14th
April
2008
Hybrid Hydrogen Oxygen has become quite the popular topic over the last few years due in part to the continuous raising of gas prices. Many people like yourself want to know how these HHO systems work and how they can produce HHO fuel to make a car run without damaging it at all. All tough questions, but we have just as many answers below.1. Are HHO Systems Hard To Assemble?If you are reading this and already have doubts about whether or not you’ll be able to put something together under the hood of your car just hold on. We understand there are several people who feel the same way, but there is both a book and video instruction available for these HHO systems that make it quite easy. You’ll get to see a picture and video later, but it’s basically the size of a large jelly jar called an Electrolyzer Hydrogen Generator.2. How Do HHO Fuel Systems Work?We want you to understand everything without getting overloaded with information where you aren’t sure where it begins or stops. HHO fuel is produced thanks to the Electrolyzer creating a mix of hydrogen and oxygen for the engine of your car, better known as Brown’s gas. This is then sent to the intake manifold or carburetor depending on the vehicle and creates better mileage, a calmer engine, faster acceleration, and many other benefits to save you money.Understanding Why This Is Important NowListen, we know everyone out there including yourself has lost something because of the rising costs of gas. It may be a night out for entertainment, something you were planning on buying, or even serious issues pertaining to health like going to the doctor. We could list thousands of other takeaways, but you get the idea. If an HHO system can save you money on gas, get more miles to the gallon throughout the week, help global warming, and keep your vehicle in top performance what else do you need? Hopefully, just a point in the right direction to take back what is rightfully yours.
posted in Future Fuels |
14th
April
2008
This has to be one of the most popular subjects around the internet today thanks to the war and rising costs of fuel. It’s funny how little things you do can give your vehicle gas mileage improvements everyday. Now, with the information we are about to provide you, don’t expect it to increase your mileage at a rate of 100% or anything of that nature. However, just keep remembering that every little bit helps.1. Gas Mileage Improvements Without Spending A PennyThere are three ways to improve gas mileage an individual or family can do without it becoming a financial burden. The first deals with simply parking your car in the shade. Sounds a little absurd right? Well, it’s not, and in fact, it can give your vehicle gas mileage improvements because the sun on hot days in the spring and summer can evaporate gas just from your car sitting there. The other two deal with keeping your tires inflated, checking them at least once week, and making your car lighter, getting rid of dead weight.2. Other Ways For Just A Little MoreYes, gas mileage improvements can be easily made, but sometimes they cost a little to reap the rewards. Something as simple as purchasing an air filter and replacing your old one is just one of many ways to improve gas mileage. If you want another 3% increase then go out and purchase radial tires. We aren’t saying today, but the next time you need new ones make sure they are radial. Then, of course, getting an engine tune-up will always improve your gas mileage and is necessary to keep your car in the best shape.Understanding The SituationThese have all been proven to help your vehicle get the best gas mileage improvements possible. There are others as well, like turning on the AC while you’re driving on the highway. Whatever the reason we need everything we can get right? If you just feel like the money you are making every week is mostly going to gas to get back and forth to work, its time to make a change. Take back the $3-$4 a gallon you are spending on gas today and instead of having to buy more in a week, make it ten days. Over time if you use these suggestions above they will help more than you know.
