| Author | Message | ||
     Doncasto |
I am hoping the BWB network will come through for my friends Eric and Corrinne. Their 2002 M2 suffered a bilateral head bolt/front mount failure on Canada Route 1 near Whitehorse. They are holed up in a hotel and hoping to be able locate a replacement Thunderstorm head . . .or any head that can be bolted up to get them up and riding again. I would appreciate any contacts or suggestions . . . from resources in the area (I checked BRAN - no listing in the Yukon) to available heads that could be purchased and expedited to their location. Please contact me by telephone 541-247-5049 as I will be trying to coordinate the effort from here, and may be headed north in the F350 if need be. Don Casto Gold Beach, Oregon | ||
| Reepicheep |
Dang! Wish I could do something to help! | ||
| Doncasto |
Thanks, Bill . . .no luck on finding a replacement head so far. I am heading into town to pull my passport out of the safe deposit box . . .just in case. | ||
| Kenm123t |
is it the head and mount both or just the mount? can they get it fixed in Ak ? pm me i can get that on the crack berry | ||
| Reindog |
Have they contacted American Sport Bike? Al might have some ideas. | ||
| Rfischer |
Check the BadWeb classifieds....there's a set of heads advertised; also a complete motor that the seller might pull heads off. | ||
| Rfischer |
Also, Bob Johnson at J.E.T. [BadWeb sponsor] | ||
| Hughlysses |
Might be worth weld-repairing it given their location. I'll bet they could find someone in the area that could do it. | ||
| Doncasto |
Eric and Corrinne have overcome the broken head monster and are within a few hours of leaving Whitehorse. They opted to have the head welded and the threads Helicoiled. Eric is toying with the idea of welding the aftermarket front mount directly to head if there is any question about the bolts holding. At this time they have not decided whether to continue on into Alaska across what may be some of the worst frost heaved pavement on the planet . . .or turn south for Vancouver. Please join me in wishing them safe and uneventful riding from here on out . . . Thanks to everyone that responded . . .depending upon how things play out from here, I may be back shopping for a replacement head in the next day or so. | ||
| Ljm |
They are about 750 miles from Anchorage, say, 550 or so from Fairbanks. But there is a Harley shop listed in Whitehorse. While them may not be a whole lot of help, they will have information on how to get something shipped there quickly. No regular flights to Whitehorse from this side of the border, freight to Whitehorse goes north through B.C. If some of the part options work out above, having the bike shop in Whitehorse reach out and get it would probably be the fastest way. However, Yukon HD may be able to find something to fit and cobble it together to get here to Anchorage. Yukon Harley, 21 Waterfront Pl, Whitehorse - (867) 633-1903. Whitehorse is about 1000 miles up from the southern end of the Alaska Highway but within Canada and clearing customs for parts from the south is probably the only viable way to do it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Glad they got it fixed and hopefully it will hold up. I'd imagine the combination of a good weld and Helicoils is stronger than the original boss was. Fingers crossed... | ||
| Moxnix |
I vote for Vancouver. | ||
| Reepicheep |
If it was me on an AlCan trip, and I needed it to save it, I'd not hesitate a second to just weld the aftermarket mount to the front head. Finish the ride, order a new one, and put the welded one on a frame up on the wall or on the coffee table. It'd be the best $500 trip souvenir you could ask for, and worth every penny. | ||
| Ljm |
Keep coming North. Well, at this point, mostly west, but head on in. They are pretty close to what passes as civilization here. It is a lot of empty road between them and Vancouver. And the beer is a lot better here. | ||
| Blake |
Different alloys may be tough to weld. | ||
| Darth_villar |
Though I have personally not used it for Tig welding, my friend swears by Super Missile Rod. Apparently it can weld non-like alloys with little fuss. Good luck! | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
wish i would have seen this earlier. (im in alaska) iv had the same delimma. got the head welded at a local machine shop, he did a Great job. ended up welding the hole shut, adding more material to the mating surface then drilling and taping the hole. its been over a year and still going strong. Anchorage House of Harley had a Buell riders club, not sure if its still going but they might be able to help if your friends still need it.  | ||
| Doncasto |
I received a call from them last night just after they arrived in Tok, Alaska. There plan was to make for Anchorage today. They were cold, tired and beat up by the road. As I recall from my trip to Alaska a few years ago, the last section of road before the Alaska border is littered with the biggest frost heaves I have ever seen. You learn to look way up ahead for this sign . . .  Eric indicated that the frost heaves had taken their toll on the weld repairs and there was signs of stress fracturing. His plan was to have it re-welded in Anchorage . . .and then look into taking the ferry back down to the lower 48. | ||
| Ljm |
