Maintenance

Back in Wisconsin Rapids and with some time I decided to work on Curiosity. I had been losing power, and the bike didn’t want to idle anymore. I had tried adjusting the idle screw without much effect, so I decided to adjust the valves, and while I was at it the cam chain adjuster.

Deb and the kids were gone, so I had the driveway to myself and started taking the bike apart.

Checkin the valves

I was following the instructions in the service manual, which was very keen on Top Dead Center. I had some issues with getting there, and called The Shop for assistance. Tim, who runs the place, has been incredibly helpful over the year or so I’ve been planning the trip, and the years before that on general motorcycle stuff. He told me to ignore the TDC thing, and after that everywhere went like yummy, yummy cake.

Once the bike was back together I took it for a test ride, and it idled much better, and had noticeably more power. I liked it (Okay, ‘more power’ is a relative thing). I found an old historical marker,

Yay learning!

that was showing some wear and tear, and took a picture. Always good to learn something.

Friday came and it was time to head back to Milwaukee, since the M2M was the next morning. Deb was heading back down too, planning to ride her bike in the M2M as well, but I left earlier to meet a friend in the Dells. Brenda was out fishing, but brought her boat back in so she could say goodbye, before I left for good (or at least a while)

Yay fishing

Brenda!!

I told her I wasn’t going to use this picture, but all well. She can’t beat me up at the moment and with luck she will have forgotten when I see her again.

Back in Milwaukee I picked up a replacement air filter (remember I am not good with air filters) and said good bye to Tim and the guys. Without them I would have no chance at pulling this trip off, and you have to love some of the stuff you see in The Shop

Instructions

Pretty sure those instructions are from the customer.

Short blog, M2M next!