posted in Driving Tips |
14th
April
2008
Usually on a sport bike the exhaust system interferes with the mounting of saddlebags therefore a tank bag makes more sense. Having said that there are some saddlebag types that are made specifically to fit on sport touring bikes. Their design is such that there is enough clearance to allow the exhaust to pass the bags. The other consideration is the space requirements that you are looking for and how a set of motor cycle saddlebags is going to affect the look of your bike versus a tank bag. Saddlebags are made from a variety of materials these days leather saddlebags are still very popular these days however most of them have plastic linings to keep your stuff dry if you get caught in the rain as well as maintaining the shape of the bags if they are empty. Tank Bags are generally not made from leather but rather from synthetic water proof materials that either have a waterproof lining or come with a cover that fits of the tank bag and protects it from the rain.Motor Cycle Saddlebags are usually the more popular choice on cruiser bikes because these types of cycles are made to have some sort of storage system mounted. When making a choice on what you get keep in mind what your purpose is for getting the bags. If you just want them for trips when you go out of town then you want to look at a set of luggage that is easily removed. Lots of those are available or choose a permanently mounted system which ties in to your bike and is not easily removed. Usually if you get something that is permanent its not just for storage but also to enhance the looks of your cycle. A nice set of leather motor cycle saddlebags should do that quite nicely. On the other hand if you just want something to throw on the bike for longer trips I would look at a set of touring luggage which will give you the most storage and will easily mount on to the bike and just as easily come off. That way when you get to where you are going you can shed the luggage and leave it at the site or your hotel room and go out and tear up some road. Now for Sport Bike’s a tank bag is usually the easiest way to create storage for yourself. Magnetic mounting systems are usually used on these making it easy for you to mount the tank bag and remove it. I have however herd that some magnetic tank bags can interfere with your electronic fuel injection system since it is a computer and magnets do affect that. Having said that I have a magnetic tank bag on a fuel injected bike and have never had a problem. If you are concerned about this I would go and get a tank bag that has a different mounting system. Their are a few that don’t use magnets however most of today’s tank bags will use a combination of magnet and some sort of tie down to keep the bag in place. Generally on sport bikes just the magnets in the bag are enough to keep it place since it is usually sitting behind a fairing the wind does not effect it however I have used a tank bag on my cruiser and it needs an extra tie down that snaps on and ties down around the neck of the bike to keep it in place. Most of your tank bags these days are made from synthetic material that are waterproof and protect your gear from the elements. Another convenience factor on most of these bags is that they generally have a handle and even backpack straps are part of some, so you can easily pull them off your bike when you need to go inside of a place. Also I would recommend you look at the dimensions and try and find something that suits your needs. You can find tank bags that are big enough to fit several days worth of clothes and gear or a small bag that is good for tooling around town or a day trip. You will find most of them are expandable this makes it versatile enough to use for different applications.Their are many manufacturers of motor cycle saddlebags and tank bags to choose from. We currently carry biker luggage by the following manufacturers in our online catalog: Chase Harper, Nelson Rigg, Saddlemen, T-Bags, Hopnel, Dowco, Willie and Max, Kuryakyn, Ace, Axio, and Iron Horse. For more information on any of these please visit our section on Saddlebags, Tank Bags and Rolls or contact us directly so we can assist you further.
posted in Motocycles |
14th
April
2008
Getting a custom motorcycle seat or saddle for your bike is likely to be the best investment to improve rider comfort that you will ever make. The Stock seats or saddles are generally not made from the most comfortable of materials and after about 30 minutes or an hour of riding the foam has collapsed and you are sitting on the plastic pan instead of on a comfortable seat. The other thing you will find is that a custom seat or an aftermarket saddle by some of the more popular manufacturers will also improve the lines of your bike. There are several very popular manufacturers for this type of a modification. Probably the most well known is Corbin. Corbin makes some very nice custom seats for most types of motorcycles including sport and cruiser bikes. Sargent is another very well known maker. Sargent just like Corbin makes seats and saddles for a variety of cycles. Danny Gray makes some really nice benches and saddles for cruisers. Mustang makes the more traditional looking OEM Replacements. Now most of these brands are readily available at most shops and will come in a variety of custom finishes, however if you want a true custom seat you are likely to have to go to the manufacturer directly or find a local upholstery shop that can make you one.Corbin motorcycle seats have been around for quite a while. These guys know how to make a quality seat that will give the rider comfort. Everything they make is made from the highest quality materials and will generally last for the life of your bike under normal conditions. Corbin uses its own patented Comfort Cell Foam which is designed to give you the most comfortable ride. Corbin is also proud to be an American company that does all its manufacturing here in the
USA. They are headquartered in an 82,000 Square Foot facility in the small town of
Hollister CA. Replacing your stock seat with a Corbin will be one of the best changes you will ever make to your bike. You will notice you can go twice as far and be less fatigued.Sargent motorcycle seats are another great choice when it comes to choosing a custom saddle for your bike. Sargent makes a variety of models made to fit most popular sport bikes. Sargent quality is very comparable to Corbin. One nice thing about the Sargent is that when you get it it is ready to slap on the bike where with the Corbin you have to usually remove some components from your old saddle to make it work. I have a Sargent on my Ducati and I can guarantee it was one of the best additions to my bike that I ever spent money on. I can now rider for quite a long time before things get uncomfortable. Before with the stock piece 30 minutes and they foam would have completely given in and I am sitting on plastic which does not make for a fun ride.Danny Gray and Mustang mainly specialize in benches and saddles for cruisers. Danny Gray makes some very nice two up seats for cruisers and Mustang makes a wide variety of motorcycle seats with a more vintage and stock look but with much improved comfort for the rider.So when you decide to replace your OEM seat with a new one you might want to take a look at Crobin, Sargent, Danny Gray or Mustang for a quality replacement. Generally prices currently range from $250 to $500 and up for a quality custom saddle.
