Just another reason to hate this club (or I want my dues back)...

[Black Dog]

For the second time, in her 16 years of providing miles of smiles, my lady let me down the other day  

Got up Monday morning, looked at the weather and saw a perfect chance to 'ride' to work.  Pushed the beast out of her cave, strapped on the helmet, snugged up the gloves, slid on my sun glasses, turned the key, pushed the starter, and ...  Nothing    No indicator lights, no headlights, no nothing...

I've experienced this once before, while in the driveway of a Harley riding friend of mine...  Bad timing, and kinda is the reason I no longer give him crap about his bike (in good fun   ).  

Last time, it was the starter relay 'meltdown' that got me (I had made a point of glooping up the connection portion of the relay with Di-Electric grease, every spring, since the last repair...)  Same symptoms, same everything.  Last time I 'fixed' the problem using the OEM parts, as outlined in many posts found if you search 'Starter Relay' on these boards.

To refresh my memory, I searched again, and found many helpful hints (RJ's is probably the best known, using the 'kit').  While reading, I came across the write up by Kruzin (Dave) that uses a much beefier, heavy duty starter relay made for an 80's vintage Ford F150  

See it here...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,45371.0.html

Went to my local NAPA after work on Tuesday, picked up the relay, a heavy duty inline fuse holder, some beefier connectors and shrink tubing...  Out the door for less than $40 (and no waiting for parts to be delivered)  

Tore in to the Fat Gurl at about 5:30 last night, and was on my way to grab a burger and a shake, with my brother, at 8:00.  

The new install is clean, sturdy, and IMO, will last much longer than if I went with the OEM parts.

Big     to Dave for taking the time to take pictures and document the process for maybe fixing this issue for good!  I 'PM'd" him Monday, asking if I could contact him if I encountered any issues, and he gave up his cell number, no questions asked.

Just another reason to hate this club, and to ask where I can fill out a form to get my dues back  

Black Dog

[Patrick]

Dues is dues. Fact of life, ain't no gettin' 'em back. I'd be rich if I could have done that with all dues I've paid over the years.

[Valkorado]

Just another reason to hate this club, and to ask where I can fill out a form to get my dues back  

I agree, this is just a terrible place to hang out.  Always getting advice from know it all riders.  How annoying is that?  I've had my Valk for a little over a year now, and since is has been desmogged, serviced head to toe, converted to the dark side, beefier shocks, back to stock exhaust, rejetted, Dan-Marked, etc.  I have tried both Rotella and Mobil 1 15-50, learned that hydrogen peroxide is a fantastic bug remover (thanks Misfit), and recently ordered the aluminum deoxidizer and polish recommended by Old2Soon.  I learned about the Austone from Skinhead, Grumpy and Dubsvalk.  I also love the Ride-On tire sealant, which also does wonders at keeping your pressues where they are supposed to be.  Oh, yeah, those pesky steel valve stems that were installed to replace the OEM fiery death stems that were installed.  Yeah, I hate this place too!  

[old2soon]

Blackdog my friend-SAY the wurd and i'll be in Merton 2moro to pick up that wortless pesky P O S yer passin off fer a motorsicle.  I mean iffin yer DAT dissatisfied with it I might could make room in my garage to kinda sorta ease yer pain.  RIDE SAFE.

[DarkSideR]

I couldn't agree more. I hate when I merely mention in a post that I will be riding somewhere and Valk owners from that city contact me so see if we can meet up for a ride, and to show me the local hangouts to better my stay while visiting. Get a friggin life would you.

ps - All you darksiders are going to die fiery deaths.

[Willow]

...
Just another reason to hate this club, and to ask where I can fill out a form to get my dues back  

Black Dog

BD, I've discussed this with some other staff members.  We obviously can't afford to refund your past dues.  That is already gone.   We, however, are deeply concerned for the degree of your dissatisfaction and would like you to accept the opportunity to cut your future dues by 63.5%.

Please keep this deal quiet as it would be near catastrophic for us to extend this offer to other VRCC members.

