Rob

Pretty amazing really. Everytime since I've been driving when there has been a failure, it has either been in my driveway, the parts store, a friends house, or my shop. I try to exercise due diligence in maintenance practices and have always acheived high mileage from my vehicles. Seldom do I sell anything cause if I don't trust em, they're scrap yard bound. Rob

Yup. I however have yet to see somebody duplicate my feats, or defiance to the inevitable. Rob

Yeah, cause less than two hours prior, that is exactly what I was doing!! Rob

Hi Herb, yes it is my 94, and 95 Olds Cutlass. This is first, and only time that car has ever ceased to proceed on it's own. Never have been let down by it. This time was 250 feet from the front door. Hate to admit but I may have to scrap it out as I don't think there is enough structure left to the front engine cradle mount to make it through another winter. Rust is just consuming the metal. Rob

I knew you'd understand. I'm going after it on Thursday morning. It is about 14 hours distant so I'll do some visiting along the route. Formulating an itinerary tonight and getting anxious!! Rob

Well, seeins the never ending support given by my buds here at BMT, I'll let you know my latest delimma: You all know my luck with trucks being in the parking area of my shop and running out of fuel. Well here is a new twist: The other night I was pulling out of my parking lot and going to pick up the mail from the box which is just across the hiway from the shop. I pull out and start to move to the left and onto the shoulder to grab the mail through the left window of the car. Lo and behold, as soon as the left side tires dropped off of the pavement and onto the rocks, apart comes the lower ball joint on the left side!! This of course drops the floor pan of the car on the shoulder, (rocks) and sending the tire/suspension assembly back into the fender. Since there is still some forward momentum with the wheel moving to the rear, the left side 1/2 shaft rips out the boot in the internal c/v joint, scattering the rollers in the gravel. Shit!! I say cause the car is 1/2 on the pavement, and 1/2 in the rocks and it's a little after 9:00pm so it's dark. The car will not move and is setting fast right there!! I left the engine running, set the four ways, ran across the hi-way to grab my skid steer to get it off the road quickly. Fortunately, I had the forks already mounted so the rest was easy. Without regard I jabbed the forks under the front and lifted it up. Seeing a break in traffic down the hi-way I go pushing the car backwards into my shop parking lot. I was pretty lucky cause I didn't damage anything at all except a bunch of rust chunks fell out, (oh well, with 362,000 miles it don't owe me anything). After looking at the damage this morning, I go to the parts store and purchase a pair of lower ball joints, and replacement 1/2 shaft to install this morning. Being by myself I couldn't push the lower control arm down with a bar enough to align the lower ball joint stud so I called Nikki for a hand. She was busy for a short time so I decided I'd like to hear a little music so fired up one of my trucks with a V8 engine. Thinking this don't sound half bad, I'll get another and listen in unison. Well, leaving the truck idling, I go get the other V8 truck started, let the air build, and start out the building. After jockeying into position, and parking next to the other truck, I get out to stand in front of both of them and guess what? The one truck is not running!! I think WTF!! I had all the trucks filled last fall so it can't be out of fuel because it hasn't been run 1/2 hours since. This gets me to asking myself, "What would cause the truck to shut down because I know I left it running. Citing my own mental instability I climbed back into the cab and sure enough the keyswitch is in the on position, and the kill cable is shoved in. I'm then thinking, "Gawd, I hope I don't have water". Well after getting over the initial shock and dissapointment I finally decided I'd better look in the tank. Upon looking in the right side tank, it's discovered to be empty!! Now I'm thinking some moron clipped me for about 45 gallons of fuel over the winter as this truck sat outside. Then I remember I had shut the petcock off on the left side tank as to keep the rt. tank full and not equalize, (the left is getting replaced with new due to step damage). It turns out the fuel guy filled the left side tank instead of the rt!! The truck draws from the rt. tank. I thought this shit was behind me, way behind!! This truck has no hand primer for the fuel and is a real bitch to get started when it starves out. With all the practice of the past it should not be too difficult, (famous last words). OH well, Nikki showed up and I put the car back together without further complications. It also drives well again. I'll get back to the truck tomorrow. I have a little pump I use for transferring fuel so it won't be a problem to get it running again. Hell, even the weather is nice. Rob

