It's always the little things that get you

Recently I started working for a dealership that sells Polaris ATV's
and Victory motorcycles along with a line of custom bikes by Swift
Motorcycles. We also do work on Iron Works custom choppers.

Anyhow, the other day we had an IW bike come in with a starting
problem. Didn't want to turn over. It had a Rev-Tech engine with a
belt drive primary. The starter would engage but it didn't have enough
umph to completely crank the engine over. With the spark plugs out the
engine would turn over easily. Tried doing a compression check and the
starter couldn't even turn the engine over with one cylinder plugged
up. The compression gauge would reach 75 psi and the engine would
stop. Even load tested the battery, the starter, and tried a new
battery. Could not find any problems. Since I had class down in
Norfolk that evening I had to leave work early. When I came in the
next morning my boss had it figured out. When the starter is activated
the starter jackshaft slides in to a support bushing in the primary
cover. Particles from the belt drive primary had gummed up the grease
on the bushing so it made it harder for the starter to turn over. He
cleaned out the old grease and the starter worked perfectly.

Guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks. <sf>

Ruppster

 

Damn, dude.. The other day, you were making the impression that you are some
kind of helicopter, something or other.. Today.. you are a motorcycle
technician.. What's the name of that dealership, sounds kinda like the one
in Phoenix . that tried to tell me I'd rode a motorcycle all the way from
Texas with a broke rear brake cable.. LMAO..

Bill Walker

 

Nope, just a grease monkey with a set of wrenches and a couple of
sockets.

Nah, not the same one. We're a lot further east then that. Like near
the Atlantic Ocean.

Ruppster

 

Needed a rear tire, after a two up and loaded ride from Irving to Phoenix..
Next thing I know the technician is announcing that my bike is unsafe to
ride and can't leave the shop because it has no rear brake.. LOL.. The cable
was loose at the arm on the rear hub. Gonna take a couple or three days to
order one, for me.. meantime.. grounded.. I made the owner hold the hub end
of the cable and slammed the brake pedal down.. It damn near snatched the
end of his finger off.. Technician then claimed it was stretched.. well no
shit.. It's been there for almost nine years.. Upshot was, a new bike was
wheeled into the shop.. the technician removed the cables from my bike and
the new one.. at the owners' order, of course.. There was only 3/8"
difference in lengths of the two cables..

Bottom line.. that technician lost the time that he'd worked on my
motorcycle.. He was trying to gouge another labor charge for adjusting that
rear brake.. I rode my motorcycle out of that shop with a new brake cable,
at the owners' expense.. Besides all that, he lost the sale of about $500.00
for a set of saddlebags I'd taken a liking to.. hmmm.. Even after all the
commotion in Phoenix.. new brake cable and rear tire.. I had the rear brake
adjusted by a capable technician in Grapevine when I got back home.. No more
problem..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

Hey Bill, that was a neat little story. Thanks for sharing. Too bad it
had nothing to do with the question I asked you. <g>

Ruppster

 

Well, for those here like me, that had never heard of a
Swift motorcycle, here's the site.
http://www.swiftmotorcycle.com/

But, be careful there Ruppster, the site has a dealer loc-
ator, and we can probably figure out where you are.

If so, then we can come and get you. <G>

I guess I'm just too old now to understand the appeal of
these motorcycle types(Big Dog, Iron Horse, Iron Works, now Swift, et al).
They look like something out
of a cartoon to me, and I know they just can't ride well
with an 18" rear tire and a front tire in another zip code.

Maybe, someone can shed a glimmer of light on the
reason for this appeal?

Of course, I guess many would have similar comments
concerning the appeal of my Valkyrie also!

Gary

 

Never heard of them either till I started working for this place.
There are so many "custom chopper" places out there now it ain't
funny.

Don't worry, I'm not afraid of anyone here. <g> I've posted my
whereabouts before and am not trying to hide from anyone. If someone
wants to know who I work for and asks it in a proper way I will freely
tell them where it is as I'm not ashamed of what I do nor am I afraid
to back up what I post to any newsgroup. Heck, I've even listed my
previous shops on my web site while I was still working for them. One
of these days I will update my web site to reflect some changes that
have happened in my life lately (like having sold my Harley last
summer). Right now I'm too busy with classes at ITT to worry about it
so it will continue to be ignored for a while.

The Swifts aren't too bad as the front end is not as long as a lot of
other bikes out there. I have the bike lift with the extension on it
for long bikes and I can put the Swifts up on it with no problem. Some
of the IW bikes are worse though. I can't even put some of them on the
lift due to their overall length.

