This post is part of the blogger challenge titled BBBC. Today's topic is:
20. Your best friend.
Another really challenging one. Like some others (David) have mentioned, your spouse is in a different category and. I suspect, imaginary ones don't count. I don't think I've ever had a "best friend" as defined on the Urban Dictionary.
This morning, BruceW came into Fairbanks and we packed up the engine bits and pieces into his wife's brand new Forester and took them for Mickey to see. That's Mickey on the left and BruceW on the right in the shop that Mickey's working out of in Delta Junction. In the photo, he's posing with a paper cutout that is travelling around the country.
The left rod bearing is shot as suspected as is the front cam bearing. The wrist pins were both stuck in the pistons and even though the left cylinder assembly was just replaced last July, Mickey recommended that since the crank is being replaced, I may as well replace both sides. Relatively cheap on a Ural.
If you take a close look at the right-most lobe on the cam, you can see that it is worn unevenly. This is the lobe that had the failed lifter last year. If I had known how easy it was to pull the cam, I would've pulled it at that time. Anyway, the cam has lost it's hardened surface and would be failing sometime in the future. This was one unexpected part. The other is the clutch plates. I knew that the friction plates needed to be replaced but the metal surfaces had quite a few areas where they overheated at some point in time. Also, the square hole that holds the release rod was wearing out. So, a new clutch pack which includes springs and screws. Then just gaskets and rear main seal and snap ring.
20. Your best friend.
Another really challenging one. Like some others (David) have mentioned, your spouse is in a different category and. I suspect, imaginary ones don't count. I don't think I've ever had a "best friend" as defined on the Urban Dictionary.
Not something I'm very concerned about.Best Friends are very special people in your life. They are the first people you think about when you make plans. They are the first people you go to when you need someone to talk to. You will phone them up just to talk about nothing, or the most important things in your life. When you’re sad they will try their hardest to cheer you up. They give the best hugs in the world! They are the shoulder to cry on, because you know that they truly care about you. In most cases they would take a bullet for you, coz it would be too painful to watch you get hurt.
Ural Update
The left rod bearing is shot as suspected as is the front cam bearing. The wrist pins were both stuck in the pistons and even though the left cylinder assembly was just replaced last July, Mickey recommended that since the crank is being replaced, I may as well replace both sides. Relatively cheap on a Ural.
I can easily see that softer cam lobe; nothing hard looks like that.
ReplyDeleteBest friends were something I had as a kid. Now I've got a Batch of Best Friends. Wouldn't feel comfortable or even know how to prioritize.
I guess I should've pulled the cam last year so it could've been replaced under warranty.
DeleteI would agree that I feel that I am blessed with a number of friends but there is no one "Best".
The best friend definition is quite narrow... I mean, who would literally take the bullet for another? However, if I exclude hubby and family members, I have indeed one person who I call best friend, and who has accompanied me though the best and the worst days of my life, and never let me down, and the other way round.
DeleteYes, it is a very narrow definition but it was the one voted to the top.
DeletePlease excuse my ignorance as I've only been following your blog a short time. Isn't this the bike with only about 12000 miles on it? If so, are you just accepting this engine wear as the price you pay for (very) cold temperature starts and operation or is there something else going on here?
ReplyDeleteThe speedometer was replaced last year so it actually has about 45k on it. But it is premature. I think it needed more oil. It never went below the "add" line but, apparently, that's about half of the oil gone. So, my long term solution is a deeper pan and dropping the pump further into the sump to ensure plenty of oil. After all, there isn't a normal, pressurized lubrication system.
DeleteI don't care the definition/category, my spouse is my best friend.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I didn't care much for the definition either.
DeleteMickey looks to have a nice large shop there in Delta....can you expound on this statement: "If I had known how easy it was to pull the cam, I would've pulled it at that time." Do you mean pulling the whole crankshaft out? Would the damage had been evident on the lobe while it sat inside the engine case?
ReplyDeleteThis isn't his shop but just one that he's working out of. I think the new shop is coming this summer.
DeleteLast year when the lifter failed, Mickey asked about the condition of the cam. I didn't pull the cam but just took pictures through the lifter opening. The cam comes out easily without pulling the engine out of the frame. Just remove the timing cover, the oil pump gear, remove two screws for the cam bearing retainer and the cam pops right out.
Bruce sounds like a pretty good friend. In fact, anyone who travels miles with tools/parts to help you fix your ride sounds like a good friend to me. :-)
ReplyDeleteHe is a good friend. One of many hence the problem with the word "best".
DeleteI have to agree with Kathy ... someone who will drive a distance to help you rebuild your motorcycle, once again, must be a great friend. "Best friends are those you can do anything or nothing with and still have the best time."
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right!
DeleteKaren, you hit the proverbial nail on the head.
ReplyDelete