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NorthWet Tech Day, May 9, 1998 |
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Written by Dennis Withner
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Monday, 01 June 1998 |
The day dawned overcast and damp. This being the NorthWet, it was no surprise. Ten riders from across the state responded to the irresistible call of the Tech. They girded their loins, packed their rain gear and headed to Granite Falls, Washington. Three, Bill & Marilyn Schink #2651/2651.5 and Brian Golphenee #968, came from Kettle Falls, another wet place in the northeast corner of Washington. K Falls is at least 350 miles by the straightest route. Another, Steve Creagh, came from Vancouver, British Columbia. He wasn't an Airhead when he came, but he was when it was over. The directions were good, and no one got lost. If they did, we never heard from them.
It didn't actually rain until John Bocek #2747 and I got within about ten miles of the Tech Site, and then not seriously. We had taken the back roads down from Bellingham, meeting at Nugents Corner on the Mt. Baker Hwy turning south after Deming, and staying on Hwy 9 for the whole ride. Hwy 9 passes through numerous small towns and along several lakes. Some good twisties and beautiful scenery if you're not in a hurry. We made the ride in two hours, arriving at our destination two minutes prior to the appointed time of high noon. High noon in Washington is calculated when the rain gauge gets to the highest point during the day.
A shiny, beautifully restored R75/5 chained to a fence post marked the driveway of our gracious hosts, Dave Cavanaugh #1158, and his wonderful wife Susan. Susan is a nurse, who is always a wonderful person to have on hand when tools are in use. At the end of a serpentine drive through a forest of huge fir trees waited an extremely well-equipped and staffed shop.
We were greeted by Dave, Terry Rydberg #2253 and Hugh Stout #3072, who were having a cuppa and waved us in. By the time we got our kit off, there were a couple more arrivals. Within the hour the place was a BMW hive, with no two bikes alike, as usual. This being the first tech day for most all of us, we weren't quite sure of the protocol. So, Dave, being the managerial type that he is said "Who wants to do what first."
Dave is no slacker when it comes to providing mechanical equipment and know-how. His shop includes a lathe, welders of the gas, mig, and arc persuasion, a mill, hydraulic press, oil bath, cut off saw, and every other tool we needed. His double-wide shop sports an elevated work stand you could hold a River Dance on. He also had a goodie box of new and used Beemer bits that saved my day twice.
Dave has a long history of mechanical experience. He has owned and wrenched on Airheads for 26 years (MOA#2275), and has restored an R100/7 and an R75/5 so far. His present job is as the Maintenance Manager for the Port of Everett. The guy is GOOD. There wasn't a question during the tech session that he didn't have the answer to, mechanical or electrical. As part of his "training aids" he has a final drive with thoroughly destroyed splines. These poor splines were worn down to little triangular nubs. The previous owner must never have been to a tech day.
First job up, and the feature attraction of the day was a spline lube/clutch actuator repack/swing arm bearings lube and retorque, easy stuff once you have watched and helped. Oooohs and aaahhs of enlightenment filled the air, we were as novitiates at the feet of a master, soaking up eternal truths. Truths such as "If you lose the teensy little c-clip off the clutch actuator you're walking home."
We did mechanical, we did electrical, we did ourselves proud. The work list for the day included two spline lube/clutch actuator/swing arms, brake light super flasher install, four carb syncs, one front master cylinder replacement, two brake bleeds, two quick-draw seat modifications (Dave's Specialty), one bad plug wire diagnosis, an oil change (from SJ to SG), and a whole lot of "Glad to make your acquaintance." The knowledge and camaraderie flowed, and by damn, the day turned out just the perfect way you would hope such a day would. Ned Collins and Steve Creagh liked it so much they decided to join the Airheads.
Somewhere in the middle of all this we had a fantastic BBQ. Dave and Susan had put in enough provisions for 60 people, and try as we might we hardly put a dent in the brats, burgers and dogs and all the fixings. There was a bit of a boxer rebellion during the feed: Dave & Susan have four boxers of the four-legged persuasion.
Another activity of note was the six exhaust nut removals and lubes. All six sets came off without a hitch! We must live right here in the NorthWet, or perhaps it's the constant heating and cooling from the intermittent rain that keeps our nuts loose.
Airhead recruit, Steve Creagh, rode in on a cherry R80RT, and apparently knew a whole bunch about what keeps em' ticking. Though I hadn't gotten his membership check from him quite yet, he was displaying admirable Airhead spirit and if Dave was busy somewhere else, Steve was there to help. Steve's another mechanical type of guy. He wrenches on his helicopter before going up to dump water on forest fires. Attention BC Airheads: don't let this guy get away!
The energy, "sunlight," and temperature stared to wane. As it was Mothers Day the following day, people headed to roost. With many heartfelt thanks to Dave and Susan, we all scooted off, enriched, enlightened and a bit faster and smoother.
Postscript: As we were heading out Dave's driveway for home, there was a guy hanging around the R75/5 with the look of love in his eyes. He returned the next day with a fist full of hundred-dollar bills and became a new Airhead owner.
Dennis & Karen Withner - Blaine WA - "The 4th Corner" - USA Airheads Beemer Club - WA Co-Airmarshals #'s 2101 & 2925 wk-360-676-8029 hm-360-332-8851 fx-360-647-5028 email:
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-> Please post in subject line: Dennis! or Karen! IBMWR/non anon - MOA/anon - RA - AMA - ULC Revman D/NX7D K/KA7EJO 77' R100/7 "Educator" - 81' R100RS (new on block) Carpe Beemum - Seize the Beemer |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 July 2005 )
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