My TravelScoot and I have done alot of traveling recently. Today in Chicago the belt decided it was the end of the road. I started noticing a thump and after inspection realized I had a tear in the belt. I luckily had bought an extra belt and had my wrenches in my trusty TravelScoot bag. Being at the IFT Food Show I was wondering how I would find someone to help me. A man walked up and got a sample of a sandwich which was being given next door and asked if he could sit on our couch we had put there just for that occurrence. I said Sure. He asked me what was wrong with my scooter and I told him my tale of woe. He happened to be a mechnical engineer from Guadalajara Mexico and he quickly figured out how to do it....5 minutes later I was like new. You should know that I am married to a woman from Mexico and we have always had good luck in Mexico with people helping us when we had car trouble so I guess I should have expected this but it made me tearful. I was sort of frightened about the idea of having to walk my scooter a couple of blocks and then figuring out how to get it fixed. I am one lucky person: help comes my way when I need it. The lesson here is all folks with TravelScoot keep an extra belt with you at all times and your little Allen wrenches. You never know.......Dean Hughson
Tip from Elizabeth: Print out these instructions too!
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Wonder how many miles Dean has already put on his scoot?
ReplyDeleteHe does pack the miles on that thing! It would be awesome if he had an odometer on his.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad there was someone there to help him out with the belt. Changing it in 5 min has to be some sort of record.
You know, after watching this guy I think I could do it also...he had great mechanical skills...I'm going to buy him dinner in Guadalajara the next time I'm there.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing my TravelScoot has flown 40,000 miles so far...and gosh knows how many miles on the streets of China/Hong Kong/Japan/Singapore/ plus the US
Fitting a speedo and mileometer is so simple and if anyone wants to know I will produce a video when I receive my Travelscoot.
ReplyDeleteJohn, welcome aboard! I hate to admit this, but I thought a speedo was a bathing suit. I haven't a clue what it means to fit a speedo and mileometer, but if it has to do with the TravelScoot I would LOVE to have a video of it.
ReplyDeleteCynth, do you think someone will magically appear if/when we need our belts changed?
ReplyDeleteDean, tell that guy he gets the "nice guy of the day award" from this blog!
ReplyDeleteJohn I'd love to see how to attach a speedo ..it will make my scoot even more teh sexy.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously I really would love to see how to attach a speedometer and odometer to a scoot!
Elizabeth I realllllllllllly hope the belt fairy is shining down upon us when/if our belts needs changed. (Prepare yourself for an email from me panicing and using my typo fingers when the broken belt day arrives).
ReplyDeleteI read the instructions from Tony on how to change a belt after reading about what happened to Dean. The instructions are good but me executing them is questionable.
To be honest it is easier than posted. My guy took the wrenches and first loosened and took off the protector piece of metal. Then he loosened both sides of the axle on the tire and the belt came right off....you put the new one on and tighten it back up. That waa it....would be easier on a table perhaps but my 'angel' did it on the carpet of McCormick Place Convention center....
ReplyDeleteI have always been lucky when it comes to getting help from a stranger, my worry is that it will happen when there are well meaning strangers who aren't mechanically inclined. Dave has decided that my scoot will undergo regular preventive maintenance in the form of a belt check. He said that short of a catastrophic event breaking the belt that regular use will produce cracks on the teeth side of the belt before it breaks. When you see cracks on the belt, it's time for a change. I bet there are several items that could be checked and fixed prior to breakage, we should start a preventive maintenance list.
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