For those of you who are into coffee, I found this little article that might interest some of you. I admit it. I am a coffee snob. I try not to be obnoxious about it, but let the record show: I enjoy a really great cup of coffee. But pay $4 a cup for it? No way. Even snobs have their limits. Over the years, I’ve learned that a really good cup of coffee has less to do with money and more to do with knowledge and care. In fact—and this is the amazing thing—the more I learn, the less I spend. BEANS. Purchase whole bean coffee as soon after it has been roasted as possible. Freshness is the key to a superb cup of coffee. Purchase in small amounts—only as much as you can use within 2 weeks of being roasted. RATIO. The perfect ratio of coffee beans (prior to grinding) and water is: One-half cup whole beans to 8 cups of water. GRIND. Grind your beans as close to brew time as possible. A burr or mill grinder that crushes the beans is preferable to a blade grinder that cuts them. Once ground, coffee should be used immediately. WATER. If your water is highly chlorinated use bottled or filtered water. It must be right at 200 F, just short of boiling temperature, when it hits the dry grinds. This is critical to creating a great cup of coffee. Consume immediately. STORE. The enemies of roasted coffee beans are air, moisture, heat and light—in that order. Keep your beans in an airtight container that is not close to moisture (sink, dishwasher), heat (oven, stove) or light (countertop). Do not store your daily coffee in the refrigerator or freezer because contact with moisture causes it to deteriorate. For larger quantities of roasted beans that you cannot use within 2 weeks, wrap in airtight bags and store for up to a month in the freezer—making sure the beans are completely protected against moisture. Once removed from the freezer, do not return. BUY. Most supermarkets offer high-quality, roasted coffee beans for $.60 to $1 per ounce ($9.50 - $16.00 per pound). Ouch! Discount warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s and B.J.’s have considerably less expensive coffee at about $9 a pound for name brands like Starbuck’s and Peet’s. Still, that’s too rich for my blood. ROAST. I roast my own coffee for two reasons: It is infinitely better tasting and half the price. I purchase green coffee beans by mail order for about $4 - $6 a pound, depending on current conditions and variety. I started out roasting in a popcorn popper (West Bend’s Poppery II is ideal) and have graduated to a small coffee roaster. My favorite resource for everything from roasting instructions to green coffee beans is http://www.u-roast-em.com/. Owner Jim Cameron has a wealth of knowledge and is anxious to share. You won’t believe how easy it is to roast coffee. And enjoyable, too. I roast only one-week’s worth at a time—about twenty minutes. Green coffee beans have an indefinite, useful shelf life of at least a year, and probably two or longer. But I’ll never know. Coffee beans just don’t last that long around my house!

Hi. I just joined the community. I have a sheep farm and use a Polaris 500HO, Polaris 700efi and a JD Gator 825i for different jobs around the farm. I do all the repairs myself so I am sometimes needing some advice and maybe I can be of some help to others as well.

hello i am a new member to Quad Crazy i own a 2000 warrior 350 and just bought a Kawasaki Lakota sport 300 with a blown top end

Looking to do some work and upkeep service to my 2005 Honda 350 FE. Looking forward to the forum.

welcome to quad crazy i am a new member myself

no the engine is not to bad bottom end was in good shape replace the piston and cylinder already cylinder head cleaned up very well going to lap the valves in a lil bit

Welcome all! Always glad to hear from new members. The Lakota sounds like a fun project . Hopefully the engine is not too roached out.

Hello and welcome!

Hello and welcome!

Hello. I'm new to the forum, I live in the UK. I have just bought a 1995 Yamaha Moto 4 350. Generally the condition isn't too bad (I paid very little for it!), it looks quite original and all the plastics are quite good. The bad bits are no brakes, the rear axle bearings are shot and the transmission won't shift through the gears properly. I'm not planning on a full rebuild but I would like to sort it out a bit. The transmission is my main concern. If anyone has any ideas on what might be the cause I would be grateful. I can explain what's happening in more detail if required. Thanks everyone, Kester

Welcome! I'm new here too and looking forward to learning and sharing my knowledge.

I'm a new member too! Welcome!

Welcome. New member myself. I've been wrenching on quads since 2005. I have seven older rigs that always need something done to them.

Wow! Thank you. So I must have a QuadRunner, has auto trans w/reverse and electric start. After the VIN is LT230E and then a stamped letter "H". Any idea what "H" is for? Mfr. Date is 06/86

Hello 4Trax, I'm a new member too. I found this site looking for service manuals as well. I'm sure that Honda will give many years of good service. I have been looking for an older Honda myself but around here they are hard to find and overpriced if you do find one. Good luck with your Honda.

Thanks Gwbarm, Bought it a couple years ago, drove it lightly and decided it should have an oil change. LOL well I can never just do an oil change, decided that a couple of bends in the rack needed repair and the next thing you know I'm all in. I'm to the stage now I could shure use the correct service manual which I have only been able to find on this site, so I'm working my way through the posts. It's a bit tough to help others when you are just learning yourself anyway I'll get there and I have already picked up a few decent ideas. Have a great day!

Welcome! Glad to have you, Hondas are great machines.

Hi Mech, I rode a 1987 Kawasaki klf300 growing up. I assume the yamaha will shift similar? While rocking it, the first shift up from neutral most times doesn't find a gear, second shift does and then the next shift might find "neutral" (the light doesn't light). Thanks for the help.

Hi. Welcome along. You'd better explain in more detail how the shift's working (or not). I take it you're used to bike shifters ? Know about using the throttle to get them to change nicely etc.. ? Rocking the bike to get it to go in or out of a gear sometimes, (especially if the engine's not running) ?

It will be tough to get some of the parts for that machine because China makes a design for a while and then ditches it and makes something else, leaving the buyer high and dry. I agree that it has similarities to the newer GY6 engines. The VIN number at this point would only tell you the year (10 character is the model year code) because as I`ve said, they`ve moved on. If you want my unsolicited advice, your time and money would be better spent on something else. I would find a Japanese made one if you want a fixer-upper. At least you would have a quality machine when you are finished. I always tell my customers to avoid anything made in China.

Check the timing if valves aren't the problem. Sounds like timing is 180 off.

Glad I could be of some help....However,,,I dont do anything that is Mentioned here....My Dad sent me this because he hates the way I drink the stuff....I fill my Coffee Filter 3/4 Full or so to 12 Cups of water and Walk away....Brand Doesnt matter....It pretty much all tastes the same to me at that Consistency....Whatever is Cheaper when I hit the Store is what I buy!!! The guys at work have Made the Coffee maker OFF LIMITS to me...Last time I made coffee 2 Guys got the Shakes and Puked....