Eck

Just make sure you have something to cut the zip tie with.... My luck, I wouldn't have anything and would have to find an old rock with a sharp edge on it..

You are exactly right Cowpuc.. It is indeed the vacuum operated fuel petcock assembly in the last pic. I have it in my vice to hold it while I operated on it.. I drained all the old fuel out of the fuel tank, then removed the petcock assembly and took it apart and cleaned it all up, then put fresh high octane back in the tank. This way "I know" that everything from beginning to end of the fuel system is clean, and I'm not reusing any bad fuel that may have been part of the original problem with it running correctly. I just wish I paid near as much attention as to where I placed the jack...I thought when I looked under the bike I was putting the jack on the frame. I hate realizing that I just cant see as well as I once did...Dummy me..

1st time ever - Honda 450 Rebel carb rebuild Neighbor stopped by and asked if I could fix his old Honda Rebel. I said, bring up..I will give it my best shot. 10 minutes later, Im tearing the carbs off of it. Rebuilt and re-installed them (see attached pics), and it runs like a champ!! Just touch the starter button and it pops right off. OK, now the bad news... I put the bike up on my jack. After letting it down and starting it, the exhaust is now leaking severely...which it didn't do before. I look up under the bike at the exhaust, and I broke the darn crossover pipe off on one side.. So, now I take off the left hand side exhaust from block all the way back to muffler keeping it all assembled. I was able to remove the crossover pipe, Thank GOD there was a clamp / connection in the middle of the crossover pipe... I cleaned the broken edge of the cross over pipe and the broken edge of the exhaust pipe, so tomorrow I am off to the welder down town in hopes he can weld it up for me. Dang I didn't want to break this thing...sniff, tear, sniff... You try to help someone and it ends up costing you...

I'm glad I am not the only one who does this Randy..They refer this as a "senior moment".....

Well mine is /was moldy and even after washing it in the washing machine the mold was still there. I hung it up on a step ladder and sprayed it with shower mold killer and it is now clean as can be. It looks like new. I will be washing it again tomorrow in the washing machine to remove the spray mold / cleaner so it does not get on my bike..: I'm willing to bet yours has mold on it somewhere or will soon. Anytime you roll up and stash something that is wet it will eventually get mold on it.

Ten Finkers Ole vas vorking at the fish plant up nort in Dulut vhen he accidentally cut off all ten of his finkers. He vent to da emergency room in the Clinik and vhen he got dar da Norsky doctor looked at Ole and said,"Let's have da finkers and I'll see vhat I can do." Ole said, "I haven't got da finkers." "Vhat do you mean, you hafen't got da finkers?" he said. "Lord-it's 2015 and Ive's got microsurgery and all kinds of incredible techniques. I could hafe put dem back on and made you like new! Vhy didn't you brink da finkers?" Ole says, "How da hec vas I suppose to pick dem up?

We didn't go to Wheels through time on this trip. Been there a couple times already in the past. This trip we were with some different people who did go to Wheels through time, but we didn't go with them. On that day when others went to "Wheels TT", I took my wife on a few roads that I, nor her, have ever been on before, like the "road to nowhere" out of Bryson city. http://www.greatsmokies.com/gsmnp/road-nowhere.html There were some nice scenic views along this road that we stopped at and got off the bike to take in the beautiful world we live in. Then we took a bunch of other back roads that I mapped out on the GPS and Google maps before we left the motel that morning.

Clean your bike cover? I just cleaned mine and hope I didn't screw it up.. I put it in the washing machine on the "Delicate" cycle, with a little soap and about a half cup of bleach to kill any mold. After that I hung it up outside in the sun to dry. How do you clean your bike cover?

Never heard of the 8.1 motor in an Avalanche. Learn something new every day. I wish my Avalanche had a bigger engine at times, even when NOT pulling a load. Cant beat the ride of an Avalanche though, or the roominess it has.

While in Bryson City this past week, a few Harley riders were staying at the same motel as we did. Yesterday when all of us (including them) were getting ready to leave the motel for the ride home, one of the Harley riders could not start his bike. Come to find out his battery in his KEY FOB went dead. He said something about, he could not shut his bike alarm off or start his bike without activating the key fob button to do so. Two of his friends jumped on their bikes and headed into town to find a batter for his key fob, on a SUNDAY... Anyway, the lesson here is, make darn sure you have a spare key fob battery on your bike, or in your wallet, on you somewhere, just in case this may happen to you. I never gave thought about the battery in my key fob, but hey, I can still start my GW if mine is dead. So, if you own a Harley, you may want to get an extra one so that you can start your ride.... Other info: I mentioned in a previous post that we were staying at a mom & pops motel called the Gracey Manor in Bryson City. I want to change what I previously said about this place and let you know NOT to stay at this place unless it is your last choice. I was told this was the best place to stay at in town. Come to find out I was told this by one of the owners best friends, and it is NOT the best place in town. There are several other motels that are way better.

