Anyone near Emporia VA? Rider needs assistance.

[Bulldog9]

Not me, but another Guzzi rider. 

Issue seems to be charging on a 1200 Norge (I believe)

Shoot me a PM

CANCEL THAT, He has assistance from a Forum Member. **GREAT COMMUNITY!

[Lannis]

Got the call from JohninPA about 1:30, Nick D. from New Jersey was stranded in Brodnax VA with a non-charging Norge.

Since we were all of us just a few weeks ago clustered 'round Bill Hagen's Norge in the MotoGrappa shop with exactly the same problem, we figured maybe it was the same thing, so I hitched up the trailer and hustled down to Brodnax.   Nick meantime had been asking around, and Will of Willville suggested maybe that his battery was going bad.   Seemed unlikely, since the bike had started at 5:00 AM this morning in NJ, but they can fail funnily.   Turns out that a shop in South Hill about 5 miles up the road had a battery that would just fit that tight Norge battery space, so we loaded up and pulled up there, pulled out the old battery, installed the new, cranked it up and Eh Voila!, 13.6 volts on the meter at idle.   Rolled it back off the trailer, I decided to follow him about 15 miles or so just in case ...

... and we rode/drove into a blinding frog-strangler of a storm that had the big trucks pulled onto the shoulder and me feeling my way at 40 MPH.   After a few miles, we burst into the sunshine, Nick was about 2 miles ahead and headed west fast, he should be at Willville campground by 7:30 or so ..... We had 3 other plans to save the trip, but this was the easiest one!

Lannis

[Calimero]

wow great to read this Lannis, you are awesome. I am supposed to meet him tomorrow on the parkway and then heading to Cruso.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Attaboy, Lannis.. 

[Cam3512]

Thanks Lannis, way to get my Jersey guy back on the road!

Cam

[Lannis]

I'll never be able to pay back all the "Pay it Forwards" for the times that I'VE been put back on the road with all the rattly old bikes I've had over the years ... this was just one of many to come, I hope .... Kinda fun, too.   

Nick is one of those "git 'er done", "leaning forward" sort of riders, he goes a LOT!

Lannis

[Lannis]

Lannis, kudos my VA gentleman friend!

Nick, you left home with a bad battery, you're dead to me!

It's sort of odd ... the bike started up this morning no trouble, which requires a pretty good battery.   It's an AGM with a "2/2017" date stamped on it, so it's not old ... but apparently it immediately quit charging after starting, so that 5 hours later in the wilds of southern Virginia, it was down to 10.8 volts and things were getting ready to shut down. 

So maybe "Yuasa, you're DEAD to me!"   

Lannis

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I remember a few years ago when the same guy on the same bike had a non-charging issue in Frederick, MD. 95* day with humidity to match. Some guy from around here drove over and installed an alternator belt to replace the shredded one. 

[Nick]

All settled in Willville. Lannis basically covered it. I left at 5am and the bike behaved normally. Then 7 hrs later it all happened. It felt just like the last time when Charlie rescued me in Maryland, eight years ago. Out of the blue, the ABS light comes on, then the dash lighting goes blank, the directional signals don’t work, the red triangle shows up and soon after the engine stops. I looked at the volt meter I had installed on the bike and it read 8-9 volts. You know the rest. Thanks to Bill Hagan, John Wells, Steve and most of all Lannis. Way to go fellas!!!!!

[Nick]

I remember a few years ago when the same guy on the same bike had a non-charging issue in Frederick, MD. 95* day with humidity to match. Some guy from around here drove over and installed an alternator belt to replace the shredded one. 

oops....just saw this. And I was going to the same rally in North Carolina 😉

[Lannis]

This might be an issue for an exorcist instead of a mechanic, it sounds like the bike could be haunted!   Alls well that ends well, haunts or not ....

[pebra]

This might be an issue for an exorcist instead of a mechanic, it sounds like the bike could be haunted!   Alls well that ends well, haunts or not ....

Or maybe the guy just wants attention.... 😁

Yeah, batteries can be fickle! Many can attest to that.

Great read, this.
Maybe you guys should start a road rescue service?

[Bulldog9]

Glad it all worked out Nick!

[jwinwi]

Good on you Lannis!
Seems like AGMs are more prone sudden failure?

[SIR REAL ED]

Lannis, kudos my VA gentleman friend!

Nick, you left home with a bad battery, you're dead to me!

 

batteries can fail instantly with no warning.  happened to me.  probably should put more money in the collection plate at church.....

[Lannis]

Maybe you guys should start a road rescue service?

Got that right here!   The MGNOC maintains a list (you can access through an "APP" on your phone) of MGNOC members nationwide who will come get you and trailer your bike, take you to their garage, help rebuild your bike, carry a can of gas to you, take you to a dealer ...

.... You're never more than a couple hours from someone on the list, and many list themselves as available day or night.

It's why I'm surprised that some people don't want to travel more than walking distance away from home on their Guzzis "Because There Are So Few Dealers".   Dealers are great, but they won't come and get you in the middle of the night, put you up in their home, work on your bike for free, give you gas and parts, and all like that.   Guzzi riders will do that for you ....

I know, I know, many on this list turn their heads and spit upon the ground, "PAH!", when MGNOC is mentioned, but it really is a good service, and if more people knew about it, they'd be less reluctant to "See the USA on their Guzzi, Hey!"

Lannis

[Nick]

All is well, in North Carolina.