Can I Fix This Unfixable Chopper ?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ค. 2023
- This is a Big Dog Ridgeback. Someone ruined the wiring with way too powerful of a battery. I'm going to take on the job no other shop will.
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I’m showing this video to everyone!! I’m the electrical repair guy in my town and no one understands what it’s like dealing with this stuff and wonder why it cost what it does!! We are the surgeons of the mechanic world craig!!!
It’s not hard. There’s a very significant learning curve moving from being able to figure it out over to efficiently diagnosing and repairing issues. I seek these things out to buy and fix.
Electrical issues is easy when you just replacing everything,.. but it's a nightmare to troubleshoot and find some faulty wire or components.. I just replacing whole harnesses for something like, I won't even try to find the fried wire..
As an engine mechanic I can say with all confidence electrical work is not hard. It is absolutely tedious and slow going. The main difference between someone that knows what they're doing and that doesn't is a massive amount of time.
But as I've had people come in with top ends they have rebuilt completely forgetting to put in piston rings, I've seen what happens when someone tries to rush an electrical job and they don't know what they're doing. And I pity you guys. Because every knuckledraggin monkey thinks they can do electrical work, when they won't even take the time to learn how to read a wiring diagram.
@@RoamingCosmos it's only a nightmare to you because you don't know what you are looking for and how to find it. Also, wires just don't fry, so you really need to identify what that would occur in the first place.
@@bluebeard6189 100% correct. It's not hard but you need to spend the time to learn to be fast. Learning exactly how the systems work and understanding circuits at more than a basic level is what is required to be quick.
Man, much respect for even taking on a project like that!
Agree, I wouldn’t want to be seen with a bike like that in my shop
That's a project in itself
No wonder they went under
Why this is not a hard job other than it takes a bit of brain power. Unfortunately in my 40 years of being a mechanic working on everything from heavy equipment, road tractors, dump trucks, light trucks, cars, and motorcycles (admittedly only Harley Davison’s, vintage English bikes) have found the majority of mechanics don’t take the time and or don’t have the skills to properly diagnose/troubleshoot all but the simplest of problems.
Side note the “thin wires” Graig was referring to are mil-spec wires and use ultra thin strands (but more of them) and high temp insulation, the advantage to this type of wire is it can carry more current and amps in a smaller overall package which of course comes with a higher cost per foot but if you are building a custom bike with very sanitary routing (hidden) wiring etc this type of wiring is worth it’s wait in gold.
Side notes when repairing a vehicle that has had someone trying to jumpstart start it with 24 volts and burnt wiring and control module it is almost a sure bet that the coil has been damaged this sort of damage can be avoided if proper fusing/use of relays is incorporated into the design of the wiring harness for the vehicle/motorcycle
Haha thunderheart!!
The shop Rebuilding my bike is a Big dog authorized repair center. Creativecycles Umatilla FL
I am/was the go to guy when no one else could fix stuff. But I finally retired after suffering a stroke... In my 45+ years of fixing "stuff" I discovered that there were days that no matter what I did or tried that nothing was going to work and that if I stopped fighting it for a day and came back fresh I could almost always figure it out the next day with much less frustration. I rarely get pissed off because I know that whatever it is that I am working on has no feelings or agenda.... it's never personal and getting angry isn't going to make things easier. My point is that one of the best tools in your toolbox is the one in your head that tells you when to take a break and come back later fresh. It works every time
^^^^^ pure wisdom! Beautifully said my friend!
Not only as a mechanic myself, I do this a lot at work. Also, it's a great life lesson, too..
Thank you for sharing such a treasure..
As a young millwright, we hit a snag. The old guy said, "Let's take a break, & don't think about the problem; let's talk about other stuff.
Refreshed, & back on the job, & it was like it fell together; I was amazed.
I heard it several times, when i was young. "If your are stuck, go away, leave it there, do something different, come back later." Of course i ran into many things, like everyone. I still wonder why it works, but it helps every time.
Never a truer word spoken! I tip my hat to you, sir!! I am same as you.
Methodic Fault finding is the key.
Generator engines with magnetos batteries were optional lol.
