What a week.
Stripping the bike down in the open with bits lying everywhere hoping that the problem would be on the top of the engine. Unfortunately as each piece was removed the problem showed itself to be the con rod and the pin it rotates on. In laymans terms it meant an engine removal and strip and rebuild.
Removed the engine but was not prepared to have the engine parts lying around the paved area at the back of the flats where I was holed up.
I searched for a solution looking for alternative locations for working but alas found none.
I was prepared to bide my time and visit friends while waiting for parts to come and a solution to the problem of no covered work space, when the idea came to buy a vehicle and take the engine home to fix and reassemble and then return to refit.
I found a van and bid on ebay for it and won the bids with 250€. I was preparing to leave for Wurtzburg to collect when I found out about the legalities of buying and registration of used vehicles in Germany. I needed my insurance certificate to hand to get the plates and also proof of residence too. I had neither, so that would have caused further delays waiting for all documents to be sent out to me.
At this point one of my support group who lives in Lubeck contacted me to tell me that he was flying out to Liverpool for 35€ on Wednesday and if I could get to his place there was a bed and a meal waiting.
I hesitated no more and booked my flight and a ride in a car for the monday afternoon on the lift share scheme they have in Germany
http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/lif...843/1255298400
The plan now is to get a van and return for the bike and the engine as soon as possible, but I might have to wait to accrue some geld for the operation.
So long for now
Monday 12 October 2009
Tuesday 6 October 2009
A Day of Reflection in Berlin part 2
I arrived in Berlin with details of a couple of hostels, provided by mission control at home.
The one that I was sent to was fully booked , but referred me to one just around the corner.
This looked more like a hotel than a hostel. Set in an old brewery complex that changed to a chocolate factory and is now in separate units.
It has only been in operation 18 months and includes a bar and breakfast facilities.
Variety of accomodation too, from shared dorms to twin bedded en suite facilities.
Shared accomodation was a very affordable 15€.
After a comfortable sleep in an almost totally soundproofed room, I came down to coffee at 1€.
Spent the day on the internet and thought I would try an alternative bike I found on e-bay. While hanging around waiting for the auction to finish, I got talking to Wolfbert the MD of the place.
The result was that the magnificent Wolfbert offered me accommodation in his 'hut' in North Berlin. He told me he had a garden with trees and a wooden dwelling which he called a hut.
He drove me out there and we pulled into a street with a corner garden of tall pine trees, which was his home.
What a fantastic place to live. He had a pond and a very large chiminea which we lit and discussed all things east and west over a couple of beers. The hut was a wooden dwelling fully fitted with electricity and plumbing with an enormous fireplace. Bedroom was completely windowed and being totally secluded had no need for blinds or curtains.
What a view to wake to in the mornings.
We returned to the hostel and Wolfbert again demonstrated his generosity by finding and address of a bike repairers in the vicinity who's owner Wolfbert vaguely knows.
I am off there to get advice before doing any work.
While waiting I did some tests on the bike and found one cylinder is less efficient than the other and when removing alternate plugs the good cylinder was quieter.
Replacing the plugs the engine was considerably quieter than the before which leads me to believe it is no more than a sticking valve and if so is more easily repaired than a camshaft repair.
I have another invitation to stop over at Wolfberts tonight and if the engine is sorted then Russia just may be back on.
The one that I was sent to was fully booked , but referred me to one just around the corner.
This looked more like a hotel than a hostel. Set in an old brewery complex that changed to a chocolate factory and is now in separate units.
It has only been in operation 18 months and includes a bar and breakfast facilities.
Variety of accomodation too, from shared dorms to twin bedded en suite facilities.
Shared accomodation was a very affordable 15€.
After a comfortable sleep in an almost totally soundproofed room, I came down to coffee at 1€.
Spent the day on the internet and thought I would try an alternative bike I found on e-bay. While hanging around waiting for the auction to finish, I got talking to Wolfbert the MD of the place.
The result was that the magnificent Wolfbert offered me accommodation in his 'hut' in North Berlin. He told me he had a garden with trees and a wooden dwelling which he called a hut.
He drove me out there and we pulled into a street with a corner garden of tall pine trees, which was his home.
What a fantastic place to live. He had a pond and a very large chiminea which we lit and discussed all things east and west over a couple of beers. The hut was a wooden dwelling fully fitted with electricity and plumbing with an enormous fireplace. Bedroom was completely windowed and being totally secluded had no need for blinds or curtains.
What a view to wake to in the mornings.
We returned to the hostel and Wolfbert again demonstrated his generosity by finding and address of a bike repairers in the vicinity who's owner Wolfbert vaguely knows.
I am off there to get advice before doing any work.
While waiting I did some tests on the bike and found one cylinder is less efficient than the other and when removing alternate plugs the good cylinder was quieter.
Replacing the plugs the engine was considerably quieter than the before which leads me to believe it is no more than a sticking valve and if so is more easily repaired than a camshaft repair.
I have another invitation to stop over at Wolfberts tonight and if the engine is sorted then Russia just may be back on.
Monday 5 October 2009
A Day of Reflection in Berlin
The trip so far has thrown a lot of problems up especially with the bike.
It all started when a seagull dropped on a very embarassing part of my anatomy while waiting for the ferry.
I was always told it was good luck but it seems to be quite the opposite.
I arrived in Dunkerque 2.30 am and set off immediately for Alkmaar to try and get on schedule. Near Brugges I decided to ride into the town centre for a breather and a cigarette. The streets of the old town are the granite sets and steering the bike on them is always difficult but seemed more so this time
It was only as I got back onto the tarmac that I realised it was more to do with my steering. My front wheel bearing was suddenly worn or collapsed.
