There it sits, behind the Fiero, in my garage. (The stuff on the ground is leakage from the dirt bike, which needs new seals and gaskets.)
Yes, the $5 check valve did the trick. Instead of riding it around in "prime" and then installing the check valve, I just went ahead and plumbed the check valve into the vacuum line, then took it for a spin. It wasn't running right at first, and I thought, Oh, shit... but then I realized that we hadn't put much fuel in it on Friday night; so I switched it to "reserve" and she ran just fine. Heartened, I set out on a series of test rides.
Around the block: no problem.
Around a bigger block, including a spin down part of Route 30: no problem.
Back to Og's, then about a block down 41 to the gas station to fill the tank, and then back after switching the petcock to "on": no problem.
Wrote a check, got the title, etc.
From Og's cave to the bunker: no problem, except while waiting for a traffic light I tried to make sure the choke was off and turned it all the way on instead, thus killing the engine. *sigh* Pulled the choke off and she started right back up, and I rode the rest of the way home without incident.
Believe me, I'll take a failure caused by user error. My ego can take it.
The trip was mostly back roads, except for Steger Road; I had to ride about 2.5 miles at 45, which was just a little nerve-wracking for me since I'm not really used to going that fast on a motorcycle. I had to use sixth gear--so much for my "I won't be using that one for a while!" notion--but the bike is geared lower than I expected.
The redline is 9,500 RPM and cruising at 35 MPH in 5th gear you're pulling 3,500 RPM. It's designed to run fast. I have to keep reminding myself.
It's going to take some getting used to. I'm moderately comfortable riding the thing now but it'll be a little while before I feel completely comfortable on it. Being able to ride it around town, on familiar streets, will help a lot.
Today's been such a busy day, though, I'm pretty well-done at the moment. I mean, I was up at 8 AM to get to church by 8:30, so I could do my duty as a greeter; and of course I was there until the 9 AM service was over. I got home at 10:15-ish, fed the cats, had a bagel, and waited for Og to e-mail while I did my blogging and such. After getting his e-mail I finished my stuff and left here at 11:30 to get over to his place and do as I have already discussed in this post.
...wasn't time to eat before church, and all I'd had was the bagel afterwards; so I stopped at Wendy's and got food, and ate it before starting on the bike.
"Well-done": I feel like limp pasta. I think I'm going to take a nap....