mechanic1

Well Justin had surgery on his jaw joints and appears it has went very well. he can now open his mouth and weak and faint as it was,...he said his daughters name again for the first time in 16 months. She was so excited she keep telling him to say it again over and over...lol. He still has a lot of swelling but getting better. So, now hopefully with time and rehab maybe he will be able to eat some real food and get rid of the treak too:fingers-crossed-emo....oh, he says he can swallow now too.

This past Tuesday, our son Justin got a lot of good news. ....Finally know why his jaw is locked ...scar tissue from the accident...soon seeing oral surgeon at UAB to see what can be done about that to fix it.....he did very well on his swallow test so can have any liquid he wants now....and just imagine....a milkshake first one in over a year...lol....also his doc at Spain rehab in Birmingham was impressed enough with his improvements that has his back in PT and OT again...and signed up for speech therapy after his jaw fix is over and done....so....a very encouraging week and he is all fired up to get at it...lol:fingers-crossed-emo

Awww, now that makes sense. Thanks.

Yes, I will take the 90's and 100's any time over this.....at least then the ladies apparel gets quite a bit lighter...lol

Not me! lol Snow shovel don't fit this hillbilly's hands..lol

We got maybe 1/2 inch here on the mountain.....but most of the moisture was staying south of us and it has been very dry as far as air.....been watching the radar stuff....looks like Atlanta might get it and the Carolina's It is always a mess down here when we do get the snow but usually it is ice or freezing rain. ...and with no or very little equipment for cleaning the roads...and ignorant people trying to drive it is way to wild...better to stay home a day and keep the heater warm...lol. Suppose to be 8 degrees here tonight....quite cold for the sunny south...lol

Yes....and amazingly, as far as we can tell he is and has been back 100% mentally.

Believe it or not guys....I use to do a lot of Friction stir welding....but it was on aluminum rocket skins.....ECK knows....we worked at the same place....but we had a lot of clamp pressure and computer controlled parameters like tool speed and travel speed....never tried plastic....be fun to give it a whirl. We didn't actually use a filler material...rather a non consuming weld tool that circulated the metal in our case (mixed it)...nice thing about it was....the aluminum didn't have the common fracture problems with conventional welding processes....IDK how plastic would be to be honest

Hello gang....need some info about my "86 VR. Thanks to Skydoc I believe I have my coolant seep from the plastic drain plug Oring (I got a 12mm x17mm x2.5mm at Advanced auto parts....has a number above the size...64512.1...) so far seems to be working fine...no leaks yet, although I only have water in it so far and have not given it the road test...( I want to replace all or as many hoses as I can before I put the anti-freeze in it). I an ashamed to say....I wasn't sure where the on/off was supposed to be positioned...so stuck my nose in the manual and looks as though to drain the coolant it needs to be in about the 2 o'clock position detent and the manual has another image showing a metallic drain plug that is to be removed.....correct? So, question is.....what is the plastic "twist plug" actually do? ....allow it to breath so it will drain better...? At first I thought it allowed coolant to drain from the small screw at it's side but now looks as though it is only to go down into the groove and secure it in place...? ...correct? Also.....if it is not returned to the off position before operation...will it cause the bike to over heat or not cool like it should?

ok, thanks. Will do

Can anyone tell me what I can do for replacement coolant hoses? currently fixing to drain oring...and since I have no idea how old the hoses on this thing are I would really like to replace them here at home instead of trying to find 'em out on the road with a very mad wife along...lol:whistling:

Hello everybody,....I know it has been a long time. Sorry about that,....been quite busy...but things have got better and time for getting the bike ready for warm weather and an update on Justin. Some of you may have kept up with his FB page and his amazing story. Today he is still improving and he has never give up. just a few days ago he got up out of his chair and got into their car by himself. this past nov we took him deer hunting. we engineered his 30-30 so he could kept it in place and shoot it. While he didn't get one, he did get a shot at one.....the first shot he made since his wreck.....I was kind of scared it might hurt his neck from the recoil of the rifle...but he was determined and afraid not to let him try ...afraid he would get discouraged and give up. But it didn't hurt him at all and after the shot and miss we set him up to shoot at targets first at 50 yds to check and then after small adjustments at 100 yds and he hit a pie plate every time.....pretty dang good considering shouldering on his right shoulder and firing with his left thumb....doubt I could do so well like that myself. yeah,...he has that kind of determination. He can walk now with some help although his balance is not real good....he says it is like he is drunk all the time....he continues to get better with help from his loving wife and God almighty. he has come a long way from a guy that was going to die for sure....and later..."never come out of a comma" so, we are very proud of him and very thankful. And thankful for all the words of encouragement from all of old friends and new ones alike and our VR family especially

Hello everyone, Justin is continuing to improve....slower now though it maybe.....but as of lately he has gotten some movement in the fingers of his right hand.....about 2:30 am one morning he got his wife to come see that he could move and flex them...and later that same morning about 6:30 am...he called her back to show her him moving his right arm...So....we are hopeful and thankful to God for his continued improvement. Still total amazement for me that his mental copacity seems to have totally returned to him....just the other day I had to text him and ask him where my pop-rivet gun was...I couldn't remember...lol....and we had been using it way before his accident.....amazing.

