On Saturday morning, I quickly made yet another PBC video. A very short one since I really didn't feel like riding the BMW as the heated grips have stopped working. I stopped at Ballaine Lake to record the PBC start temperature and mileage and the thermometer said that it was -36°F. I then headed in to see what the university temperature sign said and there were several people there taking pictures. A popular thing to do whenever it gets down to -40°F. The sign said -41°F and it is captured on the video.
When I came home, it looks like someone had been playing with bubbles. At these temperatures, the bubbles freeze into nice little spheres. Pretty cool, eh!
The afternoon project was to reassemble the Ural. Installing the lifters, pushrods, cylinders, heads, rocker arms, torquing the heads, adjusting the valves, etc. was the easy part. Getting the sidecar back on took hours. It's proving to be very difficult to get it back to the alignment marks that I made while taking things apart. I had mentioned to Mickey that the valve covers leaked a lot of oil so he added a couple of gaskets to the shipment, no charge!
By 9:00pm it was back together, oil and filter changed, no leftover hardware, it started right up. No funny noises, no leaks.
On Sunday afternoon, it was time for the test ride. Of course, I had to do another PBC video (it ends on Feb 15). It was -18°F at the start and rode all over the normal roads ending up in Fox at the intersection of the Steese and Elliot Highways. Then headed back to town.
Funny how the chair is more work than the engine. Congratulations on getting her back on the road.
ReplyDeleteGetting the engine back together was trivial compared to getting all the sidecar mounts lined up and tightened. Jacks and jackstands all over the place.
DeleteI discovered that if you play these two videos together the music is awesome! I got almost done with the first one and started the second one and the sound was fantastic. So I started them again together.
ReplyDeleteFun catch of the swim team photo shoot!
This time it wasn't the swim team just a couple of students some pictures. The music is almost an after thought and it's getting difficult to find new music. Today's video (PBC #44) uses repeated music.
DeleteMozart is fine with me! I think you've done a great job using the music.
DeleteThat bubble picture is way cool, like the temperature. Brrrr.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at how solid the bubbles were at that temperature. When it was tried at a warmer temperature, they shriveled before solidifying.
DeleteRichard - frozen bubbles, awesome. Wait until I show it to my kindergartens! I know you are lacking snow, but I am totally envious of the dry, bare blacktop. Glad the 'model' with the heated grips is back together - like me in the winter, can't do without my heated seats.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the benefits of cold, no snow. Just crystal clear, cold skies. You just need a really cold day to demonstrate the frozen bubbles. Supposedly, it only needs to be about -12°C for the bubbles to freeze as long as you use the right solution.
DeleteTruly is it a difficult task, the remounting of the sidecar frame to the tug.....really a two person job. I have found, however, the using the special tool for the rear lower support helps a lot, but for the front (where the special tool won't fit), I've had to loosen the clamp to the tug's frame in order to push it into the sidecar subframe.....PITA.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear all went well and the URAL is rolling again.
The bubbles? That was cool.
Using the DMC mounts on the BMW, the sidecar comes off and on in only about 15 minutes. 4 bolts, 2 connectors and you're done. I didn't completely remove the sidecar but every bolt was loosened to get the front mount to rotate down far enough to get the head off the engine. What are the cotter pins in the mounts for?
DeleteI believe the cotter pin prevents the separation of the ball jaws....(that's the name of the piece in the catalog anyways). I took it out once on my '96 Sportsman, PITA to put back in. FYI.
DeleteI like the music in video #42, you can't beat the classics! As to ice fog, did you find yourself wanting a breath mask to go under the breath mask of the skidoo helmet?
ReplyDeleteThat's why I turned around. I really didn't feel like riding in the ice fog. Low visibility and unhealthy air.
Deletere video #43, great to see the URAL back on the road! happy happy joy joy.
ReplyDeleteNow, just hope it continues to stay on the road. I was surprised how well the BMW did after getting very little use.
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