Tuesday, April 8, 2014

SCOOTER CHECK-UP

I FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE THE SCOOTER IN FOR IT’S 2500 MILE SERVICE AND CHECK-UP.  LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE AN ANNUAL SERVICE IN THE SPRING OR FALL.

I DECIDED TO GO ALL IN, AND CHANGE THE SPARK PLUG AND OIL AS LONG AS I WAS THERE. I ALSO HAD THEM INSTALL A NEW BATTERY AS BATTERIES SEEM TO COOK AND DIE IN THE DESERT JUST LIKE THEY DO AT –20 IN THE MIDWEST. THE SCOOTER DOESN’T HAVE A KICK START, SO WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC STARTER IT’S DEAD IN THE WATER. I SAVED THE OLD BATTERY AS A BACKUP.

THE MAIN TEST WAS THE HANDLE BARS, YES AGAIN.  LAST SUMMER THEY DIDN’T BEND, THAT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WHEN I HAD CUSTOM BARS MADE OF SOLID STEEL, BUT THEY TWISTED IN THIER SPROCKET AND WERE DAM NEAR POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN BY THE TIME I GOT THE SCOOTER TIED DOWN TIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

COLE LOOKED OVER THE PROBLEM FOR ME LAST FALL AND REMOVED THEM CLEANING OFF THE SLIPPERY FLAKING PAINT UNDER WHERE THEY ATTACH TO THE BIKE, AND TORQUED THEM AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY BARELY MOVED WHEN I TIED THE BIKE ON TO THE BACK OF TRUCK FOR THE TRIP TO THE HONDA SHOP IN VEGAS.

BUT, AND THERE IS ALWAYS A “BUT” THE SLIGHT MOVEMENT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST MY REAR VIEW MIRRORS. COLE TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOOSEN THE BARS, RESET THEM, AND RETIGHTEN THEM. THANKS COLE. NOW I JUST HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO TIE DOWN THE SCOOTER WITHOUT FORCING THE HANDLEBARS TO MOVE.

THE NEXT TRIP WILL BE TO “THE MOUNTAIN” AT THE END OF THE MONTH. HOPEFULLY THIS PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, SO TO SPEAK!

1 comments:

Rod Ivers said...

Criss cross your tiedowns so the left handle bar is tied to the right hand tie down. Then hook onto the handle bar clamps and not to the higher part of the bars.... That way you aren't stressing the bends in the curved bars.....