bunks-tj
Well-known member
I read this and thought, "good lord, here we go...." with a smile on my face. I'm honestly disappointed your modification was so simple. haha
What saw is that? I love my MS250, its perfect for bucking firewood on our acre.
Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Mid-Century Moto Mecca Makeover
- Thread starter sakurama
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
What saw is that? I love my MS250, its perfect for bucking firewood on our acre.
Haha the ole' chainsaw rabbit hole. Just for fun if you can find a muffler off a Stihl 025 it really wakes the MS250 up, that in combination with a yellow chain throw a lot of chips!
So the exhaust is just a box with an opening. Inside the opening is a small baffle and screen. It's perhaps the least sophisticated exhaust I've seen given how much tuning is possible with a 2-stroke motor. So most of the kits are essentially a vent that you place over a hole you dremel out. If you look through a dozen pages on the Stihl forums there's a bunch of methods - some incorporating a spark screen.
I just put the exhaust into the vise on the milling machine and plunged a hole saw down the port and through the baffle hoping to end up with an opening that would tightly fit the exhaust header tube. I underestimated the thinness of the muffler box so it wasn't a clean hole but I was able to tap it back into shape and then weld it up. Mostly I figured I'd opened it which was the main job and then pipe would direct exhaust away from my hands and the guard.
I no longer have an exhaust screen which would/could make the saw illegal in national forests but for me, around the house in the soggy winter it's not a big deal.
It's a MS 261c which I got after watching the arborists use a year ago when the tree fell on the house. I sold my Husqvarna for what I paid and found this one used. It's an incredibly powerful saw. Just amazing how fast it cuts now. It's also not too large - I'd say it's about as perfect as a chainsaw can get.
__________________________________________________
In other news Nadia turned 14 and had a slumber party.
I remember being 14 and being very intimidated by 14 year old girls and I'm here to tell you that I feel the same way now at 58. I don't think there's anything as frightening or potentially as mean as a 14 year old girl. Lucas and I are treading lightly.
Luckily Nadia and I still share a love of music and we can bond over the new artists she finds but seriously, 14 was like a light switch. Who is this sullen and reclusive young girl and where did my sweet and adorable Nadia go?
Gregor
bunks-tj
Well-known member
I'll keep an eye out. I had a big oak come down 2 years ago, about a 30 inch trunk, and that my friend was the day I graduated to the yellow chain.
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
LOL....I had boys. At that age, the older one was all about drama, the younger was all about leave me alone, I can handle this. Both are now 26 and 32....nothing changes...however the 26 year old finally realized his M & D do know a thing or two and does talk to us.....So the exhaust is just a box with an opening. Inside the opening is a small baffle and screen. It's perhaps the least sophisticated exhaust I've seen given how much tuning is possible with a 2-stroke motor. So most of the kits are essentially a vent that you place over a hole you dremel out. If you look through a dozen pages on the Stihl forums there's a bunch of methods - some incorporating a spark screen.
I just put the exhaust into the vise on the milling machine and plunged a hole saw down the port and through the baffle hoping to end up with an opening that would tightly fit the exhaust header tube. I underestimated the thinness of the muffler box so it wasn't a clean hole but I was able to tap it back into shape and then weld it up. Mostly I figured I'd opened it which was the main job and then pipe would direct exhaust away from my hands and the guard.
I no longer have an exhaust screen which would/could make the saw illegal in national forests but for me, around the house in the soggy winter it's not a big deal.
It's a MS 261c which I got after watching the arborists use a year ago when the tree fell on the house. I sold my Husqvarna for what I paid and found this one used. It's an incredibly powerful saw. Just amazing how fast it cuts now. It's also not too large - I'd say it's about as perfect as a chainsaw can get.
__________________________________________________
In other news Nadia turned 14 and had a slumber party.
I remember being 14 and being very intimidated by 14 year old girls and I'm here to tell you that I feel the same way now at 58. I don't think there's anything as frightening or potentially as mean as a 14 year old girl. Lucas and I are treading lightly.
Luckily Nadia and I still share a love of music and we can bond over the new artists she finds but seriously, 14 was like a light switch. Who is this sullen and reclusive young girl and where did my sweet and adorable Nadia go?
Gregor
kj_mustang
Well-known member
13 - 18 year old daughters will drive their parents nuts. My daughter did not start acting normal again until she went away to college.
My older child is only a one-parent kid from his perspective, and mom is the one! At almost 6 he is just now barely starting to like me. My daughter, not quite 2, likes me a whole lot, though, so I think the teenage "I'm never talking to my parents again" thing just might break my heart.
It occurs to me that the driving factor behind what made this thread so great was the encouragement we gave you for your projects while your marriage was on the rocks. Made for by far the best thread on Garagejounal, but at a mighty high cost to you.
While it is less vicariously satisfying to have this new, more slowly updated thread, at least I know it is because of positive changes, even if those changes have been mind-bogglingly stressful.
Just know, any time you need a boost, we are here to cheer you on!
By the way, black locust is GORGEOUS WOOD and extremely rot resistant. Also extremely strong. I would absolutely mill it up, but apparently it is very high in silica so it is very hard on edge tools. I have a slab of it that will become a new windowsill for my 110 year old bay window, but I haven't gotten to that project yet so I don't have first hand experience on the toll it takes on edges.
It occurs to me that the driving factor behind what made this thread so great was the encouragement we gave you for your projects while your marriage was on the rocks. Made for by far the best thread on Garagejounal, but at a mighty high cost to you.
While it is less vicariously satisfying to have this new, more slowly updated thread, at least I know it is because of positive changes, even if those changes have been mind-bogglingly stressful.
Just know, any time you need a boost, we are here to cheer you on!
