my own personal laboratory
my own personal laboratory
I'm moving my blog off to a subdomain to free up space on the main OopsClunkThud page for a business I'm launching at the first of the year. I'm rather excited about this as it's the first time I've actually brought a product to market. After getting a great idea you then have to develop it, make sure it works, sort out manufacturing, packaging, sales and distribution... It's a lot of work but I'm keeping the investment and prospects modest. I expect to have the first product for sale by the end of January.
So anyhow, from now on the blog will be located at blog.oopsclunkthud.com. I'll also provide a link from the new oops page when it's all done but for a few weeks it will be a bit of a mess.
well, here's the remains of my cool shoes
3 weeks ago I decided that my hair had reached the magic length of 10 in required to donate to locks of love so off it came. I'm still using too much shampoo but not really missing it all that much. I will grow it back out and donate again I think, provided work doesn't turn it all gray.
So Darwin has been really sick this week and we have had 3 earthquakes over 3.5 in the last four days. coincidence or is he trying to tell us something? Good news is he is no longer puking and he's started eating a bit so if he was telling us something maybe it's passed.
Last Saturday I was on a very leisurely ride through the hills of the east bay and I messed up. I was following too close to the person in from of me and, when their rear tire lost grip in a corner sending them to the ground and onto the shoulder of the road, I must have grabbed a hand full of front brake because the next thing I knew I was also on the ground.
We were only going about 15mph if that so damage was minimal. skinned knee, scrape on the forearm no big deal. On the way home my ribs started hurting but not that bad. Seems I landed on my arm and it pressed into my ribs but not a big deal.
Yesterday I went to see a doctor about the rib as each day it has hurt more and hiccups and sneezing approaches the "sharp pain" symptom listed for a broken rib. The doctor did a simple test of pressing to flex the ribcage, he said if it's fractured I would be jumping off the table. I didn't.
So it's just a bruised rib, may even turn black and blue in a few days. I think I'll get some winter tires for the unstealth.
Nothing like being a henchman for halloween only to have your super villain leader never show up. this is how it was supposed to go down but did the Monarch bother to show? No! Whatever, I'm done being a henchman.
After
Picked up the UnStealth from First Kick today and drove around a bit. Tomorrow I'm having pictures done and then I can wash it. In the meantime here's a before and after picture.
Before
Well, sort of. Yesterday I saw Bagel on his cannonball bike down in Cupertino and went "hey!" as I've heard nothing about mine. So I called ScootersO to ask if it'd been shipped. it had, went out on the 28th. got the tracking number and punched it in and it said it had already been picked up by pat owens. So I started to panic a bit. I called forward air and they saw that there was a note that it had been accidentally flagged as picked up but was sitting at the warehouse in south SF. This seems to have messed up there process for notifying me that it had arrived. nice!
Anyhow, picked it up and dropped it off at first kick to display in all it's bug splattered glory. I'm hoping they don't want it for too long as it's really fun to ride. Need to get some photos of it before a good bath.
All the rest of our scooters were in sad shape so I've been trying to get them all sorted. got the new clutch cable into Blue, and today I mixed up an oil/ATF mix for the torque converter on the rabbit. So now there are three scooters in good working order. Tomorrow I'll take the flywheel from Sparky down to be remagnetized, then we should be up to four with only the lambretta being in parts.
OK, so I know the updates have been missing but it's now over and the results are in so I thought I'd post them and then go back and fill in the days events as I have time.
I came in 11th over all with all 10 bikes ahead of me being in the 250cc Automatic class. I came first in the modified manual class :)
When I get the scooter home I plan to put it on the floor or window at First Kick for a bit before cleaning it and doing a bunch of inspections on the engine. My tach has 69 hours logged on it and a quick calculation says that while the engine was running I averaged 50mph. the crank saw about 30,000,000 revolutions in that time as well.
OK, time for sleep and then shoe shopping
The day started by hopping on US-30 and my engine was already warm as I made a fuel run in the morning instead of last night. As a result I was right at the front coming down the on ramp and tucked in to pull into the lead. OK, enough of that, I let the 250s lead the pack. I kept with them for a while and found that I was running a little hot, like right at the yellow. So I slowed down a bit to see if things would improve as the day warmed up and the air got thinner. By the second fuel stop in Clinton IA the engine was still on the hot side.
