After a tough day how is Tom doing

Well, as it turned out, Lisa met us at Monmouth Rest Stop on the parkway, after some directions. I'm not sure that qualifies her as "Magellan-like."

So here is my story regarding the alternator.  The bike has about 67K on it now.  I was about 2.5 hours into a 2 week trip to GA for training, and I noticed that my GPS had lost power.  (Maybe a fuse.)  Then within a few minutes, the audio went out.  (Okay maybe another fuse?)  Then I notice the trailer lights were out.   (Maybe on the same fuse as the GPS or audio?  Maybe more extensive than fuses, maybe there is a relay that blew.) 

So I'm about 8 miles from Chesapeake House on 95, and I figure I'll pull in there and check fuses.  Then the engine started to die.  (Scratch the Chesapeak House plan, and hit the right shoulder.)

I turn off the bike, and it will not restart.  I kick the tires, pull the battery cover and put a multi-meter on the battery and only have 11 volts.  I turn on the key, and have 10 volts.  (At this point, I'm suspecting the alternator.)  I call towbusters, and have a pretty long discussion regarding where to take the bike, and whether the service provider will tow the trailer as well. 

She has me going to a Honda Car Dealer rather than a Motorcycle dealer.  The Tow Truck driver informs her of the problem, and suggests the Dealer in Bear, DE.   It takes him about an hour to get to me, and about a half an hour to get the bike and trailer loaded and strapped down.    While we are on the way to Bear, I ask 3 times if the place is open because it is Monday and a lot of Motorcycle places are closed on Monday.  He assures me that it is, but when we get there, it is closed.

I pull the Gold Book back out and he suggests the Dealer in Chadds, Ford, PA PLANET POWERSPORTS.  He calls to ensure that they are open.  While we are enroute, I call them as well to speak to Service to let them know that we are coming in and to see if they have time to work on it.  The Servicer Manager, Jeff, is very nice and helpful. 

When we get there, they take the bike right in and after a bit of time they determine that it is in fact the alternator, and they don't have one in stock, and the alternators from the 2008-2009s that they have on the floor are not compatible with my 2004.

Because many places are closed, they can't find one in the nearby area at all.  Like Bob Nordt mentioned, they could have it overnighted, but would not get it until somewhere between 10 am and 2 pm the next day.  Which would give me very little time to get to GA for my training.

So after talking with Lisa, Mike and Harold about options, Mike runs to the dealership to pick me up and we meet Lisa with my van, and I end up driving the van to Georgia!!!   Thanks to Mike, Harold and Lisa for all the brain-storming to solve the problem, but in the end, this is a business trip, that I was trying to flop into a pleasure trip.  When it came down to it, it was more important that I get here somehow, than I get here on the bike.

So back to the repair.  Since I am here for 2 weeks, I'm in no hurry to have the bike fixed, so saved myself $60 in overnight fees, and the repair will be covered under the warranty, so it will not cost me anything.  They expect to have the part the end of this week or beginning of next and he says a couple to 3 hours to replace the alternator, so it should be done by the end of next week.