They should plan to come off the plateau (about 225 miles from where they are) about noon, or one. Weather is going to be $hitty in the morning here in Anchorage, with high wind warning until noon but it is supposed be better where they are in the morning. They are about 325 miles away. Have them give me a call and come by for dinner if they are up for it. Offer still stands to go get them if further problems. BTW, Tok doesn't count for civilized even here.  When I was coming home from college, with my wife, 1 yr. old son, we stopped to eat about 11 p.m. at the restaurant at the T (they will know the one). There was a fight behind our table until waitress threw them out (literally). She was the only one working because the cook got drunk. It may have been him passed out in the lobby. There was a woman throwing up in the men's room, NOT in the toilet. There was a pickup stalled that had run into the building with both doors popped open. One guy passed out on the ground, no sign of the driver (could have been him in the lobby too). So, I hope their experience in Tok was uneventful. I decided to drive on even though I had been up for 72 hrs. Seeing things that weren't there ended up being better than seeing the things that were. Larry | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
OH CRAP Ljm, Thats the REAL alaska you witnessed. Ketchikan used to be exactly like that till the cruze ships showed up and we had to clean up our act, and streets. Doncasto, they will LOVE the road from Gakona to Palmer. If they take the ferry back south, which i STRONGLY advise, they should take a layover in juneau and Ketchikan to explore Southeast Alaska. it would be a slow n easy way to exit Alaska. If they have some time in Ketchikan id love to show them around. | ||
| 86129squids |
Might this be the most epic BRAN thread evaaaar? Good luck travelers! Keep the rubber side down! | ||
| Ljm |
Eric and Corrine made it in to Anchorage, came by for coffee. The welds are cracking again and they will be looking for someone to weld it tomorrow. Depending, they will either get if fixed, try for other modifications ala additional motor mount, or who knows what else. Gave them Al's number, a welding shop if their's doesn't work out, buell tech contact. Hopefully all pans out and they can head back down the road. Otherwise, looking for a trip home on the ferry to either Prince Rupert or Seattle. Don't seem any worse for the wear and seem to be having a good ride. | ||
| Doncasto |
Thanks for the update, Larry . . .glad to hear that you and the intrepid Kiwis are in contact. Also, thanks for stepping up in the spirit of all things Buell . . . Give 'em my best! | ||
| Blake |
Larry, Tell them to have the weld and surrounding area well-blended then shot-peened or equivalent (a high power pneumatic needle gun may work okay) in order to help prevent premature cracking. It makes a huge difference. | ||
| Blake |
Also be sure the welder is using an appropriate filler material. Not knowing the alloys of the two parts for certain, 4043 is probably the best bet.  Above taken from the Aluminum Design Manual, by the Aluminum Association. (Message edited by Blake on August 08, 2011) | ||
| Blake |
A re-heat treat would be nice too if they have a way to get it done. The shot-peening would be performed after the heat treat. | ||
| Ljm |
Thanks, Blake, Haven't seen them yet this morning, but sent a cut and paste. Hopefully, they'll get it patched together and get back on the road in a day or so. | ||
| Akbuell |
Having lived in Juneau, I recommend the Pr Rupert stop, and ride down. Approx 1k mi to the US border, and the ride is worth it, especially the section from Cache Creek to Chilliwack. Follows the Frasier River, spectacular scenery. Or, Rt 99 from Cache Creek to Whistler to Vancouver. DO NOT leave Cache Creek on the Rt 99 trip without starting w/full fuel. Hwy 3 from Hope to Creston (just north of Idaho) is another great ride. Best of luck on the repairs, and enjoy the trip !!!! | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
+1 for Akbuell. thats an amazing piece of road. Its a much better way to go than watching the trees go by sitting on the ferry. | ||
| Doncasto |
Eric and Corrinne, my intrepid Kiwi friends, made a wide 900 mile diversion in their route to stop by my place in Gold Beach for a short visit. We were able to put their 2002 M2 Cyclone up on the rack for some maintenance and a few minor repairs before they headed off yesterday for their last leg to Leavenworth, Kansas. Their North American adventure covered over 9000 miles. They went through a set of tires . . .lost a belt to the rocks on the Cassiar Highway in BC (landing them once again in Whitehorse for repairs) . . .and ended up having their front mount welded to the head in Anchorage after the previous weld began to crack. This was all done two up . . . My appreciation and gratitude for my friends here on BWB has increased exponentially as we came together to support Eric and Corrinne when things began going sideways for them in the Yukon. Thanks Badwebbers . . .you did us proud, and as Eric would say . . "Good on Ya!"(or perhaps more accurately . . ."Tumeke and Kapai!") They are heading back by way of Reno and then across on I-80 . . .if you see them, give 'em a thumbs up for all of us that have lived vicariously through them in the last couple of weeks.  (Message edited by doncasto on August 21, 2011) |
