Egads – when it rains, it pours. I’ll try to condense today’s events. 10 am Break camp at Elks and start out to go to motorcycle shop which we were told was in Paso Robles – 1/2 hr north. As we go up the grade, truck overheats while I try to find address of shop on Nuvi. Called cycle shop – wrong – shop is in SLO where we just left 15 min. ago! Turned around and back to shop. Part ordered is in and will be 3-4 hrs (not 1-2 as told earlier). Unloaded bike from RV and went back to Elks to park it. Didn’t like sound of urmp, urmp coming from truck as we turned sharp while backing up. Unhooked RV – and J took truck to Diesel shop as he wanted to check on overheating also. Couldn’t duplicate noise w/o load. Checked u-joints etc. Couldn’t find anything wrong. Back to hook up RV and take it to shop. Good news. O/H problem due to clogged radiator with dust/dirt/bugs. Blew that out. Yeah – prob 1 solved. As I was talking to someone in the shop he suggested noise was truck needing clutch oil – an easy fix that he had to do with his truck as it made the same noise when towing his toyhauler! Yippee – problem probably solved. Also found fender from last tire blowout was rubbing on front right tire. It had been pulled out and re-screwed but apparently the wind pulled it out of screw and back into tire! Egads again. Pulled it out and will have to watch it closely until repaired.
Just got that solved and cycle shop called…after 4 hrs of disassembling bike to install new part, found out wrong part had been ordered by Bakersfield BMW shop. Mechanic at this shop had just been told what to do – not to diagnose before doing. Well, we thought the BMW shop in Bakersfield would know….so we didn’t question. Wrong. Called BMW parts in LA, CA and talked to a great guy who has worked on and owned lots of BMWs. He started questioning why we needed the part we were trying to order as it very seldom goes bad. After 30 min discussion he thought we should go back and talk to the mechanic to do a couple of diagnostic tests. Left RV at diesel truck place and drove truck to cycle shop. Talked to owner. He was adamant that we needed that part. Called Dave back in LA….he was still questioning so he and the cycle mechanic talked. One easy test to perform to see if it is the clutch switch (and easy fix.) Well, guess what – it was the clutch switch after all! Oh boy – will have to pay for many hrs of labor unnecessarily! They will get clutch switch Sat am and have it done by noon. Good! Back to diesel place, hooked up RV and back to set up 2nd time at Elks. What a day! Needless to say we are very peeved at the BMW shop in Bakersfield. We are now so much wiser today! But costly education.
Registered for one more night at SLO Elks and will move on tomorrow to Salinas, we hope. Had fish and chips, slaw, in at Elks as we were too pooped to cook or go anywhere else.
Despite the problems, we are grateful to those who were helpful. And luckily, the Elks, Dieselro and Cycle shop were all within a few miles of each other. Dieselro who fixed our truck got right on it and were friendly and helpful. Dave at Irv Severs BMW (parts) went way beyond the call of duty when we called. He asked us pertinent questions and educated us on various parts and what they did and why it could/couldn’t be that part because it could/wouldn’t affect the starting. (the original problem – wouldn’t start.) Don’t think it would do any good to call Bakersfield BMW to complain….??? They didn’t charge us anything for the driveway diagnosis. Won’t fall for that one again!
If it weren’t for life’s valleys, we wouldn’t appreciate the mountains!
This is another beautiful town with mountains al around. It got to 95 yesterday but didn’t feel it as there was still a coolish Santa Anna wind blowing quite strongly. Although those around here were dying of the heat! They’ve never been in the midwest in August!…now that is HOT!
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