Wilsons Sandbox

> I was 12 days into my 2 weeks of riding WA, ID, MT, WY, Alberta and > home to BC when I stopped in Lake Louise (with 10,000 other > tourists) to suck up my share of the few remaining gallons of gas in > LL. When I tried to start the bike, there were a few laboured grunts > and then the starter stopped completely. All subsequent attempts > resulted in a sound of current going 'somewhere' but the starter > didn't turn. My A21 had only 4,000 kms total usage at the start of > the trip, and 8430 when the starter failed. I'll be checking into > the cause later in my garage. Two other riders in the vicinity > helped me bump-start the bike and I continued on my way (deciding to > head home after a rather nice trip to that point). The bike was > using a little oil on the trip so I topped it up daily. I noticed > the o-ring under the filler plug was a little 'slack' but I always > made sure it was in place and the plug tight. On Sunday morning I > bump-started the bike at the motel in Kamloops and headed down the > Coquihalla on my last leg to home. South of Merritt, at the top of a > long decline and doing 70 mph, I felt an explosion of 'water' all > over my right leg. When I looked down I thought 'Sure is shiny > water!' Immediately I saw that the oil filler plug had loosened and > blown out, emtying most of the engine oil over the right side of the > bike, and over the right side of my body as well. I pulled in the > clutch, coasted to the bottom of the hill where I could get out of > traffic's way, and surveyed the damage. The bike was smoking from > the oil sprayed all over the exhaust, and the rear wheel was coated > in oil as well. 'Fortunately' it was Sunday and I have friends in > Hope who have a bike trailer and they came and retrieved myself and > the bike. I managed to catch a bus to Gibsons and went back to Hope > yesterday and retrieved the bike in my pickup. None of the 3 Kawi > dealers on my route where open on a Monday (even in summertime?????) > so I'll head back to Vancouver for parts when I've assessed the > problem more thoroughly. This could have happenned in a MUCH worse > geographic location, and I did keep the bike upright without harm to > the engine (I 'think'!) but from this point on, my filler plug will > ALWAYS be safety wired in some fashion. Any ideas on the clutch > issue? I don't hear any solenoid 'click' sound but the battery has > plenty of juice. > > TIA, > Gord

> > I was 12 days into my 2 weeks of riding WA, ID, MT, WY, Alberta and home to BC when I stopped in Lake Louise (with 10,000 other tourists) to suck up my share of the few remaining gallons of gas in LL. When I tried to start the bike, there were a few laboured grunts and then the starter stopped completely. All subsequent attempts resulted in a sound of current going 'somewhere' but the starter didn't turn. My A21 had only 4,000 kms total usage at the start of the trip, and 8430 when the starter failed. I'll be checking into the cause later in my garage. Two other riders in the vicinity helped me bump-start the bike and I continued on my way (deciding to head home after a rather nice trip to that point). The bike was using a little oil on the trip so I topped it up daily. I noticed the o-ring under the filler plug was a little 'slack' but I always made sure it was in place and the plug tight. On Sunday morning I bump-started the bike at the motel in Kamloops and headed down the Coquihalla on my last leg to home. South of Merritt, at the top of a long decline and doing 70 mph, I felt an explosion of 'water' all over my right leg. When I looked down I thought 'Sure is shiny water!' Immediately I saw that the oil filler plug had loosened and blown out, emtying most of the engine oil over the right side of the bike, and over the right side of my body as well. I pulled in the clutch, coasted to the bottom of the hill where I could get out of traffic's way, and surveyed the damage. The bike was smoking from the oil sprayed all over the exhaust, and the rear wheel was coated in oil as well. 'Fortunately' it was Sunday and I have friends in Hope who have a bike trailer and they came and retrieved myself and the bike. I managed to catch a bus to Gibsons and went back to Hope yesterday and retrieved the bike in my pickup. None of the 3 Kawi dealers on my route where open on a Monday (even in summertime?????) so I'll head back to Vancouver for parts when I've assessed the problem more thoroughly. This could have happenned in a MUCH worse geographic location, and I did keep the bike upright without harm to the engine (I 'think'!) but from this point on, my filler plug will ALWAYS be safety wired in some fashion. Any ideas on the clutch issue? I don't hear any solenoid 'click' sound but the battery has plenty of juice. >

> Nice essay on the Harley headlights rev. Now how about a short one on their taillights: > The pessimist sees a rolling roadblock. > The optimist sees a slalom course. >