I'm a retired electrical engineer, but lived for problems like this on ships and other marine vessels! For a sideline, I fixed motorcycles. You are so right, you cannot possibly hand a customer an invoice for your time, or learning. So....I found that it pays not to look at all the pretty colors. Just take one circuit at a time and "think" as if you were "speaking" to a newbie, teaching him how to do it. This prevents your residual confidence and old habits coming into play. NEVER discount a male/female pin *inside* a plug or
socket being pushed back! (Murphy loves throwing that trick into the ring!).
My greatest "find" was a dead fruit fly inside a plastic encased relay, back in 2002. One dab of Isopropyl Alcohol and one Q-Tip later, and a $6M Dutch luxury Sports Fisherman could use its bow thruster once more.
Cost: 4 hours labor plus 1 Q-Tip 😉.
Every success. It appears to be a 6 cup problem.
top story man!
Would have LOVED to see that bill being handed to the owner, with a giant shieet eatin grin on your face......... "$12,000, WTF man you were here for 4 hours. " It not the time its the KNOWLEDGE you are paying for SIR. GIANT SMILE !!!😁😁😁😁
@@anonimous2451
The owner was a very wealthy man. He owned many aircraft also, including many WWII "warbirds" and his own G5.
He paid me super quick ($400 + a $100 tip! No tax, as no parts used!), then asked if I ever got to take time off. I replied that I did not. So; I went back to the home port onboard the boat with the captain and one crew member, at his invitation and he flew off somewhere else.
I stayed on the boat for 5 days (alone and very impressed, as it was a Dutch built Feadship) at his private boat dockage in Fort Lauderdale, drank Bombay and chased women at The Bimini Boatyard!....as a, "thanks for not ripping me off, as they usually try to". He even paid for my return flight home!
The captain and his wife and I stayed in touch afterwards. I got a much needed break and he paid for me to return and consult on something else, about 2 years later.
Pure respect both ways and an unexpected win-win, due to honesty.
Damn! I could have got used to that!
@@Dodger2879 Dayum dude, 400 bucks? Honesty pays for itself my man and MAD RESPECT for doing that.
I've been helping a friend and his girl gut and remodel interior of rv. It is insane how much random(to me lol) wiring is all over the damn thing. I couldn't fathom some ship w miles of cable
You weren't stupid to take it on, you're smart enough to take it on. Can't wait for the sequel !
You went from sliding downhill on a two stroke yamazuki to a rigid puzzle like that mate I take my hat off to you! Loving these vids😏
Agreed!
stupid taking on a bike that has almost no real after market. Had buddies who were into choppers expensive ones, only person that makes money on them is builder in original sale, after that worth pennies on the dollar. No one wants someone elses dream bike unless they had same dream.
I do this work everyday (motorcycle shop) so I feel ya. As a side note, I work on Harley’s almost everyday and have never heard a Harley motor (or Harley clone motor) crank over so fast. Even with no plugs in it they don’t quite sound like that one did. What starter is on that bike? I’d seriously like to know as I build some dragrace Harley motors with big cubes and often stock starters aren’t up for it. Does the bike possibly have a 16 volt racing battery or something making it spin so fast? Sometimes on out big bore hayabusa drag bikes we set them up with an extra battery wired in series only to the starter and feed it 24 volts to make it spin super fast and start it otherwise they can break the starter clutch or idler gear/boss in the crankcase. Before someone comments that’s it’s impossible that it would fry all the electronics on the bike, re-read where i said it only feeds 24 volts to the starter motor. I can explain how exactly you accomplish this if anyone is interested.
But anyway, that thing spun really fast for a Harley. Almost sounded like the cam timing was off and it wasn’t compressing right. Usually Harley (big twins at least, don’t have much experience with the smaller ones) you can actually hear every stroke of the engine during starting as it noticeablely slows on compression stroke right before it lights off!
Exactly
My brother is a engineer, im a trained joiner, one thing we both know through experience is anything can be fixed, one way or another. Either repair or replace. Just depends how much you want to pay
And thus, you have proven why other shops would not touch this motorcycle. I hope this guy is ready for a rebuild price tag. The greater the trials, the sweeter the victory. Until part two, happy wrenching. You got this.
