Ride Report/Belt Conversion

The "Crew" gathered at LaCasa for a little day run to Hico.. The ones who
wanted it, got a cup of coffee (can you believe, coupla these guys don't
indulge) The gucci coffee maker that I'm so proud of, did it's job well..
that Folger's comes out rich and flavorful ..

We got off the dime, hit the road and made our way over to Ft.Worth to
gather up the last rider in our crew..

Damn.. one of the bikes was spitting motor oil and had to be worked on,
before we could get started on the ride.. Of course, a couple of these guys
are pretty good wrenches and it didn't take too long to do the little repair
job.

Running just a little late, we hit Glenrose just about lunch time and found
us a little lakeside cafe that served good hamburghers and catfish..

Hico was busy .. busy.. bikers from the metroplex were all over the place.
Not as many as I've seen in the past, but enough of them to boost the local
economy, somewhat.. Anyway, that homemade pie is to die for, and makes any
run to Hico worthwhile.. Even at risk of committing polygamy, I'd marry that
cook.. Dang.. that lady can sure whip up a mean pie..

After all the delay and mechanical problems with the one bike, the trip was
relatively uneventful.. I made it back to LaCasa about 8:30 in the PM..
hmmmm.. The light jacket I wore all day sure felt good .. These temperatures
are ideal for riding a motorcycle, I think..

The belt conversion kit that was installed on the Green Vulcan saturday, got
a pretty nice little workout.. I ran the Green One up past 100 mph on the
speedo, several times.. took some quick passes in traffic, several times and
hopefully stressed that belt good enough to get a feel for it..

Even though I'd been cautioned that the motorcycle would lose a little bit
of torque during first and second gear.. I couldn't detect much of that..
hmmm.. May be the way I ride, or something.. I didn't buy that motorcycle to
race, anyway.. Top end speeds seemed to be smoother and may have increased a
little bit, although I never stood on it.. There was just enough of a breeze
to give me an indication of how the motorcycle performed in windy
conditions, and like I said.. it was smooth and responsive..

From what I could tell, gas mileage improved somewhat.. one tank going to
Hico and one tank to come home.. It's about 100 miles from Irving to Hico..
All told, I'd estimate about two hundred and fifty miles . total trip..

Chain noise is gone, of course.. the chain and sprocket vibration is gone
and the only noise that I could detect was a slight squeaking noise of the
belt.. at low speeds..

The most noticeable benefit, of course .. is that I didn't take a can of
spray lube with me and don't need to worry about servicing the chain when I
drop the trip oil.. lol.. Soon as I get this rear wheel cleaned up from all
the pre-belt mess, I won't have to worry so much about it.. That's a big
plus.. big one.. So far.. So good..

All told.. it was a good day.. There were five riders making this little day
run and the fellowship was enjoyable.. Get this.. the bikers in this crew
actually like each other and enjoy the company that we share.. Now.. that's
what I call a good day ride.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Glad you like your new belt set up.
Your description of that ''ummm Pie'', makes a feller wanna ride up and
out to Hico from Bowie county, someday.
I hate to hear about tha' big ole Valkyrie slowing you guys down,
because it needed some attention with a wrench. Cause Lord knows it
wouldnt be that Harley with somekind of oil leak. (chuckle)
(needling a bit)

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

Valkyrie! ...me no think so...

...louie

 

That oil leak belonged to me. I had done a valve adjustment on my bike
a few weeks earlier and one of the valve covers on the back cylinder
was leaking. It was on the exhaust side and it was dripping oil like
crazy. It was dripping oil on to the header and it was smoking like a
choo-choo train at times. I got up at 4am Sunday morning and I pulled
the bolt out. I determined that the bolt was fine but the threads in
the hole were stripped. I wrapped the bolt in Teflon tape thinking it
might get me by so I could go on the ride to Hico. I think it got worse
after I did that then it was before.