By the way, black locust is GORGEOUS WOOD and extremely rot resistant. Also extremely strong. I would absolutely mill it up, but apparently it is very high in silica so it is very hard on edge tools. I have a slab of it that will become a new windowsill for my 110 year old bay window, but I haven't gotten to that project yet so I don't have first hand experience on the toll it takes on edges.
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cycle61
Well-known member
If that locust isn’t cut into firewood yet, it would make amazing raw material for furniture and cabinets. Don’t recall if you have a mill but I’m sure somebody does, or would be willing to make a good deal for it in place.
Edit: how cool would it be to work with Frank Howarth on that
Edit: how cool would it be to work with Frank Howarth on that
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Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I feel blessed but those frightening times with the daughter and son are long gone. Our two children have both passed their 60 year milestone, their nine children are between 20 and 32 and their six grandchildren are between 9 months and 15 years. As the crowd gets bigger, the people in the photos get smaller. Our last immediate family gathering brought 30 people together. Or maybe it was only 28 -- two moved to California.
Gregor, take pictures with your mind as well as your cameras. I value having a mind stuffed to the brim with memories above all else.
Gregor, take pictures with your mind as well as your cameras. I value having a mind stuffed to the brim with memories above all else.
Geoff289
Well-known member
You're lucky she got to 14 before becoming terrifying to her Dad. I have four daughters now between 33 and 39 and they all got to this point before that. You do come out the other end. Two of mine have daughters of their own aged 9 and I look forward to karma descending on their parents.So the exhaust is just a box with an opening. Inside the opening is a small baffle and screen. It's perhaps the least sophisticated exhaust I've seen given how much tuning is possible with a 2-stroke motor. So most of the kits are essentially a vent that you place over a hole you dremel out. If you look through a dozen pages on the Stihl forums there's a bunch of methods - some incorporating a spark screen.
I just put the exhaust into the vise on the milling machine and plunged a hole saw down the port and through the baffle hoping to end up with an opening that would tightly fit the exhaust header tube. I underestimated the thinness of the muffler box so it wasn't a clean hole but I was able to tap it back into shape and then weld it up. Mostly I figured I'd opened it which was the main job and then pipe would direct exhaust away from my hands and the guard.
I no longer have an exhaust screen which would/could make the saw illegal in national forests but for me, around the house in the soggy winter it's not a big deal.
It's a MS 261c which I got after watching the arborists use a year ago when the tree fell on the house. I sold my Husqvarna for what I paid and found this one used. It's an incredibly powerful saw. Just amazing how fast it cuts now. It's also not too large - I'd say it's about as perfect as a chainsaw can get.
__________________________________________________
In other news Nadia turned 14 and had a slumber party.
I remember being 14 and being very intimidated by 14 year old girls and I'm here to tell you that I feel the same way now at 58. I don't think there's anything as frightening or potentially as mean as a 14 year old girl. Lucas and I are treading lightly.
Luckily Nadia and I still share a love of music and we can bond over the new artists she finds but seriously, 14 was like a light switch. Who is this sullen and reclusive young girl and where did my sweet and adorable Nadia go?
Gregor
kwoody51
Well-known member
Knew you’d come around to the yellow chain at some point…. The difference is amazing!!!Thanks Thom. I like the old stuff for the simplicity. I think I'll go back and update the older chrome bumper stuff I have next.
I use those for organizing my tether and power cords on my photo gear but wouldn't have thought to use them for anything interior. I like the small size of the mini cable ties for that.
Yes. Two stereo amps, a preamp, and active crossover and then two power supplies which power the crossover and the preamp. Naim has always used separate power supplies in its gear or in a path of upgrades. It's a little bonkers but the sound is pretty great.
Yes, and I've been off the thread myself. I'm coming back to remedy that for the moment.
So the hifi cabinet was a good project that got me into the shop and greatly improved my attitude. It's probably not coincidental that shortly after that I felt like dating again. I got a fortune cookie that said "a romantic encounter is in your future" and I'll be damned if that wasn't true.
So Lara, my Mom and stepdad Len showed up for Christmas. Judiiaan was kind enough to shuffle our parenting dates so the kids got to stay a bit longer with their grandparents and we had a nice holiday. I really didn't take any photos during that time as I was preoccupied with cooking, cleaning and entertaining.
After Mom went home Lara settled in. I was nervous about how this might work as I'd gotten used to having the house to myself after the kids head to mom's but it's been great actually. I love having Lara around and she's been super helpful.
If you didn't know she had dementia you probably wouldn't have any idea that anything was different. Unless you tried to find anything in the kitchen. Her helpfulness extends to putting away the dishes (which is supposed to be the kids job) but she has almost no ability to see the patterns or remember where things go. After a few weeks of trying to gently correct her - "See this grater goes with all these other graters - just look for the similar things" I decided to abandon that and let her put things away where she wanted for a couple of weeks. Interestingly I could see the patterns that she used: shapes and sizes instead of purpose. She'd nest various bowls and strainers together perfectly even though their uses are different. And she was pretty consistent.
It was a good insight into her brain and how it works now. Another thing that is a dead giveaway is she can't really write anymore. Words are so mis-spelled or phonetically written that they are hard to parse. She's comfortable with routines but gets very flustered by random, unusual or new things. I think I'd mentioned it before but some of the best advice I've gotten from a friend was, "They can't join your world but you can join theirs" and that's been a helpful reminder. If I get upset she'll get upset, if I get flustered she will. If I brush things off and joke about something she forgets she will laugh and brush it off. So we're working on a lot of calm positivity in the house.
Yard work is a place that she excels. She can just go and go and rarely has to stop or question things. Which is a great thing as we've had a **** ton of it with a huge storm in January...