Kudos for getting someone’s pride and joy, taking on a difficult task and prepared to keep going until it is repaired. Before the spark failed, I wondered if the timing was wrong. Misfiring as it was, I’d be interested if that was a contributing factor.
i agree its got all the hallmarks of timing off i had my first harley a 67 sporty and redid the top end and had tried every thing including having friends push me down the street did lots of snorting and popping.a friend came by and looked under my mag and seen i was 180 off he set it on tdc and reset my mag and it fired right up ! happy mf after all that!
@@1219husky it's happens more times than guys think.. because they are too proud to tell their buddy, the timing was off!
Not at all a stupid move to take this on. Anyone can change a tire and do an oil change on a bike. It takes a real mechanic to take on a project like this and you sir, are the realest mechanic out there. Can't wait to hear this bad boy pop off.
It has little to do with how skilled you are. It's all about knowing where to start to trace down the issues and how many man hours it will take to get to the source of the problem. Any competenet mechanic will know where to start and then its just a matter of how long it takes to meticulously eliminate all of the possibilities in order until you get the the actual problem and then the BIG ISSUE is whether or not the customer is willing to pay those man hours. Customers have no clue how long it takes to trace these things and seldom do they do anything but freak out at the bill when the bike is fixed and running. No matter how you try to explain it to them they still think you are ripping them off! I will always give them a "worst case scenario" and if they are not ok with the prospect of paying that then I politely show them the door. After all, you are running a business not a charity right!
Yeah...and when the bike owner sees the final bill, refuses to pay, hands you a title and leaves you with a bike less than your labor...how does that end? Very stupid move to take this on unless you got a huge service deposit or some other ironclad guarantee of payment beyond worth of the bike.
😍😍 Both Craig and Sean posted! 🤤 Time to grab a beer and sit and chill! Both guys having seperate channels and posting together is just a pure double bubble bonus for me on a Friday afternoon!!!
GOVERNMENT WARNING:
(1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcohol beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects.
(2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
@@Lexx1976what a buzz kill
@@Lexx1976 I'm English, but to put it in Scottish dialect... "Getti fack ya knob goblin friiiik"
@@jake6618 👍
@@Lexx1976 -- Let me guess . . . single?
Craig, your work ethic and explanation of a mechanic is spot on! As a fellow mechanic, who shares the same drive for good diagnostics and root cause problem solving.
You bring and show the nobility of this and all trades alike! Bless you and your wonderful, compassionate, and patient family, for without their love and support, you couldn't make such great, honest, and wonderful content.
Also, your unsung heros behind the camera also deserve praise for their hard work and great contributions to this awesome team..
Thank you... 😊 🙏
My nephew has a big dog. Everything about it, with the exception of the “one off” (for the model) Baker transmission is a work of art,… and functional. The transmission issues are easily fixable, and after that, the bike has run flawlessly for over a decade.
I think the general rule should be,… Big Dog had their electronics figured out, don’t dck with it unless you understand it!
Big props for doing it the right way and explaining to everyone what separates a mechanic from a parts changer…. Diagnostics.
Check the valve timing. stick a zip-tie into the spark plug hole and just make sure it inhales and exhales when it's supposed to in relation to the pistons.
check the ignition timing, this is what it sounds like with a shared flywheel key.
you can do it! Just DO It! (Shia Labeouf )
What he said! My 1st thought when I saw it backfire. Timing!
@@nhbountyhunter
first thing i thought of was timing too, especially when it did tried to fire and backfired. it's an S&S motor. those people are VERY helpful to S&S motor owners. Pop that evo timing cover off. two screws. see what's in there !
I'm another mechanic who believes it sounds mostly like a mechanical timing issue.
It's all electrical, I dont believe the carb cleaning affected it much . With that one wire melt I'm surprised any of the light bulbs still worked every thing wiring, and charging probably good a good voltage spike . Along with the ignition coils.
Sold motorcycles for many years. It got to the point where if I saw a chopper pull into our lot I ran into the service area. I didn’t want to be the guy who told a customer your 50-80g chopper is now worth 10 and we don’t want it either. This video tells you all you need to know and why those bikes died an ugly death in the industry. Also that’s a Thunder heart ignition, my friend who runs a small motorcycle repair shop literally spent a couple years replacing those in Big Dogs. He has flashbacks and PTSD from dealing with those wiring disasters.
