judd
Member
Posts: 265
VRCC# 13453
B.C. Canada
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« on: August 15, 2011, 08:22:28 PM » |
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A couple of buds and I were out on a cruise yesterday and were returning home in a light rain when we came upon a fellow rider obviously having troubles at the side of the road. We pulled over to check on him, turns out the bike just died, says it felt like it ran out of gas. Checked it out, plenty of gas, so we started a process of elimination, now this is an old barebones, HD, Kicker, no electric start, Pan/Shovel, hardtail/chopper/bobber sort of affair, nothing complicated, wiring all open, not hard to trace at first glance. Head light worked, so it seems we have power, pulled the plugs, no spark. Checked the battery again, barely enough to power the tail light, and no head light now. Ok we've got a dead battery, hense no spark, traced the wires one more time, turns out an altenator wire was frayed and broken, down under and between the engine and the frame, where we couldn't see it, but when the wire was tugged lightly at the opposing ends it came right apart. I pack a wiring kit with me so we had a butt connector and crimper, joined the wires and taped 'em up. I then pulled my bike along side his, we came up with a couple of lengths of wire, enough to connect to the Charger/Heated vest lead on my bike, it took two of us to hold all the wires together and we managed to jumper it................. The fella kicked it till he tired with no luck, one of my Buds then took over and kicked for a time and it finally gave a sputter, YES it's going to go, a couple more kicks and BINGO we got enough power and she fired up and stayed running  Now it's about an hour later and we set off in a bone chilling rain storm, not bothering to get out the raingear as we are already all soaked while busy trouble shooting. We are just 15 miles from home anyway and helping a fellow rider back on the road kind of took the sting out of the storm. What did I take away from this ???...................Well the first thing on my list will be a small multimeter, (would have found that broken wire right off the bat) a few longer lengths of spare wire, and a dedicated jumper, I am going to make up a set of leads that connect to my Charger/Heated vest wire, that should do the trick. All and all, another great ride..............Cheers  |
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« Last Edit: August 15, 2011, 08:37:51 PM by judd »
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Willow
Administrator
Member
Posts: 16719
Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP
Olathe, KS
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« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2011, 08:27:04 PM » |
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Valkahuna
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« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2011, 09:04:14 PM » |
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Good on you and your buds, Judd! That's what sets bikers apart from cagers! I never pass a stopped biker without at least asking if all is OK! Don't care what he/she is riding. |
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The key thing is to wake up breathing! All the rest can be fixed. (Except Stupid - You can't fix that)
2014 Indian Chieftain
2001 Valkyrie I/S
Proud to be a Vietnam Vet (US Air Force - SAC, 1967-1972)
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2011, 09:51:25 PM » |
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I stop for a biker on the side of the road, when on the bike, Trike or the Pickie up.
If they got a problem and don't want to mess with it along side the road, I tell them to set tight and I'll go get my trailer.
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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Cliff
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« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2011, 04:50:35 AM » |
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I stop for a biker on the side of the road, when on the bike, Trike or the Pickie up.
If they got a problem and don't want to mess with it along side the road, I tell them to set tight and I'll go get my trailer.
That's awesome RJ! |
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VRCC # 29680
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MNBill
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« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2011, 05:02:43 AM » |
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We just got a Harbor Freight and they give those meters away with a coupon, $5 without coupon. At that price I would not feel bad if it got wet or wrecked.
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MNBill
SE Minnesota
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old2soon
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« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2011, 07:14:25 AM » |
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We just got a Harbor Freight and they give those meters away with a coupon, $5 without coupon. At that price I would not feel bad if it got wet or wrecked.
Yep-was over to the one in Springfield Mo last week and it came with the purchases i made. Ain't gonna be out much if it quits.  Just playing with it i found out the battery in mamas caddy bout to take a quit. Alt workin O-K she gotta buy one before winter. That WILL find a spot in the tool bag i carry on the bike. RIDE SAFE. |
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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Hef
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« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2011, 07:21:10 AM » |
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I always stop to check on a rider if I see he's having trouble. Encountered a real jerk this past weekend. I was on my way to town and saw a biker on the side of the road squatted down by his bike looking at something so I turned around and went back, stopped, and asked if he needed help. He looked up at me and said "Did I ask for help?" I said you have a nice a day, left and when I returned about an hour later the bike was still there, so I honked and waved as I went by.
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Gear Jammer
Member
Posts: 3074
Yeah,,,,,It's a HEMI
Magnolia, Texas
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« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2011, 05:09:13 PM » |
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I always stop to check on a rider if I see he's having trouble. Encountered a real jerk this past weekend. I was on my way to town and saw a biker on the side of the road squatted down by his bike looking at something so I turned around and went back, stopped, and asked if he needed help. He looked up at me and said "Did I ask for help?" I said you have a nice a day, left and when I returned about an hour later the bike was still there, so I honked and waved as I went by.
Guess he didn't ask for help the second time either  |
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 "The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. |
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Tropic traveler
Member
Posts: 3117
Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.
Silver Springs, Florida
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« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2011, 07:44:38 PM » |
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Been there, done that! This poor feller was less than 90 miles from home returning from a 2000 mile trip when the flat monster got him. Middle of nowhere & hotter than Hades in August. He had "roadside assistance" called but they said they were 2-3 hrs away. We plugged the tire & rode wing with him 'til we got him to the nearest Harley dealer for a new tire. It spit the cheap-azz plugs I had 2 more times so we repeated this scene. Never got his name, it really doesn't matter.   God bless my cheapie WalMart 12V cornpresser!  |
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'13 F6B black-the real new Valkyrie Tourer
'13 F6B red for Kim
'97 Valkyrie Tourer r&w, OLDFRT's ride now!
'98 Valkyrie Tourer burgundy & cream traded for Kim's F6B
'05 SS 750 traded for Kim's F6B
'99 Valkyrie black & silver Tourer, traded in on my F6B
'05 Triumph R3 gone but not forgotten!
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The Anvil
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« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2011, 07:33:41 AM » |
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God bless my cheapie WalMart 12V cornpresser! When did Wal Mart start selling adult toys???  |
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Boxer rebellion, the Holy Child. They all pay their rent.
But none together can testify to the rhythm of a road well bent.
Saddles and zip codes, passports and gates, the Jones' keep.
In August the water is trickling, in April it's furious deep.
1997 Valk Standard, Red and White.
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Ken Tarver
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« Reply #12 on: August 17, 2011, 09:03:52 AM » |
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When did Wal Mart start selling adult toys???
my wife loves hers
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czuch
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« Reply #13 on: August 17, 2011, 01:54:08 PM » |
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MMMMMMMMmmmmmmcoooorrrrnnnnnnn.
A harley guy stopped for me one day. I was just admiring the Valk with a beautiful background.
He laughed and said something about nice bike and was gone.
I saw him later in Tombstone and bought him a beer.
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Aot of guys with burn marks,gnarly scars and funny twitches ask why I spend so much on safety gear
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Rocketman
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« Reply #14 on: August 18, 2011, 03:59:07 PM » |
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Funny how it can put a smile on your face for the rest of the day, just knowing you helped a fella that needed it.
I think the funniest one I've been involved with was when I stopped for a fella who had overheated. I was ~150 miles from home, but I knew my brother was on the same road, ~10 miles behind me, with a Suburban full of guys and an empty trailer. We had the bike on the trailer before the guy knew it, and pulled it on to his house.
(He told me he had just bought it, and was told that it was air cooled. The radiator told me it was water cooled, but if two owners thought it was air cooled, no one knows when the coolant was checked last.)
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« Last Edit: August 18, 2011, 04:06:01 PM by Rocketman »
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