Cold and colder...

After an exceptionally warm October and November, December's being contrary and keeps getting colder. Just been trying to get out with the dogs when it's up near zero, otherwise keeping close to home when it drops to twenty to thirty below; so here's a few pics.

One of the rare dog runs this month. When it warms up at the house, it's still going to be a lot colder down in the valley bottom where most of the trails are.

In December, the sun doesn't clear the ridge to the south, so the valley bottom stays in the shadows; it's like a trip to the twilight zone.

Sunsets are pretty cool this time of year, in more ways than one.

Chrome Bores...

While I knew the 850T Guzzi had chrome lined cylinder bores, never knew they were a problem until I started reading up on it in Guzziology, the bible of all MG gear heads. So put it on the lift, dropped the sump, and dumped the oil to send it out for testing.

According to what I've read and seen on the Wild Goose Guzzi website, the chrome eventually begins to wear away, plugging oil ways and destroying bearings. Since it has no oil filter, just a mesh screen, there's nothing much to stop it. While it's true that most mogu's will go 50, 60, 70,000 miles before needing a rebuild, the older the bike, the more likely there's a problem.

So from what I've read, there's basically three solutions...
1. iron liners - honed to match the original pistons (if they're reusable) and new rings.
2. have the original cylinders replated in "Nikasil". This also requires the original pistons be used since it's hard to get good replacement pistons.
3. "big bore" kits - but the piston assemblies would be heavier than stock, so lighter pins and weight removed from the piston itself may be necessary to get them to weigh the same as original piston assemblies (and they still might not be).

The "experts" at Wild Goose think the easiest/best way is #2 - send the cylinders to be replated, buy new rings and piston pin circlips.

So will send an oil sample out to a lab and spend  $28 to see if there is any reason to be worried. Then watch the oil carefully when it's changed annually. If it's not OK, well it looks like there's going to be some time and money spent.

Warm November...

While the Alaska Climate Center apparently never got around to posting their October summary, they had the November climate report done today. Go figure!

Weather summary for November 2019 for Fairbanks, Alaska.

Mean monthly temperature was 13.2°F, which was 10.6°F above normal.The maximum temperature was 38°F on the 22nd, while the minimum temperature was -11°F on the 9th and 19th.
The total monthly precipitation was 1.8", which was 1.2" above normal. Snowfall totaled 23.7" for November, while the snow depth was 14" near month's end.

Been trying to get out and get some decent late afternoon shots, since this is the time of year when the low angle of the sun (it's around 3°) provides interesting lighting. But I guess I either have to get out earlier, cut down some trees on the property, or head up to the top of the ridge to get something decent. Well maybe next time, or the time after that. So anyways, here's todays sunset shot, such as it is.