We've lost a major tree with every major storm. The PNW isn't really good with cold snaps and in January we had a lot of rain which soaked the ground and loosened the soil then we had a huge freeze and ice storm paired with strong winds. The trees were heavy with ice and the ground was wet and loose and over the course of a day Portland had several thousand trees come down. This was one of our huge Black Locusts with a trunk diameter of almost 30" (almost a meter) and we watched it fall from the house taking out power lines, several other trees and a telephone pole/street light.
Immediately after this tree fell I knew others were going to so so I moved the van up to the upper driveway and tucked the car next to the garage. Not more than 30 minutes later a 16" diameter branch fell where the van and car were parked and some of the branches reached the bumper of the car.
While this tree didn't knock out our power we did lose power a couple of days later and it stayed out for four days. The house was freezing but we still had gas and the generator. Well, sort of.
The generator hung on for three of those days before the carb finally became too clogged to keep running. The lights over my bench are photo LED panels and luckily run off standard video batteries so between that and a headlight I rebuilt the carb in the freezing garage. Power came back when I was almost finished so I took the time to go over the whole generator and fix some parts so that it's in good shape for the next one.
I had no idea how heavy Locust was until I started to try to move some of the branches. It's about as heavy as oak but it's a really beautiful wood with a bright golden outer layer and a deep red/orange center. There's no point in crying over spilled trees. I now have enough firewood for the next couple of years and that trunk will now probably become a table if I can figure out how to mill it with a chainsaw.
Speaking of the chainsaw. When I started to break down some of the branches the saw was struggling a bit and I began wondering about the yellow chains that are supposedly more aggressive (and less safe). I figured that a 29" diameter tree was going to need all I could get so I bought a 20" bar (it was 18") and a yellow chain.
Then I fell down a chainsaw rabbit hole. I had no idea that people modify chainsaws for performance...
I kept seeing ads for exhaust modifications which are basically ports that open the exhaust and reduce the back pressure by skipping the baffle. I considered ordering one of those kits since it's supposed to make an extra 20-25% more power but then I went into the garage and took off the exhaust to look at it. Before I'd even given it any thought I put it in the mill and bored straight through the baffle and then made a quick exhaust pipe from stainless header scrap.
It's not pretty but it was a fast project.
I was afraid it was going to be a lot louder but it wasn't really. It was extremely scary. With the exhaust mod and the new chain it cuts so fast and so effortlessly that it's a bit frightening. I'd say it's close to twice as fast as before.
The phrase "hot knife through butter" is a very accurate description of this saw now.
The sharpie line on the bar is 16" which is how long I cut my firewood so I have a quick gauge. The rest of that tree is so big and so heavy and so awkwardly elevated that I'm waiting for a dry day to figure out how to start to brace it, support it and begin breaking it down. For now I've just been limbing and cutting the smaller stuff.
I've got some other stuff to post too but this is a good warm up.
Gregor
Does yellow indicate it’s a full chisel chain?
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
IIRC, it shows how much kickback prevention it has. Same with the bars.
Johanfpa
Well-known member
From the Stihl website:
"ANSI B175.1 Chain Saw Kickback Standard
STIHL’s green and yellow color code system serves to identify STIHL bars and chains with different kickback reduction characteristics. Green (go) marks those products which are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury and comply with the ANSI B175.1 kickback standard. STIHL’s low-kickback chain features a green tie strap that identifies each loop as “low-kickback” chain that meets the ANSI standard. Recommended for both the experienced and inexperienced chainsaw user. Yellow (caution) marks products with increased risk of kickback injury. They are for use only by persons with extraordinary cutting needs and experience and specialized training in dealing with kickback conditions."
"ANSI B175.1 Chain Saw Kickback Standard
STIHL’s green and yellow color code system serves to identify STIHL bars and chains with different kickback reduction characteristics. Green (go) marks those products which are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury and comply with the ANSI B175.1 kickback standard. STIHL’s low-kickback chain features a green tie strap that identifies each loop as “low-kickback” chain that meets the ANSI standard. Recommended for both the experienced and inexperienced chainsaw user. Yellow (caution) marks products with increased risk of kickback injury. They are for use only by persons with extraordinary cutting needs and experience and specialized training in dealing with kickback conditions."
kwoody51
Well-known member
Yellow = no safety bumps on the chain. So you get full/ immediate engagement of the cutting teeth.
It’s a major difference! So long as you are being smart about your cutting and know you have the yellow chain it’s manageable.
BSAschields
Well-known member
58 with 14 year old ! ... I guess I started early... Im 58 and my son turned 33 today ... He has a 15 year old and 3 young ones too so that makes me a grandpa 4 times over ... Its very weird hearing myself say that since I still think of myself as 33 ... We had our troubles when he turned 16... And by the time he was in his 20's it was obvious that we had a very strong relationship ... Although I still have to watch things I say... He doesn't want advice unless its solicited
LeonardY
Well-known member
Gregor,
I have been doing that so I stay in the moment and enjoy the people around me.
I have read and re-read your journey with your sister. You are truly a blessing to her.
I remember you saying that your road trip back with your sister you were hoping for some clarity. It seems you have achieved that now.
I wish you and your family the best.
Thanks, we don’t have the colour coding in Europe, I think yellow is the RS chain, which was standard on the 261. It cuts well.
Gregor,
I wish the best for Lara. I remember when you were starting your adventure tourism business and Lara got the van lost. Do you now think that was an early sign?
By the way you did start me on a chainsaw rabbit hole. I bought my saw ten-ish years ago. I’ve done little other than add fuel and keep the chain sharp. I have a 2.5 acre property that’s mostly wooded, plus I help my parents (they live next door, also 2.5 acres, not as wooded, my dad does not own a chainsaw) and my girlfriend has a rental that we maintain.
Last year my saw was a dog. Planning an overhaul this spring. So far I want the yellow chain and I’m looking into exhaust mods. More than anything I’m thinking that taking the whole thing apart and cleaning everything and going thru the carb and a new plug will make a big difference.
