I would have liked to have made this trip even without a pilot but I'm already taking off memorial day weekend for http://redfest.com/ so taking off the next weekend is out of the question

It was good times for sure and hopefully we can catch some weather here in a few weeks and not be restricted to early morning or nighttime riding.

just checked and reed pedals are still available

block: V2R05
Pedal: 2P117-1

The good:

I had a great time meeting new people and riding on sand again (it's been 20 years).
EZ did a great job snagging 4 camp sited all together and he did the leg work figuring out our options.
He didn't get a big ass shade tree but all in all he did a good job (the place was butt full).
I got a kick meeting Chris and dbloud.
And Stix provided entertainment wrenching on his Pilot most the weekend (Or we entertained ourselves ragging him).

I had an interesting discussion with Adnoh about setting up a piston.
He was explaining the process to measure the rod free play and the angle of the cylinder to the crank axis.
Then using this information in deciding the clearance from the piston to the cylinder.
It occurs to me that this is the process we use in our CAD system to create tolerance dimensions to make sure parts fit correctly with production variation.
Interesting discussion that I'm sure I will put to use soon.

When I took my family for the first time to a POOA ride my wife asked me if I met these people on line.
Yes.
So how do you know they are not going to murder us and steel our Pilot?
Now its a tradition, first question after I meet a new group - did they murder you yet?

I have ridden with the east coast guys at the old POOA east coast jam.
I have done Badlands in Attica Indiana with the mid west crew (hey when is the next ride?).
Now I can say I have ridden with the rednecks in OK.

The Bad:

Some how a few weeks ago when I started thinking I wanted to make this trip it sounded all good.
At the time Hoser was giving reports on his Big West Trip 2014.
Sitting at my desk I wanted a to do something.
Call it my small west trip.

I spent 3 days total driving 1000 miles each way to ride for 3 days.
On the way out I started to wonder if I was an idiot (probably am).

After the fact I can say it was worth it.

The ugly:

All was not peaches and cream.
On Saturday evening we went out for a ride but 5 minuets in to it while climbing a small dune it sounded like there was a box of rocks in my Engine.
I turned down hill and coasted to the bottom, Engine died.
A quick inspection showed the crank had a definite looseness, rotating the driven clutch back and forth there was a clunking.
And very little compression.
My impression is the big end rod bearing is gone.
Ez gave me a tow back to camp then offered me a ride in the Wildcat.
Thanks and thanks.

I want to do a pressure test before I open the Engine up.
There are several ideas as to what happened.
I was traveling light, towing the small trailer with the pilot (mini-van with a small p) so I did not take much gas with me.
So I purchased gas there.
The Engine let go on the first ride with that gas.
I still want to check the alcohol content of the gas, it may have upset the jetting or created predetonation (I wouldn't know what it sounds like in a 2 stroke).

Or Adnoh suggested the piston may have separated.
There is a small bead of something caught in the spark plug.
Looks like a hot shard of aluminum was bouncing around in there.
He has some great pictures of what this looks like in his Engine rebuild tread.
The predetonation could be a contributing factor to this.

My favorite theory is the big end bearing seized.
I had thought the driven was acting funny on the ride prior.
My impression was it was not back shifting as fast as it should.
The Engine would bog on the longer up hill sections.
Also on this run I was wide open most of the time just trying to keep up.
This may have been the warning that I was too dumb to listen too.

I did take a quick look last night with the bore scope.
The top of the piston looks complete, no hole.
The surface looks covered with something, I cant tell if it is pock marks from spalling (predetonation) or chunks for stuff embedded in the aluminum.
Looking up the exhaust port the skirt is intact on the exhaust side.
The cylinder wall shows damage above the ports, like something got caught half in half out when the piston swept by.
If I have time I will try to take some pictures.

Only in America!!!!
Can a group of guys get together and have some fun talk shoot the bull talk about everything from larry bird to missing the first part of class. Which i had been ribbed about!
It was a good time. I can truly say adnoh rides and drives em like he stole em and has a wealth of knowledge enjoyed the stories , if you keep up with him you have done something. lol
Most guys wouldent know how to take the redneck term I take it as a compliment thanks again for the gift lee enjoyed talking to you ,
keep us updated on the csi, sure hated you had to leave early.
I wish i could have been there when chris v was running i wanted to see it run although I did see the carnage of the clutch, first hand.
I don't know how he put it all together so fast. We all helped each other in some form or fashion. If it wasent for ez pilot I wouldent have had a spot thank you sir, I know if hadent been for him there would have been an old man in his rzr still stuck in the sand.
stix want to say thanks for the pilot I know I didnt break it out till later but sure brought a big smile to my face when I got strapped into the pilot and pushed the throttle. All in all i had a good time hanging out and talking with everyone . just too freeking hot 102 are you kidding me. a little ash from the fire even fell on us.That fire is still burning. And all who were there don't forget about april fools.
It would be pretty cool to get a few more together.

did some work yesterday on the DCP. I took a reading to compare to the other two with stock reeds and my new replacement reeds. The was an increase in the static reading. bad pic and will get better. I also straightened my steering column as it was driving EZ nuts or eagle eye as I call him. It did make a difference in the way my bump kit was adjusted. So Thank you EZ. The steering was in a bind and moves more freely than before just sitting there. If would have thought of it I would taken some numbers on the force required to move, Sorry. My frame is still bent a little however I bought it that way so no big deal.

Still waiting on the video!

that poor buggy has been through a lot before you got it. Did you beef up that plate that bent or decide let it bend and save other parts?
My stops are no stopping, now tire hits left a-arm after I adjusted toe, might try to fix today. The stop bolts are a real bugger to get to so I was putting it off. The bolts were also powdercoated, another great idea by ATV Racing.

I like the way the cage is attached on the 350's better. Seams like they are more beefy and both bolts are through boths tubes. Wonder why they changed.