Tag: DIY

Fluorescent Finale

The ubiquitous 4 foot fluorescent tube may soon be a mere memory. LED technology has revolutionized almost every other light in our homes – the flickering fluorescent is next.

But there’s no need to start ripping out fixtures. Just as LED bulbs are available for your reading lamp, the newest offerings in Ballast Bypass tubes convert your Fifties fluorescent to a modern lighting solution. Most are plug-and-play so you can retain the existing ballast and wiring, or bypass it for a trouble-free glow.

Look familiar? It’s the same familiar pins… but there’s no glass or mercury inside! These bulbs from Hykolity fit right in place of a T8 or T12 fluorescent.

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Zen and the Art of OBDII

My first Ducati was quite a learning experience. Out of the gate my head was swirling with new and strange stuff: keyless ignition, timing belts, desmodromic valves, and… the dreaded onboard diagnostics.

TL:DR
Freeware software is available for DIY diagnostics and resets. Use these cables to connect to the Ducati onboard diagnostics. This applies to 2010 thru 2014 motorcycles – and possibly others?

A roadside stop on the Ducati Multistrada in Tulsa.
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Desmo Demystified

Ducati is considered by many to be the Ferrari of motorcycles. The comparison is well deserved. In addition to a long racing history, Ducatis are a joy to ride, expensive, beautiful and a pain in the ass to work on.

A simple desmodromic valvetrain in action.

Let’s focus on that last one.

Synonymous with the name Ducati is the term “Desmo,” short for desmodromic. A desmo valvetrain does not rely on springs to close the intake and exhaust valves. A cam lobe opens the valve, and another cam lobe closes the valve. This design has been used on almost all Ducati motorcycles since 1968.

TL:DR
Make your desmo service easier with these recommended tools and helpful video.

Continue reading Desmo Demystified

Pennytech: Simple Lightbox

Snapping product photos for eBay or Facebook Marketplace just got a whole lot easier! Using this simple lightbox you can shoot on a blank “infinite” background to emphasize the item, instead of your surroundings.

amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “maduko-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_design = “enhanced_links”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B07922MDPG”; amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “30b2e4916d8809ea233d048b4d6c3f90”; //z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US Continue reading Pennytech: Simple Lightbox