I'm sure you're laughing your guts out! By JR (Read 850 times)

[JR]

We all remember how Rich posted the now famous "I'm Done" thread cursing the day he bought a Chinese scooter. End result a shiny new pretty  (don't tell cookees I said that)  Lance scooter for Sue. Now the funny part of that story is the part where I'm laughing my butt off one day on the phone when Rich told me how he huffed and puffed pushing the Puma back home. I'm telling I laughed so hard I nearly puked!

So now today guess who got to push a Chinese scooter? Yea you guessed it me. Back in 09 I bought my at the time young step son a 50cc scooter for him to learn on and get his license and after doing so he moved on to my bigger 150 Bali. The little 50cc has set in my shop covered with only 105 miles on it for all these years since. I'd been telling Rich that I was going to break down and get it going to use for camping this summer at the lake when you want just something to buzz up to the store on. He told me I was full of it I'd never get it going so after he passed and with the weather being rainy all the time I put it on the lift. About 6 months ago I bought a new carb, fuel petcock and battery for it. Bought the carb and petcock because I knew the gas was two years old and nasty and didn't want to even fool with a nasty carb and possible bad petcock, bought both on Ebay for less than $25 together.

Man did that gas stink! Got it all out, cleaned the tank, slapped on the carb and petcock, changed the oil and cleaned her up after installing the battery along with airing up the tires. Hit the start button and she purred to life, adjusted the idle and down the road I went. Took her a little bit to burn out the cob webs but she ran nice. About 3 miles down the road, instantly died. Wouldn't hit a lick? Of course this is a test run, no tools with me, and it was threating to rain, which it did on the ..........walk/push scooter back home!

All this time I'm thinking about the guy who just 3 weeks ago was considering putting a match to his on the side of the road and as bad as it was today I had to say "ok you got me and we're even now!" I couldn't help but laugh, in fact I'm laughing now as I type.

Put it up on the lift started looking for fuel issues and just happened to glance at the right side of the engine and the damn spark plug cap had popped off! Pushed that damn thing for 3 miles when I could have just put the cap back on and road home, yea I know Rich not only are you laughing but saying dumba ss too.

OK enough we're even!

JR

[cyborg]

Ouch,,,a plug wire? That hurts

[richardv]

Haha! great story and nice to hear you have such fond memories.

[JR]

I tell ya you just don't realize how dang far 3 miles is until you push a scooter for that distance! I did have a couple of downhill places where I could coast on it but the uphill part was tough! Glad it was a small 50cc scoot!

JR

[Guitarman]

As much as I dislike manual trannys, I was SOOO happy I had one about a week ago.
We had a major traffic jam and the Nighthawk overheated and the battery died on me.
So here I am sitting on the E-way about 5 miles from my exit, letting the bike cool
down. I try to start it up and BAM! Dead batt. So, the cop comes up behind me wondering what the heck this idiot is sitting here laughing about. I told him and he asked if I needed a tow. "Nah" I said, I'm lucky enough to be at the top of this hill and I'll coast down and pop the clutch to start it. He told me to ride the shoulder the rest of the way home.

Bought a new battery that evening and was ready to ride again by morning.

Moral of the story?

Traffic Sucks, so never break down at the bottom of the hill.

[novaraptor]

And, besides the lesson of carrying some tools on a shakedown ride, the other lesson is that, before you wear yourself out pushing, at least check the simple things... Is there gas in the bike? is there gas under the bike? JR isn't the first one to have a plug wire pop off.

[cyborg]

Amen

[Guitarman]

It's usually the simple stuff that gets you.
Blew the fuse for my turn signals today while I was washing the bike. DOH!

[mike932]

Get scooter insurance that has a towing plan. My progressive plan costs $85 per year and includes towing.

[Guitarman]

UNLIMITED Towing.