Trouble on Tour - Engine problems

C

Chaos

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So...I find myself on the back end of my trip to Newfoundland and Gaspe Peninsula. I got to Newfoundland and rode it with no problems. I did the Cabot trail a few times, which is a fun road. I started heading home yesterday. Did 500 kms from Cheticamp NS to Shediac NB. I was going to get to the Gaspe peninsula today, but last night my bike started making a troubling engine noise. I don't know what it is, but the noise is 'in sync' with the engine revs, which is not a good sign. Since it is sunday, there's really nothing I can do today, but tomorrow, I am having it towed to a Ducati (I own a 696) dealer in Dieppe (not too far from here). If it is a minor problem, then bonus, I can be on my way.

However, I think it's a little more suspect. I've more or less decided that if it's a problem that requires several days of repair, I am going to have to come up with a plan. One of my plans is to get a uhaul truck, load the bike in the back, and drive it home. I guess my question is if anyone has done that? What did you do when you were stuck with a dead bike?
 
dieselxx said:
Hopefully its just the belts or an easy fix. How many kms you have on your puppy?
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Passed the 50K mark on this trip. I hope you're right, but the noise sounds more 'metalic'. No rattling, but a definite increase in noise.
 
It's all that fun on 144 that did it in :D

Seriously hope it works out okay ....would be a sucky situation.
 
If you'll be renting a truck, make sure it's not a U-Haul, as UH charges by kilometer. As an example, I know that Discount allows up to 600 or 800km (don't remember exactly) on the rental, or you can pay extra few bucks and get unlimited kilometers.
 
ViperZ said:
If you'll be renting a truck, make sure it's not a U-Haul, as UH charges by kilometer. As an example, I know that Discount allows up to 600 or 800km (don't remember exactly) on the rental, or you can pay extra few bucks and get unlimited kilometers.
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Uhaul offers a one-way trip option. I am doing all the pricing now.
 
Chaos said:
One of my plans is to get a uhaul truck, load the bike in the back, and drive it home. I guess my question is if anyone has done that? What did you do when you were stuck with a dead bike?
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You'd have the drain the fuel (and possibly the oil) out of your Duck before you could transport it in their van (otherwise neither your bike insurance nor uhaul's insurance would cover you if anything happened), and you'd have to buy the optional uhaul insurance for any damage to your bike to be covered by them (don't ask me how I know any of the above :( ).

And if you get the cube van thing do NOT use the tie down hooks that are attached to the wall, even the ones right at the floor, they are attached with finishing nails and will pull right out if you tie your bike to them (same story about don't ask me how I know). Use the floor tie downs only, check on your ride often.

Good luck, and I hope it's a simple/easy repair.
 
chiefswallow said:
You'd have the drain the fuel (and possibly the oil) out of your Duck before you could transport it in their van (otherwise neither your bike insurance nor uhaul's insurance would cover you if anything happened), and you'd have to buy the optional uhaul insurance for any damage to your bike to be covered by them (don't ask me how I know any of the above :( ).

And if you get the cube van thing do NOT use the tie down hooks that are attached to the wall, even the ones right at the floor, they are attached with finishing nails and will pull right out if you tie your bike to them (same story about don't ask me how I know). Use the floor tie downs only, check on your ride often.

Good luck, and I hope it's a simple/easy repair.
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I will be taking my bike to a dealership here, so I can drain all the fluids there and make the bike dry for transportation. I will have to check to see if they have floor tie downs. I suspect I might in the end have to get a trailer for the bike, and potentially rent a car. I will figure it out tomorrow. Hopefully, the bike though is just making noise and it's a simple repair. That's the best scenario for me.
 
Good luck!

Hoping for the best case scenario for you.
 
Chaos said:
I will be taking my bike to a dealership here, so I can drain all the fluids there and make the bike dry for transportation. I will have to check to see if they have floor tie downs. I suspect I might in the end have to get a trailer for the bike, and potentially rent a car. I will figure it out tomorrow. Hopefully, the bike though is just making noise and it's a simple repair. That's the best scenario for me.
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I tried to do that before, and even the tiny motorcycle uhaul trailer ($15 per 24 hours) was set up for a bigger ball than what came on the rental vehicle, so be sure to check that before you take a rental vehicle over to uhaul and it won't hook up :(
 
Here's the deal so far:

I have a truck reserved for Tuesday. It's a flat rate, and all the distance that I need to travel (approx 1500) is covered under that flat rate. I have to drain all the fluids from the bike. I will have the dealer do that if they can't fix the problem in a timely manner. I will likely use the truck, assuming it has floor anchors. I will have a talk with them tomorrow.
 
Always been one of my worst nightmares. Keep us in the loop and hope it's nothing major.
 
Dr.Manhattan said:
Always been one of my worst nightmares. Keep us in the loop and hope it's nothing major.
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I hear you. I'm actually fortunate for it to happen where it did. I am not far from the dealer and there are some options. The ****** part really is that it happened on a weekend and I have to wait for tomorrow to act on anything. I actually wished today was monday!
 
Hehe that was my exact sentiment stuck with a shredded tire in PA on a Sunday. Fortunately the dealer was good and I was on my way on Tuesday. ( ordered the tire overnight and I got towed in Tuesday am - tire on and on my way by noon - had a good ride home.
 
That's pretty Ducrapi!!! :D
Hopefully they will just fix the thing so you can ride home, but if you need a place to stopover in Montreal, let me know.
You can't touch my sheep though. :agave:
 
If its just a couple days I would wait it out. It would just cut into your vacation time hopefully. Save you more headache. I've thought of that scenario before
 
I am at Atlantic Motoplex in Dieppe, NB. Bike is being operated on as I type this. The preliminary diagnosis is a couple of bearing failures inside the engine case that supports the belt. The failure caused a bit of collateral damage as well. I should be back on the road by the early afternoon.
 
Chaos said:
I am at Atlantic Motoplex in Dieppe, NB. Bike is being operated on as I type this. The preliminary diagnosis is a couple of bearing failures inside the engine case that supports the belt. The failure caused a bit of collateral damage as well. I should be back on the road by the early afternoon.
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Yea! :)
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