More Motor Stuff

I managed to collect all the parts I needed for the motor, then got to work.

I removed all the carbon the old fashioned way, with a flat head screwdriver. Everything cleaned up quite nicely. The head, valves, and piston all looked great when I put them back together. I lapped the valves by hand with some valve paste, and put in new OEM rings. As far as I can tell this was the first time the motor has ever been opened up. Also ran some new oil lines because the originals got mangled in the accident. This bike has been through a lot, but at least now the motor is sound again. Still need to replace the front axle, do the fork seals, linkage bushings, and replace some electrics and bearings. Thankfully I have all those parts at hand. It’ll soon be ready for another decade!

The motor popped right away, but it took a few kicks to clear out all the assembly oil. Once it started in ran fantastic. I tore around town for a while and it didn’t even hiccup. The compression is VERY strong now and the motor has more pep – it’s very noticeable.

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Still Hanging Around

Greetings from southern Mexico!

I’ve been down here a while now and couldn’t be having a better time. I have no specific timeline for getting to Ushuia, I am in route and just enjoying life as it comes. I’ve been on the road since September and have nothing but time.

The bike is doing better. It’s in the process of being completely overhauled – motor, chassis, accessories, etc. I had about 40 different items shipped to WB-PDX who is going to condense them into one box and mail down to me. (Including an Acerbis 6 gallon tank that I was able to finally find!).

A small local scooter repair shop helped me get that stripped bolt out. I went back the other day with the piston and cylinder hoping they could measure them. The guys were practically rolling on the floor when I showed them the piston, they aren’t used to anything over 150cc’s around here. Of course no one has any decent tools, so I wasn’t able to get any help, but I eyeballed things as best as I can and ordered the required parts.

Not too shabby!

I’ve got a sweet workbench/kitchen in the little beach pad I’m squatting in.

The XR waits patiently…….

Carnival was tons of fun. They set up a fair in the streets with all sorts of carnival type games. And there are lots of dancing shows and parades as well.

The Kiteboarding World Cup Tour was just on the beach here. It was a blast to watch.

Otherwise I’m just taking in the sights, the food, and the bars. Back to pounding pavement shortly!

** Credit to Raechel for some of these photos (the good ones, mine suck). Visit again any time! **

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Typical Dinners

Last night I was sitting at a little restaurant having some tacos. A cute mexican girl sat at the table across from me and ordered food. We catch each others eyes. I say hello, she asks if I’m here with a friend. I say no. She motions that she might join me. I invite her over and she moves to my table. This should be fun, I love meeting new mexican girls. Things go south very quickly.

We do the standard greetings – who are you, where are you from, mucho gusto, etc. I’m having a beer, she only has food.

“I’d like a beer.”

Ok…..

Are you going to buy me a drink?

No.

Why not?

I just met you.

You should buy me a drink.

No thanks.

She looks dumbfounded and becomes agitated very quickly. I of course see what’s going on right away. She begins eating her tacos and is an absolute slob. Salsa and taco fillings are flying everywhere and her body motions are very erratic.

She says, “Do you not have any money?”

I have money.

You should buy me a beer. It’s nice for a guy to buy drinks for a girl.

I don’t want to.

The waiter is standing near by and can tell this isn’t going to go well for me. She is speaking extremely fast and is obviously not interested in becoming friends – my spanish is improving, but I was having a very difficult time understanding her. I had to have her repeat everything a couple times.

“Come to my house.”

No thanks.

She continued eating, very sloppily, reaching across the table for chips, being very graceless and rude. The waiter came over to check on things. She ordered a beer and told the waiter I was paying for it – but I understood – the waiter looked at me and I shook my head slightly, we were in silent agreement. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.

He brought over a beer for her and she started drinking while cramming more chips into her face. It was a pity because she was actually quite cute, about my age, and if she was at all friendly or hospitable I would have offered a drink.

I said, “I’m only going to pay for my drink and food.”

She slams her hands down, “Eres codo!”

What’s codo? I don’t understand.

“You, you’re codo! Eres idioto!”

I still didn’t know what codo meant, but I got the message, hah. Her head began sulking as she realized she wasn’t getting a free meal out of me and she was going to have to pay for the beer she ordered.

“Where do you live, I want to come to your house.”

Normally I would ponder for a moment, but in this case the response was easy. “No!” as I shook my head laughing a bit. “I’m tired. I have to work in the morning.” etc.

She mutterer something under her breathe and began splashing her soup around with the spoon.

The table was a mess, she was steaming, I was ready to go. I mouthed for the waiter to bring my bill and motioned to my beer and plate. He asked if I wanted to move tables and stay for another beer – it was happy hour and the second beer would have been half off! I declined and handed him some money as she sulked.

“Well, have a good night. Bye!”

She didn’t lift her head or say a word. I got up and left. As I walked out I looked back at the waiter, we were both laughing.

—————-

Codo means cheap. Hah.

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Opening up the Motor

As I mentioned the XR isn’t so healthy. Aside from it’s bent axle, oil lines, and the dozen other worn out and broken parts, the motor is also toast. There’s no compression, so I got to tearing it down in a makeshift outdoor garage.

The workbench:

The carb intake shows the source of the problem….. lots of dirt….

Thankfully the rocker arms and cam look awesome.

The cam chain tensioner retaining bolt is stripped though. I need to find a dremel or something to cut a groove into it and try to hammer it out.

More to come.

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Relaxing in the Yucatan

Ten of my college friends were in town for the week. It was a great time, as it always is. Typical vacation resort type place.

We explored a bit and checked out some cenotes (underwater caves), did some cliff jumping, and toured some of the Mayan ruins.

Giant iguanas are everywhere down here. They’re very chill and just hang around.

Then they left and I was back to my own devices.

I stayed in Playa a while longer, and am still there in fact. I bounced around a bit between a couple hotels, and some hostels, but I spent most of the time camping.

I spent 3 full weeks camping on the beach around town and working during the days.

Some nights got real windy. And even with the rain fly, sand was problematic.

It’s not so bad though….

Also spent a lot of time going out until sunrise. This is a party town after all.

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