Chinese Belt broke big time
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 9:45 pm
Yesterday was 9/11 and I used to be very involved in aviation.
I decided to go to the Abbotsford Airport to see what was parked there. I was also going to YVR Vancouver Airport to check it out also.
I jumped on the scooter and hit the TransCanada Highway #1. It was very busy.
I pulled over into the passing lane of the crowded four lane highway to let slow dump trucks pull onto the highway. The highway was 4 lanes in 1968 when it was built and a lot of it is still four lanes. Actually a lot of it is still two lanes further east.
The Forza made a strange high pitch wine and then started slowing down. Some how I managed to pull over to the right lane and then the paved shoulder. I did not die???
I twisted the throttle, the engine made noise but I continued to slow down quickly.
The traffic was going about 130 kmph in a 100 zone when I did my big move at a very slow speed. I did not die???
I was just past an entry to the highway. I carefully turned the scooter around doing a 20 point turn. I pushed the scooter for about 150 meters to a disused on-ramp.
I played around with the engine but it was really obvious that the scooter would not move.
I phoned a neighbour who rescued me last time. I got his wife who was waiting for him to come out of Walmart. Walmart was not too far from me. She said Walmart on Vancouver Island at Nanaimo.
Nanaimo is 3.5 hours away if you catch the ferry exactly right or all day if you don't.
Plan B. I called my elderly neighbour Terry. I have been mowing her lawn for free for a few years with a few meals thrown in. She agreed right away to come and get me.
I described where I was but she did not understand so I told her to go to the Yellow Barn Country Market. She knew where that was and I was at the overpass.
She took 40 minutes as expected and found me.
Being Friday the traffic going out off Vancouver was really heavy. We decided that her elderly head would be more comfortable on the smaller Lougheed Highway on the north side of the Fraser River.
The traffic was slower but an old Land Rover pissed her off so she overtook it quickly. The next car was a $300,000 McLaren supercar going exactly the speed limit. Terry was comfortable behind the supercar for a long way.
She even noticed a young bear playing along the river. We go talking a bit and the journey became pleasant.
I eventually got home to get in my 2000 4x4 Dodge Dakota and find my landlords riding lawnmower trailer which I borrowed. I got back to my Forza and it was still there!!!
I backed the trailer into the old on-ramp. The trailer has a 7 foot long tilting bed. I tried to push the Forza up the bed. I could not do it.
I turned the trailer so that the front was downhill a bit. I still could not do it. I am a short 5 foot 6 older man (61) with many injuries.
I hooked one of my ratchet straps around a post at the front of the trailer. I pushed the Forza as far as I could and put the ratchet hook through the loop on the side stand.
I pulled the 500 pound Forza up the ramp with the ratchet a few inches at a time.
Not one single biker stopped to see if I needed help.
I got the Forza quite a way up the trailer and then put my whole weight on the front of it. Nothing moved. I pulled another 6 inches and then my whole weight was enough to get the trailer to tilt level.
The last 2 feet was easy being level.
I then had to tie the Forza down. I wrapped one strap around the top of the rear wheel. I put another around the top of the forks. I put a hook through the handlebar clamp and off to the side. Also one to the other side. I had a piece of plywood under the side stand. The deck of the trailer is a heavy mesh.
I took the side roads home. I tightened the straps a few time. Eventually I had to take the highway.
The trailer has almost no suspension and bumps would have both wheels off the ground. Very disturbing in the rear mirror.
Eventually I got home and put the Forza away.
I got the tools out this morning. I got the cover off and a whole bunch of rubber chunks fell out. The Chinese belt was totally destroyed after only 9300 km. It should be good for 25,600 km.
I found an old belt with 27,000 km on it in my shed. I ordered a Mitsuboshi belt from some guy in Spain. With COVID I have no idea how long it will take to get here. Probably not before it starts snowing here and the end of my season?
I spent 6 hours on a John Deere riding mower today after looking at the Forza. I should be able to get the belt on tomorrow morning and go get some groceries after I check my LOTTERY ticket.