I wish the best for Lara. I remember when you were starting your adventure tourism business and Lara got the van lost. Do you now think that was an early sign?
By the way you did start me on a chainsaw rabbit hole. I bought my saw ten-ish years ago. I’ve done little other than add fuel and keep the chain sharp. I have a 2.5 acre property that’s mostly wooded, plus I help my parents (they live next door, also 2.5 acres, not as wooded, my dad does not own a chainsaw) and my girlfriend has a rental that we maintain.
Last year my saw was a dog. Planning an overhaul this spring. So far I want the yellow chain and I’m looking into exhaust mods. More than anything I’m thinking that taking the whole thing apart and cleaning everything and going thru the carb and a new plug will make a big difference.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
@BSAschields, I had to smile. When I was 58 my son was 39. I'll turn 80 this fall and he'll turn 61 (and he's the youngest).
Wreckster23
Well-known member
14? Good golly, I remember you starting this thread and they were wee little things. The older I get, I don't necessarily feel older. What makes me feel old is seeing my friends kids or cousins and such. Seeing them grown and whatnot makes me feel ancient. Every once in a while, I see or remember something "oh, that's from back when I was a kid, not that long ag..... ok, it was 35 years ago"
And now I get to look into chain saws, thanks for that. My baby Husk has been fantastic for really anything home-owner related, though admittedly, very small.
And now I get to look into chain saws, thanks for that. My baby Husk has been fantastic for really anything home-owner related, though admittedly, very small.
Feb and March were quiet for work but I had one project that I just couldn't get excited about. Rev'It! had hired me to "remake" the 95 bike that we'd built about 10 years ago. I was excited because I was never thrilled with the aesthetics of the bike - the tank was too big, the seat too small but functionally it was a great project.
I was excited at first because I thought I'd get to turn it into a cool rally bike like my 890 but after presenting my proposal I got an email that said, essentially, "No, we just want it to be restored and some things fixed and cleaned." That email exchange took several months.
So finally after our storms and with some help from Lara I pulled the bike into the shop and took stock. It had been used and abused by journalists for 10 years, each determined to outdo the previous one egged on by the promise of all wheel drive. Stream crossing? Heck no, we'll ride up the stream until it's underwater!
Rims were scratched, anodizing was faded from black to bronze and the exhaust was marred by boot burns, rust and header wrap. Also, the plexi screen was broken the first weekend and the dash, an iPhone, which was a fun idea at the time was not fun anymore. Oh, and the 12 gallon tank - can you make it look smaller?
I took the bike mostly apart an began the tedious process of refinishing all the parts one at a time. Seat went for new upholstery, parts were sent for new powder coat and the exhaust was cleaned and regrained.
Since the bike was going to be on display at their new showroom in Denver I could worry about the finish and the look and not the durability. I made a small display stand for the rear wheel.
When the bike was built it was a rush to finish it and then, over the years, it took a lot of abuse. To me there were a lot of details that were overlooked but make difference to the overall appearance like fasteners. I replaced most of the existing bolts with stainless and then turned all the heads to make them clean and get rid of the markings. Instead of stripping the frame and wheels I used a paint marker to hide chips.
I decided to use a Motogadget speedo as the cleanest, simplest option and luckily Ben offered to help get it wired in while I worked on making a new dash. Amazingly (to me) it worked first try. Not like it matters as the bike was put back together dry and will mostly like live the rest of it's life on display.
Nonetheless it looks good. The last part was a fairing of some kind. I'd held off as I didn't have an idea and was hoping inspiration would strike before the 1 Show rolled around. That was my false deadline - we decided to enter it in the show and then after that I'd drive it to Denver for the grand opening.
In the end I had a small fairing that I'd intended to use on my Guzzi and was just sitting in a bin. While the bike doesn't have two gauges the double hump of the cowl fits and once a bracket was made and it was trimmed down it fit the bike very well.
The exhaust took probably 20-30 hours to refinish but now it looks great.
And painting the lower half of the tank visually took a lot of the mass and weight out of the bike. I think it looks better now than it did when we first built it.
Then I rented a pickup and drove it to Denver where we lifted it into its place of honor behind the check out counter and then I went to the airport.
Gregor
I was excited at first because I thought I'd get to turn it into a cool rally bike like my 890 but after presenting my proposal I got an email that said, essentially, "No, we just want it to be restored and some things fixed and cleaned." That email exchange took several months.
So finally after our storms and with some help from Lara I pulled the bike into the shop and took stock. It had been used and abused by journalists for 10 years, each determined to outdo the previous one egged on by the promise of all wheel drive. Stream crossing? Heck no, we'll ride up the stream until it's underwater!
Rims were scratched, anodizing was faded from black to bronze and the exhaust was marred by boot burns, rust and header wrap. Also, the plexi screen was broken the first weekend and the dash, an iPhone, which was a fun idea at the time was not fun anymore. Oh, and the 12 gallon tank - can you make it look smaller?
I took the bike mostly apart an began the tedious process of refinishing all the parts one at a time. Seat went for new upholstery, parts were sent for new powder coat and the exhaust was cleaned and regrained.
Since the bike was going to be on display at their new showroom in Denver I could worry about the finish and the look and not the durability. I made a small display stand for the rear wheel.
When the bike was built it was a rush to finish it and then, over the years, it took a lot of abuse. To me there were a lot of details that were overlooked but make difference to the overall appearance like fasteners. I replaced most of the existing bolts with stainless and then turned all the heads to make them clean and get rid of the markings. Instead of stripping the frame and wheels I used a paint marker to hide chips.
I decided to use a Motogadget speedo as the cleanest, simplest option and luckily Ben offered to help get it wired in while I worked on making a new dash. Amazingly (to me) it worked first try. Not like it matters as the bike was put back together dry and will mostly like live the rest of it's life on display.