The gas station Heather and I had planned to meet at did not exist so I pulled into a large parking lot and called her. She told me that she got a call and Ashrat had crashed. The other support vehicle was closer so she was not going back but she was still a long way from Clinton so we would skip the lunch. I refueled and changed to a larger main jet to get the temperature down and tried to find my way back to US-30. This took a while as US-30 goes over the Mississippi right here and the bridge is closed so I had to find the right detour signs.
Driving over the Mississippi it suddenly hit me that I was doing something on a scooter that they just were not meant to do. it was like I just realized I was really far from home. I was now in Illinois, I'd been to Illinois before but I had to fly to get there.
The jet change had brought the temp down quite a bit but at the expense of low end power. This was OK through most of Illinois but when I got into Indiana and hit traffic it was unbearable. But given I'd lose 15min changing jets I just finished the day with what I had. Heather was very excited because she had finally made it to the hotel before me. only by like 5 min. but still.
As we were all waiting for news about Ashrat's condition she pulled up. She convinced (by threatening legal action) the paramedics that she was fine, patched her bike back together with duct tape and finished the day. On top of that she still finished 2nd in her class.
Things are already getting fuzzy. I think there were headwinds at the start of day 5. The day was mostly uneventful aside from my panic about eating another reed.
At the first gas stop I called Heather to have her order a replacement reed to be delivered to Cleveland. She started calling the shops that were open and I road on. By the time I stopped for lunch it was not looking good. she had found the reeds as part of a carburetor kit but not on their own.
On top of the fear of eating another reed, I was concerned about a modification I'd made to the reed manifold. there was interference between the screws that hold the reeds in and the manifold so I had cut small recesses for clearance. All motorcycles with reeds have these recesses so it seemed like a good idea to me. But all the screws on the reed cage were loose and if one were to fall into the engine it would be catastrophic. I was thinking I should fill the recesses with JB Weld or replace the manifold just to be safe.
Finished the ride with some daylight left and talked to Rolf about the reeds being loose and he suggested lock-tight and that's it. So off I went to the local home/hardware/farm equipment mega-store to get some gasket material and other items.
Heather got the replacement reed sorted. After calling many shops and having much luck she called First Kick and David found one and had it sent overnight to Cleveland.
Broken reed
Slept in a bit as I was up late. started reviewing the maps for the day and realized I needed to change jets before I even started the day as this was a long down hill ride from 7000 to 2500ft. Worked out the fuel stops and jet changes for the day and went to the riders meeting in my pajamas. There were two route changes from the final final route that I used to program the GPS. I was not happy and I had given away my printed maps as there was a shortage. So I made some notes on my overview map and taped that to my tank pad.
After doing some yoga and putting on my leathers I was ready to go at 7:30. I quickly started passing people and by my second fuel stop I was feeling like it was going to be a good day. The route change in Casper was no problem, made a few wrong turns but got back on track quickly. The second route change was more of a mess. seemed easy, take 95 north/east to 93 south. Not sure why we are doing this as it adds a lot to an already long day but whatever. So I fly past the 95 sign, turn around and go back. after passing it three times I decide this must be it and head north on 95. I seem to be heading to the middle of the desert and further and further from highway 20 that I know I will have to get back to at the end. Finally I decide this must be the wrong way and turn back. Even though it's down hill now the headwind is really slowing me down. Then Bagel comes flying up the hill so I flag him down to check the route and my bike promptly dies.
The bike will not start. I bump it and get it to cough to life at full throttle for a bit and then it dies again. Bagel confirms that this is the correct route and tells me that Heather is only about 10-15 minutes behind him. So Bagel rides off and I'm in the middle of the desert in Wyoming with a scooter that has died and buzzards flying around. I start to pull the side panels off the bike and the spark plug out when Heather pulls up. On day 1 Garrett sucked a reed and the symptoms were fresh in mind so I was about 90% sure that's what happened. Within an hour we had the reed block replaced and the bike ready to go. We gave the form-a-gasket some time to set and while we were waiting we got some great pictures of a UFO. It crashed not far from the car so we picked it up and brought it with us.
The rest of the day was really fun, Heather followed me in the car the whole way. In Lusk we stopped for fuel, another jet change, and some lunch. Then it was down into Nebraska, really beautiful by the way, for the final 200 miles. The last 50 miles were in the dark and I found that when I tuck in the headlight shines on my face shield making it a target for bugs. This made things a bit slower and I got in at almost 9pm. After dinner, filling the tank, and changing jets for the next day it was midnight again.
