Ole Toad is fixn' to git real froggy!!

[Dick]

As I mentioned in another thread, I wanna give a major SHOUTOUT to my bud, Monte Rogers. Called me up yestiday and said that after our weekly Friday morning java juice at the swellest eye candy *$$ in the 'hood, we wuz gonna put an end to ole Toad's 8 month hibernation gig!! Hard to tell the guy 'no', after he (and a few other 'knife twisters' :rolleyes: ) have been on me, pretty serious, the last few months, to git-r-done!!

So, after making sure the last of the eye-candy had departed the java premises, Monte, Bert, Woody and myself had a sit-down breakfast and talked thangs over. Bert split for home, and Woody took off to enjoy his last day of vacation, and Monte and I headed to the storage unit.

Well, first thang outta the box - I had left ole Toad's ignition key at the casa, instead of the storage unit. :mad: After a quick retrieval trip to the barn, we settled down for some much needed wrenching. Having already: changed spark plugs, coolant, air filter, fuel filter, and checked the valves (double checked with Dave Moore, and still within specs at 120K!!), and had trailered nekkid ole Toad to Hank for starter replacement about a month ago, we began to put ole Toad back together. Only missing one item - the centerstand lift handle. Search party going out tamale to retrieve that - it's around the barn here somewhere.

BTW - once again, Monte sez: "before you do a damn thang, let's see if ole Toad starts"!! Lesson learned a month ago, when we were fixin' to put thangs back together then. Wouldn't start, and ended up goin' nekkid to Hank for a $500+ new starter.

This time, fired right up. Soooo - after about 5 hours or so of putting everythang back together (OK, so - some thangs twice!! :rolleyes: And except for the sidecases, which I never took off), including a new ZTechnik windshield that I bought from Monte before he swapped his LT for an FJR, we're a fluid change and a lift handle away from being done with this 8 month service marathon!! Gonna take a Sunday ride before I do the fluid changes, tho!!

I might start lookin' for an area ERC course to enroll in; I'm kinda, sorta, rusty on two-wheels at the moment!! ;)

So, once again, "thanks" Monte. Wonder what the boyz in the 'hood are gonna jab me about now!!! :p ;) :D

[bustedknuckles]

Great to hear your going to be back on 2 wheels Dick. It's a great thing having friends around to keep reminding you to "Git-R-done". See you in August:yeah:

[cfell]

Wooo hooo!

[katnapinn]

Well it 'bout darn time bud :D And don't worry we'll find sumpthing new to razz ya about. :rolleyes:

[D.Kinsey]

Great!!! Look forward to seeing you & Toad in Montgomery! Good on all that made this happen(git Toad back together) I know that can be a daunting task! :eek:

[Bruce]

Fantastic news about getting Toad all buttoned up and ready to ride. Be good therapy for you after having all those honey-do thingys.


btw....are you sure you want to enroll in an ERC course...you may have to take the BRC first....:rotf:

[grifscoots]

Be sure the tires don't have any dry rot *snicker*

I've been dying to do an ERC!

[dwsdad]

A Sunday ride you say? Hmmm....let me know if you want a support/chase vehicle along with ya.

[katnapinn]

A Sunday ride you say? Hmmm....let me know if you want a support/chase vehicle along with ya.
Sounds good I'm in too.

[kellenbenz]

Great news Dick!

That Monte is a heck of a guy...hats off to him.

Ron

[gulfxray]

Good for you Amigo! Glad you're gonna be back in the saddle ...

[Dick]

Good for you Amigo! Glad you're gonna be back in the saddle ...
Thanks, Shawn - and thanks for the pats on the back, Stephen, Channing, Steve, David, Bruce, Doug, and Grif. It did feel right good to be back in the saddle. Butt, I gotta tell ya - that short 7-mile run from the storage unit 'bout gave me hip-dysplasia!! :eek: Dang, I got some shapin' up to do!!!

BTW - Doug/Steve - no plan for tamale yet, butt thought is to meet up with Monte somewhere and ride somewhere. He might post sumpthin' here later, or early tamale am. Stand by.

Monte - Syd stopped by our 'block party' this evening and tho he's on call at USAA this weekend, he might tag along. I told him I had to help Cheryl clear the lunch table and then I'd be ready to ride. I'll ping him with an e-mail once I hear from you.

BTW#2 - I found the centerstand lift handle. What sadistic SOB designed the anchor point for that thang!! Luckily, I had an extra allen bolt to replace the one I dropped down in there sumwhar!! :rolleyes: :)

Cy'all on the roadeo!!

[robasay]

Dick,
Glad to see that we are both ready to ride again. Wanna meet half way? Oh Say Alpine/Ft. Davis. Only 600 miles for me but maybe half way would be El Paso. We will have to plan something for the fall, love that Ft. Davis area to ride in.

