How did we get this far? A preparation and repair history

The essence of a good adventure is an appropriate balance among preparation, serendipity and happenstance. Followed of course by that old standby about luck favoring the prepared mind. So as I thought out the idea of a cross-continental run on a 30+ year old motorcycle, there were things that needed to be done.

Strangely, what was ready first was the luggage. We had two Eclipse tank bags and two sets of Eclipse soft saddlebags from back in the days when we used to tour with the two original Visions. There was also an Eclipse tail bag inherited from Mike B. 

All the luggage was retrieved from the shelf above the garage door and  it turned out that one of the tank bags (actually the newer one) was shot, but the other was fine. Of the two sets of saddlebags, they were all there except for the rain covers (no longer available), and the fact that one bag had a bent stay. There were only one set of mounts (currently on the Norton). The better set of saddlebags was prepared for the trip and the new mounting hardware was ordered as it was still available.

Grace had a small tent from her last cross-country trip that would be inadequate in the rain, but if it was raining I'd head for a motel anyway. After putting the sleeping bag in a compression sack, the tent and sleeping bag would fit together in the right saddlebag. The tail trunk was for things rain gear and spares, tools, etc. The tank bag was for stuff that might be used during a day's ride like maps, books, journal, etc. That left the left saddlebag for clothing. 

After packing that I stilled need a bag for stuff to wear on the portion of the vacation before the trip like khakis, dress shirts, nice jacket, etc. 

Once Susan and I arrived in VT, we got large plastic bags to go inside most of the luggage to assure that it would stay dry in the event of rain as there were no rain covers for the saddlebags or the tail trunk.

The rest of the preparations are more mechanical, so feel free to skip as you wish.

I acquired bike in July of 2012. First round of parts were ordered July 2012. Fixes applied during July 2012 were:

• Nylon bolts & nuts for windscreen - replaced with stainless as OEM no longer available and the nylon nuts and bolts always broke anyway 
• Battery - Yuasa YB14LA2
• Gaskets for fork drain
• Drill out bolt on thermostatic valve cover - done by Dan Turco & Sons

Services performed July 2012 10,500 miles

• Oil change
• Differential change
• Brake fluid change
• Coolant change
• Fork oil change

Parts installed July 2013 after being ordered in 2012

• Right side bolt for left side of fairing
• Gasket for drain plug on fuel tap
• Stem for right front turn signal

Parts no longer available through OEM channels and not being sought

• Caps for bleed screws - not available separately
• Wire guide for inside fairing - not available
• Boot for right mirror - not available separately

Parts no longer available through OEM channels and being sought

• Plate for fairing - 11U-28336-00-00 (found online in the Netherlands OEM but expensive) 
• Cap for plate - 11U-28349-00-00

Plan for June 2014

New battery, new tires and tune up, shakedown cruise, then hit the road.

June 24, 2014

Turco & Sons for new Pirelli Sport Demon tires (one size over on rear) mounted and balanced, plugs, oil and filter change, shaft oil change, install DC outlet (to power phone and or GPS). Additionally, asked for "make sure all set for a long trip to Calif." Result "Check all brakes, coolant level and air filter, all looked real good." Unfortunately, didn't check charging circuit.

Ran a little rough on the way back to Springfield with a stop at the farm, but I accredited that to old gas and needing some carburetor flushing. Added fresh fuel and a half can of carburetor cleaning stuff. Took Perry for a ride around Springfield without incident.

June 26, 2014

Shakedown cruise to Maine has electrical failure. Some rough running as well that I ascribed to the charging failure.

June 26 to July 3

Motorcycles of Manchester replaces stator and rectifier after electrical failure on the way to Maine.

July 3, 2014 Manchester, NH to Scarborough, ME

Runs ok at idle and when throttle fairly open. Surges a lot in the mid-range. Steve Y at MoM suggested this could be due to air leakage in the boots between the carbs and the intake manifold. I'm afraid he may be right.

Parts now being sought because of potential manifold issues

Joint Carburetor 1 11H-13586-02-00 not found anywhere

Joint Carburetor 2 11H-13596-02-00 is available from partzilla

Replacement non-OEM set found on a website of a company in West Virginia with a blank "About Us" page. Also found on Amazon.uk from Tourmax - but not reliably in the U.S.

Strategy for patching intake manifolds with Black RTV Silicone and pieces of an inner tube was also found at http://www.adr3naline.com/tag/1982-yamaha-xj550-2/

Just going to have to see what the score is when I go back to Turco on Tuesday.

Day Two - Part zero

Day 1 - the shakedown cruise took a week, from Thursday June 26 to Thursday July 3. Day 2 is going to last from today, July 4 until Tuesday, July 8 when I get the folks at Dan Turco & Sons in Rutland, VT to take another look.

Given that the carburation question remains up for grabs, and there's a tropical storm coming through, and I really wanted to visit with cousin Michael Feicht (just back from Rwanda), and the earliest I can get the bike looked at is Tuesday in Vermont, I decided to spend more time on the coast of Maine here at Prout's Neck.