Day three started with a trip through Craters of the Moon with lava flows everywhere. I really like lava flows, very humbling in some way. then we hit 12 miles of road construction that had us on dirt and gravel. for a while it was two way traffic but then it went down to one lane with a lead car. I managed to catch up to the 250s at the one lane section and then after the construction I drafted off then for a while before I lost them.
from there is was rolling hills mostly till I got to the southern edge of the Grand Teton. here there is a 10% grade up over an 8000ft pass and then a 10% grade down the other side. some civil engineer should have their license revoked, it was crazy. At the bottom went through the town of Jackson, people were everywhere. then headed north toward Yellowstone before heading east again. the view of the Grand Teetons was amazing.
A truck let me pass and as I looked in my rearview I found that he had large fangs panted on the grill. This kept my speed up as I came to the next pass. I had planned my last fuel stop and jet change at Moran Junction but when I got there I found that it was just an intersection, no fuel, no buildings of any kind. A quick check of the fuel level and the GPS said I had enough to make it but I would still need to change jets at some point over 7000ft. At 8000ft I was slowing down a lot so I pulled over for the jet change. The guy in the truck waved as he passed and then I was alone again in the middle of nowhere. Very odd feeling to be on a scooter in the middle of a huge country with no one around. With the jet change done the rest of the ride was easy. turns out the pass was not that bad, went up to 9600ft but it was only like a 6% grade.
After getting to the hotel I found that my rear tire was almost bald and tomorrow would be over 500 miles. decided to do some maintenance as we finished early. New rear tire, change the oil, found that the exhaust had come lose a bit... got as much done as I could before heather got in with the parts but by then I was starving and the food options were limited. We had a great dinner and then at about 9:00 I started putting the bike back together. Finished up about midnight and decided I was not starting the next day on time if I was not ready.
Today was fast. the route looked like lots of twisty mountain roads and it was but the speed limit most the time was 65. There were lots of turns labeled 45 that could be taken at 70, not saying I did.
need sleep so I'm cutting this one short. there were already 11 bikes at the hotel when I pulled in, all 250cc except one 190. pulling in at the same time as me was Ashrat as I missed the hotel and pulled around the back.
Had a planned stop in Stanley to get fuel and change jets to get me over the pass. planning had put the pass at 7500ft but it was actually 8700ft. The increase in elevation and the bike running rich as a result is not having a big impact on top speed or power but is causing a huge drop in low end power. As a result I had to take the top of the pass in second gear to keep the revs up
Day one started with not enough sleep, cold hands, and an engine that was a little too hot. Not really hot but CHT went over my yellow line a few times. After passing through Sweet Home I passed Rolf (he was stopped for a cigarette I think) and soon he and I were passing cars all the way up to the 126 cut off. The heat issue went away as soon as I got over 3000 feet but it got really boggy at 5500 feet. The lava flows over Three Sisters were incredible! Stopped in Sisters for lunch with Heather and fuel and then got back on the road for the final 160 miles.
I passed Rolf again (he was stopped again) somewhere around Prineville and then started up the last of the hills for the day. Heading up the hills I came upon a Harley that was going slower than would let me keep the bike in the power band, so I passed. some time later on a straight he flew past me like I was standing still but a short time after that I passed two cars and found myself behind the harley again. We were cresting the hill and he looked back and spit. Hit my closed full face helmet and I laughed as it was no worse than the many bugs splattered all over me. then I passed him on the next turn and took off down the hill. lots of 45mph turns and he was nowhere to be seen. As I was coming down the hill Rolf passed me like I was standing still-ish, He'd been watching me and the harley the whole time and after I blew past him there was nothing left to see.
This would have been the last of the excitement for the day but about this time I looked at my fuel gauge and I had just over 1 gallon of fuel left. that will get me about 40 miles and I had 70 to go. so here I am riding at 1/4 throttle trying to save fuel and all of a sudden I feel the power give out, I pull in the clutch and blip the throttle. the engine revs and then dies. Silence at 65mph. I cost down hill till i find a place to pull over. I kick it, it starts and then dies. i think "maybe I just fouled a plug, so I spend some time removing a very hot plug and burn my fingers a few times. put in a new plug, it fires right up, and then dies. It's about this time that I look down and see that I am completely out of fuel. So I flag down the next rider to come around the corner and bum so fuel and am back on the road.
I was the 16th rider to arrive at the hotel with one modified manual bike there already.