Heat's off

Well if you haven't heard yet the Murder Van has been sold. Too much heat for me to handle. Between the surveillance team in the bushes and the Parents Association harassing me in line at the grocery I have had it. That brings an end to what I liked to call the Matte Black Syndicate. Dale and the Murder Van made a fine pair, but things move on. Pat and Graeme picked up the napper van for the Rights of Passage as a shop van. Gonna be hauling kegs to parties and the like now so maybe we'll see it around yet. Hope it serves you guys well.

Murder in the alley

After the gig last night I pulled the Murder Van around into the alley to pack up the gear and it just stopped driving. In gear, but no go, still running and revving, but just sitting there. I got out and found a giant pool of oil under the radiator where a hose had blown. Looking down the alley there was a trail of oil leading back to the street. Poor Murder Van looked as though it'd been shot through the guts and dragged it's bloody carcass into the alley where it slipped into unconsciousness from blood loss. Du Keeps gave me a tow home with his Chevy 4By.


Now, here's the thing. The loss of oil does not seem a likely cause of the tranny loss. I fixed up the busted hose clamp today and topped up the oil, but still no tranny action. Obviously. Checked the tranny fluid to find it was bone dry. Total coincidence? If the tranny fluid hadn't dried up at the exact same moment that the oil line burst, I'd have driven home with oil spilling out the whole way, probably causing the engine to seize or overheat and cause serious damage at least. So I'll be topping up the tranny tonight to see if that solves the gearbox issues, but I'm hoping I got my Christmas Miracle last night and not a Christmas Massacre. My shining star in the east, a dry gearbox.

UPDATE: The Murder Van is back on the road. If it wasn't for Dale being in the back for the winter I could'a stole like 5 kids tonight.

Beautiful

Unexpected warm weather today allowed me a chance to test the charging system on the van. Turns out the alternator is fine. Battery was f'd and there's still a funny short somewhere causing the lights to pulse. Needs a little more testing this afternoon to trace the problem. Maybe regulator? But I did discover this little curiosity tucked way inside.

I wonder what wonderful tune it plays? traced the wires back to a switch on the dash, but nothin happens when you flip it. I'll maybe pull it out and hit it with a battery just to hear it sing. Also snuck my Honda into my wife's heated studio while she wasn't looking.

Heheh. Hopefully she'll let me store it there for the winter. Not enough room in the van for two bikes if I plan to do the magneto swap on DaLe in there over the winter.

dale's winter cave

Mule Riding Division Closed for the Season

Well that pretty much does it. Other than a few drunken escapades that are bound to emerge throughout the long Saskatchewan winter, I believe we have probably reached the end of the riding season. So what does winter look like?

With that. I declare building season to be in full production. Bought a new ceramic heater for the shed and will be putting in the storm windows today. Lets get these projects sorted!

And just a demonstration for those who think fuel injection is the only way to get a bike running in the cold. Dale was ready to ride today as always.

details

Back in Black

6 hrs and 6 cans of Krylon later...

You were right about the satin, Lee.

GitupUndrit, son

Weekend's been spent tinkering on the Murder Mule. Tried gettin the bouncey bouncy changed over today, but just can't get at the top bolt of the shock with just jack stands. may need to get'er on a lift.

Murder Mule

Took delivery of the Murder Van last night. It's gonna take a little work, but damn...stoked!

still workin on it

Kidnapper Van

Sweet baby steeler project
A-Team spoiler, hood scoop, even a CX500 loaded in the back