[Dick]

Dick,
Glad to see that we are both ready to ride again. Wanna meet half way? Oh Say Alpine/Ft. Davis. Only 600 miles for me but maybe half way would be El Paso. We will have to plan something for the fall, love that Ft. Davis area to ride in.
So --- you're on the road again, Rob?!! Good news. Did you do the steering damper swap yourself, or take it to the shop? (Edit: missed your post about fixing everythang - I see you did do the swap. Good on ya!).

I've been promising myself, and a half dozen other folks, to go to the Big Bend area. Every time a plan comes up, I have to bail for one reason or another. I am gonna make it someday and it's prolly gonna have to be one of those spur of the moment thangs. I'll shout when it looks like it's in the makings.

Take care, Rob. Great to hear from you - ride safe.

[EricSuz]

All right, Dick, did you miss a great day to ride today?
Glad to hear Toad is nearly ready--I am sure you are.

Barb rode with me today. First time on the RT.

[katnapinn]

All right, Dick, did you miss a great day to ride today?
Glad to hear Toad is nearly ready--I am sure you are.

Barb rode with me today. First time on the RT.
Eric how did Barb like it ?

[Dick]

All right, Dick, did you miss a great day to ride today?
Glad to hear Toad is nearly ready--I am sure you are.

Barb rode with me today. First time on the RT.
Yeppir, Eric. Barb for her first time on the RT, and me for the first time this year on ole Toad.

Monte and I rode up to the motorcycle museum in Vanderpool and while Monte fed face with an Aussie Pie, I drooled over a few of the inventory. I tell ya what, that Allan has a knack for restoring some beautiful machinery. Worth the visit - $5 day pass, or $20 life.

We rode 39, 187, part of 337, and back to Kerrville on 16. I cut out at 1341 and boogied home my fav back way. Today told me how much outta shape I are - pretty distressing, so I ate a coupla brownies when I got home - just to settle my 'stress'!!

Hope Barb enjoyed the RT, Eric. Be good to see you guyz at an upcoming RTE soon. Take care; ride safe.

[EricSuz]

Eric how did Barb like it ?
Not too happy with me now. But she is trying. The seating position is more cramped than the LT. For the first time, wasn't bad at all. We rode with our daughter. She had her son on her bike. Went about 130 miles altogether. We were all tired when we got back home.

[davemoore]

I've been promising myself, and a half dozen other folks, to go to the Big Bend area. Every time a plan comes up, I have to bail for one reason or another. I am gonna make it someday and it's prolly gonna have to be one of those spur of the moment thangs. I'll shout when it looks like it's in the makings.

Months of planning ahead don't work. Maybe spur of the moment will get it. So don't think at all about going in October. OK?

Congrats on the reassembly - sorry I couldn't be there.

[Dick]

Months of planning ahead don't work. Maybe spur of the moment will get it. So don't think at all about going in October. OK?

Congrats on the reassembly - sorry I couldn't be there.
Yeppir - unnerstand. October is 'Cheryl on the continent', so I'm Boerne-tied that month anyway. :rolleyes:

BTW - you got the first service on Tigerino on Tuesday? You gonna wait on it? If so, I could come pick you up and we'll do *$$ while the wrenches wrench? I gotta pay my storage unit bill right around the corner from your dealer. Lemme know.

[PiePrincess]

Yippee . . . Toad is back in business!!

[davemoore]

Yeppir - unnerstand. October is 'Cheryl on the continent', so I'm Boerne-tied that month anyway. :rolleyes:

BTW - you got the first service on Tigerino on Tuesday? You gonna wait on it? If so, I could come pick you up and we'll do *$$ while the wrenches wrench? I gotta pay my storage unit bill right around the corner from your dealer. Lemme know.

Road in the rain today so I can drop Tigerolio off for the 500 service. Frog Toggs work well. Kathy's off Tuesday, so she can prolly take me there to pick it up. Don't think "waiting" is an option - they gots a lot of bikes in there right now. But, heck, we don't have to wait on Friday to do *$$. How about Wednesday AM at Boerne-bucks?

[Dick]

Road in the rain today so I can drop Tigerolio off for the 500 service. Frog Toggs work well. Kathy's off Tuesday, so she can prolly take me there to pick it up. Don't think "waiting" is an option - they gots a lot of bikes in there right now. But, heck, we don't have to wait on Friday to do *$$. How about Wednesday AM at Boerne-bucks?
I be there Wed AM!

[wildwestrider]

As I mentioned in another thread, I wanna give a major SHOUTOUT to my bud, Monte Rogers. Called me up yestiday and said that after our weekly Friday morning java juice at the swellest eye candy *$$ in the 'hood, we wuz gonna put an end to ole Toad's 8 month hibernation gig!! Hard to tell the guy 'no', after he (and a few other 'knife twisters' :rolleyes: ) have been on me, pretty serious, the last few months, to git-r-done!!

