You have a problem, head for the Internet. First stop, YouTube, especially for matters of hearth and home.
It's all there: replacing an electrical outlet, sodding a dead patch of lawn, installing an overhead fan, changing the oil on your model of car. If it's general, it's sure to be covered in many iterations. Simply pick the video closest to your function.
You can even find videos explicating the more recondite. The inlet water valve was leaking on my particular brand of GE washer. I found the perfect instructional video, which included the inlet water valve part number. The part costs $30. Thanks to the ambition of an educational-film Spielberg, the job was completed with an hour
But sometimes a problem can be too recondite, or too singular. No YouTube video exits. To wit
I own a Royal Enfield Classic 500 motorcycle. The bike is British designed and Indian built (in India). It's a niche brand. Few Royal Enfields populate the road.
Vidoes specific to Royal Enfields exist on YouTube. Most center on basic maintenance: oil changes, chain adjustments, battery replacements. Videos related to more specific issues are few and far between. I had a specific issue with my Royal Enfield. I found no YouTube video to guide me toward a resolution.
My specific issue involved the malfunction indicator lamp -- a small, circular "dashboard" that includes the ABS light, check engine light, and low-fuel light.
My low-fuel light has never worked (and I bought the bike new). I suspect it doesn't work due to a defective light bulb. No YouTube video exists that offers a possible remedy, so on to the next best thing: a Facebook group composed of Royal Enfield enthusiasts.
I joined the group, posted my specific issue for other members to perused, and hoped for the best.
I hoped for the best, but experience tempered my expectations. I've been profoundly disappointed at similar attempts to resolve an issue in a public internet forum. The issue is posted for all to see. More likely than not, the issue elicits a thread of non sequiturs in which the commentators offer more spleen venting than topical advice.
I offer my latest anecdotal evidence. Here's my problem as posted on the Royal Enfield USA Facebook page:
"Has anyone replaced a light bulb on the malfunction indicator lamp on a Classic 500? My low-fuel light has never worked. (I discovered that the hard way after I bought the bike). It would seem to be a DIY project -- replace the light bulb. I'm unsure how to do it. Also, I'm unsure to the correct bulb. Any insight on replacing the bulb would be appreciated. Thanks"
Let the commenting begin.
Joshua I. was the first to comment. Joshua says, "Save the headache and go by odometer. The tank gauge is inaccurate as crap anyhow."
Okay, but I'm uninterested in saving the "headache" of fixing the problem, which is why I never asked for an alternative solution. I'd prefer a properly working low-fuel gauge, thus saving me the headache of relying on the odometer. As for the tank gauge being "inaccurate as crap," I'd prefer to discover that for myself.
Dan R. was next up. Here's his contribution: "I hated the look of this gauge. I bought an old ammeter and stuck the lights into that. It wasn’t easy but it was fun. I don’t remember the bulb but you can replace them with LEDs."
Dan's comment tangentially addressed the issue, but it was still mostly off subject. I have no interest in replacing the malfunction indicator lamp with an ammeter, nor do I have an interest in replacing the bulb cluster already in the motorcycle. If I had such interest, I would have stated them in my request. (Dan also gave my post a thumbs-up, though I have no reason why.)
Paul.O.'s comment was more off-subject than Joshua's. Paul wrote,"I wish this [shows a picture of a different instrument cluster] was on my US C500.I may bring one back next year from India, along with a fuel petcock and swap it out"
Thanks for sharing your wishes, Paul, though it gets me no closer to resolving my issue.
What's a proper commentary thread without the input of the smart-ass jokester?
Sam. K. commented with self-amusement on his mind. Sam recommends that I "take a hammer to the malfunction indicator lamp. Problem solved 😁."
Before I lost hope, Craig H. step forward to reaffirm my faith in humanity..
His comment may have been incomplete, but at least it was on subject: "I know what bike I'm riding. If you have small hands you can turn the steering to one side and reach in to get to the bulbs or if you have big meat hooks take out the headlamp to get to them. The bulbs are easy to bring with you to any auto parts store to get. I think they are BA7 4W bulbs.
Thank you, Craig.
Five comments, and one commentator who comprehended the issue and remained on subject. I suppose that's about right. After all, the results fall within the parameters of the Pareto Principle and its 80/20 rule and my experience on advisory threads: 20% will comprehend what they have read and answer accordingly; 80% won't comprehend what they have read and answer with a non sequitur.
Still, whenever I post, I post believing the odds will be more favorable.I suppose that's a comment on my ability to comprehend human behavior.