Some people think it helps them stand out in a crowd versus buying a
plane jane Harley and looking like every other Harley rider out there.
Plus by the time you take the cost of a new Harley and add all the
custom goodies like fancy paint jobs, bigger engines, and custom
frames for wider tires, you can save yourself a lot of hassles by
going straight for a custom bike to begin with. To each their own, I
guess.

Hey, it's a free country, right? Enjoy what you've got and to hell
with what others think. <sf>

Ruppster
sportster at dodge-semis dot com

 

‘‘ruppster,Damn, dude.. The other day, you were making the
impression that you are some kind of helicopter, something or other..
Bill Walker

‘‘Bill,Huh? What you talking about, Willis? Or do you even
have a clue? <g>
<ruppster>

‘‘Today.. you are a motorcycle technician..’’ Bill
Walker


‘‘Nope, just a grease monkey with a set of wrenches and a
couple of sockets.’’
<Ruppster>

‘‘  What's the name of that dealership, sounds kinda like
the one in Phoenix . that tried to tell me I'd rode a motorcycle all the
way from Texas with a broke rear brake cable.. LMAO..’’ Bill walker


‘‘ Bill,nah, not the same one. We're a lot further east then
that. Like near the Atlantic Ocean.
Ruppster’’


‘‘I have known all along, that Ruppy was a motorcycle
mechanic’’ I rmember once he said, ‘‘hey guys, Gotta go to work,
I left a Bike on the lift, yesterday’’
We are doing good here,we're talking a bit, a lttle bit, about
motorcycles, I will hold my beer breath’’ heehee, <BJAY>

 

‘‘Ruppster,Bottom line.. that technician lost the time that he'd
worked on my motorcycle.. He was trying to gouge another labor charge
for adjusting that rear brake.. I rode my motorcycle out of that shop
with a new brake cable, at the owners' expense.. Besides all that, he
lost the sale of about $500.00 for a set of saddlebags I'd taken a
liking to.. hmmm.. Even after all the commotion in Phoenix.. new brake
cable and rear tire.. I had the rear brake adjusted by a capable
technician in Grapevine when I got back home.. No more problem..
Bill Walker
Irving

‘‘Bill, I remember you talking about this when you got back
and shared your Arizona Ride as a post topic!, Ya met some old Vet Army
Buddies, and your sweetie, rode out there with you, but, as I recall,
she rode back in a vehicle, am I close?
Maybe, Brian, or your sweetie, will get cha some nice Saddle
Bags for Christmas, eh? I have already told/requested, my Honey, that
I want a ''cruise control'' for my Decenber BD. (smile) I am the only
one, of about 10 riding buddies, that don't have a Crusie Control, guess
I be old' fashion, heehee.
nice response Mr. Walker, <wink>
<BJAY>

 

‘‘Hey Bill, that was a neat little story. Thanks for sharing. Too
bad it had nothing to do with the question I asked you. <g>
Ruppster

‘‘Now now, you sounded good, for a minute there, till etc.
ya know, we're trying to be good here. Give Bill room, he'll anser ya.
keep it civil, chuckle!!!!
<BJAY>

 

Which model bike have you got? I remember you talking about Harleys
and going to the HOG rally but don't remember if you mentioned what
you ride or not.

Ruppster

 

Hey, I gave him a break and left him alone and he comes in to a thread
I started rambling about me being "a helicopter something or other". I
kept it polite and asked him what he was talking about as I never
mentioned anything about them though I did spend some time on Hueys,
Chinooks, and Blackhawks out of Ft. Wainwright. But that was only as a
passenger. Was even on a Huey above the Arctic Circle when the crew
had to put her down like an airplane and we slid down the runway for
about 1,500 feet before coming to a stop. I'll be nice and not bore
you with all the details from that trip. <g>

Ruppster

 

‘‘bjay, Which model bike have you got? I remember you
talking about Harleys and going to the HOG rally but don't remember if
you mentioned what you ride or not.
Ruppster

‘‘ruppster, currently I am riding a
03 Honda 750 cruiser''. I got it so cheap, couldnt pass on it, a year
ago.'' I am just a cruizer fella, always have been'' I ride with,
another 750, a 600, a 1100, an 1800, and yes two old Harley guys.
(chuckle)
We're are mainly family riders, all the wimmens, like riding.'' Does
your wife, galFriend, whatever ya have, like motorcycling?
over<bjay>

 