So, after making sure the last of the eye-candy had departed the java premises, Monte, Bert, Woody and myself had a sit-down breakfast and talked thangs over. Bert split for home, and Woody took off to enjoy his last day of vacation, and Monte and I headed to the storage unit.

Well, first thang outta the box - I had left ole Toad's ignition key at the casa, instead of the storage unit. :mad: After a quick retrieval trip to the barn, we settled down for some much needed wrenching. Having already: changed spark plugs, coolant, air filter, fuel filter, and checked the valves (double checked with Dave Moore, and still within specs at 120K!!), and had trailered nekkid ole Toad to Hank for starter replacement about a month ago, we began to put ole Toad back together. Only missing one item - the centerstand lift handle. Search party going out tamale to retrieve that - it's around the barn here somewhere.

BTW - once again, Monte sez: "before you do a damn thang, let's see if ole Toad starts"!! Lesson learned a month ago, when we were fixin' to put thangs back together then. Wouldn't start, and ended up goin' nekkid to Hank for a $500+ new starter.

This time, fired right up. Soooo - after about 5 hours or so of putting everythang back together (OK, so - some thangs twice!! :rolleyes: And except for the sidecases, which I never took off), including a new ZTechnik windshield that I bought from Monte before he swapped his LT for an FJR, we're a fluid change and a lift handle away from being done with this 8 month service marathon!! Gonna take a Sunday ride before I do the fluid changes, tho!!

I might start lookin' for an area ERC course to enroll in; I'm kinda, sorta, rusty on two-wheels at the moment!! ;)

So, once again, "thanks" Monte. Wonder what the boyz in the 'hood are gonna jab me about now!!! :p ;) :D

Congats Dick. I might make Montgomery,...and owe you a lunch.

Brian

[Dick]

Congats Dick. I might make Montgomery,...and owe you a lunch.

Brian
You owe ME a lunch?? :confused: I'll take it!! :D

Gonna try real hard to be there, Brian. Depends on how fast Hank can solve ole Toad's rear drive situation. I'm prepared for the worse, butt hope for the best. Monte and I are gonna tip-toe ole Toad down to Hank tamale and let him see whazzup. Had to take ole Blue Truck to the emergency room this morning, so that means no trailerin' for ole Toad. Just love life's leetle challenges; gotta be a message in there sumwhere!! :rolleyes: ;) ;)

[wildwestrider]

I thought you were up and going. What happened?

[Dick]

I thought you were up and going. What happened?
Yup - up and went!! :rolleyes: Rode the Hill Country Sunday with Monte. Decided Monday to change the fluids someday this week. Met at Boerne *$$ Wednesday and afterwards, Monte and I proceeded to do the fluids. Dropped the magnet-drain plug outta the rear drive and found a piece of the retainer/keeper in the fluid. Thinkin' is, ole Toad has puked another rear bearing, so gonna have Hank make us all well, and hopefully, in time for the RTE on the 17th. Cross your fingers. ;)

[wildwestrider]

Good grief!

any chance its a leftover from the prior surgery?

[Dick]

Good grief!

any chance its a leftover from the prior surgery?
I mentioned that in another post, butt I don't think so, Brian. Lone Star did the prior, and I doubt they'd miss this piece - back then, I got the original bearing and several small pieces to look at, and sent it to Dave Shealey for some analysis. Would be real strange for a part to stay inside the rear drive casing and drop out the drain hole 'now', some 50K miles later. This piece is pretty small (maybe 3/8"). I've changed fluids at 3k regularly, so I'da thunk it'd dropped before now. We'll see next week.

[wildwestrider]

You're scarin me Dick. I may have to sell mine and buy an RT or GS.....I know they are dependable.

I will be SOOOO P.O.d if mine drops the FD on the Way to Paonia/Wyoming this July.

Brian

[Dick]

You're scarin me Dick. I may have to sell mine and buy an RT or GS.....I know they are dependable.

I will be SOOOO P.O.d if mine drops the FD on the Way to Paonia/Wyoming this July.

Brian
Now you know better'n that!! All them LT riders that show up are gonna have clinched butt-cheeks????? I don't think so!

Man, if you got a truck, don't read this.

