I noticed a missing spoke along the way.
When I checked, I found that it was already missing when I first left Asuncion.
It was just one spoke missing, but it worked well for the next 7,500km.
In Argentina, I can purchase genuine parts through MercadoLibre, so I first looked up the model number.
This corresponds to spoke number 3.
I searched on MercadoLibre
It was original.
I bought this set of 5.
The price was AR$26,550, about 27 USD.
It’s a little expensive, but it’s a genuine product, so I’m okay with it.
I also looked into solving the fuel pump problem.
I searched for this on Mercado Libre
The genuine product costs AR$867.112, or about 893 USD.
This is so expensive that it makes me laugh, so I looked into compatible products.
I only replaced the pump body because the metal parts that secure it to the tank can be used as is.
The price at this time was AR$54,900, about 56.6 USD
I bought these
Before these arrived, I searched for repair shops on Google
I looked for a shop with many reviews and good facilities, and contacted about five shops
However, only two shops told me that they could adjust the spokes
I ended up taking it to a shop that responded well to my inquiries
When I checked the price, it was AR$50,000, about 51.3 USD, for adjusting the spokes and replacing the fuel pump
I was told that I could do it right away tomorrow morning, so I returned there the next morning
After I arrived, he immediately removed the rear tire and checked the spokes
The other spokes came off as well
Apparently the metal at the base of them had been scraped off
At this time, the spokes on the other side of the bike, which were different lengths, also came off, but I didn’t have this part
Then he told me, “Let’s go buy one.” He took me to a parts shop by car
I bought two missing spokes there
※AR$2,200, about 2.26 USD
To adjust the spokes, he just fixed the shaft and turned the wheel to make it straight
I see, I think I can do it next time
Now, next is replacing the fuel pump
The procedure is that he removes the tank, drains the gasoline, and replaces the pump
I think I can do this next time too
Now, he put the fuel tank back on the motorcycle and started the engine
The engine started, but the FI light was on and the idle remained high
This meant that I concluded that the fuel pump was a DENSO product and there was no problem
In other words, the mechanic in Cochabamba had broken something around the injection
I was planning to go to the suburbs of Buenos Aires next, so I decided to ask a friend who lives there to find a reliable mechanic
That’s another story
