Deep dark depression excessive misery, If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all, blue despair agony on me.
Yesterday I learned that my rent was going up 150 dollars a month.
Today I rode over the mountain to Waimea to have my taxes worked. My refund wasn't even enough to cover HR Blocks fee.
I went to the ATM machine at the bank for some cash. When I pulled in the clutch the bike stopped as if the brakes were dragging even before I squeezed the lever.
Looking down I saw that the front tire was nearly flat. I looked across the street and saw a gas station so on the last bubble of air I rode across the street and stopped in an out of the way corner. Now dead flat. I borrowed his air and pumped it up only to watch it go back down. I borrowed a floor jack and lifted the front of the bike.
Fortunately I carry a goodly bag of tools including my three trusty Harley tire irons from JC Whitney. I removed the wheel and looked in the garage. No tire changing station.
I saw a hydraulic press for pressing bearings and was able to use it to break the bead. I spooned off one side of the tire and removed the tube. A piece of broken glass was protruding through the center of the tire and just barely into the tube enough to cut it.
I pushed a small screw driver into the tire from the outside to force the glass all the way in where I could remove it. It was perfectly designed to penetrate a tire and looked like a tiny arrowhead. I asked to buy a patch kit since mine was not in the bag. They didn't have one cause they no longer repaired tires.
I got out my matched pair of crutches and started up the street. Just over a quarter mile later I was at a hardware store but they only had the stuff for patching tubeless tires. I bought a kit anyway just for the rubber cement.
As I hobbled back to the gas station the young mechanic was driving out to get something he needed for his work from Napa. I rode along and went in and bought a Napa tire patch kit. I would have preferred a camel kit but you buy what they have or do without. Inner tube patched, I began to spoon the tire back together with no lube. When the going got tough, I used spit to lube it and it finally popped onto the rim. The bead set at thirty pounds and I put the wheel back on the bike.
I did my grocery shopping and was sweating profusely and shaking as I went through the checkout line. Symptoms of Hypoglycemic crisis. I dug in the sidecar for some of the fish I bought, a jar of honey, and a can of Arizona iced tea.
Quickly swallowing about two ounces of honey and bolting down the fish, washing it all down with the can of tea brought the shaking hands and sweating under control.
I headed up over the mountain pass to get home while my patched tire held air.
Now I am home, exhausted and full of muscle cramps but the machine is with me and seems to be holding air.. Now I need to get on the innerneck for a new tire and tube. I don't trust one that has been host to a piece of glass.
Phelonius
Glad you are OK. Look at the bright side, if you were one of the new generation of motorcyclists I keep meeting, you'd still be sitting there with your AAA card waiting for a tow truck.
A diabetic friend of mine carries a half dozen single serving packages of honey from the local Colonel Sanders in his saddlebag for just such an emergency. He says honey is the only edible substance known to man that won't rot, so it can stay there forever. If it gets hard, heat it on top of the engine for a minute or two and it turns back in to a liquid or turn the little plastic square inside out and eat it like a candy bar.
Again, I'm happy you survived your ordeal.
Mike
Hey Phel, sorry to hear of the difficulties on you grocery shopping trip. Glad you made it home OK. Hope the rent works out OK too.
And it why is it we generally need a tool that not in the bag on the rig? I recently acquired a KLX250 dual sport bike from oldtimer over on the Soviet Steeds site. I have a tube patch kit, but no tire irons yet. Lot a good that'll do me, hunh?
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
SwampFox - 3/29/2011 6:09 PM
Hey Phel, sorry to hear of the difficulties on you grocery shopping trip. Glad you made it home OK. Hope the rent works out OK too.
And it why is it we generally need a tool that not in the bag on the rig? I recently acquired a KLX250 dual sport bike from oldtimer over on the Soviet Steeds site. I have a tube patch kit, but no tire irons yet. Lot a good that'll do me, hunh?
I don't know how strong your fingers are but back in the sixties I read about a factory rider on the Jawa ISDT team who could change the tire on his trials machine with out tools. Did it pretty fast too. Too bad they didn't have U-tube videos back then, it would have been something to see.
Phelonius
Phelonius - 3/29/2011 8:43 PM
SwampFox - 3/29/2011 6:09 PM Hey Phel, sorry to hear of the difficulties on you grocery shopping trip. Glad you made it home OK. Hope the rent works out OK too. And it why is it we generally need a tool that not in the bag on the rig? I recently acquired a KLX250 dual sport bike from oldtimer over on the Soviet Steeds site. I have a tube patch kit, but no tire irons yet. Lot a good that'll do me, hunh?
I don't know how strong your fingers are but back in the sixties I read about a factory rider on the Jawa ISDT team who could change the tire on his trials machine with out tools. Did it pretty fast too. Too bad they didn't have U-tube videos back then, it would have been something to see. Phelonius
We had a friend who did trials and exhibition riding back in the 70's. Some of those tires were about as flexible as an inner tube. He would regularily look at the course, and choose which tire to use. These days, they change rim and all. He just carried a dozen different tires.
Phelonius - 3/29/2011 9:43 PM
...who could change the tire on his trials machine with out tools...
Phelonius
I'll just go 'head and fess up: I ain't that tuff.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
Yep...never fails you always need the one thing you don't have.