‘‘Hey Bill, that was a neat little story. Thanks for sharing. Too
bad it had nothing to do with the question I asked you. <g> Ruppster
                ''Now now, you sounded
good, for a minute there, till etc. ya know, we're trying to be good
here. Give Bill room, he'll anser ya. keep it civil, chuckle!!!!
                                        <BJAY>


‘‘BJAY,hey, I gave him a break and left him alone and he
comes in to a thread I started rambling about me being "a helicopter
something or other". I kept it polite and asked him what he was talking
about as I never mentioned anything about them though I did spend some
time on Hueys, Chinooks, and Blackhawks out of Ft. Wainwright. But that
was only as a passenger. Was even on a Huey above the Arctic Circle when
the crew had to put her down like an airplane and we slid down the
runway for about 1,500 feet before coming to a stop. I'll be nice and
not bore you with all the details from that trip. <g>
Ruppster

‘‘Ruppster, I understand. Hey, do a post on your Heli-chopper
experiences. shoot, we had a military post thread not long ago. JailCall
posted the topic. There's a few vets in here. Even Bill, he is a Korea
Vet. okay. <bjay>

 

Nothing wrong with not wanting to pass up a good deal. That's why I
bought the old Silverwing I'm putting around town with now. I wasn't
looking for one but the price was too good to not buy it. <g>
Unfortunately now I'm wanting to spend my weekends riding it instead
of working on the R90/6 that I'm supposed to be restoring.

As far as riding with "two old Harley guys" I hope they go slow so you
Honda guys can keep up. <sfsf>

My wife is a case all in itself. To really answer this question I
think I should give you a little history on what I've put my wife
through over the years (this past summer was our 17th anniversary).
When we were in Alaska in the early 90's I had a Polaris 350 4 wheel
drive ATV. She had no interest in it and went as far to tell me I
could "have my little toy as long as I did not ask her to get on it".
That was fine with me as I don't like to share my toys anyway. <g>
Anyhow, every spring there is a ATV/dirtbike poker run about 50
outside of Anchorage and our second year in Alaska we loaded the
Polaris on to a trailer and made the 330 mile drive from Fairbanks to
do the poker run. I had a blast and I guess the wife saw how much fun
the whole family could have on these ATV runs. So on the drive back
home she asked me to teach her how to ride the thing. I think I was
grinning from ear to ear all the way home after that.

So I spent the rest of the summer letting her take it for short little
spins in the woods behind our place (we lived about a hundred yards
from the Alaskan Pipeline which made for a nice wide path through the
trees). Then when winter came MWR started renting guided snowmobile
trips in to the woods behind the Air Force base. The unit I was
assigned to at the base had some snowmobiles that we used to get to
remote sites in the winter so I knew how to ride them and decided to
go on one of the MWR trips for some playtime. When I asked the wife if
she wanted to come too she said yes but only as a passenger.

So the guide takes us out the backside of the base to a large open
area from a frozen lake (the backside of the base had several lakes
and made for some great fishing in the summer) and tells us we have
one hour to go play around. I took the wife off to a corner of the
lake and showed her how to control the snowmobile (wasn't much
different then the controls from the ATV anyhow) and away she went.
She did a couple of circles and came right back. She got off the
machine and said it was my turn to go play. I came back after a little
bit and asked her if she wanted another go and she said no. Now I'm
thinking great, she doesn't like them and doesn't want to talk about
it. And here it was I was hoping she would like them so I could go out
and buy us a couple of machines for us to play with when that white
stuff was covering the ground.

When the ride was over and we were back at the MWR building they told
us their next ride would be in 2 weeks. I looked at the wife and asked
if she wanted to do it again and darn near hit the floor when she gave
me her answer. She said she would go only if she got her own machine
for the ride! And sure enough two weeks later she was on her own
rental for the trip. Did pretty good too (if I say so myself <g>).

Now, back to your question. When I bought the Sportster we were in
Anchorage at that time. Since I knew better then to try and push her
in to something I left the offer for a ride on the table and let her
come to me when she was interested. After a while she said she was
willing to give it a try but she wanted me to put a sissybar on the
bike first. At this time summer was almost over and it would have to
wait till next spring. Next thing we know we had orders to ship to
Virginia so when next spring came around we were down here. When I got
the sissybar on the bike I told her it was ready and to let me know
what day she wanted to go. Next thing I know she was passing on the
offer. Turns out she was only willing to do it in Alaska due to the
cars not being as bad up there. Down here the cars drive like idiots
so now she won't do it. So I have had her on the back of ATV's and
snowmobiles but not on a street bike. One of these days I hopes she
changes her mind (maybe when my daughters are old enough to ride and
she sees me taking them out for some fun) but till then I'm not going
to try and push it on her.

