What do you think the problem was at the end of the day. I reckon the pickup coil but what would I know?? We all hope its all sort now though. Happy travels Jay.
sounds like computer repair...start putting a bunch on new parts in there and see what happens. so what is any of the old parts did you keep?
I think it was the stator in the end (installed the 250W uprated one), but I also put in a CDI from a 2006 and an almost-new rectifier from a 2001, so I can't say for sure Yup, swapped too many components to pin-point the issue, but just glad it's solved now I left the original ignition coil still on there. Bike is running fine with it, so it was not the issue. Wiring harness left also and Shorai battery still in there. I only replaced the CDI, rectifier and stator.
19 November 2012 First day back in the saddle after 10 weeks and rode 250 trouble-free kms to Kigoma, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The rainy season is getting started here but it was dry for the past few days and the hard-packed mud road made for some good-riding. Felt fantastic to be standing on the pegs and cruising in top gear She's a heavy lady, but well-balanced now and loving it! I'm CouchSurfing with Elias, a Tanzanian who's working for the Jane Goodall Institute that specializes in chimpanzee research. The chimps are up north in Gombe Stream National Park, but I'm just enjoying the lakeshore and happy to be back in the riding groove. Heavy rain last night but the strong tropical sun has been out today drying the mud roads for tomorrow's ride.
The motorcycle gods must be trying to tell me something. My bad luck continues. sanDRina's problems are back This morning I left Kigoma and rode a nice 100 kms of new asphalt, cruising at around 55 mph, the bike was sounding good. I hit the junction town of Uvinza and got back on the dirt trail south. About 20 kms south of Uvinza, the bike died. A loss of power. It felt just like the first time she died before Kibondo. I let her cool a few minutes, then she fired up and I rode another 10 kms before she died again. I figured since I didn't replace the original ignition coil, maybe it was heating up again and causing the loss of power. I stripped her down and put on the ignition coil that I got from South Africa. I also replaced the outer spark plug, it looked very white, burning lean (I can't remove the inner plug, feels stuck) and adjusted my air speed screw on the carb to 2.5 turns out, it was at 1.5 turns out. She fired up and sounded good but died again in 4 kms. Not good. Rain clouds were forming overhead and I didnt want to be stuck with a sick bike on muddy roads. I decided to turn around and head for Uvinza, now 34 kms away. I remembered the advice of unplugging the stator from a mechanic friend in Nairobi and did that and she fired right up. I thought maybe something was wrong with the 250W stator. But she died again in a few kms. Then I decided to unplug the rectifier and now she sounded much better. We rode 14 kms before she died. I let her cool for 20 mins and then managed to ride into town and find a small hotel. I feel so disheartened. I don't know what else to do and am not feeling confident in the bike anymore. I'm surrounded by dirt roads in all directions, except back to Kigoma, and the rainy season is getting stated. If I do something and she fires up and rides well again for a few kms of a test ride, I can't be sure she'll last till the next town, 200 kms south. I've decided to throw in the towel and put her on a truck and head back to Nairobi. This sucks!! and heading back to Kenya is going to make visas complicated again. Argghhh!
fingers crossed you figure out what the problem is.... maybe post up in the DR thread, you should get a bunch of good suggestions in no time. EDIT: nevermind, you already did
You're a smart dude Jay. Meditate. Have you investigated the ancillary electronic setup related to your solar panel and/or lighting system?
Every time I am suffering it is because I am worried about what my imagination has decided is the next calamity. If you "Threw in the Towel" you are not failing anything, you may just be preventing putting yourself in a dangerous situation. You have accomplished so much more than most people would ever dream of doing. Maybe your journey has this twist because you will meet Mrs. Jay in Nairobi. Maybe you will help someone who you would have never met if your bike was working fine. Maybe this journey is over and something better is coming that you can't even imagine. You are a very positive person, so I know you will find your way. Of course it is very frustrating to be in this position. Looking back a year from now it might not seem as bad. Best wishes Jay!
Been there, done that bit about the towel. We can all tell you'll figure out a solution though, you've done it time and again. I hope things get settled quickly for you!! Best of luck.
hi Jay sorry to hear of your bike issues, but glad you got to make use of the coil. good luck, and worry not, there will still be beer in SA when you get here!
