Motorcyclists come in all types
My favorite motorcycle is a Russian pastry from the year jar. When driving uphill in the Ardennes, the brave twin suddenly climbed high in the revs. The cardan shaft had turned through its teeth, so all the power, the stated 34 hp, could no longer be transferred to the ravaged asphalt.
I asked for help from a local garage mechanic who was weeding in his garden. With his drill I pierced the sleeve and the cardan shaft. Russian steel must have it of its mass, not of its quality. With an 8 mm bolt and nut - I got them for free - the connection between power source and rear wheel was restored. The emergency repair was forgotten until a whole new cardan was scored at a trade show for 56 euros. But that was a few months later.
Last week the bell rang on Sunday
No Jehovah's. Common citizen. From the two at the door I recognized a neighbor from a street behind me. The second man looked gloomy. Man Two turned out to have visited the kind of neighbor. On the motorcycle. And that thing didn't work anymore. And because I also rode a motorbike ... I grabbed my universal meter and my starter battery and followed the duo. On the garage path stood a shiny, richly equipped tourmalodont. The starter relay ticked tired. Where was the battery? The stranded motorcyclist had no idea. The starter battery was connected with a bit of a squab and the V4 started with a satisfied growl. The universal meter reported that such an 17 volt was pumped into the battery. That is a lot. And in the meantime, that battery was stinking almost completely dry-boiled.
Just got the bottle of demi water at home and put a hold in the 'divers' box
Then an 12V voltage regulator is the first thing you find. A handful of AMP plugs, the stripper and clamp and a few meters of electricity rope caught. Back to the bleak-looking, stranded midlife cruiser. I explained to him that voltage regulators are stupid things and that I would provisionally tie the one that I had withdrawn from my supply to his engine. Then he could go home, and then go to his garage.
The man heard it all confused and without much comment
I positioned the loose wiring and the voltage regulator with some Duct tape and a few tie-wraps. The V4 was started and the battery received a neat 13,6 volt. I packed my things and drove home very satisfied. Two hours later the phone rang again. The kind of neighbor and his companion. Kompaan had a hard time with it.
Of course he was happy with my help and the fact that his engine was working again
But that repair; it was like that geproprovishonored. And the other voltage regulator, was it of the right kind or good? In short: if I wanted to take the whole thing off because he didn't dare go home like that. He had called the ANWB and his motorcycle would be repatriated. And the ANWB telephonist also seemed to be very dangerous, that messing around with electricity. I told him that disassembly of the stuff would cost him 50 euros and that if he didn't find that an option, I would tell everyone what a lost child he was.
The man and the kind of neighbor disappeared from view
I saw the kind of neighbor recently. He apologized for the behavior of his visit. The WegenWacht, which had first investigated, had approved the emergency repair. But our Hero of the Highway also had no faith in that opinion. Because: "Not Original." And with the right to repatriation. Typically an example of someone who is not a motorcyclist, but a nice person. So the kind of neighbor. Not that cloud-covered arch with its pimped Titanic and fear of stain.
For more than forty years, since the creation of the BMW R 75 / 5 and the Honda CB 750 F, you no longer have to be a talented technician as a motorcyclist. All key skills from before that time were based on the poorer quality of the engines of the past and the poverty of their drivers. As a normal person, you can't even do a lot of maintenance on a very modern motorcycle. It is usually not necessary either. So for forty years you can focus on the best part of motorcycling: driving. And if you still have an original voltage regulator: "PARTY!"
But I have the feeling that classic lovers have a different party.
My attention was drawn to the multimeter, which I also have. when I started to read about Russian engines with charging problems, I thought, I have those too. This weekend let's see why the battery of my Dnepr MT-16 doesn't charge. That keeps me from the Ulft streets.
They are not malfunctions with Russenfietsen. It's character. But the wiring is at least nice and clear. Do you know Richard Busweiler from Genemuiden? Good luck!
I enjoyed this story Dolf again !!
Fall silent with my Dnepr. Ww called who could not care that they were contact points.
Later it turned out that it was a combination of worn contact points, capacitor and a weak battery.
Another story also with the WW who once thought it was cool to tinker with contact points.
Hello, Colleague Russian rider. Even our extremely reliable boxers sometimes need maintenance. Also immediately score “Mit Hammer und Schluessel” the Bible for every Uralof Dnepr rider. With that on your bedside table you always fall asleep with a smile
I used to meet a local WW man at the pump regularly. When I had a breakdown, but no tools, I called the WW. The WW car arrived. Two legs and a big belly came out. It was 'my' Road Guard. "Ah. Is it you! If you give me a cigar, you can use my stuff ”. Top!
Well, I don't understand that they immediately called the roadside assistance. Do your best to help someone get going again. (Hot potato in throat mode on): Are they "entitled" to repatriation. (Hot potato in throat mode off) I also drive an old one? '95 Guzzi and am completely dependent on techies if there is anything. I would have been very happy and grateful with such help.
Hello Peter, My Guzzi is from 1991 🙂 With not too much effort you can do a lot yourself with those old tractors. But you cannot know everything and together we are strong. Handy for parts (& repairs): Robers in Boekelo). And in an emergency, a WegenWacht membership is very useful. A while ago I was unlucky in the dark as a rule. Two cigars earlier, the WegenWacht was already there with lighting. Nice people who are road guards. And they really enjoy working on old motorcycles
I enjoyed this story about this typical Dutch civil servant-motorcyclist with zero technical knowledge.
From now on, refer these people directly to the ANWB
I also heard the story of the couple who had asked for repatriation because their expensive BMW tour mastodon did not work. Salvage truck came. Driver got out. Put the BMW in neutral. Then he started. Couple wanted the bike to be brought home anyway. Because in the meantime they had a big fight and the lady absolutely didn't want to ride the bike anymore ...
I do hope that others can still be helped after this “crying” experience. After all, I can be the next one standing still with my R 27.
Ha! BMW R27s never break!
Well… even stopping for a fellow motorcyclist (M / V) with a breakdown is almost impossible nowadays… ”hattie but have to buy a real one!” ..
Times are changing, can we please go back?
Nice piece of prose. Because the average departing person these days has been described as such a clown as in this nice column. Keep it up, Mr. Peeters.