Multi-problemed bike (electrical + ???)

[jonathan180iq]

It's the grasshopper's patient who needs patience?

[ImaginativeFig]

@___@ Action Sports is closed today too, and the Polaris place doesn't have Suzuki bits in stock and everything's probably gunna be closed tomorrow because Texans can't handle snow. *frantic tooth gnashing*

[raul10141964]

state of emergency hear tomorrow -13F tonight

[ImaginativeFig]

Yeah well "it might not get above freezing tomorrow" Oh noooooo! But Texas is about as well equipped to handle cold as Chicago is to handle heat (my room mate went on a tirade yesterday about redditors being all condescending about Texans freaking out about the cold. He brought up the fact that a "heat wave" of around 80 degrees caused a bunch of deaths in Chicago a few years back, whereas that's a cool day in summer here... that being said, the Oregonian inside of me laughs at school closures for a little bit of frost.)

I feel bad for y'all up there who have been in the negatives so much though, that's gotta be terrible. My part of Oregon never got that cold either, so I'd be a big baby up there too.

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by ImaginativeFig

Every bike parts shop in town is closed on Sundays, and I dared not put the drain bolt that'd I'd so badly mangled back on, so without the ability to put oil in, troubleshooting waits another day.
I'm not a patient person *fidgetfidget*

sometimes I have found the same size bolt at lowes or home depo. just a thought. (be sure to have the original bolt with you.)

[blaine]

Originally Posted by grasshopper

sometimes I have found the same size bolt at lowes or home depo. just a thought. (be sure to have the original bolt with you.)

That is true of some bolts,but not a drain plug.They have a special taper on the end & some of them have a small magnet installed in them.

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by blaine

That is true of some bolts,but not a drain plug.They have a special taper on the end & some of them have a small magnet installed in them.

I was thinking of something temporary for iffy. I can relate to the eagerness to get the problem figured out.

[jonathan180iq]

Iffy, can you get us a picture of badly the drain bolt is mangled? I've actually done the same thing on a buddy's Ford Focus. A pair of vice grips will usually grab enough of the head to seat the bolt until you can get a replacement. They don't have to be Herculean tight - just good and snug for now. I wouldn't leave an exposed hole in the bottom of the crankcase for too long - it'll start to dry out in there, or critters can get into it... Nothing worse than exploded field mouse lining the walls of the engine.

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by jonathan180iq

Iffy, can you get us a picture of badly the drain bolt is mangled? I've actually done the same thing on a buddy's Ford Focus. A pair of vice grips will usually grab enough of the head to seat the bolt until you can get a replacement. They don't have to be Herculean tight - just good and snug for now. I wouldn't leave an exposed hole in the bottom of the crankcase for too long - it'll start to dry out in there, or critters can get into it... Nothing worse than exploded field mouse lining the walls of the engine.

you definitely don't want critters in the crankcase.lol.

[Water Warrior 2]

Check the local auto parts store. Take the old one with you and specify a new Metric plug and crush washer.