The campground in Michigan City, Indiana had this lovely pad for us to work on.
Time is short and getting shorter. I have to find ways to be faster at posting. Arrive late, fix dinner, relax, try to post. Last night (Sunday night) a rambunctious group of campers (not us, we were trying to sleep) partied hardy. We tried to repay them with early morning moto work.
Our goal today was to ride across Michigan to our next camp site on Lake Erie. We need some long days. A bit down the road, Jimmy’s bike is running very hot. Roadside work by the cemetery. Finally got the fuel freely flowing out of Jimmy’s fuel tank, rejetted, adjusted the needle, etc. I also added padding to my seat (so important!) Whenever we stop to work, we always have folks stop by to chat and learn more about the goings on. Very nice, but it does slow down work. A good price to pay! Much work and adjustment and we are off again.
Not too far down the road, re-jetting and changing needle setting in Jimmy’s bike.
Further down the road and Jimmy’s bike is still not right. Jim and I are running well. Load Jimmy up and head for a good spot to re-time. We’ll catch up.
Not the best spot for loading the bike, but it worked.
We’re running well and fast (nearly 50 MPH!!! Whoo!). Then pop-bang. Big backfire and we are not running so well. The bike is not happy and we putt along slowly. We stop for a bit. Let it cool and check the plug. Running lean and hot. Something new for us. Start again and take it a bit easier. Running fine and then starts missing. Jim starts to ticking the bike (flowing fuel into the carburetor) and we limp along, until we don’t. Dead. Near town. Push bike a little bit and voila! There are the boys with the motorhome! Turns out, we had run out of gas. We have only ridden 51 miles… The tanks are very flat and thus much of the gas is not available for use. We’ve also learned that the tanks must be filled off the stands to maximize filling the tank.
We re-time both bikes and do some other work and have to get some additional miles in. It is getting late in the day. Our adjusted goal is Sturgis…. Michigan that is. Jim’s bike is now too advanced and still not running well. We stop just outside town and I hop off for Jim to make the final miles. Jimmy is finally running well. A mile later, we are in Sturgis and load up the bikes. We have half of Michigan to cover to reach our Lake Erie campground. Today Jim and I did 86 miles. Our longest day by far (previously around 20). We need to be able to ride 300 miles in less than 10 hours. We have work to do.
Michigan has so many artistic barns. Beautiful riding.
Today, a drive through Toledo and to visit Jimmy’s Uncle in Ohio. We’ll do bike repair there and then try and get another ride in. Our destination tonight is another Lake Erie park but in New York.
Loaded and ready to go for another test ride.
87 miles is a pretty big improvement! Great you are working out (some) of the kinks along the way. All is well back in NM. Keep enjoying!
Thanks for the update, I wonder how you find the time but I really appreciate the ride! What a wonderful adventure!
Looking good you guys! Just got back from the Canada MC trip… 4300 miles. We got to run better than 90 mph on long stretches of Nevada and Wyoming. There was a lot of forest fire smoke in Idaho and the Sawtooth range. It snowed in the peaks just above Banff on 8-23 and rained ( 45 degrees F) the whole next day going south through Calgary to Waterton Park.
Jimmy guessed it… as another 1/2 gallon of gas and the Norton started right up. We look forward to you progress reports.
I presume that Jim and Jimmy are installing richer jets due to the lower altitude you’re in compared to the Santa Fe, NM altitude, which at least Jimmy would know would be necessary?? They will have to continue re-jetting as they reach higher elevations heading West and then again as they head down hill into San Francisco.
When the MC blubbers, You lean it out. When the MC loses power and begins to run hot You enrich it.
That reminds Me of the early days of the Mikuni Carb as in My 1968 Yamaha DT-1 250 cc, where it had a left side main jet holder. During that era, Mikuni produced an adjustable main jet that replaced the original main jet holder that had a T knob that you could adjust even on the Fly!!??. That came in very handy when I entered a 1970 Yamaha MX 250 in the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb. The race starts at 9,390 ft and ends at the peak of 14,110 ft.
I’m glad I’m a 72 year old Fart, who has experienced priceless Fun experiences and knowledge!!????
El Coop
Hi Helen. When you are riding on the back, you have plenty of time to just think. On a newer bike that is true when riding as well. But, at this point I think Jim is pretty occupied all the time while riding.
Thanks Brian, and thanks for loving our pets and the help in getting on the road. 87 is a big improvement but we need oh so much more!
John, Glad you had a wonderful trip. Can’t wait to hear about it when we get back.
Sylvia Crain,
Sorry I don’t You or Jim, but of course I know Jimmy Allison (The Clown??). I love Your Travelogue, but where are Your reports of 9-4 and 9-5 ??
El Coop
Jim and Jimmy,
I know You can change main jets and needle setting, but I’m wondering, do those old Carbs have pilot jets, which modern Carbs have?? If so, pilot jets also have a bearing in adjusting the Carbs for elevation changes. Are the Carbs Amal back in the 20’s ??
El Coop
Yes, they have more modern Amal’s and are adjusting away on the jetting – both main and pilot. We’ve also been dealing with timing, but think that is now under control.
El Coop, I was expecting you to write those posts for me…!
Hi All,
Hi All,
Since the old bikes didn’t have trip meters (aka odometers) , I presume that You are allowed to add that as an accessory??
Who is “admin” who made a reply to Me??
Happy Birthday Marty, have You reached the legal drinking age finally??????
El Coop
Sylvia,
Is there a way to re-visit Your past post dates of Your Wonderful Travelogue??
El Coop
You should be able to click on a date on the calendar to the right or use the previous link at the bottom of a post.
yes, we have modern trip distance and odometer instruments.