Glad to hear it worked out for you.

Your sincere, albeit temporarily brain damaged, friend,

Willow

[olddog1946]

BlackDog, Iffin it will help ya out some, I'll pay your next years dues for ya.

[kruzn]

Steve,
You are very welcome! Glad my brief write-up was helpful.

Sorry...can't help you with the VRCC dues refund though! 

Cruisin Dave

[alph]

I've always had the attitude that if you can't afford something, you shouldn't get it.  so, if you're asking for your "dues" money back, you must probably need it. 

I think we should start up a benefit ride for black dog to help him out.....

i'll start, i'll donate double what I've given to my favorite charity this year.

[old2soon]

I've always had the attitude that if you can't afford something, you shouldn't get it.  so, if you're asking for your "dues" money back, you must probably need it. 

I think we should start up a benefit ride for black dog to help him out.....

i'll start, i'll donate double what I've given to my favorite charity this year.

As a good sport I will quadruple what I paid in dues since I've joined.  And I hope B D can and will put it to good use.  RIDE SAFE.

[Tailgate Tommy]

What gets me about this club is all the excuses I've been required to make to my lovely wife for all the club required items (recommendations?). I've HAD to purchase since I joined about 9 years ago. Such as, bags, fairings, seats, luggage racks, CB, and many, many, many, items of safely chrome (curse you Big Mike). The requirements got to be so burdensome that last year I bought an interstate to keep the '03 standard (I know all '03s are standards) company in the garage so just in case it breaks down I'd have something to ride to Inzane. All those FedEx, UPS, and USPS boxes that show up each month (week?) are getting harder to explain. How do I explain to my misses that no dear, I'm not rebuilding the whole bike just because I took it apart to lube the splines?  Maybe there should be a club benefit for psychiatric/martial counseling help.  Maybe I'll just start an excuse thread.
Also, I somewhat firmly believe a little that any member in good standing that can produce a legitimate VRCC dues receipt and the correct corresponding official VRCC Dues Reimbursement document should be entitled to a prorated refund minus a deduction for their years as a member and the number of posts they initiated or responded to plus a senior discount if eligible. This offer should be null and void if they are running, or have thought about installing an automobile tire due to the flaming death issue. Just saying...

[Lyn-Del]

Just another reason to hate this club, and to ask where I can fill out a form to get my dues back 

Black Dog

Gripe, gripe, gripe!! 

There are lots of us out here who hate the VRCC for similar reasons .......

[Black Dog]

We, however, are deeply concerned for the degree of your dissatisfaction and would like you to accept the opportunity to cut your future dues by 63.5%.

Carl and Staff...  Thanks for the generous offer, but after reading the offers of financial assistance, I don't believe I will require the longtime member, senior, ol' fart discount    I've reconsidered my stance, and will no longer complain 

Black Dog

[DIGGER]

We, however, are deeply concerned for the degree of your dissatisfaction and would like you to accept the opportunity to cut your future dues by 63.5%.

Carl and Staff...  Thanks for the generous offer, but after reading the offers of financial assistance, I don't believe I will require the longtime member, senior, ol' fart discount    I've reconsidered my stance, and will no longer complain 

Black Dog

"NO LONGER COMPLAIN"????
Manoman....you aint gonna last long on this site........ha

[Willow]

We, however, are deeply concerned for the degree of your dissatisfaction and would like you to accept the opportunity to cut your future dues by 63.5%.

Carl and Staff...  Thanks for the generous offer, but after reading the offers of financial assistance, I don't believe I will require the longtime member, senior, ol' fart discount    I've reconsidered my stance, and will no longer complain 

Black Dog

Thank you, Black Dog, for your generous offer.

I must however advise you to carefulllyconsider your decision to no longer complain.  Your movement into the Non-complaining administrative non-assisting group could result in an almost tripling of your current dues expense.   

Please continue to be who you are and do what you have always done within the arena of the VRCC.  Alomost any multiplication factor you in the future apply to your existing dues commitment will be received with much appreciation.