Ole Blue Truck been pukin' tranny fluid a leetle at a time for several weeks/months. Finally had to put in a half-quart or so coupla weeks ago and made a promise it goes in the shop for service. Yestiday, after Monte and I changed fluids in ole Toad, thought we'd take 'em to Wallyworld to dump and clean out containers. Ole Blue Truck wouldn't start. Groaned and made weird electronic noises and finally shut down completely. Called the shop and the owner came by this morning and performed some kind of magic under the hood while I'm bangin' away on the ignition switch. Bingo - we got lift off! Left ole Blue Truck runnin' while I changed clothes and got ready to drive to the shop. Initial diagnosis - original battery cables need replaced, and prolly a defunct, not used, alarm system should be gone. Fix the tranny leak, and find the short to ground in the dash that makes all the gauges read backwards!! Makes ya wanna dump your truck and git a what?? A Hummer, or sumpthin'?!!!! :rolleyes:

Oh, btw - 286,000 miles on ole Blue Truck. Replaced serpentine belt thrice, reconditioned the tranny 'bout 13 years ago, and replaced the alternator last year!!! And Cheryl ALWAYS sez "go get a different truck"!! :confused: Why? Them ER trips to the shop's OR are usually just one truck payment, and we're smilin' on the miles. I think I'm eventually gonna git my monies worth!! :histerica

Have fun in Paonia, and the round trip ride, Brian. Say "Hi" to El Jeffe when you see him - maybe Randy too! And I'll see you in Montgomery on the 17th, and maybe up in Hico next month?? (Or maybe we'll do the Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville and save the Koffee Kup for dessert 'pie'!! :thumb: )

[Bruce]

Dick,

since you've done all that work on your old blue truck, I'll trade ya. Just had to drop in a new battery into mine this week. Almost 2 years to the day. But then again with 294,+++ on it guess I could keep it a little longer.....;)

[McRuss]

You're scarin me Dick. I may have to sell mine and buy an RT or GS.....I know they are dependable.

I will be SOOOO P.O.d if mine drops the FD on the Way to Paonia/Wyoming this July.

Brian

Yeah, right. I almost had to walk back from Colorado last trip there with an RT. Rode all the way from Boise, OK to San Antonio with virtually no clutch. Had to pump it up every time I stopped for a light. Longest ride of my life. Butt I'm taking my FJR to Paonia; no worries, mate.

Hey Dick, see ya tamale? You got some way to get to *$$? Guess we'll see.

[Dick]

Yeah, right. I almost had to walk back from Colorado last trip there with an RT. Rode all the way from Boise, OK to San Antonio with virtually no clutch. Had to pump it up every time I stopped for a light. Longest ride of my life. Butt I'm taking my FJR to Paonia; no worries, mate.

Hey Dick, see ya tamale? You got some way to get to *$$? Guess we'll see.
Hey, Russ - I think so. I counted wheels remaining on the ranch and there are still 4 more somewhere. I'll cobble 'em together and show up around 0530! ;) Cya there.

[wildwestrider]

Now you know better'n that!! All them LT riders that show up are gonna have clinched butt-cheeks????? I don't think so!

Man, if you got a truck, don't read this.

Ole Blue Truck been pukin' tranny fluid a leetle at a time for several weeks/months. Finally had to put in a half-quart or so coupla weeks ago and made a promise it goes in the shop for service. Yestiday, after Monte and I changed fluids in ole Toad, thought we'd take 'em to Wallyworld to dump and clean out containers. Ole Blue Truck wouldn't start. Groaned and made weird electronic noises and finally shut down completely. Called the shop and the owner came by this morning and performed some kind of magic under the hood while I'm bangin' away on the ignition switch. Bingo - we got lift off! Left ole Blue Truck runnin' while I changed clothes and got ready to drive to the shop. Initial diagnosis - original battery cables need replaced, and prolly a defunct, not used, alarm system should be gone. Fix the tranny leak, and find the short to ground in the dash that makes all the gauges read backwards!! Makes ya wanna dump your truck and git a what?? A Hummer, or sumpthin'?!!!! :rolleyes:

Oh, btw - 286,000 miles on ole Blue Truck. Replaced serpentine belt thrice, reconditioned the tranny 'bout 13 years ago, and replaced the alternator last year!!! And Cheryl ALWAYS sez "go get a different truck"!! :confused: Why? Them ER trips to the shop's OR are usually just one truck payment, and we're smilin' on the miles. I think I'm eventually gonna git my monies worth!! :histerica

Have fun in Paonia, and the round trip ride, Brian. Say "Hi" to El Jeffe when you see him - maybe Randy too! And I'll see you in Montgomery on the 17th, and maybe up in Hico next month?? (Or maybe we'll do the Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville and save the Koffee Kup for dessert 'pie'!! :thumb: )

Dick, I know about old trucks....I have a 1988 F350 Ex U-haul moving van with a 460 v-8. Its got just under 200K on it and has not skipped a single beat in the 5 or 6 years that I have owned it. I call it my "portable storage building" and ....I have it set up with tie down hooks to haul a couple of bikes.

Brian