O Brother, Where Art Thou? Part II

Two brothers set out on an inland sea motorcycle chautaqua. One motorcyle wasn't up to the 650 mile trip. The name of the motorcycle brand that MADE IT ends with ....ey. The name of the motorcycle brand that DIDN'T MAKE IT ends with ...da.

How to start a broken down motorcycle along the side of the road when gasoline is the enemy. Yes, even though gasoline is necessary to get the motorcycle started and running there are those occasions when due to a malfunction a monstrous supply of gasoline is being poured into the carburators which creates flooding of the spark plugs. What do you do? Read on, especially if you are non-mechanical like me.

Turn the gasoline switch to the "OFF" position. Motorcycles have this...cars don't.
Remove the breather lid and air filter to allow excessive gasoline to evaporate.
Remove the spark plug wires.
Remove the spark plugs using the one tool that you brought along, your spark plug wrench.
Clean the spark plugs with the complimentary Country Inn paper towlette.
Burn the gasoline off the spark plugs using a cigarette lighter. Now they're dry.
You don't smoke and you wouldn't have a cigarette lighter except the 90 year old, limping, white haired, black oracle told you that he had an idea about how to get your motorcycle started.
Clean the spark plugs again, this time using the Colts souvenir towel you got at the RCA Dome.
Turn the kill switch to the "OFF" position. This insures no spark (that is important unless you want your motorcycle to turn into a flame thrower.)
Turn the key "ON."
Push the starter button and hold the throttle wide open.
Watch the holes where the spark plugs used to be and wait until there is no more gasoline squirting out. (Aren't you glad you put the kill switch on OFF to insure no spark?)
Now you know there is no gasoline lurking inside the motor waiting to flood out your spark plugs.
Put the plugs back in and reattach the spark plug wires.
Turn the kill switch to the "RUN" position.
Put your helmet on.
Put the air filter back in.
Make sure that you are ready to roll.
Turn the key to the "ON" position.
Make sure you're in neutral.
Remember that you still have the gas turned "OFF."
Press the starter button and roll back the throttle.
When the ...da starts, and you pray it does, put it in gear and head for home.
There is enough gas in the gas line and fuel pump to keep you going for a few blocks or more.
When the ...da starts to sputter and run out of gas, turn on the gas switch.
Every time you come to a stop sign, stop light, construction site or Michigan blueberry picker crossing, turn off your gas, then turn it back on later, then off, then on, etc. etc. etc.
Don't stop for anything...for seven hours.
Your brother will catch up if you go through on the pink and he hits red. After all he has a good motorcycle, he has a ....ey.

When we got separated at a red light, and I took the wrong road because I was looking down at my gas switch, how did my brother know where I was and catch up to me? It must have been the bond of the common womb.

Note: My brother had a cigarette lighter which we used but after we spoke to the white haired oracle I bought one too just in case I needed it later. I did need it later.

Another Note: You may have to repeat this process numerous times because your motorcycle will try to die at every stop sign, stop light, and traffic slowdown.

Happy Trails