| Author |
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Hughesatron
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 12:28 am: | 
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Ok, I went ahead and ordered a new drive belt, 77 connector, and voltage monitor that ft_bstrd did the writeup on. Has anyone developed a comprehensive, but not overly burdensome maintenance/parts list for long trips on the Uly? I've got a list for the clothing, camping and personal gear, but obviously, I'm still lacking in the Buell-specific gear. |
Swuly
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 02:50 am: |
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I also have a'06 Uly and my precautionary measures for this summers riding includes:
1. Changing the 77 connector
2. Possibly adding a voltage monitor
3. Changing rear wheel bearings when it´s time for a new tire, and above all:
4. An extended insurance including the "Secure package" which means that if/when i´m stranded i just pick up the cellphone, dial a number and someone will pick me up and haul the bike to a shop of my desire. I travel light and does not use panniers so for me this is the ultimate solution!  |
Billyo
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 07:26 am: |
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I haven't tent-camped in, well a long time. Now we're getting some gear together for the trek to homecoming. What is everyone packing when they camp? Besides tequila-that's a given. |
Charlie_zulu
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 08:47 am: |
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"Question: Once the ECM shuts off the aux circuit and the voltage meter goes dark, what else about the voltage do you really need to know?"
+1 |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 09:31 am: |
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what else about the voltage do you really need to know?
Um...how about when the voltage goes from 8v...to 6v...to 4v...to "push me"?
With a passenger, an hour and a half from home, at night...I want to see EVERY bit of voltage I have left in case it goes from 6v to 4v and we're next to a gas station...but in 100 yards there are no shoulders and no street lights for the next five miles.
If the meter turned off ten minutes ago...I'd just plug on blindly until it was time to push. In the dark. With no shoulder.
WITH the meter, I can stop at the gas station and not get hit by a car in the dark.
THAT'S "what else". But maybe that's just me. I don't turn the bathroom light off before I flush, either... |
Charlie_zulu
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 09:58 am: |
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Rat, sounds like you have had experience with this, what's the lowest the voltage can go before you're dead in the water? |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 10:20 am: |
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A spare throttle shaft might be a good idea, especially if you have an 06. Check this thread for more info:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/580295.html?1296943903 |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 11:04 am: |
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Not on the Uly...but I know how the system works. ECM shuts off the aux outlet at a certain voltage level, to route power to "necessary" circuits like lighting and ignition. That tells me that even after the outlet is turned off...there will be power left to ride.
For a while.
I, being the inquisitive sort, want to be able to quantify the "for a while" timeframe if the situation arises and I need to know when to get ready to push.
When my 77 let go, I fiddle-farted with it - in a hotel parking lot about 300 yards before the road went rural with no lights or shoulders - and got the meter to go from amber (8v I think) back to green (12v). Still not "right" - normal running condition is 14v and 2 greens, but by then I knew that I could "convince" it to get us home if I needed to.
And it did.
But my thought process on the whole meter theory is, if I put one on to keep an eye on things...I want to keep an eye on things without interference from another source. ESPECIALLY when the voltage is low enough for me to actually NEED the meter. Sure, 2 green LEDs are nice and warm and happy...but I don't need the meter at that point. When I really need it, is when my greens are out, and my ambers are out, and all I have is one red on and one red flickering, telling me to get ready to push. THAT is precisely why I put the meter on.
Being able to fix it while things were still amber was dumb luck, and fortunately I have yet to hit red on the Uly.
I did, however, hit red on the S2 one time. Got home quickly, did the stator test, it was fine...the VR was bad. A short ride with a broken VR is the only thing that saved the stator as far as I'm concerned. New VR, and the bike has been happy as a clam ever since.
The sooner you catch things, the less damage you do to other components.
Wire a voltmeter as directly as possible to the source. No filters, no switches, nothing. Get an accurate reading.
And I'm probably going to get one of the throttle shafts, too...although I need to check my bike when I do my 20k to make sure I don't have the updated TB already.
For tent camping - I just got a nice, compact North Face 20 degree bag, that without a compression sack packs down to 8x18". I also have a Eureka! 2 person tent that packs to something silly like 4x16". I'm going to get compression sacks for clothing, too - normally I just fill trash bags with clothes but that's not too space efficient.
If you think you have twice as many pairs of socks as you need...toss in a couple more pair. Wet feet suck.
I take a pair of spare boots as well (and with my size 13's, that's half a freakin' saddlebag!).
Razor. Toothpaste. Bar-o-soap. Towel and washcloth. Underarmor (it packs small and you can wash it in a sink). A bedroll/pad, more for ground temp insulation than for padding. And I think this year I'll bring a folding chair. Tank bag has USB chargers for cell, and for Scala headset. Battery-hot so I don't have to have the bike running to charge stuff (USB pulls so little I'm not worried about a dead battery). And my first aid kit always has a MiniMag flashlight that I converted to LED.
You can get tequila when you get there. Save saddlebag space for the trip and buy consumables locally. |
2_spuds
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 09:46 am: |
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I would add a head net that fits over your helmet for the skeeters,keep it in your tank bag for when you have to wait for road construction delays. Sometimes it's a long wait and the buggers swarm you when you lift up your visor.
Also pull to the front of the lines at such delays, it's encouraged and the flagman will wave you forward if he can see you.
Be sure your rain gear is up to all day ridding in cold rain,sleet and some snow.
The only gloves that worked for me were fleece lined rubber gloves that I found in Seward Ak.
I took my 06 uly up in 06 and hated to head back home. Good Luck!
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Billyo
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 07:24 pm: |
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Thanks for the tips, I'm making a list. I'll buy food/drink locally. |
7873jake
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 09:10 am: |
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At the end of last summer, I wandered in to the nether regions of coastal GA and SC. While stopping for gas, I was swarmed by gnats that found every crack, crevice and vent opening in my helmet, and came through.
I will be adding the net to my tank bag. Thanks 2_spuds. |
Hughesatron
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 09:22 am: |
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great tips, 2_spuds. I've got my new belt, low-fuel sensor, 77 connector, and voltage monitor in hand, so I'll be busy this weekend (after riding). |
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