself damage bearings... Imagine slapping your hand against the ground. No big deal. Now imagine slapping your hand against the ground with a 14 lb weight on top of it. The pulley is part of the unsprung weight of the rear axle assembly. It's only cushion is the tire. Still, when driving over a rough railroad crossing you can hear the rattles coming from the rear axle and swingarm. I changed out my OEM iron pulley with a lightweight aluminum pulley within a year or two of getting my slingshot (a '15). No bearing problems.

  • Trying to cool the passenger / glove box.

    You might want to install a turn-off delay relay on that fan... Once you park the Slingshot, that fan's sitting right above one of the hottest parts in the hottest area of the engine compartment... Wouldn't want the plastic on your fan to melt... I've used a FLIR cam on my hood, and the hood registered up to 206F in that area a few minutes after being parked. It can only be hotter underneath.

  • Insurance going up

    This is a trick which has been used by Harley riders in Kali -- mostly for "loud pipe" infractions (and this is often with stock pipes on older bikes)... You get the bill for the ticket in the mail. Take the amount owed and transpose 2 digits and overpay by at least $20. The county sends you a refund check. Shred it. Since the "transaction" is incomplete -- the funds and infraction get put on hold. The counties are greedy, they want the money. So, after a few years this "refund check" times out and they are able to take that refund money and put it into their general fund. The transaction will never be completed and the infraction never appears on your record.

  • painting parts

    My process for painting PE and other plastic panels:


    1: clean with alcohol

    2: very lightly sand

    3: flame treat -- you're only oxidizing a few microns for good adhesion

    4: adhesion agent (there are several on the market)

    5: primer

    6: paint

  • What was today's Sling project-Mods , goodies....?

    If I remember correctly, referencing your last picture, a separate T10 bulb is inserted up from the bottom of the light assembly -- it's not part of the main H3 bulb, which is inserted from the back... There should be a removeable plug on the bottom of the light. The T10 bulb will provide something like a daytime driving light function when your headlights are turned on in Normal setting. The H3 bulb will light and the internal shutter will trigger on Hi-Beam setting...