Dixie To Deadhorse!

[R90srider]

Thank you Don,

Much relief here.

[Norwood]

Update!! Update!!! they are moving for now...

They should be 150 miles from Fort Nelson at this point.....plenty of daylight...but there isn't much at all until they get to Ft. Nelson...

Be watching ...hope they can at least get to Ft Nelson to make assessment...

[R90srider]

Good news Don, Thank you.

[SteveHebert]

The one item I told Jim to make sure Russ looked at closely or to bring a spare. That is the achilles heel of the 1100/1150.

Hope all is well.

[Norwood]

The one item I told Jim to make sure Russ looked at closely or to bring a spare. That is the achilles heel of the 1100/1150.

Hope all is well.

What would have been the change out time (roadside) for the sensor? ...

[BMWWANDRR]

Glad all is ok. Good lodging at Toad river.

[Norwood]

Glad all is ok. Good lodging at Toad river.

Hey Greg, yep Toad River is cool....that is where I had to hold up for a day or so due to my inner ear... they are in Ft. Nelson that would about another 3 hours or so...depending on how the bike is running and I can only imagine the type day it has been... just looked at your spot....enjoy the park...

[SteveHebert]

I would have done it prior to leaving with a rebuild using much better quality thermo insulated wire. Lot's of articles on the ST.com board. If he had a replacement with him and with Gary's help, I think it would be less than an hour. The big concern is bumping the timing when changing out the HES. I know Jim and Russ so they have every tool needed to build a motorcycle with them. I always read about the cold wet conditions associated with HES failures. The insulation on the wires cracks and leads to electrical failure. Once dry, it works okay until wet again. I will be rebuilding mine, or will have Master Rick do it. Very cheap insurance.

[Vance]

OK guys...here is the update. We left Dawson Creek right on time this morning at 6AM local. We ran to the 101 mile marker as Don mentioned there is a stop there called Wonowan and it is an oil company camp. Fueled up and pulled out Russ was riding trail. In the first 5 miles we were attempting to pass a couple of trucks and RV's. Everyone got around except Russ. Not to worry though, he and Jim are in radio communication. After about another 5 miles, I pull alongside Jim...point back toward where Russ should be and throw my thumb up as to signal is he OK??? Jim nods yes and we keep going...probably another 20 miles or so. When he still has not caught up and we had passed a couple more trucks...we pull over. Jim tells me he hasn't talked to him since we left the store...and that has been 25 or 30 miles by now! He thought I was telling him Russ WAS ok...So needless to say by the time we got back to where he was sitting....fortunately off the road...well, let's just say...Russ was not very happy but was glad to see us!

The bike had stuttered when he tried to pass the first truck and would idle but not run under power. So for the next two hours we removed the fuel filter and checked the gas...ok...checked the plugs and coils...firing and ok...called Terry (luckily I had a signal). As Don mentioned this is out in the middle of NOWHERE. But with Terry's help we checked fuel pressure...changed the HES...checked for loose connections...everything we and Terry could think of...but no joy.

So we made the decision to try and make it back to Wonowon a distance of about 13 miles where we could get off the road and near a phone. While that was a great plan...it didn't work. Made it maybe two miles. About a mile back we had passed a pullout and knew we had to get back there to be safe. It is absolutely not safe to be on the shoulder out here. So I got out my trusty Harbor Freight tow strap and towed Mr. Kruse back to the pullout. I must say, towing a motorcycle with another one is not really a good thing, but all was well and we got safely off the road.

We got Russ a ride back to Ft. St. John 60 miles backward with some really nice folks in an RV that were at the pullout. I contacted the person in the Anonymous book that lives in Ft St John and he met Russ in town and got him to a UHaul dealer. Seems the ONLY truck between there and Fairbanks had just been turned in. Russ has rented the truck, came back and loaded up where we were standing guard at the pullout most of the day and we got loaded up.

So we are in Ft. Nelson and the guys are out in the truck working on the bike. Should we be lucky enough to get it going Russ can dump the truck here and ride on with us. If not, he has an appointment in Fairbanks at the dealer on Monday morning...yes, they are open on Monday. So we will see how all that goes...

