Successful Roadside Repairs
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,883
Likes: 32,995
From: King George, VA
While out in AZ in 2010 I was just exiting I-10 to go south to Sierra Vista when I heard a scraping noise on the left side. I was able to get a quick look at it when I got to the bottom of the freeway ramp. The rear bag support bracket broke and my exhaust was dragging on the ground when I banked left. I limped it into the gas station and was able to link it back up with a few tie straps.
A couple years earlier while out near Keen Mountain, VA my shift linkage fell apart on que coming off a traffic light. I was able to put things back together using duct tape. That got me 300 miles back home.
A couple years earlier while out near Keen Mountain, VA my shift linkage fell apart on que coming off a traffic light. I was able to put things back together using duct tape. That got me 300 miles back home.
Last edited by EasternSP; Feb 1, 2013 at 01:19 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,982
Likes: 6,111
From: Florida
Greenwich Village, New York. Summer '77. Right in front of Mill's Tavern my Triumph's tranny took a crap. Unbuttoned the tranny side cover, got a cup from the Pizza joint & drained the fluid into it, fixed the issue, buttoned it back up, refilled the fluid, & off I went.
Was stranded a few times on (of all things) my Goldwing, but it turned out to be a clogged fuel cap vent. Bike would get me home after sitting awhile.
Although I had to push-start 2 of them to get going once,I have never been stranded on a Harley. But if I ever am, I carry the most important tool for that event--my cell phone.
Without tools I would not have been able to shift.
Vice grips is your friend--just clamp it on the shaft & go!
Was stranded a few times on (of all things) my Goldwing, but it turned out to be a clogged fuel cap vent. Bike would get me home after sitting awhile.
Although I had to push-start 2 of them to get going once,I have never been stranded on a Harley. But if I ever am, I carry the most important tool for that event--my cell phone.
Without tools I would not have been able to shift.
Vice grips is your friend--just clamp it on the shaft & go!
Last edited by dickey; Feb 1, 2013 at 01:34 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
On a trip up the Dalton Hwy I cut a sidewall on a rear tire. I had a tire repair kit, including irons, patches, plugs and glue. I layed the bike on it's side and wedged off the side of the tire that was cut. I scored the rim pretty bad but at that point I didn't care, I was just shy of the Arctic Circle (it was actually one of the parts where they close bar gates and use the road as an air strip).
Anyway, I patched the sidewall on the inside with a thick rubber patch and let it dry a little. I stomped, beat, cussed and shinned that MFer back on the rim. I had a small can of ether (starting fluid) for starting campfires and this very instance so I sprayed it inside the tire where the bead wasn't seated. I quickly touched it off with a lighter and bang, the bead was seated
I filled it with my Co2 cartridges, packed my ditty bag and rolled on. My sig pic is from that day. I sold that Super Glide with those left side scratches. I sometimes wonder who's riding that bike and if they know how glad that bike is to be owned by someone other than me
Anyway, I patched the sidewall on the inside with a thick rubber patch and let it dry a little. I stomped, beat, cussed and shinned that MFer back on the rim. I had a small can of ether (starting fluid) for starting campfires and this very instance so I sprayed it inside the tire where the bead wasn't seated. I quickly touched it off with a lighter and bang, the bead was seated
I filled it with my Co2 cartridges, packed my ditty bag and rolled on. My sig pic is from that day. I sold that Super Glide with those left side scratches. I sometimes wonder who's riding that bike and if they know how glad that bike is to be owned by someone other than me
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Feb 1, 2013 at 02:46 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
You know, the funny thing is that I've always carried tools. I've used them on my own bike exactly once. Other people's bikes, I can't count that high!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
When the ignition module went belly up in my 84 Iron Head Sporty, I installed a breaker plate and points and condenser, and then I always carried a spare points and condenser with me but never needed them. I sold the bike 20,000 miles later and the ignition was still working just fine. In fact, I think it ran better than on the module. I have considered doing the same on my 99 EVO just so I can fix it when the iginition module goes bad.
On my old 42 "45" that had the mousetrap clutch, the throwout bearing went bad and I lost my clutch adjustment. I rocked the clutch out and slipped some washers between the clutch lever and the throwout bearing, and I was on my way. Rode it that way for a long time since I was only 16 years old and had no money. I did have to add a washer once in a while though.
On my old 42 "45" that had the mousetrap clutch, the throwout bearing went bad and I lost my clutch adjustment. I rocked the clutch out and slipped some washers between the clutch lever and the throwout bearing, and I was on my way. Rode it that way for a long time since I was only 16 years old and had no money. I did have to add a washer once in a while though.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
On a trip up the Dalton Hwy I cut a sidewall on a rear tire. I had a tire repair kit, including irons, patches, plugs and glue. I layed the bike on it's side and wedged off the side of the tire that was cut. I scored the rim pretty bad but at that point I didn't care, I was just shy of the Arctic Circle (it was actually one of the parts where they close bar gates and use the road as an air strip).
Anyway, I patched the sidewall on the inside with a thick rubber patch and let it dry a little. I stomped, beat, cussed and shinned that MFer back on the rim. I had a small can of ether (starting fluid) for starting campfires and this very instance so I sprayed it inside the tire where the bead wasn't seated. I quickly touched it off with a lighter and bang, the bead was seated
I filled it with my Co2 cartridges, packed my ditty bag and rolled on. My sig pic is from that day. I sold that Super Glide with those left side scratches. I sometimes wonder who's riding that bike and if they know how glad that bike is to be owned by someone other than me
Anyway, I patched the sidewall on the inside with a thick rubber patch and let it dry a little. I stomped, beat, cussed and shinned that MFer back on the rim. I had a small can of ether (starting fluid) for starting campfires and this very instance so I sprayed it inside the tire where the bead wasn't seated. I quickly touched it off with a lighter and bang, the bead was seated
I filled it with my Co2 cartridges, packed my ditty bag and rolled on. My sig pic is from that day. I sold that Super Glide with those left side scratches. I sometimes wonder who's riding that bike and if they know how glad that bike is to be owned by someone other than me
When the ignition module went belly up in my 84 Iron Head Sporty, I installed a breaker plate and points and condenser, and then I always carried a spare points and condenser with me but never needed them. I sold the bike 20,000 miles later and the ignition was still working just fine. In fact, I think it ran better than on the module. I have considered doing the same on my 99 EVO just so I can fix it when the iginition module goes bad.
On my old 42 "45" that had the mousetrap clutch, the throwout bearing went bad and I lost my clutch adjustment. I rocked the clutch out and slipped some washers between the clutch lever and the throwout bearing, and I was on my way. Rode it that way for a long time since I was only 16 years old and had no money. I did have to add a washer once in a while though.
On my old 42 "45" that had the mousetrap clutch, the throwout bearing went bad and I lost my clutch adjustment. I rocked the clutch out and slipped some washers between the clutch lever and the throwout bearing, and I was on my way. Rode it that way for a long time since I was only 16 years old and had no money. I did have to add a washer once in a while though.