Entry for September 29, 2006

 Well, I did it.  I bought the 2001 Kawasaki W650 that was on Ebay.  Pat and I went up to St. Mary's this afternoon to take a look and it looked about as good up close as the pictures.  I rode it a bit and it seemed pretty smooth for not being ridden for two years. 

I just don't understand how someone can have a bike like this (or any kind) and not ride it.  After I got it home I took it out for a little spin up to about 50mph.  Nothing wrong so far.

  To back up just a bit.  I knew, I just knew that the dealer would call today and tell me the REB was ready to pick up.  One day too late to make the rally in MO and honestly had I gotten it earlier I might have held off on the W.  Oh well, one can't have too many motorcycles.  It sounds like the dealer did a lot of messing around and checking stuff, polished the rockers, looked measured, checked, etc. and finally came to the conclusion that the lock nut on the pushrod adjuster was getting loose causing the pushrod to turn out making it too tight.  Sounds reasonable to me but I wish to hell I had just replaced the pushrods when the notion first occurred to me.

  My friend Don was an electrical contractor for many years and now he sells buffalo meat to the government and makes doggie treats for Purina (www.ozmeats.com).  Anyway he doesn't know much about motorcycles but has had some experience with pushrod engines.  He told me three weeks ago that the problem was the adjuster nut getting loose.  I hope that takes care of the problem, I'll ride it for a while to make sure then I'll put in the new pushrods I got while the REB was in the shop.

  I can't believe I have two bikes....... I hope nothing goes wrong with the W cause I don't think it will be as easy to work on as the REB.