Triumphrat

sgrudier

So I got my 2000 Thunderbird all fixed up and running perfect (at a dealer). Couldn't believe how well. It always had a slight miss or stumble. I was trying to get my wife comfortable riding it so that we could ride together without her on the back. Needless to say she was having trouble getting going in first on hills. She laid it down slow on the left side a couple of times and no big deal. Embarrassed but it still ran great. She laid it down on the right side and it started running rough. I went through all the electronics figuring the coils were acting up (lots of threads on this) but they all checked out. Then I started pulling plugs as I thought the exhaust on the left side (only does one cylinder) sounded weird. The plug gap was almost closed (just a hairs width open) so I gapped it right and reinstalled. Runs much better but not perfect. Still a little hesitant.

I guess my main question is how the plug gap got closed? Would somehow laying it on its right side push the piston high enough to hit the plug? Sounds crazy...

OK. Let me clarify
1. She has taken all the courses and has her mc license.
2. She did ride a smaller bike before trying this one. I got a new bike and she wanted to ride this one.
3. When I say "laid it down" I mean it was at zero mile per hour. Just a slow lay down from losing her balance from stalling in first on a stop sign on a hill.
4. She is back to riding the small bike and I have decided to keep the Thunderbird and soop its looks up some.

ssevy

Probably was installed that way. Has your wife taken the MSF beginner's course?
If not, it would:
1- Cost you less than the repair bills you're going to face if she keeps crashing.
2- Keep her alive to enjoy the ride.

I am amazed that she got back on the bike again after one drop, let alone several! If she were mine, I would do the course, and then buy her a smaller bike to start on.

BigAl8295

No big deal? Wow.

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Charm City Mods vs Rockers Rally

TexasTri

I know this does not answer your question, but please be aware that even a soft lay down on the left has broken many a shifter shaft on these bikes. I know from personal experience.

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Russ,

sgrudier

Been there and fixed that

buckoz

your right crazy no way can that happen must of been installed that way , check the air gap on the pick up maybe the drop on the right side closed it ??? i to would get the missus a small bike to learn on IMO but good on her for not giving up

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sun comes up sun goes down when that stops then we worry

oil-spitn-rat

Kudos to your gal for trying hard and not giving up. these are top heavy bikes and those pegs are expensive to replace with oem! She should reallu learn to handle a lighter bike at least for a few months min. Then work with a heavier bike. Stumbling for me has always been carbs...

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Speed is just a question of money how fast do you wanna go?

thekeyman

A bit of a long shot on the closed plug. A stone stuck in the corner of the air box, bike goes on side, stone dislodged and sucked into carb. Cannot get into engine but engine stalls , valve opens and as engine stopped stays open and stone rolls onto open valve, bike picked up and restarts, sucking in small stone , on power stoke stone hits plug smashes and bits blown out. You remove plug " wow look at plug" dah dah!!. Marks out of ten and plot for new Mythbusters!.

98 tbird jt

I wish I could get my wife to ride. Women tend to have less upper body strength and tend to be a little shorter than men. This means that at slow speeds, people who are shorter and have less upperbody strenth have a harder time keeping a bike up. There is simply too much weight and the rider does not have enough leverage. To help with this, getting a smaller bike to build confidence will help. You also might try to get the shortest bike you can or lower your T-bird. This will give her more leverage.

The safty class is good for everyone. I have been riding for 20 years and am planning on taking the class this summer.

Good luck to both of you.

daytona500

hey there, check your tank for rust, it happened to mine after a few winters naps. got my wife a nise little daytona 500 hundred she loves it and its a nice size for.