Disassembling a Kawasaki

This last week was spent pulling apart the KLR650. Rusty bolts and stubborn nuts were the highlights  and the lowlights. Used a can of B'LASTER PB, a penetrating catalyst, and lots of muscle power to loosen fasteners that didn't want to be loosened.

This rusty bolt took a half day to remove. Spray, wait, wrench, respray, wait, wrench, spray, wait, etc etc.  The lower parts of this bike were not lubricated properly after riding in water.

Ordered a stronger bolt kit to upgrade the rear subframe for carrying heavier weights without breaking. Required drilling through the solid steel backbone of the bike. With patience and lots of cutting oil, we made it through...

 with a battery driven drill too.

Was warned about the achilles heel of the KLR - the infamous Doohickey. Also known as the cam chain tensioner. The spring that supplies the tension can break allowing loose pieces of steel to wander around the inside of the engine causing havoc.  The way to check this is to open up the left side case of the engine and look to see that the spring is in place and connected.

With the case opened, the cam tensioner bolt is at the bottom center of the flywheel in the left half. 

Could not see the spring. Using several lights, nothing. 

Had to removed the flywheel which is not a simple process.  Still no spring in sight.  Should be in the dark recesses, where the white spot is. 

Now to remove the next case behind the flywheel and starter gear.  What I find.... hiding behind it all...  a snapped spring. Luckily both ends are still connected to the case. 

Those little pieces of steel can destroy an engine if they get loose and into the wrong places. 

Count my lucky stars it was found in time. Installed a much better and stronger torsion spring, then buttoned everything back up. Won't know if it is reassembled correctly until I start the bike, which won't be for another month or so.

Slowly parts and pieces are arriving. Have been overworking my PayPal account this week.

As boxes arrive, the work continues. The sidecar itself will not be here for six weeks, so there is time to wrench, replace and upgrade the bike itself. 

Nite all

CCjon

Looking for a Dual Sport rig

Da'mu the White Wing is almost ready for a long distance USA ride, however attention recently has been paid to seeking a dual sport sidecar rig for South America.

As some of you know, I was riding Chile and Argentina in January 2012 after reached Ushuaia, the southern most city in the world in time to celebrate New Years Eve 2011. Riding back north across Tierra del Fuego in anticipation of seeing the Andes mountains up close,  the bike went into a serious tank slapper and we flipped - head over heels. After a week in the hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile, I sold the BMW and most of my gear down there so I could fly home to see a specialist.

Am now fully recovered and riding once again, after learning how to drive sidecar rigs. My goal has been to return to Chile and finish my ride. The most scenic spots in South America have yet to be visited.

Da'mu the White Wing to too big and heavy for the hundreds of miles of soft gravel road one has to navigate in southern Chile/Argentina. Da'mit the Ural was given serious consideration for the trip but Ural parts are not available down there. There are no Ural dealers anywhere in Central or South America. Nor is the brand well known to motorcycle mechanics there.

For that type of ride one needs a dual sport motorcycle, economical to operate and maintain, parts readily  available, high ground clearance and a network of mechanics who could repair it if need be. That narrows the field down to single cylinder 650cc Japanese motorcycle. Both BMW and Honda have 650 dual sports, but they can cost 40% more and parts are not as readily available as are Kawasaki or Suzuki. So a KLR650 or a DR650, both of which have excellent reputations for durability and reliability, are the best choices to fulfill my requirements for this ride. I started looking back in December for a low mileage slightly used Kawasaki or Suzuki sidecar rig. Found two on the internet - one in Virginia and the other in California. The California rig looked to be stronger, better built. Photos and a short video of it running were encouraging enough to  haul an empty trailer to north Los Angeles to pick it up.  Once there I spotted several fatal flaws in the design and construction that were not apparent in the photos. Returned to Texas empty handed.

Finally concluded that my best bet was to find a low mileage Kawasaki or Suzuki that I could hang a sidecar on. The plan is to later sell that rig in South America at the end of the ride.

In South Texas I found a 2006 Kawasaki KLR650 with under 9,000 miles. I hauled it home.

In Texas, one sees lots of cattle, even bulls. But this as the first time I've seen a bull in a boat...

 in a truck - going 70 mph.

Once home, the KLR went up on the lift for detailed inspection. Every used motorcycle requires service and inspection. One does not know how it was treated or service previously. So everything must be check over. You do that by stripping the major pieces off, cleaning, servicing and replacing parts where necessary.

The partially stripped KLR. 

Have already found several items that need replacing. Rusty bolts, stripped threads, leaking exhaust, bearings, loose wiring, etc.  

While the bike runs, I test rode it before buying, but knowing where I plan to going with this bike, everything must be in sound reliable condition. I don't need mechanical surprises in the middle of no-where. By personally stripping and rebuilding this bike, if I do have problems with it later, being very familiar with it will aid in diagnosing and solving any issue.  

This bike might be Da'mit II if it checks out and is adopted. After the bike is finally approved for use, will order a sidecar cargo chassis to hang on it. 

