Well, I think I am done - emotionally that is. I think my love for my K-LT is gone, working on the bike used to be a release, used to be fun - I just don't think I have anymore will to spend energy on this bike.
I love riding her, she's a dream on the Interstate!!
Here's my latest tale of wow...
I had been thinking about selling her since I have been so busy with work and have not put many miles on her this year, maybe 600-700 miles. The other part of me was kind of done working on the bike, seems like I'm always taking the tupperware off for some reason or another. So I decided to put an ad on Craigslist and see what I might be able to get for her.
A guy comes over to look at her, checks the bike, the features - etc, sits on her. Doesn't want to take it for a ride, but asks me to start the engine. Sure, of course who wouldn't want to hear the bike run...
I mount the bike, start the engine, she's running for about a minute - nothing abnormal, sounds great. Then out of the corner of my eye I see a flash (Hum, thats odd) and hear a woosh.. A backfire, maybe - motor is purring just fine, don't think that's it. I look down to the left and I see FLAMES! Look again, yea - FLAMES!!! Toward the front left of the bike down toward the lower cover is a decent amount of FIRE. I say, "I think the Motorcycle is on fire" - Shut the bike off, get off and run across the Garage to get my Fire Extinguisher!
As I am coming back to the bike and pulling the Pin on the Fire Extinguisher, I notice a pool of FIRE directly under the motor and some in the left side, I also notice dripping FIRE. Two quick bursts with the extinguisher and it's out! (Side note: Have you ever pulled a Fire Extinguisher handle? That stuff gets all over everything!)
All told I think she burned for 20 to 30 seconds. Externally there is some smoke on the Sliver lower cover. Nothing melted or damaged. I took the left tupperware off this evening. There seems to be minor melting of wire insulation right underneath the left radiator fan shroud. Can't tell for sure, what or where - but it seems apparent there was a fuel leak. The Cruise Control cable was run across one of the fuel lines and there is an abrasion, but I cannot tell from this vantage point if that is where the leak was.
At this point I just don't know if I have the energy to dig in and fix this, it was a labor of love - but there is no more love...
The good news is no one was hurt. I could have very easily been riding when this occurred. So I am thankful and feel blessed for that.
Suggestions?
-Mike
I love riding her, she's a dream on the Interstate!!
Here's my latest tale of wow...
I had been thinking about selling her since I have been so busy with work and have not put many miles on her this year, maybe 600-700 miles. The other part of me was kind of done working on the bike, seems like I'm always taking the tupperware off for some reason or another. So I decided to put an ad on Craigslist and see what I might be able to get for her.
A guy comes over to look at her, checks the bike, the features - etc, sits on her. Doesn't want to take it for a ride, but asks me to start the engine. Sure, of course who wouldn't want to hear the bike run...
I mount the bike, start the engine, she's running for about a minute - nothing abnormal, sounds great. Then out of the corner of my eye I see a flash (Hum, thats odd) and hear a woosh.. A backfire, maybe - motor is purring just fine, don't think that's it. I look down to the left and I see FLAMES! Look again, yea - FLAMES!!! Toward the front left of the bike down toward the lower cover is a decent amount of FIRE. I say, "I think the Motorcycle is on fire" - Shut the bike off, get off and run across the Garage to get my Fire Extinguisher!
As I am coming back to the bike and pulling the Pin on the Fire Extinguisher, I notice a pool of FIRE directly under the motor and some in the left side, I also notice dripping FIRE. Two quick bursts with the extinguisher and it's out! (Side note: Have you ever pulled a Fire Extinguisher handle? That stuff gets all over everything!)
All told I think she burned for 20 to 30 seconds. Externally there is some smoke on the Sliver lower cover. Nothing melted or damaged. I took the left tupperware off this evening. There seems to be minor melting of wire insulation right underneath the left radiator fan shroud. Can't tell for sure, what or where - but it seems apparent there was a fuel leak. The Cruise Control cable was run across one of the fuel lines and there is an abrasion, but I cannot tell from this vantage point if that is where the leak was.
At this point I just don't know if I have the energy to dig in and fix this, it was a labor of love - but there is no more love...
The good news is no one was hurt. I could have very easily been riding when this occurred. So I am thankful and feel blessed for that.
Suggestions?
-Mike