Nonetheless it looks good. The last part was a fairing of some kind. I'd held off as I didn't have an idea and was hoping inspiration would strike before the 1 Show rolled around. That was my false deadline - we decided to enter it in the show and then after that I'd drive it to Denver for the grand opening.
In the end I had a small fairing that I'd intended to use on my Guzzi and was just sitting in a bin. While the bike doesn't have two gauges the double hump of the cowl fits and once a bracket was made and it was trimmed down it fit the bike very well.
The exhaust took probably 20-30 hours to refinish but now it looks great.
And painting the lower half of the tank visually took a lot of the mass and weight out of the bike. I think it looks better now than it did when we first built it.
Then I rented a pickup and drove it to Denver where we lifted it into its place of honor behind the check out counter and then I went to the airport.
Gregor
lonestarky
Well-known member
Still looks beautiful Gregor, and your work still impresses me. Hopefully I can stop by when I'm in Denver and say "I kind of a little bit know the guy who built that". You're right. The tank looks better. I wouldn't even begin to say it could be smaller as I have no idea how to shrink that.
OJKD
Active member
Much improved! I wish it wasn't a Super Enduro Erzberg, because that means it's one less on the road, but at this point, most of them are retired or semi-retired anyways I guess.
Didn't it win an award at One Moto too? Like everything you bring?
Didn't it win an award at One Moto too? Like everything you bring?
This is an attempt to catch up. Shortly after the 1 Moto Show and after delivering the Rev'It! bike to Denver I flew to California to meet up with friends/coworkers Matt and Chad. Ducati had called us a week before to say that the project they'd had us on hold for was a go. At that point it was secret to the point that they hadn't even told us yet what it was - just that we needed passports.
Ducati was planning to race the Mexican 1000 with a factory supported team of two riders. They were going to spend most of the years budget on this race effort. I'm going to just briefly tell the story as it was maybe one of the most fun jobs I've ever had the chance to work on.
I met Matt at the airport and Chad picked us up in his van. Chad is my YouTube famous friend from the channel Living the Van Life. His van was going to be our support vehicle for the week in Mexico. The team was going to be comprised of Alexander Smith (the son of the famous Malcom Smith of Baja lore) and Jordan Graham who has been our pro rider for Ducati Desert X projects since it was introduced. It was an interesting mix - a tactician and a balls to the wall rider. The night before we arrive in Mexico we learn that Jordan has an inner ear infection and no balance so he was replaced with an "influencer".
I didn't know much about Alexander but in just the first few hours after unloading the bikes I was completely impressed. He was as thorough and meticulous as any Superbike team I've ever seen. His bike prep was left nothing to chance, he calculated milage and fuel economy to the tenth and knows Baja like the back of his hand. The other rider was out of his depth from the start.
The point of the effort was to show how good the new "Rally" version of the Desert-X was so the bike was completely stock except for a carbon tank with quick change air filter and the Aurora rally tower. Aurora was a company that did the tower on my 890 and I'd introduced them to Ducati and was excited to see them collaborate on this. Other mods to the bike was the removal on one disk (you don't need two in the dirt), Highway Dirt Bike handguards and high power LED lights. And of course full knobbies.
The cockpit of a rally bike is sight to behold - confusing and complicated and only made more so when you consider that all the navigation, all the information is being calculated at full speed while riding course you don't know. For Alexander it was even more so as he'd never raced or even spent much time on a full size adventure bike. His only time riding a Desert X was days before the start to shake down the bike.
I'm not going to talk about the second rider other than to say that he destroyed the bike on the second day. If you followed the race you probably know the story and it's unfortunate. Alexander on the other hand was one of the most professional racers I've ever met and any time you can work with someone at the top of their game and with the deepest knowledge it's a pleasure. I not only learned a lot from him but enjoyed getting to know him as a person and now friend.
There wasn't much competition for Alexander except for the rider who'd won the past several years - Matt Sutherland, an Ossie who lives in Canada and was piloting a factory KTM 450 rally bike - the only bike made specifically for rally racing. It probably shouldn't have been close but Alexander knows how to race and doesn't make mistakes. A week long race over 1500 miles is not about absolute speed but about mistakes, failures, crashes and mechanicals. Speed is important but it's only a part. The two spent 6 days trading the lead and stage wins and on the last day were only a few minutes apart.
This was basically how the race went for the entire time. It was a game of cat and mouse, tricks and strategy. Each day the previous days winner would start first and the next rider would start 3 minutes after. The second place starter would inevitably catch the front rider by just focusing on their dust cloud and slowly reeling them in. Once they were in touch they could just sit on their wheel having made up 3 minutes but the lead rider would try tricks like purposefully appearing lost when looking for a waypoint or making a break and then making heavy tracks into a dead end and then sneaking out without leaving tracks.
It sounds like dirty tricks but it's all just part of the deep play book of rally and both riders enjoyed using every trick in their bags to gain advantage but at the end of the day would laugh and joke about who fell for the others tricks. They had great respect for each other and each appreciated the others skills and determination and each days finish was met with hugs, back slaps and laughs.
The other part of Alexander is that he never stopped working. He would not rest or relax if his team had work to do and each night he'd work with the mechanics to change tires, brake pads, chain and sprockets - whatever was needed he was working just as hard as the mechanics despite spending a full day on the bike and all the mental and physical strain that involved.
On the last day Matt and Alexander were separated by just a few minutes but there had been questionable penalties assigned due to a crash and rerouting of the previous days stage. Alexander had planned all week to start the last day in second and be just a minute behind so he could catch Matt and sit on his wheel effectively two minutes ahead. The penalties swapped lead and put Alexander in first effectively serving Matt the strategy that Alexander was hoping to employ.
