Stranded and rescued by Marcarl

[dogman]

Another testimony about the people (members) of Venture Riders.

 

My bike broke down on a major highway, 407, just outside of Toronto. My fuel pump had packed it in the day before, Carl was good enough to install a fuel pump point switch kit, but I had waited too long and there was no life in the fuel pump. Carl did a gravity bypass and I was off and riding until I could get a new pump. While I was at work, Carl was driving around all day to get me a fuel pump and acquired one from BradT. As I was riding to Carl's to get the new pump installed the bike stalled on the highway with a full tank of gas. Carl gave me some pointers, but the bike wouldn't stay running before starving out of gas.

 

I was going to leave my bike there and have my wife come and get me and go to Carl's so I could pick up the pump, but Carl would not have it and drove to my location (probable 1.5hrs) and installed the pump. The bike runs like new, I can now hear the fuel pump working when I start the bike. What a good sound that is, and what an incredible person and friend Carl is.

 

Lots of us talk about Venture Riders being like a family. Well it is not just talk. There are so many people helping one another on this site. Upon us this weekend will be Freebird's Maintenance Day where 125 people or more will be enjoying each others company and helping one another. I feel so privileged to have found this site and belong to such an organization. This kind of leadership and members could seriously make this world a better place by the examples of kindness and friendship.

 

Carl, I thanked you in person, but I really want to thank you publicly. Thank you for your much needed help, patience and understanding along with the education and teaching so I will be more able to work on my bike. You are an ambassador for this site and Mankind.

 

God Bless

[cowpuc]

Well put Dogman, well put!!

 

God bless you Carl!!

[Evan]

What a great story Dave and how right you are. As I said to Bongobob a few days ago, it!s pretty special.

[stickhandle2]

Well done, we are lucky to have the special folks we have on this site.....double thumbs up to Carl

Edited May 27, 2015 by stickhandle2
grammar

[XV1100SE]

I can definitely vouch for and agree with you that Carl goes out of his way to support and assist members.

[ReinyRooster]

Ditto here....been there....have seen it happen......

[saddlebum]

That's our Carl although we have a lot of great members here, Carl ranks among the best of them.

Edited May 27, 2015 by saddlebum

[Marcarl]

Thanks guys,,, but enough already,,, Dave wasn't perfectly honest,,,,,,so the rest of the story.

Dave said his fuel pump wasn't working and he had to hammer it (well I can exaggerate) to make it go. He had bought new points but was leery about the install, didn't like soldering. I offered to help,,, ya right,I had ask where the pump was located, no biggie there, somebody told me. Should be easy enough to get out with a decent size banger and long pry bar. So he shows up Monday eve after work and I set to work,,, uhhh learning about fuel pumps. Got the little sucker out without too much cussing and got it up on the bench,,, so far so good,,,,darn, and he is still watching,,, doesn't he ever have to go pee or something???? well never mind, we carry on, tear the lid off this baby, and low and behold as mentioned in the thread, there is a set of points all burnt to rat stuff. I check to make sure that the new set matches the old set,,, got to look professional you know,,, they seemed to look similar, so the install went as planned,,, almost,,,, a little wee bit of solder managed to make it to a place of ill repute and so when I plugged the pump into the scoot it immediately blew a fuse,,, not a good omen,,,, gosh, now I have to find the fuse box,, another lesson for the old man I'm learning things here, almost like going to school. Well to keep along story longer, I found the solder, fixed that and then before blowing another fuse ($1 ea, and I'm Dutch) I thought I would bench test this doodad. Another lesson in the making,,, there is a positive and a negative wire to these pumps and never the twain should interchange. Really,,, ya really,,, just for good measure we tried it with another one (Brad's) and sure enough, it did the same thing,,, kicked the bucket!! That's 2 out of 2,,, not a good average!

So I felt kind of responsible for having Dave put out,,, first sending him home without a fuel pump and then having him get stuck on the way back. He now has a nice working fuel pump that still needs to be located better, but it works. It cost him the points and a deal with BradT and he's happy, and I had something to do yesterday,,, and oh Ya,, I think I learned something,,,can't remember what that was now, but it will come to me in the long term I think.