Road Side "Snafu", Lesson Learned!

So I swapped my cooling fan wires around and not going to say it's fixed till further testing but looks ALOT better. However it turns out when putting the tank on I must have knocked a gas line... I made it about a mile down the road when I had a stop sign and it died... And wouldn't start. There was a hill so I tried bump starting it. (Thanks btw to the guys here for teaching me that one) It sputtered and died. Would start with the choke on at first than nothing there either... About this point I met one of the nicest LEO I have ever encountered. Who recommended checking a few common things and pointed out the disconnected gas line. He offered to wait while I got help or figured it out. I declined but thanked him. I was only a mile or two from my Dad's so I asked him to bring me a wrench and some gas. Tank off, line back on, and PRESTO she is alive. Although the 103 heat index was terrible.

I've decided that I need to keep minimal tools with me at all times. (Something I remember seeing on here and thinking ahh that would be smart) Well lesson learned. I was thinking mounting a small pouch somewhere concealable.. Any thoughts or recommendations?

I made lemonade out of lemons. Way I look at I met an awesome Police Officer, learned what its like to run out of gas, gained more appreciation for my Dad and him willing to drop work to come help his boy, and I learned whenever removing the tank... Make sure the lines are all on it when it goes back.

Just thought I would share my evening.

 

here's another lesson: never push a bike down a hill your not willing to push it back up!

 

Psssst.....HeyRyan(whispering loudly)------

Under the right-hand side cover, there should be a little black box, a couple inches or so square, and about 6 inches or so deep. That is for the tool pouch to go in. If you don't have a tool pouch, you can pick them up on ebay for originals. Or, if you make your own, look at a pic of an original complete set so that you know what to put into it. IF you build your own, put GOOD tools in it, not the crappy ones that came from the factory.

Dave Fox

 

+1 on replacing the crappy tools but even the crappy ones are better than none when you don't have anything.

MN

 

Thanks Dave! !!!

 

For reference: the stock factory tool kit that came with my '81 Seca 550:

 

There ya go! Now build your own set from GOOD stuff. But MN is right... a cheap tool is better than no tool. (until it breaks when you need it and try to use it.....LOL......DAMHIKT)

Dave F

 

its silly how they but such terrible tools with such great bikes, lol.

 

Regarding the gas lines, I learned the same lesson last week. I was working on the bike at a friends house, and got in a hurry when it was time to go. Put the tank on and left. Found out it'll go over half a mile on the gas in the carb bowls.

I'm still working on a tool kit for the bike. I have side bags, so usually carry more than I'm likely to need. I also usually have a Leatherman mutli-tool on my belt. Very handy for little things like gas line clips.