Well we made it home safe and sound. It wasn't all that bad. 30 degrees when we mounted the bike and off we went.. Left Bryson City, NC at 10am, headed to the Dragon, Had lunch at south end of Dragon, then rode Cherohalla to Telico and then headed home. Took a long route so my wife could see some of the roads that I have been riding. She really enjoyed it.

Well, its 32 degrees here in Bryson City this morning and my wife and I have to saddle up and head for Huntsville. Not wanting to ride in this cold weather with her because I want her to enjoy the motorcycle, not hate it..But this goes with riding one I guess. The heated clothes help for sure...but man it is still cold..

New ride, Vacation, chrome....Dang, I need a job again.. (NOT..!! )

Ah, it's not that bad Mike G. We are having a great time and some people are loosening up a little making it a better time here. Just not what I was expecting I guess. Im am so use to the VR.O rallies and M&E's where people laugh, mingle, and find new friends. Wife and I decided to just walk around Bryson City today visiting all the little shops and stores. There are 2 other couples who also did not ride with the others today and they are still in their motel rooms waiting for it to warm up a bit I guess. Here are a couple pics of our ride yesterday though. Only took about 88 photos yesterday and had to delete about 25 to 20 of them for they did not turn out since taken as we were moving..

Barrycuda67, his friend Ali, and my wife and I went to breakfast by ourselves, and afterwards, the 4 of us took off and had a nice ride. Later that evening at the motel the communications got a little better, but still nothing like the VR.O family communicates. The four of us went to dinner together and then came back and called it a day. Tomorrow will be a visit to Wheels through time and then another ride.

Well, I must say these people are nothing like the VR.Org family of people. My wife and I came up here to Bryson city to meet up for the first time with some Goldwing people from a well known Goldwing site. When we arrived, no one said hi or welcome to us. They were all looking at us and were at most 20 feet away. I waved and only one person waved back, but quickly turned to face the crowd he was standing in. We checked in and walked back out to our bike and I pulled up in front of our room. Another GW member was sitting in a chair not 10 feet from our door smoking. As my wife unlocked the door and I carrying some of our stuff to the door, He looked at us but never said anything. I said hi, and he just nodded. Yea man we felt welcome. After I made several trips to the Bushtec to unload it, I grabbed a cold drink and went out side. In short, only 4 people said anything to me, and it as because one of them I met before and have rode with three times now. He said hi to me as I walked up to him, and he introduced me to the other 3 guys standing there. I spoke with them, but no one else said anything. No, I didn't say anything to them either. The whole evening, there were 6 people sitting outside their doors in a group and they never said a word to any of us. They all got up and just walked down thru the parking lot and across the street into town to go eat. Not a word about HEY anybody want to join us? We are going to go get something to eat.. Barrycuda67 is here with a friend of his (Ali) so the three of us walked into town and got something to eat. When we returned to the motel, we were standing in the parking lot right outside our doors and the others returned walking thru the parking lot and again, they never said anything to us. The three of us decided we will go for a ride by ourselves in the morning with out them..so we retreated to our rooms and called it a night. Even the guy who put this little ride together never came out to say hi to us..That's bad....Im sure glad the VR family members never act this way. I know already this is my last ride with this group /site of people..

Will be in Bryson city tomorrow around 3pm for a few days to do some riding and fall foliage viewing with my wife. We will be staying at the Gracye Manor. A mom and pop motel. Appears to be a late 50's motel, but from what everyone says, Mom & Pop have done "great job" taking care of it. I hear that all the linens are ironed & pressed every day. All beds are posturepedic beauty rest, Big screen TV's in every room, refrigerator & free Internet access, AND, we can walk to all down town businesses (yea right..if I was younger...). Supposed to be around 46 degrees in the morning here in Huntsville, Al., so here I am once again where I want to thank Midrsv (Dennis) for that heated vest he gave me about 5 yrs ago. It has been the best riding gear accessory I have ever had. (Thanks again Dennis!!.. You rock..). (PS: I just bought my wife one just like it, and her own controller!)

Well to me it sort of looks like a Goldwing blowup doll............

This has got to be one heck of a smoothe ride See attached pic:

I'm glad you guys had a wonderful time and best of all you had a safe trip! Happy Birthday Tippy!!!!!!

The Registrar of National Day Calendar has designated the second Saturday in October of each year as National Motorcycle Ride Day. This day is designated to get all motorcyclists in the USA and the world out and on their motorcycles for a united day of riding. Use this day to escape on your motorcycle, have some fun, relieve some stress and really enjoy the thrills and freedom that riding a motorcycle offers. This is a day for riders of all motorcycle disciplines. No matter what type of motorcycle you own or what type of rider you are, use this day to enjoy the camaraderie that comes along with owning a motorcycle. I f you own a motorcycle you will understand what this day is about. National Ride Day Dates are: October 10, 2015 October 8, 2016 October 14, 2017 October 13, 2018 October 12, 2019 October 10, 2020

You better hope your wife doesn't read VR.org posts.............Now I could send her one to get her started...

Hear say has it that in Huntsville, Al., all you have to do is tell them you are an engineer and they will not select you. They don't want engineers on the Jury panel because they say the engineers think to much..

Sorry but no pictures this time around..... Nothing but great memories.