posted in Motocycles |
14th
April
2008
Accidents on the road are often broadcasted over the news. Many lost their loved ones because of car accidents. It is important that precautionary measures are taken before and while you are on the road to avoid such accidents from happening. Here are some car safety tips to help you arrive at your destination safely.Make sure that your car is in good condition. Car manufacturers usually recommend a maintenance schedule for their car. If you can, follow the schedule, if not, have your car checked regularly. Make sure that your car is in good shape, whether you are driving to the next block or planning a long trip.Buckle up before driving. Make sure that your passengers have fastened their seatbelts as well. Make sure that everyone securely strapped. You can never underestimate the capacity of that strip to save life.Keep both hands on the wheel. Position your right hand at the right end of the wheel’s diameter and position the other hand to the opposite side. This will allow you to have a good grip and control over the wheel just in case you need to make a sudden swerve,Focus on the road when you are driving. Look forward and that includes scanning through the traffic ahead. By doing so, you will be able to spot problems and will have enough time to avoid them. You will also be able to respond accordingly if there are risky road conditions.Before you pull into an intersection look both ways. Scan for cars and make sure that it is clear before actually pulling in. The cars in the intersection usually rush through, it may not be there the first time you looked, but you’d be surprise with its loud beep just when you are about to drive through.Avoid doing something else while you are driving. Most drivers have a habit of grooming themselves while driving. Some use their mobile phones. Others eat even read while driving. No matter how good you are in driving, doing something else while you are driving will divide your attention. This will also impair your ability to respond if there are sudden irregularities in the traffic.Be familiar with your car’s performance. Check how it reacts to certain conditions. Is it easy to maneuver when you are driving fast? Does it stop immediately once you hit the brakes? This will help you know the limitations of your car.Don’t try to beat the red light. This is one of the common causes of accidents in intersections. It’s not worth the risk at all.Be mindful of blind spots when changing lanes. It is not advisable to rely on your rear view mirror because there might be cars behind you that you cannot see. It is best to physically turn your head to make sure that it’s clear.And finally, don’t drive if you are under the influence of alcohol. You may claim that you are not drunk but that will affect your ability to pay attention on the road. It may also cause you to fall asleep.To avoid accidents, keep your eye on the road and focus on driving. Position your hands properly so that you can easily maneuver the wheel just in case a situation calls for it.
posted in Driving Tips |
14th
April
2008
Biodiesel can extend the life of your engine whether it is in your diesel equipped auto, truck, tractor, bus or highway rig. Biodiesel can increase the longevity of your engine by up to 100 %. Costs are reduced – whether it be for maintenance or vehicle replacement. The engine last longer , breaks down less frequently resulting in longer vehicle life spans , greater reliability and overall less vehicle costs – again be it diesel equipped auto , car, truck ,tractor or highway rig.How can this be so? The improved lubrication properties of biodiesel over regular vehicle diesel fuel results in increased parts longevity by up to 100 %. As a result commercial vehicles may be used for decades as well as travel millions of miles. Increased engine longevity translates into reduced maintenance costs, longer life spans and overall increases in reliability.Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils, animal fats and cooking oils that are processed so that it can be added to diesel fuel as an additive. You cannot just mash up these fats and mix them with your diesel fuel. It is not as if any old Alvero character can make biodiesel in his garage at home. If the biodiesel is not prepared properly in a qualified industrial process – the contaminants of water, glycerols and other trace elements can well clog up your fuel injectors or even an expensive injection pump. Properly done biodiesel is a safe and beneficial fuel additive – now being routinely recommended and touted by major vehicle and diesel engine manufacturers.Prepared properly in a commercial setting. and bought commercially you can be assured that not only will the biodiesel will be safe for your engine to use – but will even give the benefits of much greater engine life , enhanced reliability and lower maintenance costs overall.Biodiesel is added to the regular diesel fuel. The percentage added depends on the climate the vehicles or autos will be used in. In warmer climates – such as tropical or
