The wind in my hair and the vibration below...

Well. Can I just say that I am soooo proud of myself? I helped R change the starter in his bike, which was no easy feat.

Apparantly the damp, cold garage this winter was too much for his old starter to handle. We rolled the bike out of it's dusty parking spot last week. He changed the oil, shifter rod, plugs and wires. Put the battery in, pulled the choke, turned the ignition and reh-reh-reh-reh..... reh-reh-reh-reh... reh-reh-reh-reh... CLICK. CLICK. CLICK.

"What's that smell?"

Um yeah. That smell would be too much draw on the battery from the failing starter and the melting of the metal post on the ground down the side of the battery.

Yep. That's the smell.

R.was.very.pissed.off.

New starters from Harley run about $545. Ouch. That's gonna hurt. My genius brother suggested we try eBay. Much better. $165. Buy It Now. Oh, it is so boughten.

Got the new starter. Time to disassemble. Easy right? I don't think so, Tim. He never would have gotten the damn oil tank off if it hadn't been for my teeny-tiny hands and wrists fitting in the teeny-tiny spot behind the tank.

Seat off? Check. Melted Battery removed? Check. Brand new oil that He just put in drained? Check. Oil Tank off? Check. Lines off? Check. Starter unbolted? Check.
So why won't the damn thing come out?

What do you mean you have to take off the primary cover?

The next day, I went to the dealership and bought R the HD shop manual for his bike. He wanted it but He never bought it and He should have. Hind-sight is 20/20, ya know?

Very helpful manual.

R removed the primary cover, and got the starter out. It was now time to reassmble. This is where the manual came in VERY handy. After struggling with a few bolts and some teeny tiny O-rings, it was all back together. Added the oil. Then the retapped battery (don't try this at home, kids) and the wires.

We just kind of stopped and stared at each other for a second.

"I'm scared to try to start it now."

"I'm scared to have you try to start it."

Well, R overcame His fear, walked to the bike, pulled the choke, and turned the ignition and pushed start.

WHOA! Bike's in gear. HATE when that happens.

OK. Neutral. Start. RUMBA! RUMBA RUMBA RUMBA...

Successful operation doctor. She's gonna make it.

We did a little happy dance, marveled at our genius for getting it all back together with only a few extra parts, reveled in the wonderful smell of a V-Twin's exhaust, and discussed that the old starter must have been failing before winter because that bitch never started that quick.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 68 and sunny.

"Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way"