This morning at 2:01am Morgan and Jennifer, with son Joe, welcomed son, little brother, and future truck collector Paul Daniel into this world. All are doing well. Congratulations Morgan!! Rob

Hi there, I certainly agree with you there. We actually visited three Harley-Davidson dealers because my wife wanted that brand of motorcycle. Her mind was certainly changed by the sales pitch that was consistent from dealer to dealer. I really wouldn't have had any problem because once sold something would never go back unless covered under warranty. It really has been over 17 years since we've owned a motorcycle and a long distance trip is in the near future staying in this country. We wanted something comfortable to get back into the mindset so to speak. Rob

That is a nice looking "toy". I'll bet that little seat would pound my hemmorhoids into my throat, so I'd prolly better stay off of one of em for sure. I can certainly see why you would like it. Keeping it on a stand is a good idea as the tires a less likely to take a flat spot setting. Rob

Kind of a light load. Are most dump trailers? Those seem to be gaining in popularity around here. Rob

I was never competitive on the moto track. Used to like the "hair scrambles" around here as it was all low buck racing. I stuck to the flat track stuff and didn't have too many problems running with the pack. I started out on a 60cc Bridgestone, went to a 1973 100MX Yamaha, then a 1974 125MX Yamaha, then to a 1972 100 Kawasaki "Green Streak", then a Kawasaki 1975 KX125, and a 1975 KX250, then jumped ship with a move to Ossa on a 250TT. That Ossa was damned fast but hard to get parts for after about 1/2 a season. For a brief time I had a 250 Maico but never ran it competitively. Husqvarna looked good for a time but the parts availability was not real good either. When Suzuki came out with the RM series I had to have one of those in the 250 size. I couldn't get out of the heats without exploding something internal so never raced one. I had the most consistency with Kawasaki motorcycles but was good friends with the local dealer's kids so he looked after us rather well. Can't say I ever blew one of their motors up but they did require freshening up after every event. When Yamaha brought out the YZ series, (1975) I borrowed one, (250cc) to ride as a demo. I really liked the way it handled, but was choppy in dirt with sharp corners at speed. Think I fell on that one more than any other as it would just wash out from you without warning. Don't know how many sets of leathers I went through due to falling. Also the only one that a clutch wouldn't hold up in through a month of events without replacement. As I look back it is hard to believe how many motorcycle engines exploded under me. Not one was a Kawasaki. I always believed if your afraid of falling, you don't need to be on it and I rode as hard as humanly possible for me. Meeting "Momma" in high school changed my outlook, so I began the slow process of adulthood and you all know the settled down Rob. Rob

Glenn I think both of our minds move faster than the fingers do. I don't need to think too hard on things I know well and try to convey the thoughts but have to proof read myself constantly to ensure what is thought, gets typed. I have one of those 12 speeds but it supposedly has a problem and I've not torn into it yet. Rob

Exactly. Rob

Thanks and am working on a trailer for it. Momma is not real keen on the idea as of yet. When we were younger and could pack a lot of things in a small space, (we've never had a bike with bags) we could carry most everything we needed. I'm not so sure now. A pair of my shorts and socks take up more room than a full day's clothing used to. This coupled with "Momma's" incessant need for nearly every deodorant bar under the sun when on trips takes up a lot of room. She could fill the baggage compartments by her lonesome if I let her. Once I get it home there are a couple places that market nice motorcycle trailers and we'll have a look see. Momma can't envision what a trailer would look like, or fit behind the bike at all so will need to show her first hand. Rob

I just spent 25 minutes typing you a reply and the website threw me out during the upload, losing the information. Been a real consistent thing for the past couple of weeks. I'm now on a different computer. Give me a call, 309-219-2070. Rob