Florida type climates – a percentage mixture of up to 20 % can be used. A 20 % biodiesel percentage in a truck driven up North to
Edmonton
Canada in the cold of winter will thicken up in the cold
Alberta winter weather.In such a cold winter temperature a biodiesel mixture ratio of 5 % would probably be used. To increase the blends of biodiesel used commercial vehicles such as trucks and busses can have fuel heaters installed – either inline fuel heaters of fuel tank heaters.Why go to all this trouble for biodiesel ? First of all biodiesel is a renewable resource – crops such as soybean oil or canola can be used instead of scarcer and more expensive petroleum oil based products. Using biodiesel doe mean that we use less regular diesel, however the percentages of biodiesel use are relatively small. For example most diesel manufacturers recommend only 5 biodiesel (B5 mixed wit 95 % regular diesel. Of course again in colder climates such as
Edmonton Alberta the percentages may be eve less. Biodiesel is also good for reducing emissions and pollution levels of sulphur, carbon monoxide as well as overall tailpipe smog pollutants.However as with most good things in life there are disadvantages to the use of biodiesel as a vehicle fuel additive. First biodiesel has slightly less energy than regular diesel fuel, so that the larger the percentage content of the Biodisel in the fuel – the less power the engine will have to deliver. Fortunately at the low percentages of biodiesel being used as a fuel additive this is not a major issue.In addition biodiesel spoils with time. If the biodiesel is too be stored for a long period of time – then additional additives must be added.As a result of its benefits to reducing petroleum oil use and increasing engine life and reliability biodiesel has a bright and emerging future in our transportation and automotive industries.The use of biodiesel – an alternative renewable fuel, is fast on its way up.
posted in Future Fuels |
14th
April
2008
The next time you are in need of tires for your vehicle, you may want to consider buying them online. This is a relatively new way to shop for tires, but it is catching on quickly as people learn about the option. Online tires can definitely save you money!It is quite easy to find the exact tires you need for your car, truck, van or SUV. There are several tire dealers who have an online presence, and a web search will ferret them out for you. Once you have chosen a dealer, go to their site and choose your vehicle by inputting the make and year, model and option. Then, you will choose the type of tire you would like to buy. You can choose from passenger tires, performance tires, truck and SUV tires, or tires manufactured especially for winter driving. You can also specify the tire brands you are most interested in.Once this is done, you will be taken to a page of tire choices that will work on your vehicle. You are normally given quite a lot of detail about these tires, too. Things that are important, but that you might not think of when purchasing tires, such as traction, ride comfort, and whether or not a certain tire will give you a quiet ride are all covered for each brand of tire your search found.Better Deal When Buying A Whole SetWhen you have decided on the type of tire you want, click on an icon to add the tires to your shopping cart. It is possible to purchase just one tire, but you get the best deal when buying 4 tires at a time. At this time, you are also usually given the option of purchasing some sort of replacement plan for your tires, which varies depending on the dealer.The best part of buying tires online is that there are usually no shipping charges. Normally, there is a small charge for balancing, valve stems, tire disposal fees and so on, but mounting and an alignment check for your tires is usually on the house.Tire DisposalYou may be wondering about that tire disposal fee and how it works when buying tires online. The tires are not shipped directly to you, but to a dealer who will contact you when they arrive. You then take your car in to have the tires put on. Simply give the online dealer your Zip code at the time you order your tires, and they will automatically be shipped to the closest location to you. It just doesn’t get any easier than this!If by chance you own a vehicle that takes an odd sized tire that you have had trouble finding locally, online tires can save you a lot of time and trouble. It is easy for an online vendor to have access to a large number of different tire brands and sizes, so you are almost sure to have no problem finding the tires you need. This option for purchasing tires is sure to save you both time and money!
