| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Fellow Buellers, I went out for a day trip to the California coast from Fresno yesterday and the main road back to Fresno was closed for repair (Hwy 41). Sooo, we decided on an alternate route which was longer, but ran through a canyon for 50+ miles, so it was cool with all of us. Anyway, right as we entered the canyon, my shifter fell off and was just blowing in loose in the wind, only held on by the linkage. THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SHIFTER TO THE BIKE FELL OFF. We are 50 miles from the destination town of Coalinga (gas stop) and at least 25 miles from any kind of town of decent size. Turns out I didn't use Locktite on the offending bolt a year and a half when I replaced the shifter. It took a while but it worked itself loose. Locktite is specified per the shop manual that I didn't own when I replaced the shifter. ALso, the drain plug for the oil needs locktite (among others I suspect). To conclude the saga, we ended up putting the bike in 4th gear by hand. Then I got a shove off from my buddies (thank God for quality friends!) and it was over 50 miles in 4th gear. Also, thank God there were no stops--well one temporary stop light that I "rolled" thru. My main challenge was passing trucks and slow cars that might actually take a 25mph corner at 25mph. Then from Coalinga to Fresno we put it in 3rd gear as I found I could get going from a complete stop with no help from my buddies--and there are actually stops on this final leg of my journey. My clutch probably hates me, but the Buell showed its versatility. It handled the canyon ride in 4th wonderfully--and there were long stretches where I could forget about my predictament and just ride. Also, there is nothing that motivates you to keep your corner speed up like a 20mph hairpin in 4th gear. There is nothing like have a good bike and good buddies to turn a potential disaster into a story that will be told as a fond memory (okay maybe not fond, but you know what I mean)....THE END | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
try that on a R-6, wouldnt be easy. | ||
| Coolice |
I would consider safety wire the linkage fasteners, and drain plugs. Our race team (Jamesgang Racing) finished the 8 hour MotoST race last October at Daytona in 4th gear too. Buells rock! | ||
| 984gasm |
Haha.. sounds familiar. I dropped my bike during a cross-country solo trip in the middle of missouri "wine country".. Noone around for miles, and the linkage broke from the shifter along with the shifter peg. Around 40 miles to the highway in tight turns and steep hills, all in the one gear I could get it into.. 4th! That was fun. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Thats why I always carry a set of vise grip pliers or vise needle nose. Pretty handy to fashion an impromptu shift lever. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Ya big baby! I did 210 miles in 5th gear with no shifter. Suck it up!  | ||
| 984gasm |
I forgot to say how my front wheel snapped off, so I did the whole thing in a wheelie... ok, maybe not, so I guess I'll give you that one Ft bstrd | ||
| Ragnagwar |
I second the "Vise Grips", indispensable! | ||
| Snowhownd |
I was thinking the same thing - try that in a I-4 - torque baby!!! | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
Mine backed out WITH Locktight AND proper torque. I made it home in 5th gear through 4 stop lights and a stop sign, Would have NEVER happened on an L4 engine. Mine is saftied now. No one in town had the appropriate linkage so I had to "Manufacture" my own. Looks stock except for the safety wire but will be making one from billet soon. |
