Hello all,
After the strip-down to re-shim the crank that took place starting two Saturday's before the ride, I did the post-shimming test ride at 9:00 PM on the 24th. (Must inject here that I have corrected the typo that said "teat ride".) As I've mentioned, started first kick, so I was feeling good. I had not dismantled the timing case. On the test ride my suspicion that I might have adjusted the clutch with too light a grip was immediately confirmed. Slipping was obvious but ease into neutral and clunk-free entry into first was great. [I had set the clutch with a dial indicator after tearing my hair out (in addition to some grinding and pounding of clutch parts) trying to figure out why my 6-spring clutch basket suddenly no longer fit on the hub. Oh, the things that can be forgotten between builds! Turned out I missed the fact that the chain wheel was slipping over the first row of ball bearings but not the second.] Anyway, I decided I had to do the ride with the amount of slippage that was there.
Moving on to departing home on DGR-Day, bike again started first kick, wife took some pics and I was on my way. On surface streets the slipping clutch was not a big problem, but the Interstate Highway was a challenge to ease up to 55 MPH while having to accelerate at imperceptible increments. I made it the 30 miles into Chicago, missing my turn-off in the city and getting a little bonus ride on Michigan Ave. (The Miracle Mile) for my mistake. No problem, I had left plenty of time to get to the start point. I should point out that this was the first time I have actually ridden in the city of Chicago since finishing the restoration in 2007.
Now, at the start point, I arrived to hundreds of parked bikes, too many to look at each one. There were a couple of A65s but no other A7s or A10s (as far as I saw). All was good. I enjoyed a big buffet breakfast for a mere $8.00. Things changed when it came time to take off for the ride. I went to kick over and nothing. Compression felt mushy. Kicked and kicked and nothing. Further, when you're having trouble starting, hearing what's happening is important. Of course, I could not hear anything over all the other bikes. 400 bikes left and I was still kicking. With everyone gone, a couple of guys offered to give me a push. Uhhh, great, but the lack of a decent clutch made that useless. I finally got her to start up. There was one guy there who had arrived late and we left together to try to catch up with the pack, which we did at the halfway beer stop. I bought the beer, thankful for having someone to ride with who had a GPS. Being pretty sure I would again have trouble starting, I made a point of doing it when I thought it was 10 minutes before departure from the way point. Yep, it was tough, but I got her going, however, it turned out it was actually going to be about 30 minutes before departure. Not wanting to shut down again, I cruised around that part of Chicago for a while to kill time and see that area I had not seen before. When back at the stop I idled a while and got quite a bit of appreciation for my bike (Ahhh yes! It was all worthwhile.) When we finally left the stop it was exciting to ride with such a pack that was not wearing wallets with chains and tattered denim vests, as is the case when I go on the mostly Harley rides. Surprisingly, I ended up riding aside my new buddy from the first leg.
Arriving at the end point, I was immediately greeted by my daughter and her friend who, together, had recently taken an apartment in Chicago not too far away from the bar. That was a extreme high point. I also met one of the guys on an A65 who does not live far from me. We exchanged info and may ride together some time. After lunch with my daughter and a beer raised in honor of my extreme thirst and my forum teammates, I knew I was again facing the tough start, but confident it would eventually get going. The ride home (another 30 miles, of course) was another study in nursing the slipping clutch but I made it. WHEW!
Despite or because of all of the above, I had a great time and definitely plan to participate next year. Between the two forum teams we did manage to raise a bit more than the $1000 goal I had set. Great efforts and generosity on the part of the teams and sponsors! I sorta doubt that many members who did not ride have read this far in a long story. If you did not ride, you missed out and should try to join-in next year.
So, yesterday I got to wondering about the mushy compression and very hard starting. I've not completely confirmed it yet, but I think my right cylinder may have ridiculously low compression. I probably did not pick up on the impact of this on performance since the clutch did not allow use of serious power. I have suspicions why, but for another post.
Richard L.
