| Author | Message | ||
     Stingaroo |
Hello all! Things are going well here in PA, it is very nice to be back home where it rains, grass grows, and all the little things I missed so much are everywhere. Well we got back from Iraq around the 26th of August, and got released from Ft Dix last Wensday. For the first few days I spent time with the wife, visited parents, family and a few friends. On Friday, I got a new rear tire installed, new plugs, reoiled the aircleaner, installed the corbin seat I got from Brinnutz, and put on the battery charger. My Dad was nice enough to change my fluids for me, however he only put about a gallon of fresh gas back in June when he got the bike inspected. He also cleaned and waxed it, a very detailed job that turned out nice. Well we had plans on saturday to ride down to DC area and visit my Grandmother, she is 90 years old, and played a big part in helping Kate get through this deployment. I am the fourth name on her blue star flag, Grandad, her brother Leo, and my Dad are the other 3 for WW2, Korea and Vietnam. I got to the shop early in hopes of filling up with gas and getting a few miles under my belt since it has been about a year since my last ride. Well I check the oil, tank seemed almost empty, so I added some more, and tried starting the old Cyclone up. No luck, she would not fire. First dumb mistake, once you put a plug back in, hook up the plug wires. Bam she fired right up. I let it idle for a little bit, got geared up, and rolled out. First mile or so was slow, bearly over 25 mph as I got the feel back. Rode down to a gas station about 10 miles away, getting many strange looks from onlookers. Yeah, I was thinking, that D&D sounds sweet, yeah its a Buell, oh yeah I am awesome.... Well, not so much. After I took off my helment and dug out my wallet, a dood walked up, "hey man, I think you are leaking, you have oil all over you the rear of your bike" He was not kidding. At first glance one would have thought I had a cracked oil tank. Rear tire, swingarm, tire, belt, and my whole right leg (thanks to the drive belt) is covered in oil. WTF? I quickly got off the bike and started wiping off oil from around the hot parts on the bike. Yup I forgot how hot exhaust parts are, and burned my right hand on it, took about a minute for it to blister up. While nursing my hand, I had that moment of clearity, it all came out of the breather. I did not warm up the bike before I checked the oil. Crap. When I pulled the dipstick out of the oil tank, oil came bubbling out of the top. With a 32oz gatorade bottle, a ton of towels adn a leatherman, I managed to drain the excessive oil, and clean up the bike enough to make the short trip back home. Upon arriving at the house, I pulled off my gloves, realizing the other mistake I had made. The inside of my right glove was covered in ooze and blistered skin, and my right hand had a nice big yellow spot where I had burned my hand. Ok I was not quitting. We cleaned up the bike, rechecked everything, got my hand bandaged up, and before you know it we did the 86 mile trip down to visit Grandma. It was a trip worth all the trouble, I could not have asked for a better place to go on my first ride. Brownies, Reuben sandwiches, a cold beer, and the hug I was not sure I would recieve after she had a bout with shingles while I was deployed. The trip home was uneventful, Kate loved the backrest on the seat. I managed to rack up 300 miles so far, and hopefully a pile more in the next couple of months. It is back into being my main mode of transportation, and hopefully I do not experience too many more dumb moments throughout my travels... Brian | ||
| M2statz |
Just glad that your home safe!! Thanks for your service to our great country!! I know that I have made the same mistake about checking the oil before the warm up! I think it only happens once!!  M2statz | ||
| Kenney83 |
Congrtats on making it back. I have been back for about a week and a half and have put about 1000 miles on the bike. Thanks for what you do.  Steve | ||
| Brinnutz |
So, looks like that Corbin is working out for you? How's the misses like the backrest? Does she feel much better with it back there? Glad I could help you out man! Welcome home! (Message edited by brinnutz on September 08, 2009) | ||
| Bill0351 |
I'm glad you're home safe. My first ride when I came back went just about as well. When I was in Camp Virginia waiting to be shipped back, I had a local shop pick up my 883 Sportster for a 1200 conversion. It was done and waiting for me when I got back. I got dropped off at the shop, paid the bill, fired it up, and started riding home. I was feeling great until I got about 5 miles from the shop and ran out of gas. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