posted in Maintenance |
14th
April
2008
When traveling with a child in the car, parents must ensure that they follow strictly and comply with child safety seat regulations for the maximum safety of their kid. The state governments of the
US require the strict observance of these regulations, knowing that the young children can suffer the most injuries in case of accidents. Traveling with the kids without these measures strictly followed would reflect some gross irresponsibility for the children by their parents.A child restraint system secures the kid with an infant safety seat while the family is traveling on the road. There is a standard design for this used in most states with the child facing to the rear of the car. Regulations of different states differ only in terms of the penalties imposed for non-complying parents. There are some variations also in the ages of children in allowing them to face to the front from the mandatory rear-facing positions required of the smallest infants.The seating of a child, whether facing to the front or to the rear of the car, is most vital considering that the most harm can happen to the kids when they are facing in the wrong directions when accidents happen, like frontal car collisions. A small child seating in the front seat will be open to harm from a deploying air bag. Hence, parents must see to it that the child faces to the rear for as long as possible as they grow in weight and size.There are many models of these infant safety seats in the market. Parents are free to choose the types that they want. The common characteristics of these seats are that they have harnesses and straps that conform to the baby’s small body measurements, depending on the baby’s age.While some models can be of the convertible type (babies seat facing to the rear, or facing to the front), most are made and designed for attachment to the rear portion of a car seat with the baby in a position facing to the rear. Babies, especially those less than a year old, should seat facing to the rear. The rear-facing position is the safest for them.One other advantage for a rear-facing position is that it is in this type of sitting arrangement that neck injuries to the child can be avoided, since the back of the seat can be a good support to the infant’s head when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, as what happens on impact in a vehicle frontal collision incident. A child facing to the front risks the head snapping forward without any support and this could cause a severe injury to the neck.A parent should not travel/drive singly with the infant, even if the baby is in an infant safety seat. Since the baby is positioned at the back of the car’s front seat and facing to the rear, another adult must be at the back seat to monitor the baby’s condition all the time. A young infant would certainly need the care and attention of a human being, very much more than what an infant safety seat can provide.
posted in Driving Tips |
14th
April
2008
As far fetched as it sounds, there are actually several blueprints available that will show you exactly how to run a car on water and how to do so safely and with very little investment.Scientists have been working on a way to use water for gas for several years. Some have actually been driving their own water powered cars for some time now. For some reason, the government hasn’t gotten on board in this development, but rather has opted for pushing the electric, or hybrid cars instead. If you’ve got an extra $30,000 to $50,000 to spend on a hybrid that’s great! Most of us don’t! Blueprints for converting our current cars to run on water are available all over the internet. Prices for these plans run from around $100 down to about $45. There may be some even lower as competition is beginning to build.With the plans you will learn that you won’t get to use water as fuel in 100% capacity. You will still need gas, but these methods will increase your mileage by as much as 200%! It will also burn much cleaner which is a plus for the environment. You will get plans to build the conversion kit yourself. It is not difficult and all of the necessary parts are easily available at the hardware store. The total costs for parts should be under $50.The experts say this is 100% safe for all cars and trucks. Many of the websites about running your car with water have great videos that cover the safety issue in detail.This morning I spent $85 to fill my tank. That was the last straw for me as I still had over a quarter tank when I pulled into the station. I’m a slow learner, maybe one with too much optimism that oil prices will soon drop. Obviously, I’m wrong about that! The only answer I can see is to begin to run my car with water.
posted in Future Fuels |
14th
April
2008
You’ve heard a lot of people talking about their gas mileage and you still don’t know how to calculate it. If that is true, then you will need to follow some simple steps and you could figure it by yourself really fast.Knowing which is your car’s mileage is really important if you’re planning a long trip and you want to estimate a cost on how much gas you need for it. You could do this by using simple math and by following a couple of steps.First, you will need to fill your gas tank completely and you will have to look at your car’s gauge and check out how many miles you’ve made until then or reset your odometer back to zero if you could do that. Drive your car as you normally drive until your gas tank is almost empty. Now, you will need to check the odometer to see how many miles have you made and write down that number.You will also have to figure out how much gas you have used since you filled-up your gas tank. You could check this at the gas station when you refilled your tank. The number of gallons you will add to fill the tank again it’s the exact number of gallons you’ve used.After you will do all these steps, you will have to divide the number of miles you’ve made with the number of gallons used and that number is your gas mileage. If you want to figure out an average gas mileage for your car, you should repeat this process a couple of times and make the average.There are several differences with gas mileage. For example, the gas mileage for your car should be a lot lower outside the town than the one you will calculate for the time you’re just driving in your town.
posted in Driving Tips |