Best 'get-u-home' bodges.

pipnet11 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Karma :

After seeing stinkwheels tips for mending fuses with kit-kat wrappers https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=34325 I was wondering what everyones best 'get-u-home' bodge job was. Never had to do this yet myself, but Im sure others will have.

Phill
____________________
I love the girls that do, I hate the girls that dont, I hate the girls who say they will and then they say they wont, but the girl I like most of all and I think youll say Im right, is the girl who says she never has but looks as though she might. - Max Bygraves

Lone-Wolf · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

Wotcha.

Not exactly get you home bodges, but a few tips I posted many moons ago Surprised

A spare ignition key, hidden inside one of the indicators (or anywhere else, for that matter.) may well save a lot of hassle.

Don't throw away old inner tubes. Cut them into "rubber bands". Much cheaper than original "tent rubbers" for tensioning the fly sheet.

Next time you have the headlight out, extend the wires by about six feet. The excess wiring will fit into the headlight shell. Then. If (should that be when) you need light to repair your bike (because it's always something at the rear end that fails) your headlight will reach all parts. (Just like a certain German larger.)

Fed up with having to strip half the bloody faring away just to change a blown speedo bulb? They now make a 12 volt "bulb" that consists of several miniature l.e.d.'s. They're not cheap ( about £3-50) but once fitted, it will not "blow". Try Maplins or possibly R.S components.

Stick a spare split link on your bike's key ring. (Smug shaft drive bikers can stick a spare universal joint up their arse. A good trick if you can do it!! )

In cases of emergency, a condom will hold over a gallon of petrol. Ideal for that "I can't find and empty bottle" situation. ( You have to be fairly quick before the petrol "rots" the rubber. It also renders the condom unsuitable for it's original purpose.)

An old, but good tip is to run spare control cables parallel to the existing ones. This kills two birds with one stone. You don't have to find somewhere to stash the spare cable, plus, because it's already routed, you only have to change nipples. (ooer missus)
____________________
Cheers.
^..^
L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

Ade067 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

I've done quite a few bodges over the years to my cars,they were not so much get you home jobs but keep it going till it breaks again kind of bodges!

One that really sticks in my mind was having a fuel pump pack up on an old Escort Mk2,I was only about 5 miles from home but with no telephone and being in the middle of nowhere I was screwed so I ripped the washer pump out of the screenwash bottle and connected the fuel pipes up to it with some cable ties,It almost got me all the way home but the pump burnt out about 500 yards from my house so I ran home and got me dad to help push it,a trip to the local scrappy next day for another fuel pump and washer pump got the old dog going again. Thumbs Up

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Now we are talking, OK, bodges.

Most throttle cable breakages occur either by the nipple pulling off or a break just below the nipple. If you are like me, you have a couple of solderless nipples floating about in the lining of your leather jacket. If you don't, you need two jubilee clips to get you going again (always used to be some on fork gaiters). Simply clamp the cable outer to the yoke or top of the fork leg and clamp the inner to the OUTSIDE of the twist grip, use as normal.

You are stuck and need to get the tyre off your bike to apply a patch or change it. Changing a tyre is easy, and levers can easily be improvised BUT how to break the bead? Use the sidestand off a friends bike, simply place the wheel on the ground next to it and repeatedly lower your mates sidestand onto the bead to break it down with next to no effort.

Your tubeless tyre has a small puncture in it, it is the weekend and you are miles away from anywhere likley to be able to repair it. A self tapping screw covered in silicone sealant screwed into the tyre at the site of the puncture will seal it, keep your speed down though!

An indicator is easily removed and makes a handy continuity tester if you are trying to chase down an electrical fault at the side of the road.

In an emergency, a little of your gearbox oil can be premixed in your petrol in place of 2-stroke.

If someone has nicked one of the HT leads on your twin cylinder bike, you can cut the other one in half and screw it directly onto the end of the sparkplug.

If you have a flat battery on a bike with a field coil alternator, a 9v PP3 battery will provide just enough power to allow you to bump start the bike.

A little meths poured into the petrol tank will soak up any water that has got in.

A holed radiator can be fixed by cracking an egg white into it. Take it easy because it reduces the heat dissipation properties of the rad by a lot.

Your radiator will work when temporarily filled with urine in place of coolant.

Your battery breather pipe can be used as a fuel line.

Chewing gum WILL seal up a surprisingly large hole in your petrol tank for a time.

Keep a length of fuel hose in stuffed in one end and a universal cable in the other end of your handlebars (solderless nipple in your pocket).

A coin placed in the bottom of the bulb holder will make the brakelight come on with the headlamp if the taillight filament blows.

5w, bayonet fitting instrument panel bulbs work in mini indicators.

Keep a plastic bag with some fags and a lighter in under your saddle for if none of the above works.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Thought of a couple more:

Lightly greased cardboard cut out from a cereal packet makes a perfectly functional gasket (never tried it on a liquid cooled bike though!).