Had to work on a Big Dog just a few weeks ago for a buddy of mine. He came across a smokin deal on a bike that had been at a dealership for a year and a half taking up space. Seems they couldn’t get the bike to start or even crank and weren’t able to sell the bike. Buddy brought it home and called me, we had it running in 15 minutes after I got there. It did take a while to get it roadworthy. The printed circuits behind the switches on the handlebars were corroded beyond belief. Eliminated all that garbage by rewiring the bike front to back using heavier gauge wire,actual relays and a hidden switch under the oil tank.
You can check the coil you have on the bike before buying another one. Twelve bolts to the positive side with a piece of wire to the negative side that you can touch to a good ground. I have a feeling that you might need to check continuity on the signal wire between the camshaft sensor under what used to be the points cover and your coil. You may also have the same trouble I ran into of the contacts on the rocker switches being corroded or the printed circuits behind those switches. Good luck with your new nightmare.
Welcome to my world Craig. 80% of the stuff I work on is like your chopper. Takes way longer and more involved than initially thought. Don’t matter if it’s a bike, car or quad. The other 20% are really good cherished days as they don’t happen often.
I'm trying to work through some electrical issues on my brother's bike right now, so I commend you. Electrical is my least favorite issue, so watching the best motorcycle mechanic I can think of get frustrated by it, too, makes me feel better. Good luck, and excited for part 2!
You can do it!
Nobody likes electrical probs, except maybe that glutton for punishment Dodger2879 up there. Now that I'm retired and don't need a vehicle for work, I'm thinking I need to get something like a Model T with zero electrical controls. Maybe get some acetylene headlights.
This is why I like watching you work, Craig. You take on a job and you keep at it until you've gotten the result you are after. Reminds me of some of the computer projects I've taken on throughout the years. Keep up the great work!
Your sense of perseverance is inspiring. Then you have the problem-solving skills to get it done. Keep it up!
You’re a legend for taking this on. That wire harness stressed me out so much.
Thank you. It was so satisfying to see what was behind all the 'doors' on this beautiful looking bike.
The points you made about small shops and doing jobs like that are so true, I work for Off Camber Powersports and hate when we take in this kind of stuff when I have machines I could whip out quick.
I love seeing the reality of the repair process. I don’t know how many times I start to work on something and the problem mushrooms before it gets better. I will be looking for the next installment of this repair. Great work boys!
its a beautiful bike . i know you will get it fixed . and choppers never go out of style . there just a style all there own no matter what kind of bike it is . always a great look at me ride for sure .
That's a sick bike man, I love it. Can't wait to hear it run!
Love your fantastic attitude. The world needs more people like you.
I am literally so impressed with the wealth of knowledge that Craig possesses.
Just went through this, had to re wire a whole new module, you cant get those thunderheart ones anymore!
The "custom" chopper from hell, gotta love your job to work on that bike.
That bike was clean, someone else boogered up the wiring and fried the thing
Definitely, did all the right things. Just have to keep checking, replacing, and going through everything. I am guessing the 24-volt heavy equipment fiasco fried other things. Coil forsure. Hopefully, it's not to much more, but it definitely burned and destroyed more than usual. You can do it, Craig!!! I'm looking forward to this big dog up and running.
This is why you will always have a job, you don’t quit. Can’t wait til you bring this bike back to life! Really appreciate how hard you job is!
I hate those brass battery spacers ... I lose them all the time when trying to manipulate them with my fat sausage fingers LOL
as a retired foreign car mechanic I feel your pain. I took on too many jobs that I shouldn't have and didn't get paid near what I should have on them. I had to smile when you said they let the smoke out. This is a term we used. I feel sure you stayed with it until you got it running. That's the mechanic in you
at school a guy asked how do you put it back in. The teacher just turned and laughed
The wiring looks typical for a big dog chopper of this vintage. They were notorious for having electrical issues. I've worked on a few in the mid-2000s
I have an 06 iron horse. I had the same issues. Wiring under the seat was a mess and no one wanted to tough it. Mechanics like this are worth every penny.
