whits-end

So, just returned home from last week's big loop couples tour (Cochrane, Hearst, Dubreuilville, Wawa, Chapleau, Timmins, Cochrane), and I wanted to follow up on our Bon Air Timmins stay last Friday night. To begin with, our first choice was Super 8, but when we booked, a month and a half ago, they were full. Bon Air has pretty good trail access, and we wanted to hold the line a little on price, since we have been away every 2nd week this winter. The $109 + taxes rate was appealing, after 2 consecutive nights at $150 + taxes. Bon Air Timmins was just what we expected, a simple low-cost room. Staff was friendly, room was clean, everything worked, lots of hot water, convenient to food and gas. For our purposes, it was fine and we would stay there again.

OK, Thank you. I thought I had read the river crossing was a no go, so L22 - L24 it is.

We will be there tonight, coming from Chapleau. What route did you take into the Bon AIr? Thanks, whit

I guess very few failed so I don't want to be an alarmist. But as you say, the engine most likely grenades if it fails. I replaced a couple of the tensioners with the 2008 update as a precaution, including one Mrs Whit rode. Lotta time involved so I assume not many owners did it or paid to have it done. These sleds did a lot of touring, so it was peace of mind many kms from home.

Yamaheaters are an aftermarket plug n play device that tells the ECM to boost the heat output of the older grips. Before that, we used to just rewire the grips. IIRC the grips are wired in series, and we rewired to parallel (or the other way around). But you had to be smart. With control set at 50% they were very hot. Above that could cause damage to grips and possibly stator. But we ran several sleds that way for years with no damage. If she doesn't know what she's doing, prolly safer to just buy her muffs.

Seen some worn thru resulting in oblong mounting hole wear in the cast bulkhead. Aftermarket Oilite replacements are available for about the same price as OEM plastic ones. Newer A-arms have grease zerks. Also, if you grind a little off the exhaust donut clamps to tighten clamping action, donuts will last longer. Sled that old will likely be almost impossible to unbolt some of the exhaust header pipe clamps under the tunnel. I wouldn't even try. Just drill out the rivets that mount the brackets to the bottom of tunnel, then slide the whole exhaust back enough to replace the donuts. Refasten with 3/6" steel rivets. The whole job can be done from the top of the tunnel without removing suspension.

Anybody ever have issues with pre-2008 cam chain tensioners?

Red relay is for fuel pump on EFI sleds, not applicable on carbs.

A number of years ago, on the original RX-1's, the speedo's were a little 'optimistic'. Some guys actually removed 1 lobe from the reluctor to make it more accurate.

The thing that looks like a gear is a reluctor., bolted on the end of the driveshaft. Beside it, to the right, is the pickup that counts the lobes as they rotate.

Haven't looked myself, but if it's the upper panels they may be right side cheap. They are common to both Vec's and Ape's. That left upper panel is specific to Vec's, and it's around $500 from Yammie without foam, hardware, decals etc. Lower about $200, and I believe common to both, and likely cheap on Kijiji. I agree with your value, and it's late in the season to sell. I'd be most concerned with why the shaft broke. Not a common issue, even on Apes with more power. 2006 Apes were not uncommon to break driveshaft, but not jackshaft. Seized bearing, shaft turning inside and heated up?

We're day tripping out of Sands on Golden Lake. Round trip to Deep River yesterday for lunch, so we passed Shaw's pole mill twice. (BTW- Don't even think about accessing 127 from Top A, as RS stated elsewhere. Nasty pavement.) One of our group owns South River Planing Mill, so he was 'spaining the pole operation. Poles sorted for length and grade (marked on ends, eg: 60/1, 60/2 etc). Stacked to dry and probably shipped to Guelph for pressure treat.

There used to be one near Gloucester Pool on the river that drains MacLean Lake, Trail 15 that follows the hydro corridor south from Big Chute. Still there?

That would suck. If you need, I understand Terry in Orillia has lots of good used chaincases, sprockets, etc. Around $200 complete.

Preventative maintenance...................It amazes me the number of people that just get on and ride without checkin nuttin.

Ya, I used to do that stuff until a 're-lubed' bearing blew in Gaspe. Cost me hundreds of $ in replacement, charges for rooms we couldn't cancel, and new rooms we had to get. Now, for $20 a year I replace it. Overkill I know, but peace of mind hundreds, or even thousands of miles from home. The issue is getting all the moisture out, and rust over the summer. Jackshaft bearings (on clutch side)are up out of the snow. I re-lube those, and I've never replaced one, even with 30,000 kms.

Sorry to hear that, SJ. Believe that's just a 6205 with 1 seal removed. Never seen those bearings in oil bath seize. Yammie leaves the bearing seal on the chain side on, to keep crud out. Usually I replace them with a track swap even though there's nothing apparently wrong. Top ones (jackshaft) sometimes have rust from sitting over summer. The driveshaft other side (speedo pickup side) I change often, as there's no fool-proof way of re-greasing them.

Thanks guys. Seemed like B102/B101A had been yellow for at least a couple of weeks, as if there was another problem other than traffic. Planning on being there mid-week next week, so hope for the best. Crap luck about the groomer fire. Feel for the volunteers in that area.

Lots of green trails in that area but B102-B101A corridor Barry's Bay thru Golden Lake is yellow. Anyone with 1st hand info on the issue(s). Thanks, whit

Outstanding! Rode N.L. to Gowganda for lunch, and back last week. It's been 2 yrs since we dun this, and the reroute thru the reforested area west of Elk Lake was stunning!

I believe this is being taken out of context. I have been asked this question by insurers about other vehicles as well, including cars and trucks. I think the intent of the question is to establish a maximum insured value. That info, on file, would prevent an insured party from claiming anything extra in case of a claim.

Thanks Skidooboy, seems like our decision is being made for us.

Thanks Turbo Doo. We'll just monitor the ITG and make our decision later.

Like a number of OCers, we are doing a couples trip 'Big Loop' out of Cochrane (counter-clockwise) 1st week of March. This time we planned a night in Dubreuilville, followed by a side trip to White River for lunch and down to Wawa that night. ITG looks like that might not be possible due to yellow and red trails. Anybody done this or have any info? Thanks, whit

And most would agree.