Copper electrical wire twisted into a 'rope' then annealed (heated red hot then dumped in cold water) makes a functional exhaust gasket.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

Nothing except gaffa tape. Fairings are pesky critters.
____________________
China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

mattsmith95 · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Karma :

Blew both Hi and Low beam on my CD250U with full rickman fairing, the bulb needed is the old fashioned standard bulb which petrol garages don't sell anymore.

I had Delivered a package near East Grinstead and I was on my way home when I lost the lights. (once the main beam dies the hi beam soon follows)

Bought a halogen bulb which doesn't fit so I managed to hold it in place with some elastice bands I happened to have in my toolkit.

Got home okay and replaced the bulb.

SO always have some tin foil (so buy kitkats) and elastic bands with you Thumbs Up

BTW, cereal packet cardboard makes a fantastic gasket, I know a few mechanics do that when they are out of stock.

Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

aqualung1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Karma :

cable ties are a godsend and can secure any loose/buckeled panel/ cable

electrical wire and exhaust past and an old bean can got my ehaust home from kent

a biro and ptfe tape held for 120 miles on my brakes once

mole grips can be used as gearchange when handle taped up

yup the joys of Triumph ownershiip in the 80's
____________________
"still no idea where poohsticks bridge is"
www.bosunsbikes.com

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

A short while ago I gave Hustler from this forum a lift up to Bracknell to pick up his GSXR600...

I normally have no pillion pegs and a seat cowl, so I had to swap back the pegs etc..

Unfrortunately I was due to pick him up in 10 minutes and had realised I'd lost the bolts for the left side pillion peg hanger!!!

I bodged it with cable ties and he couldn't put much pressure on the left side peg (wondered why the bike wanted to veer to the right all the time Laughing

)

I couldn't be bothered to change the hangers back over and haven't gotten around to replacing the peg, so forgot about it... but the bloody thing failed MOT on Saturday because of that Laughing

____________________
Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

These tips make great reading but I can't see myself ever applying any of them at the roadside. However I think I shall print out a copy and keep them under the seat just in case the AA/RAC man I call out gets stuck... Smile

____________________
"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

M1ke · Ped Boi Joined: 11 Jun 2002 Karma :

My best bodge to get me the 12 or so miles home...

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

My auntie crashed in the rain and broke the generator cover on her Revere. A passing biker helped her to fix it with electrical tape and an empty tuna can to keep the water off. Thumbs Up

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

Stinky, that sounds spot on!
I ran out of petrol on valentines day after the RAC man pulled the fuel pipes off and put them on back to front. There was an RAC van across the road from me, and a petrol station 5 miles or so away. I popped over, disturbed him from his paper, showed him my RAC card and asked for help. He said "The phone number's on the card mate, give them a bell".
So I called them, went through the 30 mins of them trying to find my account, explained my problem and that there was a guy over the road, they told me that because it was winter I was "Top Priority", me not having a car to keep warm in and all. So after the 40-odd min conversation, and 20 mins of waiting the guy across the road fecked off. I must have seen 20 other RAC vans on the Worksop roundabout that evening. After 3 hours I called a mate and said I was stuck, within half an hour he was there with petrol, coffee and a warm car. Just as he left the RAC guy called to say he was gonna be about 30 mins! I forgot to tell him I was sorted.
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

Ninja · Caption Abuser Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Karma :

stryker · Brolly Dolly Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Karma :

Wow, some superb ideas here, esp lone-wolf and stinkwheel. My only problem now is I've got to try and remember them Laughing

Maybe these ideas should be collated and set as a sticky info post?
____________________
Now what?

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Cadbury's Roses tin lids make great clutch plates Thumbs Up

____________________
NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

tintin · Traffic Copper Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Karma :

I've always found you can bodge most things with gaffa tape and cable ties.

Gaffa Tape and Star Wars
Gaffa tape is like "the Force" - it has a Light Side and a Dark Side and it binds the universe together!
____________________
The older I get the better I was

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Did someone mention DUCK TAPE?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

dotti · Scooby Slapper Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Karma :

I once rode 150km back from a football match operating the throttle with a cable tied to the index finger of my glove. Nipple fell off while riding home and I had no other way of getting home. I didn't half get a case of cramp though!

First time I took off using the makeshift throttle was with a huge wheelie at 7,000rmp (accidental of course).
____________________
Dangerous traffic offences spotted on 50-minute trip: Lost count after 100. Number of traffic cops spotted: One, sitting by a speed-trap camera

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

dotti · Scooby Slapper Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Karma :

I also remember the time I used the gear lever as a foot peg, when the original was snapped off in a lowside. when changing up a gear I would change up 2 then down 1 and leave my foot resting on the gear lever! I did that for about 2 weeks (1,000km) before I finally got the foot peg welded back on again.
____________________
Dangerous traffic offences spotted on 50-minute trip: Lost count after 100. Number of traffic cops spotted: One, sitting by a speed-trap camera