Comanche
Contributing Member
Day before yesterday I wanted to check the coolant level. As you know its on the left side. However, previous owner put a heel-toe shifter on the trike and that has to be removed to take off the left side cover. I did not realize this until I had the cover loosened from the pegs that hold it in. Then not wanting to take off the shifter I put the cover back in the pegs.
Today, I discovered that I could not get the trike in anything but 4th and 5th gear. I fiddled with it for an hour. Changed all of the clutch settings and still no joy. Called the previous owner and he suggested a few things and still only 4th & 5th gear.
Called the dealership and very carefully I rode it there about 15 miles. It was OK as the trike did very well at highway speeds. Starting out in 4th gear puts a bit of a strain on the engine, but I wanted to get it fixed.
At the dealership the service writer John took a look at the trike. He bent over and then immediately straightened up. He started the engine and took his hands off the clutch and the engine kept running.
Even I knew the trike was in neutral and that I did not have a couple of thousand dollar bill to fix the engine. But, I was not sure if I was happy or mad.
John asked if he could take the trike around the block to check it out and I said sure. While he was riding the dealership owner came by and we have known each other for about 40 years. I told him I was mad and he got concerned thinking I was mad at someone there. I told him the story that in one or two seconds John had put the lower cover back so it was not binding on the heel toe shifter and I was mad at myself for being such a dumbass.
He tried to be tactful saying John has spent over 30 years fixing all types of motorcycles and he could just tell when something look out of place. That did not placate me as I think I won the dumbass award of the year.
:blush:
Today, I discovered that I could not get the trike in anything but 4th and 5th gear. I fiddled with it for an hour. Changed all of the clutch settings and still no joy. Called the previous owner and he suggested a few things and still only 4th & 5th gear.
Called the dealership and very carefully I rode it there about 15 miles. It was OK as the trike did very well at highway speeds. Starting out in 4th gear puts a bit of a strain on the engine, but I wanted to get it fixed.
At the dealership the service writer John took a look at the trike. He bent over and then immediately straightened up. He started the engine and took his hands off the clutch and the engine kept running.
Even I knew the trike was in neutral and that I did not have a couple of thousand dollar bill to fix the engine. But, I was not sure if I was happy or mad.
John asked if he could take the trike around the block to check it out and I said sure. While he was riding the dealership owner came by and we have known each other for about 40 years. I told him I was mad and he got concerned thinking I was mad at someone there. I told him the story that in one or two seconds John had put the lower cover back so it was not binding on the heel toe shifter and I was mad at myself for being such a dumbass.
He tried to be tactful saying John has spent over 30 years fixing all types of motorcycles and he could just tell when something look out of place. That did not placate me as I think I won the dumbass award of the year.
:blush:
