Wilsons Sandbox

On Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 6:42 PM, sopris_2000 wrote: > ** > > > The repair cost $300P or about $24US. He drilled through the main frame > and put in one long bolt, the way I should have done it originally. Now I > just need to put it all back together. I'd rather do it myself and know > everything has loctite on it. Plus I said 4,000 miles so far, it's actually > 5,000 miles. I changed the oil at my same hotel 5 weeks ago and now I'm > going to change it again. Plus the other moto parts shop 1/2 block away > recycles used oil. > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "SM" wrote: > > > > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sopris_2000" wrote: > > > > > > We've been on the road south of the border for 2 months. I apparently > didn't replace these bolts even though I thought I had. Here's a report I > posted on Advrider this afternoon. > > > My wife and I have been riding in Mexico/Central America for 2 months > on 2 KLR's. A week ago in Lanquin, GT I had to tighten up the sub-frame > bolts. And I thought we were ok. Today, in Tehuantepec, MX, I could feel > the sub-frame loose again. We were heading to Oaxaca (160 miles) and I told > her I thought we could make it. Wrong thought. About 50 miles outside of > Tehuantepec, her sub frame top bolts sheared off. She said it felt like her > butt was dropping. Off to the side we pull off at a road side tienda under > construction. No one was there. I pull all her boxes, drybag, tankbag, tank > saddle bags, seat and gas tank off. Yes, we have a situation. The top 2 > bolts were sheared, I couldn't put a new bolt in if I wanted to. > > > Now, this was a head scratcher. Out in the middle, only 100 miles to > Oaxaca and a bike that needs to go. I didn't have much but I had some > jumper cables. So I cut one of the cables apart and started threading from > one support on the sub-frame to another support on the main frame. While I > was doing this, my wife found some construction wire that was being used > for the concrete. So I threaded both sides to pull the sub-frame tight to > the main frame. When we pulled out the support holding us the sub-frame > nothing moved. Ok, we put her bike back together, loaded all of her side > boxes and tank bags on my bike (now I am overloaded) and took off. > > > And yes, she rode 100 miles with no more issues. > > > When we got to our hotel, I told the desk man one of the bikes broke > today and I needed a moto shop. He pointed out the door. Across the street > is a moto repair shop. Within 15 minutes of checking in, her bike was > across the street. The mechanic speaks English. He saw what I needed and he > asked how many miles did she ride like this. I told him 100 miles. Short > story, he will have the bike ready by tomorrow morn > > > Here are the links: > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickandchris/6873007420/ > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickandchris/7019111581/ > > > > > > > Excellent job with the wire! > > Ten out of ten. > > > > Thanks > > CA Stu > > > > PS Taking KLR to CHP tomorrow to get new VIN approved after replacing > the frame > > > > PPS Not me with the packing wisdom, but it is definitely good advice. > Signed, a chronic over-packer. > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]