Good thing you are resourceful and not afraid to get dirty.
Also smart not to trust that tire any farther.
This morning it was flat again.
I wasn't able to tank it yesterday. Here in my own garage, I tanked the tube in the bath tub. Total of 5 leaks found.
3 patches covered them all. Got full air in it now but I am waiting till tomorrow morning to check pressure before putting it back between the forks.
No choice, I don't have a car or truck and the new tire and tube won't be here for 9 to 15 days.
Phelonius
SidecarMike - 3/29/2011 6:57 PM
Phelonius - 3/29/2011 8:43 PM
SwampFox - 3/29/2011 6:09 PM Hey Phel, sorry to hear of the difficulties on you grocery shopping trip. Glad you made it home OK. Hope the rent works out OK too. And it why is it we generally need a tool that not in the bag on the rig? I recently acquired a KLX250 dual sport bike from oldtimer over on the Soviet Steeds site. I have a tube patch kit, but no tire irons yet. Lot a good that'll do me, hunh?
I don't know how strong your fingers are but back in the sixties I read about a factory rider on the Jawa ISDT team who could change the tire on his trials machine with out tools. Did it pretty fast too. Too bad they didn't have U-tube videos back then, it would have been something to see. Phelonius
We had a friend who did trials and exhibition riding back in the 70's. Some of those tires were about as flexible as an inner tube. He would regularily look at the course, and choose which tire to use. These days, they change rim and all. He just carried a dozen different tires.
Right. It depends upon the tire. I once patched a tube in the 3.00 X 21 front wheel on my BSA Gold Star Catalina with little more than a screwdriver and a couple of tire irons from the original tool bag. I didn't remove the wheel because the bead came loose by itself from running flat for a mile. LOL. I just pulled the bead over and grabbed the tube. It was a nail so I knew right where the hole was. I was carrying a patch kit since I was in an enduro. I pumped it back up with a pump that I carried. It took nearly a half hour to pump it enough to ride. Ha.
I detest spoked wheels and tubes. I much prefer cast wheels with tubeless tires. If you have a flat, you've got a chance to plug the tire at least so you can get home.
Sorry to hear Phelonius' story. Keep your chin up! 🙂
Well it ain't over yet. I went to town and spent the evening in the kava bar. When I got home it was flat again.
There must be a piece of glass somewhere that I am missing.
Phelonius
Guess this is the week for S**T to happen...was out Sunday for a nice ride here in Florida....in the middle of no place I pulled in the clutch to shift and got that uneasy feeling when the clutch lever went limp, broke the cable....not even enough to grab the tail with a pair of needlenose pliers. No Problem I'll just call for towing from my insurance company, argued with the girl on my dying cell phone when she couldn't find me on her map. she wanted to send a truck to a island about 40 miles south of me because that road sounded like where she thought I was...cell died..no charger waited about 3 hours for someone to stop. Finally got a flatbed dispatched and home. Found out I needed to remove my newly installed hack and the subframe for them to change out the clutch cable.....thats backordered.......only good thing out of this is I built a dolly that supports the car so when its time to put it back on all the mounts are in position and should slide back in place...I HOPE!!!!!!!! Ride Safe!
You are a perfect example of a "Biker" in the Ol' Skool tradition. Sorry your having so much trouble with the tube, like you said there has to be something in there to re-puncture the tube (or you got a new problem). Tools do make good (and necessary) ballast. I have plenty in my rig. Now that you brought up your problems I think I'm gonna add a bead breaker or two to the mix.
Did you patch the tire where the glass went through it?
The tube could be getting pinched in the hole.
Sorry about you owing Uncle Sam money and the rent thing, $150mo is a hefty increase. I do my own taxes online with the software available. Just like sitting down a H&R, (in fact one of the software programs available is theirs). The program asks all the questions, if you need some info or reciept you can just pause and dig it up. Press send if you want to file electronically or print it out and mail it. Don't even have to leave your house. Not all the software is "free" like the tv ads, depending on how complicated your taxes are programs get more expensive but still cheaper than H&R.
As a former elementary school nurse, I can attest to the value of having small, individual packets of honey about for a potential diabetic crisis. You do not have to swallow the stuff in your mouth, but can simply rub it under your gum line or just pour the packet in front of your front teeth. Most folk forget that anyone in a true diabetic crisis is not usually able to swallow on their own in most cases, and have a great tendency to not be able to follow commands to do such, as their brain begins to fail to comprehend much. Hard rock candy has been a mainstay for the diabetic to have on hand, but homey is often quicker and eaaier to use. I simply open the disposable packet and pour the contents in front of the lower teeth of the person and even rub rome on the gums. be careful with putting your fingers into anyone's mouth. You don't have to put your fingers behind the teeth, but can simply pull the lower lip out and then pour or apply the small amount of honey from the packet. Worked every time at the elementary school I worked at. Put the honey and a bit of lemon juice together and you can also have a good, soothing home remedy for a sore throat. Works even better with a tad bit of alcohol if using for self, not kids. Heat, emotional and physical stress, exjertion, not eating right and a failure to take adjusted diabetic medicaitons on time can all be real precursers to a bad event.
