The bottom has dropped on our temperature and I took the opportunity to make even more videos and just have them "banked" for posting in the future for when I'm out of town. The video below was made on Monday mid-morning and is just a loop with the start and end points only about a mile apart. The skies have been clear which generally means cooler temperatures.
On Monday evening, I headed out for the monthly Airhead.org get together at the Silver Gulch microbrewery in Fox, a small community north of Fairbanks. There were about 20 participants and when I was heading out, the whole group came out to the parking lot. I accused them of just wanting to see if the Ural would start at -30°F. A few agreed but the real reason was to take a photo for an article in the monthly Airhead magazine. Even though this is a BMW group, they figured that the Ural was close enough. It took a couple of attempts at starting after sitting outside for about 2½ hours without being plugged in. But once it started they took a couple of pictures of the group around the rig including a couple of shots of the thermometer on the rear rack and the OAT (Outside Air Temperature) gauge both of which showed -30°F. So here is the video of the trip out to the Silver Gulch. (nothing really to see)
I still have three more video (one more from yesterday and two from today) to upload but am only allowed one per day according to the PBC rules. Tonight, I head to southern California for a memorial service. So I'll upload one each day assuming the hotel has descent wi-fi.
At -30°F, the heated liner and heated gloves are turned up all the way, the heated grips are on setting 2 out of 5 and my leather work boots are switched out for a pair of bunny boots. These are rubber inside and out with an insulated layer. One of the benefits is that they are nominally waterproof and pretty warm. Plus you are a couple of inches taller due to all of the insulation in the soles.
On Monday evening, I headed out for the monthly Airhead.org get together at the Silver Gulch microbrewery in Fox, a small community north of Fairbanks. There were about 20 participants and when I was heading out, the whole group came out to the parking lot. I accused them of just wanting to see if the Ural would start at -30°F. A few agreed but the real reason was to take a photo for an article in the monthly Airhead magazine. Even though this is a BMW group, they figured that the Ural was close enough. It took a couple of attempts at starting after sitting outside for about 2½ hours without being plugged in. But once it started they took a couple of pictures of the group around the rig including a couple of shots of the thermometer on the rear rack and the OAT (Outside Air Temperature) gauge both of which showed -30°F. So here is the video of the trip out to the Silver Gulch. (nothing really to see)
I still have three more video (one more from yesterday and two from today) to upload but am only allowed one per day according to the PBC rules. Tonight, I head to southern California for a memorial service. So I'll upload one each day assuming the hotel has descent wi-fi.
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| Image from the web |
Awesome Richard ... but i think if I had to stop at home I might just have stayed at home.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not I'm actually enjoying this. The Ural runs and starts better than the Beemer and there has been no traction issues at all. Nowhere near as much wind protection but that doesn't seem to matter much.
DeleteGood to hear the URAL is doing great in such cold temperatures! You've switched to 5w30 on the engine oil? I assume you did some pre-kicks with the kickstart lever to get the oil moving around a bit before engaging the e-start?
ReplyDeleteI regularly use the kick starter anyway. At -30°F, it didn't want to start so I resorted to the start button. As far as kicking it over before starting, I'm not convinced it does much since the oil pump doesn't do much of anything. The bearings aren't lubricated under pressure and the sling system won't do much when spinning so slowly.
Deleteyour statements are all true. I think the only benefit might be that it might reveal a hydrolocked engine before engaging the e-start and really bending things.
DeleteDamn, damn, damn that is cold.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be sweating in the heat in SoCal. Safe travels.
Thank you, it is a bit warm here by comparison though not very sunny.
Delete#13 video- What's the building at 4 seconds?
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful scene with white trees against a pure blue sky.
That is the Butrovich Bldg at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It houses the System-wide administration. My office is also in at the west end of the building.
DeleteDid I say 4 seconds? I meant 46.But you knew what I meant.
DeleteThe building at 46 sec is the University of Alaska Museum of the North. One of the best museums in the state...
Delete