Table of Contents
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C
Cage
Slang for non-motorcycle type vehicles
Looks like it is gonna rain today so I guess I will drive my cage to work.
Carbon Canister or Charcoal Canister
The main ingredient in an Evaporative Emission Control System (California Emissions). The canister has activated granulated charcoal inside it to trap fuel system fumes/ vapors instead of them venting to atmosphere 1)
Cam Chain
The chain that drives the camshaft(s) from the crankshaft 2)
Castellated Nut
As seen on rear axles, this nut resembles the top (parapets)of a castle wall 3)
Catalytic Converters
Oxidizing Catalytic Converters remove hydrocarbons from the exhaust gas, while Reducing Catalytic Converters reduce the NOx emissions. Both types contain noble metal (platinum, palladium or rhodium), which can be poisoned by lead or phosphorous present in fuel or lubricants.4)
Centipose (cP)
Unit of dynamic viscosity (1 cP = 1 mPa s)5)
Centistoke (cSt)
Unit of cinematic viscosity (1 cSt = 1 mm2/s) 6)
Charging System
All of the components which charge the battery including; 1959-early 1984 model Sportsters consists of a battery, generator and a solid state voltage regulator/ rectifier. Late 1984 on consists of a battery , alternator and voltage regulator/ rectifier 7) 8)
Chicken Strips
The areas one the edges of motorcycle tires that still have tread after riding. When a rider leans over while riding a line is left on the tire sidewall indicating how far the rider leans in curves. Called “Chicken” Strips since a wide area of untouched tread indicate the ride is afraid to lean over very much on curvy roads.
Chopper
A motorcycle that has extended front end and forks. The term originated in the 1960s when the front end of the frame would be chopped off and welded back on an angle so that longer forks could be installed.
A real Chopper is any motorcycle stripped down to the bare essentials, to a minimum weight, and modified to make maximum horsepower and to go as fast as possible especially from a standing start. Anything that doesn't contribute to this objective is dispensable 9)
Clearance
The amount of space between two objects; a piston and a cylinder, a bearing and a journal, a bushing and a journal, a bushing and a shaft 10)
Clutch
Motorcycles typically employ a wet clutch with the clutch riding in the same oil as the transmission. These clutches are usually made up of a stack of alternating plain steel and friction plates. Some plates have lugs on their inner diameters that lock them to the engine crankshaft. Other plates have lugs on their outer diameters that lock them to a basket that turns the transmission input shaft. A set of coil springs or a diaphragm spring plate force the plates together when the clutch is engaged.
On motorcycles the clutch is operated by a hand lever on the left handlebar. No pressure on the lever means that the clutch plates are engaged (driving), while pulling the lever back towards the rider disengages the clutch plates through cable or hydraulic actuation, allowing the rider to shift gears or coast. Racing motorcycles often use slipper clutches to eliminate the effects of engine braking, which, being applied only to the rear wheel, can cause instability.
Coil
Coil Spring
A coiled up section of spring steel used as suspension shock springs, dampeners for the engine valves, backpressure on the butterfly diaphragm in a carburetor.
Compression
A reduction of volume and an increase in the pressure and temperature of gas that is caused by squeezing it into a smaller space. 11)
Compression Damping
As in shocks that have adjustments to control the speed at which the suspension compresses when hitting a bump 12)
Compression Ratio
A relationship of a cylinder volume between two positions of it's piston; Volume at Top Dead Center and Volume at Bottom Dead Center
Continuity
Uninterrupted or constant flow of current. It has little to no resistance. Testing for continuity is commonly done with a Multi-Meter or a Test Probe. 13)
Corrosion Inhibitor
An additive that protects the lubricated metal parts from the chemical attacks caused by water or other contaminants14)that have extremely alkaline metal sulphonates and phenates. They prevent the creation of rust on metal surfaces through the formation of surface films (absorption of polar surface-active substances which have a chemical and physical effect and thus prevent water and oxygen from penetrating to the surface of the metal) and/or neutralisation of acids15).
Cotter Pin
Crossply Tire
Tires arranged in a criss-cross pattern commonly with 4 or 6 plies i.e. 4PR or 6PR. 16)
Cush Drive
Rubber segments that are fitted between the rear wheel and the final drive sprocket to absorb transmission shocks. 17)