I was ready to pass on going on the trip and just head back to
Arlington and I believe it was Louie that said " Lets fix it". Ed
agreed so I started pulling the bolt out while the engine was still
hot. Oil was pouring out of it by the time I got the bolt out. They
were thinking of all kinds of ways to fix it with wire or a Heli-coil.
We decided to see how deep the hole was and go to the autoparts store
and buy a longer bolt and some washers. The hole was indeed deeper than
the bolt so the longer bolt worked perfectly. No more oil leak.

I rode the bike to work today and no oil leak was found when I rolled
her out at 5:40am. Thanks to Ed for all your help and all of you other
guys for supervising the job. Special thanks is in order to Bill Walker
for taking me mudding. My new Avon front tire looked good all muddy.
Thanks to Louie for the use of some tools and his driveway. Thanks to
Wakko and Mouse for being so patient while we worked on my bike.

You guys are the best

Redshad

 

Anytime, Redshad.. <grin> As you've probably learned, after riding with
me so much.. "if you don't like what's going on, stick around a few more
miles, Walker will be getting into some shit, pretty quick".. hmmmm.. That
Green Vulcan is still nasty.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

I keep thinking I'll become an "adult" someday..lol.. Then, I look around me
at all the examples I should follow, and say to myself "what's the fun in
all that" ?

Have you made the move to Louisiana, yet ? What's the status of the new
arrival ? Sure hope Mom and company are doing well..

Regards from Corinna, Morgan.. <chuckle> Your name came up quite often
while I was in Matamoros a couple of weeks back.. hmmmm.. Of course, the
distressed expression on her face when she realized Mouse wasn't on the
ride, was priceless..

Talked to Buddy the other day.. he seems to be improving .. Doing a lot
better, now.. I think.. Asked about you and wanted to know if you'd gotten
the pictures and letter that he sent..

Good to see you posting on the newsgroup, again.. Keep in touch..
Regards..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

(top post by bjay)
Well, good to hear ya'll were able to fix it,and then get on with the
trip.
Red-Shad, more, tell us more about the muddy ride., or whatever.(?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Redshad wrote:
That oil leak belonged to me. I had done a valve adjustment on my bike a
few weeks earlier and one of the valve covers on the back cylinder was
leaking. It was on the exhaust side and it was dripping oil like crazy.
It was dripping oil on to the header and it was smoking like a choo-choo
train at times. I got up at 4am Sunday morning and I pulled the bolt
out. I determined that the bolt was fine but the threads in the hole
were stripped. I wrapped the bolt in Teflon tape thinking it might get
me by so I could go on the ride to Hico. I think it got worse after I
did that then it was before.
I was ready to pass on going on the trip and just head back to Arlington
and I believe it was Louie that said " Lets fix it". Ed agreed so I
started pulling the bolt out while the engine was still hot. Oil was
pouring out of it by the time I got the bolt out. They were thinking of
all kinds of ways to fix it with wire or a Heli-coil. We decided to see
how deep the hole was and go to the autoparts store and buy a longer
bolt and some washers. The hole was indeed deeper than the bolt so the
longer bolt worked perfectly. No more oil leak.
I rode the bike to work today and no oil leak was found when I rolled
her out at 5:40am. Thanks to Ed for all your help and all of you other
guys for supervising the job. Special thanks is in order to Bill Walker
for taking me mudding. My new Avon front tire looked good all muddy.
Thanks to Louie for the use of some tools and his driveway. Thanks to
Wakko and Mouse for being so patient while we worked on my bike.
You guys are the best
Redshad

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

You better get that nasty thang cleaned up. Be sure and clean that back
rim up also. Your going to have all kinds of people confused and trying
to figure out how in the world that belt drive slung all that chain oil
on your rim. HA HA HA

Redshad

 

LOL.. You got that right, pard.. hmmm.. I told you that you'd best keep an
eye on Big Ed.. He never did wipe your motorcycle down after he washed that
puppy, did he ?.. Disgraceful.. <chuckle> Regards

Bill Walker

 

I just went and took that nasty ass motorcickle of mine to the car wash. I
pressure washed it all down and made it look new again. Now I just have to
shine up all the chrome and I am ready to roll. Dont think I want to go
mudding again any time soon. We all need to pitch in and buy Bill Walker a
GPS so he can stay on the paved roads. LOL

Redshad