Route-66 Loop Day 5, Wednesday, May 19
Starting Location: Gallup, NM
Stopping Location: Santa Rosa, NM

253 Miles

 

Highlights of the day

Shift linkage came loose when on the highway.  I was stuck in 6th gear.  Found an area to coast to.  Inner lever on shifters fell off.
No parts lost.  I put it back on.  Luckily had the right tools.  Back on the road.  About 20 miles and it fell off again.
Back to only 6th gear.  Again found an area to roll to a stop.  Put it back together and K called Thunderbird HD in Albuquerque, New Mexico
to tell them we were coming in and needed help.  Got there and they were able to fix the problem in about an hour and a half.

The heal and toe shift levers were loose from the time the bike was new.
Evidently, they would vibrate in and out effectively pulling the shaft out of the inner lever.
Thunderbird mechanic tightened everything up and told me everything was fine.  More trouble with this later.

Tried to stop at Clines Corners,  Got off the road where signs pointed, and there was nothing there.  Flipped a u-turn
and saw another sign that said "Clines Corners 1/2 mile".  Topped a hill and there was nothing there.  Who moved it?

Ended the day at Santa Rosa with a really nice Mexican dinner at Joseph's

 

Photos and Descriptions


The Microtel Inn is run by some people from India (or Pakistan?).  Evidently, they must think swans bring luck.


This is the second time the inner shift lever fell off.  Fortunately, after about ten miles down the road with the levers hanging loose,
I was able to spot an off-ramp with a truck terminal.  Being stuck in 6th gear (overdrive), I was not able to control my speed.
I put it back together and held my foot against the levers while we beat a path to Thunderbird HD in Albuquerque.


We found Joseph's a Mexican restaurant.  It was pretty good.
Joseph's has been a Route-66 must stop since 1956.

Updated: Thursday, May 15, 2014 01:40:20 PM