Stage 10: The Day After

Stage 10 would be 300 miles from Sturgis to Billings Montana. We had finally arrived at the stages I had been looking forward to, with open roads and beautiful scenery. After a long day off, the #96 Indian is at the start for the 7:00 am start.

The morning was cool and crisp and the first 50 miles clicked off without a hitch. The first gas came and went, and as is typical with this motor, it doesn't like to start and stop. So at about 50 miles I noticed a drop in power, and looked down to see the front cylinder intake pushrod and lifter pins had been ejected. I soildered on for another 100 miles on 1 cylinder, then lost the rear cylinder due to a stuck intake valve. I changed the valve, spring, cage, and seal again, but the pushrods was not the correct length, and immediately broke the rocker.  So I had made it to Montana, only to be waiting on the bus.

Big Sky Country, not far from Custer's Last Stand

Another long night in the motel parking lot, but we figured out the problem with my valve geometry. All the spares were different lengths, and the valve stems were different lengths also, so we made the correct length pushrods and lifter pins. We also decided the new intake valves were to tight on the guides, so we opened them up.

Hopefully tomorrow we'll be back on track.

Our Day Off

Jason sent us a text early Monday morning to rest, relax, recoup, and enjoy our day off. Team 96 has work to do.

My souvenir from Mt Rushmore. I kind of wanted one of those small statues, but got this instead

We started to work at 8:00 am, completely taking the old indian apart. The heads of the valves had just popped off, so I displayed the carnage as it came apart. It was the talk of the parking lot.

Broken valves and hammered piston

So the list of repairs and adjustments was pretty extensive, including rebuilding a motor, fixing a leaking gas tank, servicing clutch and carrier bearings, changing wheels from 23" clinchers to my spare 21", welding rear fender and making a brace, and changing carburetor. We tore into it.

About 1:00

We worked thru lunch, then thru supper, finally cranking the bike and tuning the linkert carb about 10:00 pm. It was a long day, but team 96 will start stage 10!

I cannot thank Mike Podger, Joe Gimpel, and Patty Jones enough for all there help. They hung in there all day, making it happen. 

It's the Cannonball.

The Black Hills

Stage 9 from Pierre to Sturgis, then a much needed rest day. A long one at 300 miles, or third long hard day in a row. Just get there, and some much needed maintenance. Easing along at about 50 miles, I heard a pop, then a metallic clanck. Pulling to the side of the road, I start looking for the problem. Only firing on one cylinder. Check the plug wires, then the mag, the realize the front exhaust valve is hung open. About this time fellow rider Joe Gimpel stops, and decide to pull the pocket valve. I remove the front intake, and the valve face is gone, with a large piece of it stuck in the exhaust valve. Off comes the head. About now the support wagon pulls up to pick me up, but I convinced them I could fix it. So we put another intake valve in, and took off, but way behind schedule. For the next 50 miles, the grim reaper sweep bus rode right on my tail, so I really hated to stop and let them know my fuel tank was leaking.

Now I have another dilemma, so I just dump the fuel in the font tank, and take off on the rear, trying to stay on time. We rode thru the Badlands, and came across some other bikes having problems, so the chase truck got off my case for a while. Then about 5 miles from gas in Rapid City, I ran out and had to wait for the truck with some spare gas.

Out of gas in South Dakota

By the time I was rolling again, I was late again, but picked up an hour by not stopping for lunch. With only about 60 miles to go, I turned off the highway headed toward mt Rushmore and the Black Hills. The bike was not running well at all, and I didn't think it would climb the hills that were coming. It got very hot climbing, and I walked along side pushing and slipping the clutch for the last bit up Rushmore. It got so hot the intake manifold hose melted. Refusing to quit, I got a Mt Dew can from a park ranger and cut a bandaid for the tube.

Mt Dew Manifold

After cooling down a bit I took off towards Sturgis, just 60 miles to go and just enough time. Easing along, enjoying the black hills, and the motor broke another intake valve. Only this time, it took the head with it. So after so much struggle, the day was done about 69 miles to soon.

End of the Road

Lots of work to do our day off!

Midway: Recap of 1800 miles

The days fly by on these events. You lose track of where you are, what day it is, etc. it's also hard to find time to get everything done. Day 1 and 2 went smoothly, with minimal trouble. The adjustments to the bike made over the last two years seem to be working. We made every mile, and are running in the top 10.

Day 3 was rained out, with over 3" of rain some the roads were flooded and unsafe, so we trailered the bikes to the next stop. Things go pretty smooth over the next stages, with flat roads, cool conditions, and minimal trouble. Still running a perfect score.

