No, I did not ride to work today. That would be silly, crazy. Though I still may take the rig out later today for a test ride just not shutting it off or venturing too far from home.
Worked on the Beemer a bit more today. This the the crankcase vent fitting and normally the two small hoses are connected into the "Tee" feeding the moist crankcase air into the two air horns. I just disconnected the two small hoses so any water will just go into the air box and not directly into the carbs. 5w30 oil is now in the engine and I had to fix the wiring for the heated gear. It was sharing the ground connection with the GPS wiring that I moved to the Ural.
I had thought that I was done with the screws in addition to the studs. The BMW just doesn't have as good of traction with just the pusher as the Ural and with our snowy conditions, the screws are needed in addition to the carbide GripStuds.
And the most important thing, I have the GoPro mount on the sidecar windshield support so the camera is about at "eye level" if you were sitting in the sidecar.
Something that I didn't expect to happen was being left stranded by the truck. I guess there is still some remnant of the gelled fuel left in the fuel system as it died as soon as I got to town this afternoon. It would restart but as soon as you try and go beyond an idle, it would shut down. We have real winter weather now with still air temperatures in the -24°F range. I had it towed to the Diesel Doctor, a reputable non-dealer.
The first video is very short PBC ride. Just the regular commute home along the shortest path. This was when there was a loose valve noise so I just headed straight home. I believe it was 7km.
The second PBC video is the test ride on Saturday morning after adjusting the valves. After only ten short miles, the same exhaust valve was rattling again.
Richard, the flatbed tow is really looking familiar to me ... one question, are you really glad when you reach your destination and the warmth of inside?
No, not particularly. Though today, it was getting hard to see through the frost building up on my visor. And the breathing tubes were starting to frost up...
Richard, I only experienced a -40 cold snap (real -40, no wind chill bs) here in Montreal.
-40 is where the F and C scales meet: -40F = -40C. It's also where oil-damped radio volume controls freeze, and clutch master cylinders become so viscous that tromping on the pedal only produces a slow sluggish descent.
My dad was once in Cold Lake Alberta at the air force base where it was regularly that cold. They would light fires in empty fuel drums they put under the transmissions of the road graders they used to clear runways just to make sure they could start them.
Yes, -40° feels cold and after about 15 miles you can start to feel it working its way in. Transmissions get sluggish and some things just stop working reliably. And vehicles tend to be one of those things. I rode in today but I think that I'll be taking the bus until things warm up a bit. Riding is one thing but getting things started is another.
- 55F in the forecast? Go for it, this might be the new record ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe temps very much remind me of one Manitoba winter, there were no good memories...
When I get home today the Beemer is getting a test ride. I think it's warmed up to -44°F already.
DeletePretty music on both. Appropriately solemn. I like that they almost look black and white. Kinda like a foreign movie :^)
ReplyDeleteHey- you got a wave!
Yep, from the guy walking along the road. I see him quite a bit.
DeleteSolomn to match the climate or the mood? I probably could save some bandwidth with B/W. Sounds like an experiment.
The stark grey scenery is very solemn.
DeleteYou'll like the next two videos. Brilliant sunshine!
DeleteWhen it rains it pours....comes to mind. Hope it straightens out quickly.
ReplyDeleteI think the Ural will be down for a couple of weeks just based on parts availability. But the truck should be fixed in a day or so...
DeleteRichard, the flatbed tow is really looking familiar to me ... one question, are you really glad when you reach your destination and the warmth of inside?
ReplyDeleteNo, not particularly. Though today, it was getting hard to see through the frost building up on my visor. And the breathing tubes were starting to frost up...
DeleteRichard, I only experienced a -40 cold snap (real -40, no wind chill bs) here in Montreal.
ReplyDelete-40 is where the F and C scales meet: -40F = -40C. It's also where oil-damped radio volume controls freeze, and clutch master cylinders become so viscous that tromping on the pedal only produces a slow sluggish descent.
My dad was once in Cold Lake Alberta at the air force base where it was regularly that cold. They would light fires in empty fuel drums they put under the transmissions of the road graders they used to clear runways just to make sure they could start them.
-40 is friggin' tooth-rattlin' ' ccccccold.
Yes, -40° feels cold and after about 15 miles you can start to feel it working its way in. Transmissions get sluggish and some things just stop working reliably. And vehicles tend to be one of those things. I rode in today but I think that I'll be taking the bus until things warm up a bit. Riding is one thing but getting things started is another.
Delete