I’ve been waiting on the call from the agency to do my assessment. The money was running low as it’s been over 4 weeks off work. Then I killed the Bonnie and the Harley was running crap, so I was looking at cycling in, and being a sweaty mess, if they called me. I was pretty stressed.
The spacer arrived for my back wheel, so it was a quick job to slide that in and fit the last bearing. Then I had big issues with the back brake. When the light was stuck on I did a test of all my electrics to see if everything else was working, I pressed the back brake pedal to test the light, forgetting my wheel was off, so there was nothing to stop the brake pistons from pushing right out. I forced them open and fitted the back wheel, which is a bastard of a job by itself, but then the back wheel was stiff. I tried a quick lap but my brake disk was hissing when I splashed water on it, so I had to take brake caliper off and do a proper job on the pistons. I was elbow deep in grease and sweat finishing that off when I got a call from the agency, asking me to go for an assessment on Monday (today).
I’ve taken the bike for several long-ish spins and the disk is warm, but you can hold your hand on it. I’m hoping it will bed in. We’ve been going through a heatwave so I’ve not done anything else to the bikes.
I went for my assessment today, thinking I knew the roads around there, (literally across the road from where I used to work), so no worries. Ha! The test route is hellish! So many tight bends, traffic-blocked roads, and almost impossible turns. Kudos to the driver trainer who worked out that route. Awful. I passed, but it was bloody focusing. I’ve got my induction on Friday, then I should be earning big bucks again. I’ll be commuting 100 miles a week so I’m trying to finish off the Bonnie jobs before I start.
I’ll take the front wheel to fit the new tyre tomorrow, and fit the M handlebars. When the rear tyre and chain and sprocket set arrive I’ll fit them together. I’ve ordered the lead to plug into my bike’s computer, when that arrives I’ll buy the engine remapping software and install it. I’ve just ordered a long front mudguard and new oil and oil filter for a service. Apply all that and that’s it then. The bike should be good for years.
Interesting development with the Harley. I thought it was possibly running awful because it was low on petrol, but when I took it to the petrol station it only took 6.8 litres of petrol. I ordered some SeaFoam to clean out the carbs and such. I read how much to put in the tank. It said 10ml per litre, so I looked up the capacity of the tank. 8 litres. I *was* struggling on low levels of fuel. The tank is too full to add SeaFoam at the minute, and I’ve not had chance to take it out for a ride, but I’m hoping it’s as simple as that. I doubt it, but I can hope. The Bonnie is as good as paid for now. All the bits (apart from the remap software and tyre fitting) have been paid for. Once I’ve got that perfect I can build up a healthy bank balance and then work on the Harley.
The agency guy asked what shifts I wanted, I said 4 on, 3 off, he said the most work would be Friday/ Saturday/ Sunday/ Monday. I agreed. For now. He said I should be getting 4 shifts a week for the foreseeable future. I’ll see what the shifts are like and what the pay is, but we’ve been saving good money, and I’ve not had regular 4 shifts a week for ages. They said it could lead to a permanent job, which will be 5 shifts a week. I’ll take it if offered, I’d like the security, but for now 4 on/ 3 off should be plenty of money. It’s going to suck big time starting work at 01.00, but that’s the gig. I’ll get used to it.
The weird thing is, the Bonnie is all but paid for, the Harley is not a rush job, and I don’t need any other bikes. I’m going to be having a shitload of regular money coming in and nothing I desperately need to spend it on. Weird. It kind of robs you of motivation. Ho hum. If necessary I’ll get the Harley shop to sort the Sportster out, then I can tart it up as I go along. That’s a bottomless money pit, right there.