glad to hear your back home and in the saddle again. and by the sound of it,it seems like it's my old saddle. if it is, i hope it's working out for you cause i could not stand it. even after i had sent it back to be reformed it wasn't something i could ride with. to hard and slippery. now that your back, what will you do. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Glad you made it back, thanks for your service. Ride safe! | ||
| Gunut75 |
Might as well burn all the bad luck at one time! Thank you for your service! | ||
| Prior |
Brian, Glad you got out in the wind a bit and got down to see Grandma. Very cool! See you this weekend!!! | ||
| Toona |
Welcome Home Brian! Chris and I have put in a few miles already as well. We were talking about possible doing a ride the last Saturday of Sept? Nothing set in stone, just a feeler if you are available... | ||
| Cudajohn |
Buddy, I'm glad you're home. I think the most memorable thing for me was stepping off that plane in Savannah, GA and seeing all those green trees. My eyes popped with the amazement of such a hue. The air smelled fresh and not like desert or rotting or burning stuff. I know exactly how you feel about Grandma too. Mine had 5 of us over there at the same time last year. She had 6 son's in the military, 4 of which were Vietnam Vets and one was also a Korean War Vet. She, like your Grandmother, is a special lady to have that many boys go to a war and be such a patriot. These old lady's are something else. | ||
| Stingaroo |
Thanks everyone, Steve, thank you, hopefully I can start racking them up! Wilson, Kate enjoys it immensely, I just worry about her falling asleep on long trip haha Nevrenuf, it is sleek, and a little stiff, but I am still semi young and dumb. Anything is better than our WLA with an oversized bicycle seat, post spring, and hardtail. Prior, I am trying to figure out a good place to get crabs for the party now. I will be over at Jason's early helping lay things out and digging the fire pit Dan, I am not too sure, I will have to talk to my social coordinator. I do beleive I might be free. Cudajohn, you are not lying. Green trees, grass, no dust and sand stinging the face, I love it. I run outside everytime it rains, and really enjoy the aftermath, clean air and no dust!! Those ladies are unique. Where else can you drink and break things while wrestling around the living room, but don't put your elbows on the table, tuck in your shirt and keep your hair cut! Right now I am on terminal leave till the end of the month, and then revert back to National Guard status. I do not have to report back to work, or military duties till about December-January time frame. I am currently trying to get ahold of BAE and talk to the guy thats in HR about my job situation. Am I or am I not going to get laid off, I have BNOC phase 2 and 3 the month of March, wedding in January, etc. I personally think he is not a confident guy and is scared to talk to me, so I might jump the chain if I do not hear back from him today. One week is long enough. Till I get back to work and all I will be doing a WW2 show and convoy in Gettysburg, maybe some riding in western PA, finally finishing the restoration of the '41 Plymouth, riding down to visit Prior in NC in Oct. followed by IUP Homecoming, and then another WW2 display with our vehicles in Cumberland MD in November. I might as well get started looking for other job opportunities just in case I get laid off of this one. Keep on rockin everyone! Brian | ||
| Prior |
If you can't find the crabs dead, get them live and I'll bring up my steamer. No one down here sells them already prepared, so we get to have crab fights in the back yard before they go in the steamer. They'd be cheaper too. We'll be over around 4 or so, going up to Gettysburg for some wine thing at noon. Might not be heading back South until Monday, so we'll have plenty of time to kick it. Glad all of you who are back in the states are enjoying the scenery, smells and lack of people shooting at you. You PA boys are more than welcome to roll down to the Carolinas with Brian in October. Prior | ||
| Blake |
Brankin (1313) is sure to chime in with some excellent info for you. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Welcome back Brian! Buelltober Fest? | ||
| Ocbueller |
Brian, Welcome back. We got crabs here in Ocean City and bike week starts Thursday. Whatcha waitin for? SteveH | ||
| Prior |
Steve, Will see Brian this weekend and pass on the word... Hope all is well with you! Hopefully we'll get over your way next summer or this winter! | ||
| Bartimus |
Brian, Glad to hear you and Kate are back in the wind. Don't worry about the oil incident, you are not the first to make this mistake.  Sounds like a good party in the making, wish I could be there. Have fun and enjoy yourselves! Thanks again for your service to our country. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Welcome home. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for serving this great nation. I truely appreciate what you do. Happy Buelling. |