Yes you can!
I really appreciate how more focused on the repair process your videos are now, I've wrenched on cars for years but motorcycles are still kinda mysterious to me. I'm gonna find an old bike to save like your last video
This is why I do my own work ...... And I'm in the same thought that you have a little shops who wanting to you know change tires and do things that are going to bring in the quickest money.... That's why I think everyone needs to be able to do their own work and at least the basics..
I love it when these type bikes with issues come in,I always take them in provided their owners can afford my bill.. I tell them straight up out front that the bill can easily run into the many thousands and possibly as high as 10k if I have to replace every electrical component on the bike,plus fully rewire the entire bike using all new,to quality, color coordinated wiring of correct diameter and gauge.. Those who own those "choppers" from 10-15 years back always have the money,or will find a way to get it, and want their attention machine back up and running..
Hello Craig , nice to see you finally have your own channel🤪 been watching you and Shaun for a good while , keep up the good work loving the videos 🧔🏽♂️🤙🏼
You'll get it, Craig
Waiting on parts really can put a kink in things
Same thing happened to a co worker of mine working on a bigdog chopper. As he rolled it off the lift he bumped the run button, went to start it and acted like it had no spark. Went about checking everything until he realised haha. That might be your problem!
Love watching you work on bikes Craig . We need more videos like this one please. Learned a lot . Thank you for the video .
I think that the timing might be off, so it misfired the starter into oblivion .
I think your right. 👍
@@The_Bearded_Mechanic rotor cup..
Loving the channel guys! Also enjoying the banter between Craig and Dan. Keep em coming! :D
Craig, you are a brave man. Replacing a loom is crazy work.
When I see an engine firing back through the intake as well as popping in the exhaust. I always start wondering about valves.
Quite right! We put a compression tester on EVERY bike that came in the shop because what's unmeasured is unknown, and air-cooled top ends on old bikes are prone to issues. I bring a comp gauge when I check out used bikes before purchase.
I noticed the speed of the cranking is really fast compared to any Harley I’ve ever heard turning over on the starter motor.
It’s either bent valves ( mistimed and valves collided with pistons) or frozen rings, or, it’s bore washed with fuel and no oil sealing at the rings.
My 2 cents…. I’ve been a mechanic for 40 years and I pick up on these symptoms pretty quick.
Sounds like before it killed the starter because it kicked back that it may have jumped timing or, because the coil was failing it was intermitent. Yor awesome love the channel !
I really enjoy watching these videos with Craig, as a beginner working on my bikes I love how he explains as much as he can about how and what he’s doing and watching his videos makes me feel a lot less stressed about working on my bikes😂😂 still slightly terrified I’m gonna ruin the whole bike every time I open one up tho lol
Who else do you watch to learn? What are some of the most "wow that helped teach me something" videos or resources? Best of luck to you
Keep after it, love seeing the trouble shooting process unfold. Seems like all the pitfalls I run into on my own projects.
I've learned so much about the mechanics of bikes watching you since SRK/Bikes and Beards.
So so thankful you decided to keep on going and make videos! ❤️
You are a relentless being who doesn't give up and it teaches me how to not give up either❤
I used a bunch of trailer wiring back in the day on my old shovel head...that was when I was young dumb and cheap.
Been there my friend
I really want to see this bike start up now, I can't wait to see what happens next.
I love everything about this, even the failure to start. This is my life in a nutshell. Work, work, work away. Struggle with the problem until you think you have an answer, try the solution. Find another problem. Fix that. Something else goes on. Fix that. But, under no circumstances do you give up.
I appreciate your tenacity! You go Craig! Get er' Done!
Bo.... I deal with this kind of stuff all the time. I so wish I could show you the bike that's in here now, you wouldn't believe it. And yes.. I would also be dumb enough to take it on in the summer.
You are the everyday wrench , love your posts and learn something every time .
If even a guy like you can be stumped occasionally, this is only testament to how good you really are. If everything always fell into place, anyone could do it, even me who can't do anything without screwing something up.
This has only given me more respect for you Craig, I know you'll get there & can't wait to see how.