I decided to go to the Abbotsford Airport to see what was parked there. I was also going to YVR Vancouver Airport to check it out also.
I jumped on the scooter and hit the TransCanada Highway #1. It was very busy.
I pulled over into the passing lane of the crowded four lane highway to let slow dump trucks pull onto the highway. The highway was 4 lanes in 1968 when it was built and a lot of it is still four lanes. Actually a lot of it is still two lanes further east.
The Forza made a strange high pitch wine and then started slowing down. Some how I managed to pull over to the right lane and then the paved shoulder. I did not die???
I twisted the throttle, the engine made noise but I continued to slow down quickly.
The traffic was going about 130 kmph in a 100 zone when I did my big move at a very slow speed. I did not die???
I was just past an entry to the highway. I carefully turned the scooter around doing a 20 point turn. I pushed the scooter for about 150 meters to a disused on-ramp.
I played around with the engine but it was really obvious that the scooter would not move.
I phoned a neighbour who rescued me last time. I got his wife who was waiting for him to come out of Walmart. Walmart was not too far from me. She said Walmart on Vancouver Island at Nanaimo.
Nanaimo is 3.5 hours away if you catch the ferry exactly right or all day if you don't.
Plan B. I called my elderly neighbour Terry. I have been mowing her lawn for free for a few years with a few meals thrown in. She agreed right away to come and get me.
I described where I was but she did not understand so I told her to go to the Yellow Barn Country Market. She knew where that was and I was at the overpass.
She took 40 minutes as expected and found me.
Being Friday the traffic going out off Vancouver was really heavy. We decided that her elderly head would be more comfortable on the smaller Lougheed Highway on the north side of the Fraser River.
The traffic was slower but an old Land Rover pissed her off so she overtook it quickly. The next car was a $300,000 McLaren supercar going exactly the speed limit. Terry was comfortable behind the supercar for a long way.
She even noticed a young bear playing along the river. We go talking a bit and the journey became pleasant.
I eventually got home to get in my 2000 4x4 Dodge Dakota and find my landlords riding lawnmower trailer which I borrowed. I got back to my Forza and it was still there!!!
I backed the trailer into the old on-ramp. The trailer has a 7 foot long tilting bed. I tried to push the Forza up the bed. I could not do it.
I turned the trailer so that the front was downhill a bit. I still could not do it. I am a short 5 foot 6 older man (61) with many injuries.
I hooked one of my ratchet straps around a post at the front of the trailer. I pushed the Forza as far as I could and put the ratchet hook through the loop on the side stand.
I pulled the 500 pound Forza up the ramp with the ratchet a few inches at a time.
Not one single biker stopped to see if I needed help.
I got the Forza quite a way up the trailer and then put my whole weight on the front of it. Nothing moved. I pulled another 6 inches and then my whole weight was enough to get the trailer to tilt level.
The last 2 feet was easy being level.
I then had to tie the Forza down. I wrapped one strap around the top of the rear wheel. I put another around the top of the forks. I put a hook through the handlebar clamp and off to the side. Also one to the other side. I had a piece of plywood under the side stand. The deck of the trailer is a heavy mesh.
I took the side roads home. I tightened the straps a few time. Eventually I had to take the highway.
The trailer has almost no suspension and bumps would have both wheels off the ground. Very disturbing in the rear mirror.
Eventually I got home and put the Forza away.
I got the tools out this morning. I got the cover off and a whole bunch of rubber chunks fell out. The Chinese belt was totally destroyed after only 9300 km. It should be good for 25,600 km.
I found an old belt with 27,000 km on it in my shed. I ordered a Mitsuboshi belt from some guy in Spain. With COVID I have no idea how long it will take to get here. Probably not before it starts snowing here and the end of my season?
I spent 6 hours on a John Deere riding mower today after looking at the Forza. I should be able to get the belt on tomorrow morning and go get some groceries after I check my LOTTERY ticket.