Great visit in the morning with Elizabeth, Michael and Emily. We really missed Susan a lot! In the meantime, it's supposed to clear so either tomorrow or Sunday I'll head back over to Vermont so that I can get to Rutland early on Tuesday.

We went to the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth for lunch and then Michael and I went and wandered around in Portland. Who knew that the formerly gritty Old Port would now have a Hyatt, a Marriott and a slick looking boutique hotel with a doorman! A lot has changed since we left 18 years ago. I also bought another book. I'll fit it in somewhere.

I spent some time prospecting for parts on eBay, etc. Carburetor rebuild kits are available but the manifold boots are apparently not. Couldn't even find any used ones <sigh>. But I was able to find a recipe for patching leaks in old ones. I guess we'll see.

In the meantime, I'm going with the three option deal:

1. It's fixed on Tuesday and away I go
2. It's not fixed on Tuesday, but it's not going to get any worse and away I go
3. It's not fixed and I probably won't make it. Then back to Perry's garage and maybe next year

This evening there was a great dinner of sausage, pepper and onions. We went out for ice cream, but Kettle Cove had closed early. Back on Prout's though, one of the neighbors (we think it was Glenn Close) was shooting off a lot of fireworks that looked good even in the rain and fog.

Day 1 part two 11,139

The following day MOM called. Parts were available and could be in Monday. Bike might be ready by the 3rd.

Called again Tuesday the first. Parts were in, so now to schedule the work. Might be Wednesday.

Called Wednesday, ready tonight!

My friend Loren Peters volunteered to drive me from Maine to Manchester leaving at 6:30 AM. That's friendship.

New battery. Charging great. Still with surging in the mid-range. MoM thought it might be an air leak in the collar connecting the carbs with the intake manifold. Runs OK when throttle fairly open or at idle rough in between. But they couldn't get parts and wouldn't have time til July 21.

Try and go anyway? Try another shop? Pack it in? Dan Turco and Sons back in Rutland, VT Tuesday morning, July 8.

Current plan - I'm staying in Maine until Saturday or Sunday then off to VT. In the garage at Garrison Cove Watch for now. Stay tuned.

Ready to launch

Fully loaded in the driveway of my sister's house in Springfield, VT. Taking off on the shakedown cruise to Scarborough, ME. Thursday, June 26, 2014. All luggage on board for a multi-week trip.

10961 The first day takes a week part 1

A shakedown cruise seemed a good idea. On Thursday the 26th of June I set off from Springfield, VT headed for Prouts Neck, Scarborough, ME. And did the shakedown prove to be necessary.

The bike was running a little rough, which I ascribed to old gas and carbs left over the winter. I got to the Hooksett toll while Susan drove the rental car. Paid the toll and stalled the bike. No cranking when starter pressed even though it was a new battery.

At that point I became very grateful that I had bought my insurance from Progressive through MCIS Insurance Services (thanks Byron) as it included roadside assistance.

Got a jump and discovered the battery terminals were loose. I figured that must have been the problem. 5 miles later while waiting for Susan to inspect the plumbing at a service station, it stalled again.

Went to Target across street and bought jumper cables. After 5 tries got it running. By this point, most readers will have figured out that I had a charging problem. I did not want to believe that. So, I started off again. Made it about 1/2 a mile when it died.

Susan, ever patient and supportive, waited while I called roadside assistance again. Have to wait an hour. It started raining. Susan had had to park up the hill as there was no safe place near the bike.

Tiring of waiting in the rain, I pushed the bike up a quarter mile hill, moved the luggage into the car and waited for the tow.

Turns out that Manchester, NH is one of the few places on earth with a Yamaha dealer open until 8:00 PM on a Thursday night. Motorcycles of Manchester (Mom's). Steve York agrees to take a look.

Initial diagnosis - stator dead, rectifier maybe, possible carburetion issue. No OEM parts available. But there is a non-OEM stator and rectifier available. But shop schedule full until July 21. No hope if it's a carb issue. Parts might be in Monday the 30th. Bike might be ready Thursday the 3rd of July. Will call Friday.

Got in the car with Susan and drove to Maine.

And it begins

Opening odometer setting. June 26, 2014 Springfield, VT

A year of waiting.

I started thinking about a cross continental trip in the fall of 2012. I ordered the remaining missing parts and started thinking about a route.
I'd been in all but 2 of the 50 states. All that was left was the northern tier of North Dakota and Montana, so I knew I'd want to go there. I've never been very fond of the Midwest as a travel zone, so I started thinking about the Canadian Shield - an area north of the Great Lakes. If I went that way, of also get my last three Canadian provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. That would be the route.
But fate intervened. Too much work in the summer of 2013. I was only in New England for a few days. I got the bike running again rode a little and ended up leaving it in the barn.