Britbike forum Forums Events - meetings / rallies / rides Three state mountain ride forum 2017 AAR

Well the Cruel Buell let me down this trip. Apparently I was running a total loss ignition system, made it about 2/3's of the ride before she sputtered to a stop and went dark. Not water related, just a cruddy HD voltage regulator. The ride through the post lunch rain was interesting, got to test some alternate rain gear that kept me pretty dry in the face of some pretty hard rain. Needed the boot covers and the gloves seemed to leak from several places. The limited visibility kept you from being bothered by the rain or being cold, it took way too much focus to give a darned about being wet.

Best part of this event is the people. Some of you I only get to see at the TSMR, so this is really special to see everyone and have fun. Since we seem to lose our friends occasionally, this means more than the ride. On the ride to Blowing Rock I thought of Ben, and how great a guy he was and how much I appreciated him. We never find time to say that and then it's too late. So to all of you may I say thank you for being part of my life, and I appreciate you all, even that Whatley guy.

Thanks to Windy for all the effort in putting this together, and the ride after I stopped running, Nice Truck! Thanks Melissa & Ray for the venue and catering. Hope to see you all again at Ohio Valley, Mid-Ohio or next year's TMSR.

The tradition continues.....



Friday afternoon Norton disassembly.


Teachable Moment:
What can we learn from this photo? L to R, that's Dr Tim in the cap (BMW rider), me (BMW rider), Semper Gumby (sometimes BMW rider), and Wobbly the Elder (BMW rider). Seems to be a pattern here.

What can we learn? That BMW riders secretly yearn for a bike with such soul as a Norton they are drawn to them whenever they see one
Notice the confirmed Norton rider and dead cat aficionado in the background is showing little interest in any of the proceedings.

To me it's more of a WhatTF moment. Why the fuk would a motorbike have the cylinder sticking up at an angle like that !!!!

Cause it can, them vertical twins need some style and weight forward...

So the Cruel Buell actually lost the stator. Danged Hardley Ableson electrics. And we thought Lucas was bad. New Stator is $179.00 and the VR is another$135.00. Apparently Hardly thinks a shunt VR is OK, so the Stator is running at 100% all the time. Built to a price point the insulation on the windings is NOT oil impervious! So there are only 2 oils that won't dissolve the insulation, Piff!

I get part of one ride and have to replace $400 worth of poorly made parts. This sounds like racing expenses... LoL

The price of our hobbies is in direct relation to the enjoyment they bring.

BS same as an XL HD -89A Stator Reg.-94A should be 70-80 bucks each. does the stator smell burnt?? did you pin it out? open, or short'd to grd? probably just the reg. check the plug reg. to stator they have been known to un-couple.

Yup should be, I found out quick you have to shop for a Sportster stator or you won't find any, but find one for $70 - $80. Cycle Electric, J&P, Dennis Kirk, Accel... Since this is an 97' S3T it has 32 amp Stator, the18 & 22 Amp is under a $100, but jump to the 32 Amp and the price jumps, and you have to buy the regulator since the connections change. I'd rather buy a Cycle Electric regulator since they are a demand regulator not a shunt style, so the Stator doesn't run 100% all the time. Not looking to upgrade, I don't run a pile of accessories. Plus I like the do it right once Idea.

I will still have to Frankenstein the wiring since none have the Sportster style pigtail, Stator does but VR doesn't.
I get to buy a new primary gasket, snap rings, should replace the clutch ramp bearing and the primary chain tensioner. Oh, those are routine maintenance...

Have you seen the windings on these? They look like a 5 year old wound them like a kite string ball.

reference parts. If I had got the TRW down there I would have been carrying a spare head gasket, safe in the knowledge that nobody else would need it!
Damn, I miss North American roads.

I brought rain gear to scare off the rain, but that didn't work. LoL. Stator is putting out 7 volts AC, this seems a bit low. Supposedly there is an issue with the coating on the coils where the primary oild can dissolve the coating and cause a short. So off with the primary, at least the rotor and clutch come out as a complete unit. As long as you can get the 1 1/8" nut off the crank shaft that is torques to 195ft/lbs...Saw one guy with a 6' pipe on a breaker bar trying to break his loose.

Ron I fixed it for you. after all HD does not want it shaking stuff off of it LOL

I know Hardley Ableson uses big fastener, but a 1 1/8" headlight bolt?

Hey Lannis,
NICE SHIRT
Just going back thru these photos, and spied this- which I had seen but somehow hadn't noticed before. That shirt fits you well brother. :bigt

https://lannisselz.smugmug.com/2017-Blowing-Rock/i-T7j6xgT/A

Yep, I have an excellent Norton shirt supply source!!

Vintage too, that shirt. Decades old. Not QUITE as old as your Norton... but almost.

Great picture Rich!

Sure do miss Ben...

Yes really nice photo!