Hi Jay, I know itÂ’s a long shot but ..... have you checked your fuel filter for blockage, you may be using fuel faster than it can deliver, causing the very same problems. I did a quick search and found this info that may be useful. http://www.topgunmotorcycles.com/ti_archive/timar09.html Well folks, we have another filtering problem that can plague DR650 riders, especially those who use aftermarket gas tanks and spend lots of time in the dirt. Few DR650 owners seem to be aware that there is a small in-line fuel filter inside the curved fuel intake pipe of the carburetor. It's so small that it can clog the line easily, restricting fuel flow. Some aftermarket fuel tank petcock filters are not able to remove some of the smaller material, so the fine stuff ends up in the in-line filter and eventually stops fuel flow. You can sometimes clean this tiny filter. Joe
@Dekatria: thanks for believing in me @Cuttle: yup, got some responses from the collective there, but don't think I have the space to tear into the bike here. It's pissing down tropical thunderstorm and no good covering to work on the bike. @prince_ruben: thanks, buddy. All my farkles are mounted on top on the bike's harness, meaning it's not spliced into it and runs directly to the battery. I think it's a short in the bike's harness somewhere... @mathewsturtevant: thank you very much for that. I read a quote in someone's signature on the DR650 thread that said: Attitude, the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. I've been repeating that to myself. And yeah, I've been trying to get a control on the voices in my head that worry too much and run through all the negative scenarios. A quiet voice kept speaking up after I left Kibondo that all was not well, but I told him to shush and let's see how things go. Turns out he was onto something. Bastid! And I haven't told you guys, but yup, I did meet a special ms. someone during my break in Nairobi. She's a Japanese researcher and we've been together since April. It made leaving Nairobi in August very, very difficult. She's now got a job in Delhi and is waiting for me there. I told her to wait until I finished this journey that I set out on but this massive breakdown is sapping away at my will to continue, especially since I'm going to be riding through the rainy season and muddy roads now for the next few months if I continue. But, I was set on it and really wanted to at least reach South Africa, but I guess sanDRina has other plans and doesn't want to get there. If I cross back into Kenya to fix the bike properly in Nairobi, I'm not sure I can continue south. When I crossed the second time into Tanzania this time, the immigration officer gave me a hard time, suspecting why I was crossing back and forth so often. He suspected I was working illegally, which a lot of foreigners do here, to avoid the expensive work permit. So crossing back again for the 3rd time is not looking good. And if this takes a few months to fix and my Mozambique and South Africa visas expire for the second time, getting them for the third time is going to raise suspicions. :huh I'm going to try and get sanDRina on a truck to Arusha, the biggest city near Nairobi on the Tanzanian side and see if replacing the wiring harness is going to fix this problem. But, then again, how can I be sure the problem wont resurface in a few hundred miles when I'm deep in mud country. @BearII: thanks, I hope a solution is around the corner... @Ganjora: thanks for the parts, Dave It's been a godsend to have different parts to throw at the problem. I hope I make it to SA at some point and claim those beers
Hi Jay, I feel so sad when there is trouble on the road. Stay put. Maybe it is the best to go back a bit than go forward at the moment. hope you could fix the bike to move forward in your epic journey. Thanks. Cheers.
sanDRina in the middle of a field repair in southwestern Tanzania, just before a thunderstorm rolled through: In trying times like this, I tell myself to look for the positives and put things in perspective. I'm healthy, dry and online
The end of a trip is in your head, not on a map Jay. It's just over when it's over. That electronic gremlin is a pisser and I know the feeling of having an unsteady mount in demanding territory. Until it's fixed or you've made other travel arrangements you won't have any peace. Go for peace.
Ha! Found the culprit: clogged fuel filter (paper core). Replaced it with a new spare (copper core) and sanDRina runs like a champ! Went for a 60 km test ride and no issues. I think that was it Continuing south tomorrow Come on, motorcycle gods, what else you got? Let me have it. I got jolted last night and told myself that 'give up' isn't in my dictionary. I beat my demons back in their cave and listened to the advice from biker friends who directed me to inspect this part. If I don't make it to the next town tomorrow, I'll figure it out
Fantastic! As an old diesel mech i know enough to get me in trouble about filtering fuel. The copper will be less apt to clog but i do believe paper will hold back water that copper will not. If the bike starts to run rough after several questionable fill-ups... drain the float bowl. Consider: felt once wetted with gasoline will not pass water. Learned this in the '60s racing outboard boats. A square of felt over a funnel turns the trick. My Best, OldPete
Careful! They might take that badly. I'm glad te hear your on your way again. Previous to your post above I was thinking along the lines that there is nothing wrong with ending the ride and going off to meet up with your girlfriend again. It seems like a no lose situation now, carry on riding = great, stop riding and go see gf = great.