Why thanks Mike. I do the physical therapy thing three days a week followed by an active night in the shop. I do stay moving as sitting down is not really in my nature unless for a short time. I'm quite a bit better than I was a couple of weeks ago when I ceased the chiropractor visits and started seeing a physical therapist. Although those visits are painfull, my back problem has went on from my motorcycle racing days in the mid 70's. The limited amount I've heard about my mom is said she had back problems also. I compounded the problem by jumping three cars inside a building on a then brand new YZ250 Yamaha and landing hard, (only did that stunt once). It is definately easier for me to keep moving as opposed to sitting on my ass at a desk. I have a lower back disc in the 5th lumbar that has slipped and is inflamed putting pressure on one of the nerves that runs on the outside of my right leg. That son of a bitch is painful and on a scale of one to ten, I'd put it at a solid eight when flared up. I haven't slept a full night in over three weeks because the throbbing comes on strong about 4:00am. A few floor stretches and exercises and I'm back off to sleep for another hour if Momma ain't taken to snoring too loudly. At least I ain't pushing daisys yet. Rob

Not this time. Last time I had the fuels guy by the shop he topped all the running trucks off for the winter. Rob

Yeah, it's nuts. I always go the two lanes but I like to piss people off too....... Rob

A little over three full months of not operating a Mack and my nerves was rattled. I went out in the parking area of my shop, uncovered the R795, and gave the ignition key a twist and roaring to life she came. I parked and wrapped this truck outside in a tarp over the cab on New Year's Day and it hasn't been started since. Like ole "Other Dog" says, "There ain't nothin like the sound of a V8 Mack. Sounded so good at idle that I had to go for a "bounce around" in the fields that surround the shop. After about 1/2 hour of thorough back punishment to myself, I'd had enough. Back to the shop I went, parked, then hobbled off to my office chair. The pain was worth it. Rob

The Kremlin within the communist state of Illinois? Just pop the motor off of the shaft of the blend door. Make sure the door moves freely and do watch the actuation of the servo, (motor). Rob

Hi Glenn, I'm sure you meant trans to flywheel housing bolts are still tight......... Rob

I've repaired/rebuilt/customized enough Corvettes in my adult life that I've had my fill of them. I hardly ever watch TV, (except PBS, local news) cause there ain't much worth a shit on there. My 19" screen is big enough for me given the limited amount of usage it sees. I looked at new Harley's and decided against them. The trunk didn't look big enough to support the needed amount of tools, gaskets/seals, and spare parts needed to ensure arrival at point b, from point a. Actually, what sealed the deal against Harley-Davidson was the dealership itself and it's clientel. The sales person kept on about how important it was to have an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership perform the service at scheduled intervals, (I kept quiet about my background letting him dig his own hole). While this seems like the norm, I'm not about to pay exhorbitant routine service amounts at the given intervals to comply with the limited warranty available. With the Yamaha, the warranty is five full years front to back except normal wear items and the recommended intervals are more wide span. Most others were three years unlimited mileage but Harley-Davidson was two years. There is room for improvement here. I really didn't see anything that warranted a $33,000 price tag for a fully loaded motorcycle although a new "Street Glide" could be had for about $20,000. To me, that still is a lot of money. I think we will be happy with this Yamaha. We want to head west to explore the Grand Canyon this summer, so this will be a good break in for it. Rob

I'm not that versed in that transmission so others would be able to guide you better inside the guts but the top cover containing the air cylinders unbolts easily. It is not difficult to rebuild that part. I would say the 4th, and 5th speed are actuated by the same fork but it sounds to me like the actuator fork from the low, to the high side is not fully engaging due to faulty parts. This could be an air regulator that has went bad outputting too little air pressure to hold the sliding clutch gear in position, a worn shifting fork that pushes and pulls the slider clutch gear, or internal leakage withing the shift cylinders that control the low to high transition. With the top cover off of the transmission, a lot can be ascertained by looking at the working parts. You don't need to drain the oil to do this either. As you rebuild the shift cylinders, go through the "selectair" valve, (shifter handle) in the cab also. Rob

Here is our bike. Rob

Naw, I don't think it has much to do with the proximity to myself but I would put stock in wear of the shift forks, rails, and poppets. Of course this would be a great time to rebuild the air cylinders, and ensure the operating pressures from the output of the regulators is where it should be. Rob