It was an effective strategy and Matt made no mistakes and the pair crossed the line together but Matt was ahead on time and thus the winner.
It was such a treat to watch two riders, highly skilled and talented, trade the lead and push each other for the whole race. Their rivalry pushed them almost two hours ahead of third place effectively making this a race between just the two of them.
It was also the first time that our team - the "photo" team - wasn't on the outside looking in but an actual part of the race team. We had team shirts, team dress shirts, team hats and were an actual part of the race team. If help was needed in a pit stop I'd put down the camera and find the wrench or zip tie and pitch in.
It was, without question, one of the most fun projects I've ever been a part of and reawakened a desire to race again. Not sure how of if that will manifest but it's something I'm thinking about.
Gregor
Ducati was planning to race the Mexican 1000 with a factory supported team of two riders. They were going to spend most of the years budget on this race effort. I'm going to just briefly tell the story as it was maybe one of the most fun jobs I've ever had the chance to work on.
I met Matt at the airport and Chad picked us up in his van. Chad is my YouTube famous friend from the channel Living the Van Life. His van was going to be our support vehicle for the week in Mexico. The team was going to be comprised of Alexander Smith (the son of the famous Malcom Smith of Baja lore) and Jordan Graham who has been our pro rider for Ducati Desert X projects since it was introduced. It was an interesting mix - a tactician and a balls to the wall rider. The night before we arrive in Mexico we learn that Jordan has an inner ear infection and no balance so he was replaced with an "influencer".
I didn't know much about Alexander but in just the first few hours after unloading the bikes I was completely impressed. He was as thorough and meticulous as any Superbike team I've ever seen. His bike prep was left nothing to chance, he calculated milage and fuel economy to the tenth and knows Baja like the back of his hand. The other rider was out of his depth from the start.
The point of the effort was to show how good the new "Rally" version of the Desert-X was so the bike was completely stock except for a carbon tank with quick change air filter and the Aurora rally tower. Aurora was a company that did the tower on my 890 and I'd introduced them to Ducati and was excited to see them collaborate on this. Other mods to the bike was the removal on one disk (you don't need two in the dirt), Highway Dirt Bike handguards and high power LED lights. And of course full knobbies.
The cockpit of a rally bike is sight to behold - confusing and complicated and only made more so when you consider that all the navigation, all the information is being calculated at full speed while riding course you don't know. For Alexander it was even more so as he'd never raced or even spent much time on a full size adventure bike. His only time riding a Desert X was days before the start to shake down the bike.
I'm not going to talk about the second rider other than to say that he destroyed the bike on the second day. If you followed the race you probably know the story and it's unfortunate. Alexander on the other hand was one of the most professional racers I've ever met and any time you can work with someone at the top of their game and with the deepest knowledge it's a pleasure. I not only learned a lot from him but enjoyed getting to know him as a person and now friend.
There wasn't much competition for Alexander except for the rider who'd won the past several years - Matt Sutherland, an Ossie who lives in Canada and was piloting a factory KTM 450 rally bike - the only bike made specifically for rally racing. It probably shouldn't have been close but Alexander knows how to race and doesn't make mistakes. A week long race over 1500 miles is not about absolute speed but about mistakes, failures, crashes and mechanicals. Speed is important but it's only a part. The two spent 6 days trading the lead and stage wins and on the last day were only a few minutes apart.
This was basically how the race went for the entire time. It was a game of cat and mouse, tricks and strategy. Each day the previous days winner would start first and the next rider would start 3 minutes after. The second place starter would inevitably catch the front rider by just focusing on their dust cloud and slowly reeling them in. Once they were in touch they could just sit on their wheel having made up 3 minutes but the lead rider would try tricks like purposefully appearing lost when looking for a waypoint or making a break and then making heavy tracks into a dead end and then sneaking out without leaving tracks.
It sounds like dirty tricks but it's all just part of the deep play book of rally and both riders enjoyed using every trick in their bags to gain advantage but at the end of the day would laugh and joke about who fell for the others tricks. They had great respect for each other and each appreciated the others skills and determination and each days finish was met with hugs, back slaps and laughs.
The other part of Alexander is that he never stopped working. He would not rest or relax if his team had work to do and each night he'd work with the mechanics to change tires, brake pads, chain and sprockets - whatever was needed he was working just as hard as the mechanics despite spending a full day on the bike and all the mental and physical strain that involved.
On the last day Matt and Alexander were separated by just a few minutes but there had been questionable penalties assigned due to a crash and rerouting of the previous days stage. Alexander had planned all week to start the last day in second and be just a minute behind so he could catch Matt and sit on his wheel effectively two minutes ahead. The penalties swapped lead and put Alexander in first effectively serving Matt the strategy that Alexander was hoping to employ.
It was an effective strategy and Matt made no mistakes and the pair crossed the line together but Matt was ahead on time and thus the winner.
It was such a treat to watch two riders, highly skilled and talented, trade the lead and push each other for the whole race. Their rivalry pushed them almost two hours ahead of third place effectively making this a race between just the two of them.
It was also the first time that our team - the "photo" team - wasn't on the outside looking in but an actual part of the race team. We had team shirts, team dress shirts, team hats and were an actual part of the race team. If help was needed in a pit stop I'd put down the camera and find the wrench or zip tie and pitch in.
It was, without question, one of the most fun projects I've ever been a part of and reawakened a desire to race again. Not sure how of if that will manifest but it's something I'm thinking about.
Gregor
BORING HOP YARD
Well-known member
Great update!
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing!
MXmaniac
Active member
What an awesome adventure. Alexander sounds rad, that apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
fartymarty
Well-known member
Thanks for the share on this!!!!
