Day 4, part 1
Joplin, MO to ????
My plan was Amarillo by evening, but I am still in Joplin waiting for mechanical rescue. If it’s electrical, I can fix it. If it’s very basic mechanical, I have a shot at fixing it, but clutches and such are beyond my knowledge. Annnnd that’s where I am.
When I came in last night, the bike wouldn’t go into N. It does that sometimes when it’s been ridden all day, so I didn’t worry about it. Figured this morning after a cool down, it would be fine. It was not fine. I tried all the tricks the night before, tried a few this morning. Stubbornly stuck. A random guy who also rides gave me a hand and popped it into neutral. Thank you Jesus.
So I finished gearing up, got the screwdriver out, started the bike, put everything away, got on the bike, dropped it into 1st and LURCH stall, dead. Sumbitch.
Unlocked the saddlebag, got another screwdriver back out – one that will fit in my damn windshield bag – started it up again. Same thing. 1st, LURCH stall. Dead. Tried one more time, letting it warm up a bit longer, as if…. I was praying at this point… Nope. The angry soul refused to relent. 1st, LURCH stall.
Sumbitch.
So I thought mayyyyyybe with the primary still oozing, it needed a bit more fluid. The clutch was jenky on Wednesday when I kinda overfilled the primary… Oops…. So I went and got some oil.
Meanwhile I posted on what is becoming my SOS page – the AMCA FB page – for help. I also called Marty Zavakos for input since he had been into my primary 2 days before, and may have an idea from something he saw. And I called my steady eddie pal Chris Tribbey , who asked me a few questions and said it was not likely a fluid/lack of fluid issue. Meanwhile an AMCA member who lives close to where I am saw my post, and is kindly and generously on his way to hopefully get this angry bike going.
It takes a village….
It is a 9 hour ride to Amarillo. Not entirely sure what I am going to do. I may stay here another night, start out fresh tomorrow and just be a day late to the run.
Day 4, part 2…
Joplin, MO to Joplin, MO
Sometimes the universe gives you a rest day whether you think you want it or not. Truth be told, I had serious insomnia last night, so I am not well rested. The bike giving me problems was kind of a blessing.
After I put the SOS out, Bill Daneke very kindly brought tools and his depth of experience, and quickly diagnosed the problem. The clutch plates were stuck together. He said that after riding all day, and then my parking spot was on an incline, front tire higher, so the fluid rolled into the plates, and as the bike cooled, the fluid stuck the plates together.
He loosened them up and did some laps around the hotel parking lot, so the bike should be good to go – in theory. But he said this could be a thing, so he made sure I knew how to fix it myself next time. He also gave me a T27 – the ONLY fastener bit I did not have on the bike… Needed for my derby cover.
So… It is a 9 hour ride to Amarillo. I am tired, I got a late start, and I don’t want to feel like I have to make a mad dash. I am staying in Joplin overnight, hopefully get a good night’s sleep, and head to Amarillo in the morning.
I already pushed my reservation a day, same with Albuquerque, my next stop. So I will miss the registration day on Kanab, but it is what it is.
The Atomic Shovel 