Also, here's another little acronym for you. Instead of asking "your
wife, galFriend, whatever ya have" try using "SO" instead. It stand
for "significant other". I find it handy if I'm chating with a person
that has a user name that is hard to tell if the person is male or
female. With it I can ask them if their
boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife like to ride without showing that
I'm too dumb to figure out if they are a guy or a girl. <sfsf>

Ruppster
sportster at dodge-semis dot com

 

‘‘BJAY,Now, back to your question. When I bought the Sportster
we were in Anchorage at that time. Since I knew better then to try and
push her in to something I left the offer for a ride on the table and
let her come to me when she was interested. After a while she said she
was willing to give it a try but she wanted me to put a sissybar on the
bike first. At this time summer was almost over and it would have to
wait till next spring. Next thing we know we had orders to ship to
Virginia so when next spring came around we were down here. When I got
the sissybar on the bike I told her it was ready and to let me know what
day she wanted to go. Next thing I know she was passing on the offer.
Turns out she was only willing to do it in Alaska due to the cars not
being as bad up there. Down here the cars drive like idiots so now she
won't do it. So I have had her on the back of ATV's and snowmobiles but
not on a street bike. One of these days I hopes she changes her mind
(maybe when my daughters are old enough to ride and she sees me taking
them out for some fun) but till then I'm not going to try and push it on
her.
Also, here's another little acronym for you. Instead of asking "your
wife, galFriend, whatever ya have" try using "SO" instead. It stand for
"significant other". I find it handy if I'm chating with a person that
has a user name that is hard to tell if the person is male or female.
With it I can ask them if their
boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife like to ride without showing that I'm
too dumb to figure out if they are a guy or a girl. <sfsf>
(Ruppster)

‘‘Ruppster, good idea about using the ''SO'' I'd like knowing
afew m00re of those acronyms thangs,Grin! So, I'll ask you, don't want
anyone else on here, to see this, so I'm whispering (G), cuz not many
folks gonna intrude in on this topic thread anywho!!
What does ''sfsf'', mean? that you use, I'm not sure! and while I'm on
this, what does OT mean? sorry, I live way back in the NEtexas boon
docks, and operate this here little ole appratus, called a webTv, that
is kinda like a faux 'puter.
My wife (Honey), and all my daughters, and one daughter in law,
buddy, like motorcycling. My Honey will suggest in a minute, ''lets ride
the Bike to go out and eat?’’ When we first got together, 18 years
ago, she'd never rode behind a Rider. Within a few months, she and I,
another couple, hooked 'em south, to Houston, Corpus, San Antonio, Waco,
and Dallas homeward, about 2,000 mile little 'ole trip. We camped out
mostly, road in some rain, rode some 400 miles days, and she loved it,
and has since. She says she wants her, uh Trike. heehee.
Now, ain't this nice, that we done got you and ole Vic talking
about Bikes, over here where those Reeky fellers, thank we never do
anything but ''Flame'' folks. Thanks, my good man, enjoying all this.
<BJAY>

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

I've seen <sfsf> used a couple of ways. The way I take it is to mean
that your last comment was a smart aleck one that was meant in good
faith or as a joke that is not true. Or the sentence could be a

I take it you are talking about my use of OT at the beginning of a
subject line? If that is correct then it means the subject is an "off
topic" one. It's a way to identify that a message is not about
whatever the group is for. It's a way for people that don't like off
topic posts to filter them out.

Ruppster

 

: Ruppster, good idea about using the ''SO'' I'd like knowing
: afew m00re of those acronyms thangs,Grin! So, I'll ask you, don't want
: anyone else on here, to see this, so I'm whispering (G), cuz not many
: folks gonna intrude in on this topic thread anywho!!
: What does ''sfsf'', mean? that you use, I'm not sure! and while I'm on
: this, what does OT mean? sorry, I live way back in the NEtexas boon
: docks, and operate this here little ole appratus, called a webTv, that
: is kinda like a faux 'puter.
:
BJay, 'sfsf' comes from the newsgroup rec.motorcycles.harley, and stands
for 'stoopid fukin smilie face'. The term was coined by someone who
didn't like emoticons.

'OT' is short for 'off topic', which on some newsgroups is used to
distinguish posts that do not conform to the newsgroup topic, so that
folks mey pass the thread by if they are only interested in on topic
discussions. in t.m, most threads could have that term applied.

HTH.

(Hope This Helps)

 

Now there's an understatement.

Gary