So the one thing that I'll say on this is that the owner of the website who published that story had not published anything to the site in 6 years and then, suddenly, published several stories in several days. Suspicious. Maybe most importantly is that person is a friend of the person who was hit so... I know what happened, saw all the video and agree with the teams decision to simply not give the story any oxygen.
We live in an age of outrage journalism, sensationalism and stretched truths. I think it's important to concentrate on the things that are working, the people who do great work and those that live by example. Alexander is that person.
After about three days of racing Matt, Chad and I started to joke that Alexander was like the fasted Mr. Rogers in the world and that each day he shared some new thoughtful detail, told us a new story or surprised us with the depth of his kindness and consideration. On the fourth or fifth day we rolled into San Ignacio and after congratulating Matt on a day of close racing he saw a Mexican local walking towards us, "José! How are you my friend? How are the wife and kids?" Alexander asked. Then he turned to the team and his closest competitor Matt and said, "Guys, José makes the best homemade ice cream in all of Baja - come on I'm taking us all for ice cream!"
We looked at each other wondering if it was possible for one person to be more wholesome. We all went for ice cream - Alexander's treat. The next night at dinner we learned that he and his father started an orphanage in Baja and support and pay for the college of kids from that orphanage. He didn't brag, it was brought up in conversation. It was, without question, inspiring in this day and age to meet someone quietly walking the walk and doing actual good in the world.
I could not have more respect for the guy, as a racer, mechanic or person.
Gregor
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
hewey
Well-known member
Gregor, what a great insight in to the race and the Ducati's team work. It sounds like an amazing experience to be part of. And what a great rivalry between Matt and Alexander. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Right now I feel like my life is one step forward and two steps back. I've lived in the house long enough that I'm now repairing things I've repaired before. It shouldn't be a surprise - life is about maintainence; of your body, your mind, your car, your house and in this case your espresso machine. It feels like it was a year ago that I bought my machine and cleaned and restored it but it was 15 years ago.
Before I left for Mexico it was randomly shutting off. When I got back it wouldn't power on. I thought back to when I last replaced the water filter and I couldn't recall ever doing it. I bought a new filter and replaced that. Checked the water pressure to the machine and there was plenty...
I started back tracing the water flow and found a clogged hose...
The boiler I had descaled years ago was full of scale.
The hot water valve was corroded and blocked. I had no desire to rebuild this machine a second time. The first time it was fun but the second time? Not so much.
CLR (Calcium, Lime and Rust remover) was used and took several days of soaking and ultrasonic baths to finally get cleaned.
The buttons had become harder to press and function so I took apart the control panel and cleaned the contacts.
The effort to keep the work space neat lost to the constant discovery of new leaks, damaged hoses and brittle wires.
The tubing in the machine looked like some sort of normal water line which I picked up from the hardware store. I powered the machine on after all the work and waited for leaks, signs of trouble... nothing. It looked like I'd done a good job and then there was an explosion with water spraying the ceiling, steam hissing and cats running for their lives. So hardware store hose is not high temp, high pressure. Days later McMaster delivers temp and pressure spec hose and a new collection of olives and ******* and I tentatively turn it on again...
Success! But the week of work feels like time spent on a treadmill going nowhere. Am I happy to have the skills to be able to repair these things? Absolutely. Do I resent the fact that I feel like there's almost nothing that I can "farm out" because either no one can do it or because the cost of someone doing it is astronomical? Yes, it's tiring.
This week I'm finally diving into the trailer again. Lara's condition seems to decline with each passing week. She's been spending time with a boyfriend but that is coming to an end. The trailer could be a small home for her with privacy for both of us and a sense of independence for her. It's a stop gap to what I don't know.
I'm finding it harder and harder to meet her where she is. Today we got into an argument because she wanted to have lunch with a friend. In Florida. "Lara, Florida is 4000 miles away. You can't drive there for lunch..." This was met with anger because no one believes her, "I'm just going to have lunch with her and I'll be back before dinner - what is so hard to understand?" is her answer. I don't know how to communicate. Distraction can work for a while.
When do you take the keys away? How do you do that? Does the distributor wire go missing? It's unraveling very fast and I feel I can't keep up with it.
Gregor
Before I left for Mexico it was randomly shutting off. When I got back it wouldn't power on. I thought back to when I last replaced the water filter and I couldn't recall ever doing it. I bought a new filter and replaced that. Checked the water pressure to the machine and there was plenty...
I started back tracing the water flow and found a clogged hose...
The boiler I had descaled years ago was full of scale.
The hot water valve was corroded and blocked. I had no desire to rebuild this machine a second time. The first time it was fun but the second time? Not so much.
CLR (Calcium, Lime and Rust remover) was used and took several days of soaking and ultrasonic baths to finally get cleaned.
The buttons had become harder to press and function so I took apart the control panel and cleaned the contacts.
The effort to keep the work space neat lost to the constant discovery of new leaks, damaged hoses and brittle wires.
The tubing in the machine looked like some sort of normal water line which I picked up from the hardware store. I powered the machine on after all the work and waited for leaks, signs of trouble... nothing. It looked like I'd done a good job and then there was an explosion with water spraying the ceiling, steam hissing and cats running for their lives. So hardware store hose is not high temp, high pressure. Days later McMaster delivers temp and pressure spec hose and a new collection of olives and ******* and I tentatively turn it on again...
Success! But the week of work feels like time spent on a treadmill going nowhere. Am I happy to have the skills to be able to repair these things? Absolutely. Do I resent the fact that I feel like there's almost nothing that I can "farm out" because either no one can do it or because the cost of someone doing it is astronomical? Yes, it's tiring.
This week I'm finally diving into the trailer again. Lara's condition seems to decline with each passing week. She's been spending time with a boyfriend but that is coming to an end. The trailer could be a small home for her with privacy for both of us and a sense of independence for her. It's a stop gap to what I don't know.
