As you may remember we have been having some vehicle issues lately. First the truck…it would start sometimes and sometimes not. Eric spent some time on the net and decided that the suspect part was likely the safety neutral switch that is mounted on the transmission. A common GMC failure for this truck and year (2005.) The part was ordered from Rock Auto in the USA and it was shipped out via DSL and arrived in “ 5 days!” and that was over a weekend. Eric made an appointment to have Armondo install it and off he went. Interestingly enough the truck started here in the park and when he got to Armando’s shop and shut it off it would not start and they had to push it into the shop! Good thing we hadn’t tried to go shopping with it. Good news is the cost of installing the part only cost 400 pesos and the truck is back on the road. The neutral safety switch has 11 wires so it controls numerous functions. Rock Auto part $93.62 Canadian delivered but….the DSL carrier asked for 580 pesos for tax and import fees….no receipt although it was written on the box. A bit odd and maybe we paid something we shouldn’t have.
Now onto the Harley which had a starter problem….once again a common failure. The over running clutch was failing which meant that we would be dead in the water if it failed while we were on a ride. We tried to get the part in Mexico at Culiacan Harley but no luck. Eric then called Harley shops in Arizona but…they wouldn’t ship to Mexico and some wouldn’t even ship within the USA. Eric has ordered parts from J&P Cycle from home and it turns out they ship internationally so that’s where he got what he needed. This part was $94 US and it was shipped via UPS and arrived in one week with no request for tax or import duties. Odd that DSL wanted those fees and UPS did not.
Here is the bike on the pad getting ready to be torn apart.
This is the starter.
Starter removed.
Where the starter used to be.
Starter and solenoid dismantled. In the middle bottom is the old over running clutch.
The cardboard from the beer flats is always useful for something!
Left to right starter motor, solenoid and clutch housing.
Starter reassembled.
The hardest part of the whole job was prying apart the starter because of the wrinkle paint that was covering it. Eric also ordered a solenoid rebuild kit just to be on the safe side but in the end it didn’t need it.
Eric has had to change the over running clutch on Blue (1997 Harley Heritage) twice in 60,000 miles and it was a much harder job than this one. This is the first time for Red (2009 Harley Ultra) at 40,000 miles. Slight improvement but still ridiculous. The first time that part failed on Blue Eric was on a road trip and had to push start it for two days and leave it running when fueling up in order to get home. Not fun!
So….both vehicles are back on the road and we can head out on a road trip on Big Red soon.
Goodness, how lucky that Eric is such a good mechanic and can do all of that. You must be knowledgeable, too, as you name all the pieces and parts and how they go together. What a team you two make!
ReplyDeleteNow if only he could cook! Good news is that he does the dishes and that makes us a good kitchen team.
ReplyDeleteInteresting re one charging taxes and import fees and not the other. Our RV tech used a broker in Arizona and then there is a 20% or more import charge and then the bus fee here.
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