So tomorrow we need to make Whitehorse to get back on our schedule. This is doable but will be another long day. A big thanks goes to Terry for his help today, the folks in the RV that gove him a ride and to Patrick from the ANON book and to Gary & Jim and Russ for their mechanical prowess...it is truly impressive.

So that should explain the crazy track on the Spot today. At one point I got a text from Mari to let me know that in case we did not know it, we had turned around and were headed in the wrong direction. I so much appreciate her concern...lol.

So Greg and Melanie...we are chasing you but not at a steady pace!

I do feel really sorry for Russ. This has turned into a really expensive trip all of a sudden. Nothing is reasonably priced up here!

More updates as we can. For now, we are all well...tired but well....

[Vance]

Update from the boys in the truck....apparently Gary suggested pulling the tank again to check the fuel pick-up hose and they found that to be less than perfect....it is late so the plan is to make the final repairs in the morning and we should be riding...I told you those guys were good!

[Norwood]

Good hear your report... glad all OK...Sorry I didn't get your message on to the forum...I had an appointment with Mother at the Doctor office and wound center...so was late getting to my computer.... I saw many new views and lot of concern...If you got my text...I figured that you moving back and forth to Wonowon could be a good sign...Glad you guys made it to Ft. Nelson... the next leg there is nothing until Toad Lake area...cafe, cabins fuel... The last frontier takes on a new meaning doesn't it... That is the stretch I played catch up ...due to fact I had to spend an extra day at Toad lake cabins with inner ear issues... I final caught up with my guys at Grand Prairie...we where headed South by then... and did the Hwy 40 (big Horn Rd) south to Lake Louise area. BTW, think that is same OIL company pumping station that sold me fuel...during 2010, many local stores had small food items....but no fuel...
Sure you got it figured...but about 500 to Whitehorse and then another 500 to Fairbanks...
Will be watching...Hope Russ get things worked out tonight...

MOA anonymous is a cool tool.. I have used mine three times and received calls from members twice needing help... one was the lady from Australia...that was touring USA...but member of MOA...

Just saw your update....hope this works...finger crossed!

[R90srider]

Hey Vance,

Thank you for your detailed update. I saw the Google Earth view of the pullout where you safely met the RV folks and wondered why you were there for so long. It's a huge relief to know you all are safe and sound. Hopefully Russ and the other master mechanics will his bike going so he can continue the journey.

[SteveHebert]

Ethanol is the killer of fuel lines. Happened to my /6 at the Chicken Rally. Happened to my RT just before I bought it. The fuel lines inside the gas tanks, especially the U shaped hose gets cracks in it. Very hard to see. A plastic replacement hose is being sold now by euromoto I think. I will look for the article and post later. This is a VERY common issue as of late.

Hope all is well

[Vance]

By the way...the trip nicknames are finally in place. Along for this adventure we have (in no particular order)

"Shotgun" (Russ) he's packin...and got it across the border....legally I might add

"Statman" (Jim) he is converting the distances, weights and measures back and forth between the SAE and metric system for us...as well as providing up to date weather forecasts.

"Wrench" (Gary) you figure that out...

"Cabin Boy" (me) I am catching hell for being a sissy and booking a cabin on the ferry instead of sleeping on the deck....and I am thinking that was pretty smart from where I sit!

More repos later...from "the last frontier"

[Vance]

Wow...it has been a long three days since Russ had his mechanical issue. We rented the truck, they fixed the bike, we returned the truck and covered about 1200 miles on the ALCAN in the last two days...and yes we are tired. We are however in Fairbanks tonight staying at the home of Jim's friend Jeremy and his family. We have been treated like kings...fed and watered well since our arrival this evening. Our plan is to lighten the load a bit by leaving behind the luggage we will not need for the trip to Deadhorse and that will be good. Russ's bike is running well and on the return from Deadhorse he will make some fine tuning adjustments.

The scenery has been spectacular..the road surface leaves a bit to be desired in some places...in fact there is no road in some places. But that is what adventures are made of!