I'm finding it harder and harder to meet her where she is. Today we got into an argument because she wanted to have lunch with a friend. In Florida. "Lara, Florida is 4000 miles away. You can't drive there for lunch..." This was met with anger because no one believes her, "I'm just going to have lunch with her and I'll be back before dinner - what is so hard to understand?" is her answer. I don't know how to communicate. Distraction can work for a while.
When do you take the keys away? How do you do that? Does the distributor wire go missing? It's unraveling very fast and I feel I can't keep up with it.
Gregor
Jrad235
Well-known member
Hey Gregor, I understand exactly how you feel on all fronts and it is utterly exhausting. Unfortunately the only thing to do, is keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Regarding the vehicle problem, I told my parent I needed to take their car in for service one day, and just didn't bring it back. I stored it off-site until I could get a moment of clarity from them to sign over the title and sell it. It's definitely something that should happen sooner than later before an accident occurs.
-Sending you all the best-
Regarding the vehicle problem, I told my parent I needed to take their car in for service one day, and just didn't bring it back. I stored it off-site until I could get a moment of clarity from them to sign over the title and sell it. It's definitely something that should happen sooner than later before an accident occurs.
-Sending you all the best-
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Gregor, sadly it may be time to consider looking for outside help for Lara. Not only for your sanity but for her safety.
Nolift911
Well-known member
Sorry to hear this Gregor - Projects distract - its a good thing.
Projects distract - its a good thing.I have a fun project in the wings - an old fan that I picked up after my brother got the same one. I forgot that I sold the one I used to have as it was a bit too rough and found a deal on a clean one. Maybe next week I'll get a free afternoon for it.
So after the tree fell on the trailer there was an ice storm and while the trailer has weathered neglect and survived cold temps before this time it was fatal. I only remember hearing water pouring out the seams and shutting off the water. It was completely my fault for not draining the tanks/lines but we'd never had a cold snap like that. After the tree and then the burst pipe I just sort of quit.
Lara has asked to live in the trailer and I think that's probably a good stop gap solution and it's forcing my hand to get the trailer fixed. Lara wants to help but when I give her a job like cleaning the refrigerator I come back to find her cleaning the windows with a toothbrush. I have learned that I can suggest things or point her in a direction but she will just focus on something else and it's easier to just say, "Wow, that looks great - nice job" and then I'll clean the refrigerator later. It's not about getting the thing done but allowing her to feel like she's being helpful and useful.
I traced the leak to somewhere around the water heater but found no source so I pulled it out.
It's sad that it's my fault and that this was a new heater. Replacement tanks are $4-500 and replacement heaters are $800 but I have a welder so...
I ground the crack with a cutoff wheel and drilled the ends to relieve the stress. I couldn't get access to the inside but I rinsed the tank until it ran clean and then crossed my fingers.
I'd love show you a really pretty stack of dimes and a clean repair but that's not what happened. It started okay on the left but got worse as we came to the neck. I would get a bead and then the puddle would boil up some kind of contamination. I'd stop, use a carbide burr to grind it out and then start over. I changed settings to get more cleaning and that helped some but it was a battle of contamination that I was loosing. I hoped that I could stack bead enough to get clean aluminum and hopefully a non-porous repair.
To my complete surprise when I pressurized the tank and filled it with water it didn't leak. At all. Ugly but effective - I guess I'll take it.
I reinstalled the heater and hooked up the plumbing again and expected to find more leaks but it seems that things are good on the water front. We are taking today and tomorrow off from working on the trailer and next week I'll dive into replacing the sheet metal and the roof vents after which we'll be mostly done I hope.
I'm sure we'll find more to fix but, fingers crossed, we can get this done next week and get Lara settled in.
Gregor
So after the tree fell on the trailer there was an ice storm and while the trailer has weathered neglect and survived cold temps before this time it was fatal. I only remember hearing water pouring out the seams and shutting off the water. It was completely my fault for not draining the tanks/lines but we'd never had a cold snap like that. After the tree and then the burst pipe I just sort of quit.
Lara has asked to live in the trailer and I think that's probably a good stop gap solution and it's forcing my hand to get the trailer fixed. Lara wants to help but when I give her a job like cleaning the refrigerator I come back to find her cleaning the windows with a toothbrush. I have learned that I can suggest things or point her in a direction but she will just focus on something else and it's easier to just say, "Wow, that looks great - nice job" and then I'll clean the refrigerator later. It's not about getting the thing done but allowing her to feel like she's being helpful and useful.
I traced the leak to somewhere around the water heater but found no source so I pulled it out.
It's sad that it's my fault and that this was a new heater. Replacement tanks are $4-500 and replacement heaters are $800 but I have a welder so...
I ground the crack with a cutoff wheel and drilled the ends to relieve the stress. I couldn't get access to the inside but I rinsed the tank until it ran clean and then crossed my fingers.
I'd love show you a really pretty stack of dimes and a clean repair but that's not what happened. It started okay on the left but got worse as we came to the neck. I would get a bead and then the puddle would boil up some kind of contamination. I'd stop, use a carbide burr to grind it out and then start over. I changed settings to get more cleaning and that helped some but it was a battle of contamination that I was loosing. I hoped that I could stack bead enough to get clean aluminum and hopefully a non-porous repair.
To my complete surprise when I pressurized the tank and filled it with water it didn't leak. At all. Ugly but effective - I guess I'll take it.
I reinstalled the heater and hooked up the plumbing again and expected to find more leaks but it seems that things are good on the water front. We are taking today and tomorrow off from working on the trailer and next week I'll dive into replacing the sheet metal and the roof vents after which we'll be mostly done I hope.
I'm sure we'll find more to fix but, fingers crossed, we can get this done next week and get Lara settled in.
Gregor
So long as that’s not what the ladies are saying about you!