Ciao for now,

CCjon

Snapshots from Colombia

The direct flight to Bogota from Houston is four and a half hours, almost enough time to watch one and a half movies.

Bogota is an international hub, well positioned where South America starts. The city occupies an altiplano, a high moorland also known as high plains, in central Colombia. Though close to the Equator, the high altitude of over 8,500 feet gives the city a constant early spring cool type weather. 

Here are snapshots from Bogota Colombia, a world class city with an estimated 8 million inhabitants.

The major streets are clogged with traffic, waiting for the light to change so they can slowly crawl to the next intersection.

Besides having to watch out for trucks, cars, bicycles and motorcycles, street vendors wander among the traffic selling their wares. With slow moving traffic, their risk of danger is low.

As the Christmas season approaches, the vendors offer games for sale. Other vendors are selling the chinese style straw hats to fellow vendors. 

If you think about maybe taking a side street to avoid the snail paced traffic, 

others are having the same thoughts....

While motorcycle are everywhere, they are most often found zipping along, splitting lanes 

between automobiles and trucks. 

Motorcycles are mainly the smaller displacement 100 to 175 cc oriental made brands. 

Anything and everything is delivered around the city via motorcycle.

  Motorcycle parking lots are a common sight. 

By law, motorcyclists must wear a helmet with the bike's license numbers in large letters across the back.

The local constables with their hi-viz jackets and helmets patrol the city via motorcycle.

With so many motorcycles traveling between lanes of traffic, sideview mirrors are frequently bumped or knocked off. 

Another common city sight are the push cart vendors occupying sidewalks throughout the city. Not only do they sell fruits, drinks and snacks, but also minutes for your cell phone.  

Some vendors specialize in clothing. Tight stretchy blouses and even tighter print pants for the ladies are in fashion this year, to the delight of the male population. 

Obesity does not seem to be a problem in this Latin country. 

Construction cranes dot Bogota's skyline.  Today the economy is booming.

The ingenious use of 55 gallon drums, linked together to make a trash chute down the side of new construction. As the building grows taller. just add a few more drums at the bottom.

Older traditional homes of stucco and red tile will eventually be torn down for mid-rise brick residential buildings.

Older colorful store fronts will soon be gone.

The construction crews will move in.....

 Giving the city modern high rise residences and shopping centers.

Inside the malls, the tropics are still here, decorated with christmas lights, from floor to ceiling. 

Having visited Colombia at various times over the past forty years,  Bogota today is the cleanest I have ever seen it. No trash blowing around, no street beggars and never felt endangered or threatened while there.  Getting your shoes shined is a relaxed event, with no worry of petty thieves or criminals.

Maybe because security in the city has been enhanced in recent years. 

For the final shot from our short time in Colombia:  a saxiphone playing Santa tooting out christmas tunes on a busy street corner, hoping for a coin or two.

Merry Christmas 2014 from all of our family to all of your family. 

May your 2015 to full of life and adventure. 

Ride safe, ride long and far.

Colombian Wedding

Last month, Amparo, my BB (Beautiful Bride), and I traveled to Anapoima, Colombia to attend her nephews wedding.The setting was at Los Altos de Chicala, a private club in the lower mountains of central Colombia. Lower means warmer temperatures than Bogota which can be quite cool, even cold. Anapoima is sunny, warm and tropical.

Every morning there was fresh tropical fruit, omelettes and Colombia coffee for breakfast in the open air dining area.

The popular pool area during the day was to be the dinning area for the wedding guests.

By late afternoon the guest came out of their cabanas, dressed as instructed. Ladies in tropical evening wear, men in long sleeve guayaberas. 

Lush greenery and candles decorated the tables.

The soon to be ex-Señorita Calle is escorted down the aisle by her proud father, Luis.

As the sun set on coffee trees dotting distant mountains, vows were exchanges under a white canopy while musicians filled the cooling breezes with romantic melodies.

Freshly married, happy and blessed, are Susana Calles de Rueda and Jaime Andres Rueda. Their new lives together, born in Colombia, will start in Houston, Texas.

Candles lit, silverware set, tables await the couple and their guests.

Even the pool was lit up for the occasion. Soft music while guests dined was replaced with fast paced Colombian music for dancing. Dancing and celebrating continued until 3 AM. 

Celebrating a distant wedding with family and loved ones is always a joyous occasion. More important was the opportunity to renew, refresh and cement relations with distant family through the telling of stories, jokes, remembering the past and looking toward the future. Welcoming new members to the family, the circle grows. Remembering those who are no longer with us, the circle shrinks. The circle of family is ever changing, enriching our lives, giving it depth, heartaches and joy.

Amparo and I had a fabulous time, thanks to the open hearts and homes of her family.

Too soon we were back in Houston. Work awaiting, stacked high in the office. Now to get the house ready for the holidays with our sons and their families, and a little shopping too.

Happy holidays to you and your family from Amparo and I. 

p.s. Next post will be street scenes from Bogota.