A Little Progress

[3Phase]

I haven't been on the site for a few months now and my '79 Special is still a work in progress.

Crazy Steve was more than a little prescient when he mentioned the pain he went through with his back. I popped something when I lifted out the engine and apparently pinched a nerve that goes to my left arm. My left shoulder, side, arm, back of my hand, and the pinky and ring fingers are alternately numb or feel like there's a band of fire running through them. It is difficult to type.

The '79 frame is still at the welding shop. I'm supposed to pick it up Wednesday evening and if it's not done I might take it somewhere else but there's no hurry.

The bad new is that the engine sat too long. When I removed the oil pan I could see and feel tiny slivers of metal embedded in the oil pump pickup screen so while I was waiting for the frame I split the cases. The #3 cylinder has several giant pitted grooves from water damage so it wouldn't have lasted very long. The metal bits in the screen were iron from the cylinder sleeve that had been broken/shaved off by the piston and rings when I started and ran the engine.

The good news is that I have a spare set of jugs from the XJ and all of the bearings and journals look great. I was able to pick up new crankshaft seals, a couple of complete gasket sets and for sets of piston rings for ~$150.

So, not much is really going on for now but I hope to get something running 'real soon now'.

[GARTHXS]

Good luck buddy ! I haven't been doing much on mine lately just accumulating parts .

[WMarshy]

Wow man, back pain is no joke I hope you recover well. My wife fractured a vertebra and has a herniated disk and a bulge. I took care of her through that and it was no fun. The best advice I can give you is to do some research about your local chiropractors and go to one if you can afford it. If you have a CBP certified chiropractor I highly recomend them over normal chiropractors as they use an advanced variation of chiropractics combined with physical therapy techniques to correct your posture and remove sublexsations. If you go to www.idealspine.com you can read about what makes CBP unique. To find a CBP chiropractor in your area go here.. http://cbppatient.com/ Best of luck.

[DGXSER]

No fun Scott, sounds like your back hates you. Good luck on the recovery, hopefully one of the bikes has some sympathy for you and decides to run right.

[soccer4m]

Scott is alive!!!

Howdy Scott,,,,long time, I thought you bought a Harley or something since we havent seen you around lately.....anyway, bodies can be fixed and hoping yours is coming along with the healing process. Why is it the hardest thing about a back strain is when we want to work on the bikes we can"t without LOTS of pain??? Lots of parts down here in Sun DIego if needed,,,,,The Wiz left an engine and a half if needed. What happened to the infamous Columbo?? It was a legend in the xs circle........so, nothing you dont know, rest, relax and it will slowly heal,,,oh, and lots of those little white pain killers. Take Care, MIke in Sun DIego

[slow mo]

feel bad for you! pain is awfully hard to deal with ,,it affects your everyday life and for me gets worse at night! i,m afraid when my little white pills run out i might be an addict even though i am careful with the use of them ,,ride safe ,,slow mo!

[jwhughes3]

Scotty!

Missed hearing from you, though I was pretty confident you did NOT get a Hardly

Hope things go back together well...just take it slow and easy. I'm with Garth, been collecting parts...let me know if you need something.

John

[XS1100 Newbie]

Sorry to hear about your back Scott. Hope you heal well. Don't screw around and mess up what healing is going on by lifting or something. Got to get you back on the road. I hear it calling you.

[SFSPECBIKER79]

pinch nerve

hi scott, sorry to hear of your pain and tingleing in shoulder, arm. i dont think it is your back, what it is, is a pinched nerve in you neck. i been through that. its not something to try to ride out. this is serious this wont heal on its own just keeps getting worse, and you start looseing weight in your arm, and the tigleing gets worse. if youre no better in a few weeks i;d see a neuro specialist to schedule a neck scan. to see whats going on. ive had the same symptoms and ended up haveing 2 disks taken out of my neck and bone implants put in. they was no other choice for me. all is well now except the pain in my neck. good luck. hope you get your bike up and running soon.

[mack]

Hi Scott

Missed your in put on lots of issues, Glad your back. Sorry about your back, been there done that as they say. I agree that with your symptoms, the pinched nerve is is your neck, but a strain in your mid and lower back my have pulled your spine out of alignment and the neck issue is where the pivot point is. See a good chiropactor and get your self recalibrated then get some help the next time your lifting heavy stuff. The only benefit to getting older is getting smarter.

[3Phase]

Thank you folks! Thank you all!

But a Harley?! You bumped your head, scooter!

The injury was originally caused by a car wreck back in 1994 and a couple of discs collapsed and blew out in my neck and back. No, it's not going to get better. Ever.

I guess the damage would be similar to what happens when the rubber in a driveshaft carrier bearing assembly and the engine/transmission mounts get thrashed. At first it's no big deal unless you put a load the engine. Over time (the last 18 years for me, it's been a good run!) it gradually gets worse and worse until you can barely take off from a stop even with light acceleration and you have to keep the throttle as neutral as possible at cruise or it gets hella rough and noisy. Eventually something sort of important pops and you aren't going anywhere until it gets fixed.

On the sunny side: I got the frame and some other miscellaneous parts back from the welder's shop yesterday so I can restart the project today. Of course there will be pictures -- you have been warned!

[xs11jack]

So sorry to hear of your injury, don't wait to get medical attention, as you already know, it won't heal well on it's own, so get help, they may not do a lot for you but the can help!! I just bothers the heck out of me to see others hurting.
Ole Jack

[BA80]

Sux getting old doesn't it Scott?

Holler if you need anything from the garage bike salvage in OK. OK?