Pulling into Anamosa Iowa 

Things started getting exciting on stage 7 from Anamosa to Spirit Lake. It was another long day, and as I pulled into the hosted lunch stop, I realized my rear tire was going flat. So during lunch I removed the tire and found a valve core leaking. So after reinstalling the wheel, I left the lunch stop a little late. About 65 miles later the tire was flat again, so I replaced the tube on the side of the road. Shortly thereafter, I was removing the tire for the third time. This time I had to patch the tube, and I removed the rim lock, and headed to the destination at the Indian Motorcycle Factory. Knowing I would be close, I rode it hard, squeaking in with 3 minutes left of my 45 minute grace period. Still on perfect score, and running 7th.

Arrivng at Spirit Lake

Stage 8 took us into South Dakota, and the terrain started to roll and the winds picked up. Another long day (300 + miles) and the bike is showing it's age. Arrived at the hosted dinner by the Missouri River with the bike barely running. A long night replacing intake valves, dome washers, and springs, and we head for Sturgis and a day off. Still on perfect score, and running 7th.

Day 1: Portland Maine

Arrived at Portland Maine, ready to get the event started, along with approximately 106 other riders. Went to Bug Light Park for the official photo and start, and again had to deal with heavy traffic. Beautiful day and setting for ceremonial start.

Bug Light Park

Day 1 Start

Day 1 ended in Keene New Hampshire, after 150 miles. Very pretty ride through Maine and 

southeastern New Hampshire. I broke the front brake stay in the first 20 miles, had to tie wire it in 

place hoping I could find a welder at the lunch stop at Rodchester Harley Davidson.

Slipped right in the service department and Mike fixed me up.

After lunch the road headed southwest to Keene, and the bike began running poorly, but I was able to make it in without penalty. Upon inspection I found the rear intake valve adjuster had vibrated off, so the bike was running on only 1 cylinder. Further inspection revealed a broken rear fender support, so we welded it up. Topped off the gas and oil, and ready for day 2.

2018 CANNONBALL: Portland to Portland

The 2 years that separate each Motorcycle Cannonball have flown by. It is hard to believe that we leave for Portland Maine in the morning. Registration is Thursday, followed by a new promotion stage on Friday, then the official start Saturday morning. Headed west.

The bike eligibility was extended to 1928 this time, but I knew I had to ride the 14 Hedstrom again. I'll be in class 2, and one of the older bikes. A Singlespeed. I did fit a front brake this time. The reoccurring issues we battled in 2016 have been addressed, and I hope solved. Time will tell. The Hedstrom era Indians have not had great success on previous Cannonballs, But maybe this is the year we get one across!

It's the challenge that brings over 100 like minded riders, from all walks of life, to the Cannonball every two years. I'm sure the organizers have put together an amazing ride, with lots of cool destinations and events, but we all know the best stuff lies in the unexpected.

Portland or Bust! (Both of Them)

Carlsbad: The final Stage

Sunday morning dawned to a beautiful morning. Enough  of nerves and emotions for everyone. What had started 2 years earlier as a quest, had reached the final day. One more mountain to climb.

After some minor clutch adjustments, my 8:30 start time rolled around, and we headed up route 74. Eleven miles of climbing right off the start. The Indian was running really well, and what a joy it was climbing out of Palm Desert. As the road twisted and climbed, you could look out over the valley, each switchback higher and higher. It was a glorious ride, cresting on a beautiful plateau. We turned on route 371, thru Anza, and followed it back down towards civilization.





We had one last scheduled lunch stop at Temecula. I got there early, and had over an hour before the departure time. We ate, talked to the crowd, each other, then finally headed for Carlsbad. The traffic was bad leaving Temecula, making the motors run hot, but we finally got out of town and on some open roads.

It was on on of these open sections, running along about 45 mph, that I heard the familiar sound of a motor exhaling thru the intake valve. I pulled off, and sure enough the rear intake valve was wide open. Pulling the intake dome revealed a broken valve spring, but the spring keepers were gone. Determined to finish, I changed the spring, and secured it with a large cotter pin I had. I didn't know where the spring keepers had gone, but I was willing to chance it. I buttoned the valve train back up, started the bike, and the front intake hung open. So back off the bike I came, and removed the front valve dome. Both keepers were in the front intake valve, so I removed them and started reassembly. By this time I had quite an audience, including the chase truck. In the heat of the moment, I cross threaded the intake valve tensioning nut in the dome, and despite all our efforts at chasing these

threads, my time had run out.

So there on the side of the road, 28 miles from Carlsbad, my 2016 Cannonball ended. After all the effort, help, highs and lows, I had come up just a little short. Some days the bear does in fact get you.

But what an incredible experience and challenge, riding a 102 year old motorcycle across this country. It's always the unexpected that stands out, whether a particular road, event, or personal interaction that stands out in your memory. You never know when it's going to happen, so you keep pushing on.

 

Doug Jones 2016