Might sound a little weird but I love challenges like this. It’s a great opportunity to learn and broaden my capabilities. Thanks for sharing!!!
Good quote "I don't think its' supposed to make different noises every time you try to run it."
Dan comes up with good ones every once in awhile
Love your videos, keep ‘em going!
I have a 2008 big dog and I’ve done basically the same as what you have. So I’ve got mine up and running in pretty reliable now. All fairly common repairs that you’ve done to these bikes. Great that you got a hold of Curtis at wild steed works. I have the same EHC in my bike. That dude knows what he’s talking about when it comes to big dogs.
Big Dogs were made in Wichita Ks (where I live) and I've seen more than one up close and personal. None of the ones I've been into had a bird's nest under the seat. I had to giggle a bit when you said you didn't think it came from the factory like that...they were made in a nice well appointed shop....but no where near a factory!
As a sparky i feel your pain, I also know why you took it on. There's no feeling like fixing something other engineers either cant fix or wont fix.
Loving these videos, keep up the good work Craig!
“Sparky”.
🤦🏻♂️
@willydavid Thanks for helping him out with that one. I thought sparky was a universal term for electrician. Well, we are called Sparkys here in Blighty.
@@AsmodeusTYeah, sparkies here in Australia too, mate. 👍🇦🇺
@@grantodaniel7053NO. Bikies!
@@grantodaniel7053 I think welders should be sparkies, they always make sparks. When electricians make sparks, it's usually bad
love seeing the troubleshooting process. :)
Thanks Craig, look forward to the next episode!
I consider this a win, even with the bike deciding not to budge, you did your best, and we all know you will end up coming back to it sooner or later!! Love the video, man. Keep it up!
Enjoy your silver play button dude!
Thanks🤙
Good job Craig! You've gotten that bike closer to running than whoever did the job before. Looking forward to seeing the part 2!
At the time of me opening the video you were sitting at exactly 100k subs, huge congrats for that milestone!
bought an absolute rats nest of my own recently, runs surprisingly well for how shoddy the electricals are but the speedo and fuel gauge dont work so it has to come apart, so its very lovely to have this pop up in my subs.
Dont forget guys, whenever you struggle with a problem on a bike, quad or car, there is a very good chance someone somewhere has or is working on a comparable project. they arent gonna give up cause they know hearing that thing purr like new is the sweetest thing, so you shouldnt either.
OMG. Bro I have to give you a lot of credit for battling this chopper. I’ve been iba scenario just like this on a 2003 Gilroy Indian. It had a spaghetti of a wiring mess. Kudos to you buddy
I feel your pain on a daily basis. Hindsight is always 20/20. You need to start somewhere. Throwing parts at it is not the way to start it. Fixing the harness like you did is the way to go. You’ll get it. Take a break, maybe a cold snack and it’ll come to you.
Really enjoyed this episode Craig, I hate dealing with electrical issues, at the moment my factory ECM for my HD is buggered which also has a piggy back Power commander 3 aswell. I'm a mechanical engineer by trade but really wish I did electrical engineering right now!!! lol
I absolutely love the commitment you pour into your ventures. I would have cut my loss after pulling the seat off and discovering that bird nest. I really have no patience when it comes to wire harnesses. You talk about stress, how about adding anxiety, headaches, blurred vision to that, roll it together, it's called meltdown.
These so-called small business owners know exactly what they are talking about when they refuse to take on board task's that cause brain 🧠 tumours.
Good luck with that.
Can't wait to see when you eventually get this headache functional again, get it out the door, lock the door, and throw the key away
Incredible patience and determination.
👍👍👍
Craig are you gonna do anything with sports bikes?
HECK YEAH BUDDY!!! SuperCraig!
I enjoyed seeing that blue yamaha in the back. I had an 81 dt 175. The red one. Not my first bike but first good one. First engine build. Fresh bore and wiseco and adjoining hardware. Total sleeper.
My brother Craig if it can be fixed, you will fix it. Loved it because you showed what we go through and no retreat no surrender. Love from the ole hillbilly Kenny, peace!!!