I rode around looking for garage so I could use their trolley jack to lift the bike off the ground to take the wheel off. My bike only has a side stand and no centre stand and I had no desire to lay the bike on it's side to sort it out.
I was in luck when I found a plant hire company owned by Jan who was a biker himself. He had the wheel off and then the bearings out. He located a company only 1km away for new bearings and fitted them for me.
He was great but he charged me. I could have done the job myself but one bearing was so ticht in the hub it required oxy acetalyne o free it.
Off to Alkmaar and it was one of the windiest days I have known. There's no escape from it in the lowlands when it's coming off the North sea with such force.
Had to stop at a services and get some sleep on the grass verge.
I eventually arrived in Alkmaar and straight to the stadium.
I was told that all the staff were on their day off so I laid up there for the night.
Alkmaar is a lovely place, a mini Amsterdam, complete with it's own red light area.
It was very busy in the evening for a Thursday.
I eventually found a covered area in front of some vacant offices to sleep the night.
I returned to the stadium and had all the usual excuses why I could not have a shirt from them but eventually the receptionist contacted the press officer who then referred me to another member of staff, who was there the previous day but not today. I was given his e-mail address and told to contact him later.Tried to take a picture of the stadium and found the camera wouldn't work. Then realsed I had lost my waterproof trousers while riding around the town.
Set off for Wolfsburg around the top route over the big barrier to the bay.
It is incredible driving mile after mile seeing only the land the road is on.
It was a long haul to Wolfsburg, dodging the showers, but eventually arrived at 9.30 pm.
The place was buzzing as it was a Friday evening and there were people roaming all over the centre. It was also bloody cold, but was amazed to find the shopping mal still open with food stalls galore and all the shops open for business.
There was a festival in the town which meant to drink in any of the local bars, you needed a ticket at 14€ which entitled you entrance to any of them. I declined and found a bar near the Auto Stadt.
The AutoStadt is the Volkswagen factory and estate. and is next to the VolsWagen Arena home of Wolfsburg football club.
Again a sheltered office entrance for a hotel room and was up next morning to go the club.
Outside the station I noticed a group of supporters gathering and realised they had an away game so would have no joy getting a shirt. I was right. The stadium was totally deserted.
Off I went heading for Poland. Everything was fine as I tucked myself in behind a car towing a high trailer.
Then disaster struck. Power loss and I wa soon the hard shoulder with the engine making a terrible racket. Big ends? Cam shaft? Broken valve?
I had no idea, but managed to limp it off the motorway.
to be continued
It all started when a seagull dropped on a very embarassing part of my anatomy while waiting for the ferry.
I was always told it was good luck but it seems to be quite the opposite.
I arrived in Dunkerque 2.30 am and set off immediately for Alkmaar to try and get on schedule. Near Brugges I decided to ride into the town centre for a breather and a cigarette. The streets of the old town are the granite sets and steering the bike on them is always difficult but seemed more so this time
It was only as I got back onto the tarmac that I realised it was more to do with my steering. My front wheel bearing was suddenly worn or collapsed.
I rode around looking for garage so I could use their trolley jack to lift the bike off the ground to take the wheel off. My bike only has a side stand and no centre stand and I had no desire to lay the bike on it's side to sort it out.
I was in luck when I found a plant hire company owned by Jan who was a biker himself. He had the wheel off and then the bearings out. He located a company only 1km away for new bearings and fitted them for me.
He was great but he charged me. I could have done the job myself but one bearing was so ticht in the hub it required oxy acetalyne o free it.
Off to Alkmaar and it was one of the windiest days I have known. There's no escape from it in the lowlands when it's coming off the North sea with such force.
Had to stop at a services and get some sleep on the grass verge.
I eventually arrived in Alkmaar and straight to the stadium.
I was told that all the staff were on their day off so I laid up there for the night.
Alkmaar is a lovely place, a mini Amsterdam, complete with it's own red light area.
It was very busy in the evening for a Thursday.
I eventually found a covered area in front of some vacant offices to sleep the night.
I returned to the stadium and had all the usual excuses why I could not have a shirt from them but eventually the receptionist contacted the press officer who then referred me to another member of staff, who was there the previous day but not today. I was given his e-mail address and told to contact him later.Tried to take a picture of the stadium and found the camera wouldn't work. Then realsed I had lost my waterproof trousers while riding around the town.
Set off for Wolfsburg around the top route over the big barrier to the bay.
It is incredible driving mile after mile seeing only the land the road is on.
It was a long haul to Wolfsburg, dodging the showers, but eventually arrived at 9.30 pm.
The place was buzzing as it was a Friday evening and there were people roaming all over the centre. It was also bloody cold, but was amazed to find the shopping mal still open with food stalls galore and all the shops open for business.
There was a festival in the town which meant to drink in any of the local bars, you needed a ticket at 14€ which entitled you entrance to any of them. I declined and found a bar near the Auto Stadt.
The AutoStadt is the Volkswagen factory and estate. and is next to the VolsWagen Arena home of Wolfsburg football club.
Again a sheltered office entrance for a hotel room and was up next morning to go the club.
Outside the station I noticed a group of supporters gathering and realised they had an away game so would have no joy getting a shirt. I was right. The stadium was totally deserted.
Off I went heading for Poland. Everything was fine as I tucked myself in behind a car towing a high trailer.
Then disaster struck. Power loss and I wa soon the hard shoulder with the engine making a terrible racket. Big ends? Cam shaft? Broken valve?
I had no idea, but managed to limp it off the motorway.
to be continued
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)