It's all there: replacing an electrical outlet, sodding a dead patch of lawn, installing an overhead fan, changing the oil on your model of car. If it's general, it's sure to be covered in many iterations. Simply pick the video closest to your function.
You can even find videos explicating the more recondite. The inlet water valve was leaking on my particular brand of GE washer. I found the perfect instructional video, which included the inlet water valve part number. The part costs $30. Thanks to the ambition of an educational-film Spielberg, the job was completed with an hour
But sometimes a problem can be too recondite, or too singular. No YouTube video exits. To wit
I own a Royal Enfield Classic 500 motorcycle. The bike is British designed and Indian built (in India). It's a niche brand. Few Royal Enfields populate the road.
Vidoes specific to Royal Enfields exist on YouTube. Most center on basic maintenance: oil changes, chain adjustments, battery replacements. Videos related to more specific issues are few and far between. I had a specific issue with my Royal Enfield. I found no YouTube video to guide me toward a resolution.
My specific issue involved the malfunction indicator lamp -- a small, circular "dashboard" that includes the ABS light, check engine light, and low-fuel light.
My low-fuel light has never worked (and I bought the bike new). I suspect it doesn't work due to a defective light bulb. No YouTube video exists that offers a possible remedy, so on to the next best thing: a Facebook group composed of Royal Enfield enthusiasts.
I joined the group, posted my specific issue for other members to perused, and hoped for the best.
I hoped for the best, but experience tempered my expectations. I've been profoundly disappointed at similar attempts to resolve an issue in a public internet forum. The issue is posted for all to see. More likely than not, the issue elicits a thread of non sequiturs in which the commentators offer more spleen venting than topical advice.
I offer my latest anecdotal evidence. Here's my problem as posted on the Royal Enfield USA Facebook page:
"Has anyone replaced a light bulb on the malfunction indicator lamp on a Classic 500? My low-fuel light has never worked. (I discovered that the hard way after I bought the bike). It would seem to be a DIY project -- replace the light bulb. I'm unsure how to do it. Also, I'm unsure to the correct bulb. Any insight on replacing the bulb would be appreciated. Thanks"
Let the commenting begin.
Joshua I. was the first to comment. Joshua says, "Save the headache and go by odometer. The tank gauge is inaccurate as crap anyhow."
Okay, but I'm uninterested in saving the "headache" of fixing the problem, which is why I never asked for an alternative solution. I'd prefer a properly working low-fuel gauge, thus saving me the headache of relying on the odometer. As for the tank gauge being "inaccurate as crap," I'd prefer to discover that for myself.
Dan R. was next up. Here's his contribution: "I hated the look of this gauge. I bought an old ammeter and stuck the lights into that. It wasn’t easy but it was fun. I don’t remember the bulb but you can replace them with LEDs."
Dan's comment tangentially addressed the issue, but it was still mostly off subject. I have no interest in replacing the malfunction indicator lamp with an ammeter, nor do I have an interest in replacing the bulb cluster already in the motorcycle. If I had such interest, I would have stated them in my request. (Dan also gave my post a thumbs-up, though I have no reason why.)
Paul.O.'s comment was more off-subject than Joshua's. Paul wrote,"I wish this [shows a picture of a different instrument cluster] was on my US C500.I may bring one back next year from India, along with a fuel petcock and swap it out"
Thanks for sharing your wishes, Paul, though it gets me no closer to resolving my issue.
What's a proper commentary thread without the input of the smart-ass jokester?
Sam. K. commented with self-amusement on his mind. Sam recommends that I "take a hammer to the malfunction indicator lamp. Problem solved 😁."
Before I lost hope, Craig H. step forward to reaffirm my faith in humanity..
His comment may have been incomplete, but at least it was on subject: "I know what bike I'm riding. If you have small hands you can turn the steering to one side and reach in to get to the bulbs or if you have big meat hooks take out the headlamp to get to them. The bulbs are easy to bring with you to any auto parts store to get. I think they are BA7 4W bulbs.
Thank you, Craig.
Five comments, and one commentator who comprehended the issue and remained on subject. I suppose that's about right. After all, the results fall within the parameters of the Pareto Principle and its 80/20 rule and my experience on advisory threads: 20% will comprehend what they have read and answer accordingly; 80% won't comprehend what they have read and answer with a non sequitur.
Still, whenever I post, I post believing the odds will be more favorable.I suppose that's a comment on my ability to comprehend human behavior.
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