Great video! I'm glad to see you got it pretty close. I know that feeling of discouragement, keep pushing! It'll all be worth it when you hear that thing fire
Yes u can
Craig some idiot put 24 volts on that bike with just a harness, and engine controler you got off pretty easy at first. Get a extra ignition box when you get the coil because I wouldn't be suprised if both are bad after a bunch of 24 volt hits. Also I know your tired but don't get so worked up. You are probably the most thought out mechanic on any bike or car channel I watch (and I have a mad medical condition that has me off work at the present time so I watch a lot of crap) The crazy stuff you built for Sean, and doing it with what yoou had for tools and parts would have sent a lot of guys out the door. Just go home kiss the wife and kids and get somemuch needed rest I bet $1000.00 you will wake up with a conclusion for this repair. Another thing DO NOT feel bad handiing this guy a big bill for the repair stupidity cost money. and you stepped up when most people said no. I wished I could still be a mechanic after over 20 years of doing it. I miss it. I also miss going to my personal shop and working on stuff. Not only did I work on bikes as a hobby I used to drag race them as well hence the name. Craig you got this man and I can't wait to see part two where you are riding it.
i subscribed based on this video and the fact that you will take on a project that most will not. thank goodness for mechanics like you...
One final word about this bike is that I would be surprised if it ridable once running as those big inch S&S engine are notorious for vibrating a lot. Being a solid mounted engine all those vibes go right to the rider.
You did great trouble shooting, sometimes the projects needs new parts, It sucks when you have other hands in there first.. The owner should had pushed started the bike if that is possible,
Push start a 100 cube Harley with raked out forks, I'd like to see that.might scratch lots of chrome & paint
If it was easy, everyone would do it.
No retreat, no surrender, keep at it big guy, can't get enough of your vids, respect from the UK
Amazing job and video.... I wish I knew half of what you know about bikes.... such a delight to watch... even the frustration.....
This is the difference from repair shops and service shops. It's funny that repair shops can turn away customers, but cake makers and waxing shops can't turn away customers.
Love the videos Craig, I feel your pain when the odds just feel like they're stacked against you but you have to persevere
Bike world needs more mechanics like you Craig. And don’t worry about hanging the guy a giant bill. He wouldn’t have sent it in to be fixed if he wasn’t aware. The value of a thing is worth what someone will pay, not what a book says.
In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Pirsig talks about discouraging events he calls Gumption Traps.
The Bearded Mechsnic is a force of nature, so today's gumption trap is rare for him.
Great video.
I feel your pain, I can't wait to hear it fire up. You got this!!!
You're the man with the plan...to fix that beast. Don't quit.
Great video. I grew up in Wichita, Ks were Big Dog was from. So cool to see you working on this beast.
I love the light-hearted approach and the deep know-how displayed here.. I tip my virtual hat by tipping my real helmet to Craig's skills & charm displayed in a nice, fun & educational (all in one) video. All thumbs up 🙂
Also, this reminds me of fixing a Yamaha XVS 650 Dragstar Classic of a friend of mine some 10 years ago, that had some custom wiring & lighting installed (looked like a circus on wheels - especially the blue ground-pattern lights were just ridiculous). The genius that did the custom-wiring job replaced all the original cables with stock ones - all with white coating and of course, with zero labelling to mark them apart from each other - and enhanced on that by adding more of those for all the custom lights. After some very brief deliberation, I decided it would be easier to just remove these and install new ones - and I think I was right 🙂 Coincidentally, I also had to clean the carburetor and on top of that, replace the AC pump (which turned out to have been malfunctioning). Two or three afternoons in the garage did the job, but still, the battery was constantly drained semi-dry throughout a single season (for some reason I did not really investigate thoroughly), so for the next season, I just removed the custom lighting completely - and it fixed those battery issues for (at least) the next two seasons, when the owner sold it.
Been there done that. These nightmares are not uncommon. Sometimes they'll pop up even when you least expect them. After dozens and dozens of years as a successful but non professional repair person I've learned to keep my capabilities to myself. I don't need someone else's headache. It took years to learn this.
Sir you have more patience than I could ever have. Love watching you stuff bro. Keep on pushing
These bikes were built in my hometown. I have been dreaming about owning a big dog since I was a kid!