Sorry it has been so long....Justin has been in Spain Rehab in Birmingham for the past few weeks....amazing what they have been able to help him accomplish....he has now gotten a lot more movement and control of his right leg and foot now and just yesterday actually took 28 steps....He is also working on getting to the point where he can get rid of the tube or treak in his throat...and also his feeding tube in his stomach...he is ready for some real food asap...And as far as I can tell...mentally he is his same self....he gets frustrated because everything is a lot harder for him now...but he is working hard to get better and better for himself and his family....his little girl and new baby on the way...so all please keep him in your prays....No doubt in my mind that it has made all the difference in the world.

Sorry it has been so long folks...everything has been in all directions....The good news is...Justin has improved very much...he is officailly out of a comma...he is aware, knows who people are and can answer yes and no questions by blinking....don't know about talking just yet as he still has the breathing tube in his throat. But he remembers funny stories about him and his brother when they were younger....and get this...he can read and answer yes and no question written down! He is now in Birmingham, Al. in Re-hab...and they are working him like a borrowed tractor trying to get his motor-skills better,,,he can move his broke leg pretty good,,,but is getting mad and frustrated that his right ain't doing like he wants just yet...he is impatient..must get it from his mother...lol...Absolutely amazing that in 4 weeks he has come from dead or going to die to aware and everything like he has. No doubt in my mind that all the prays from everyone made all the difference. Thank you ...more than I can ever say...and please keep it up for him.... Roy and Lydia Hudson

God Speed on your recovery Jeff. Don't know what happened...just saw your posting tonight....Keeping ya'll in our prayer's as are many, many are our son and his family. By the way....the fuel valve tee-handle is still right where it is suppose to be....thanks again. Roy

...noe of the guy's my son works with at the VW dealer here in Huntsville told us today that someone has arranged a blood drive there Feb. 14th from 11:00 am. to 4:00 pm in Justin's honor...nothing in the world like good people is there folks?...Fortunately, Justin hasn't needed much blood so far (three pints I believe)...but many people are not so luck ...and do need it and a lot of it....so,..if your in the area....and can....it is truely the gift of life for someone...or someone's child.

Wanted to update every one on how Justin is doing.....first and foremost, again,,,humble grattitude for everyones thoughts especially prayers for Justin and us all....unbelieveable what a difference it has made. The Doc finished up Justin's neck surgery late last night and into the early moring hours this morning. He considered canceling it because his surgery had been pushed back so late...but ultimately decided to go ahead so as not to delay his other surgeries already sheduled....so completed at 1:00 am. approx. then between 8 and 10 am. completed his treak and J-peg surgery...then around 12...woman bone doc...set and pinned his left leg...and she was done in nothing flat....(if she can break them as fast as she can fix them....I would want her on my side in a bar fight...lol). All in all, he is doing remarkably well! I have been getting the impression that even the medical staff is begining to have a more positive opinion about his recovery. However I know they have to be very careful about what they say and must stay in the medical realm, I still feel like they are hoping, praying for him also...and pulling for him in a big way. Barring something unforseen...don't think anyone doubts his body will over come his injuries...his head injuries we just have to wait,...have faith,....give justin time to heal..keep praying and trust in God's will and wisdom. Thank you all...and may God bless you Roy

very hard day today...doc called us up to nicu ...basically to ask if we wanted to continue....next step is kind of the point of no return....they say very high probability that he will never get any better, but they can not say there is no hope. we have already talked about and decided that after just two weeks, we can not just give up on him after he has worked so hard. So, we have faith that our dicisions are sound and part of Gods plan and trust his will is best and wisdom for all of us.

First and foremost...thank you to all for your thoughts, emotional support and prays most of all. I will share all with my daughter-in-law and family and I know it will be a very large help in copeing. Justin (my son) is still on track for surgery wed. for his neck....while he still has some fluid in his lungs...appreas like the docs have to infection whooped and almost or totally gone....he is still hanging in there strong so we are just waiting for him to come out of his coma... I would like to say, all of this has caused me to have a new-found faith in humanity and the good will of fellow man...It is the caliber of people like those of this site, in many parts of the world, church family and true friends that I am extremely fortunate to have in my life that "have your back"...no matter what. It doesn't seem to be enough to say...but, Thank you All, and God Bless You

...though my son is a young man with a family of his own now...when I get to see him in the Nero Intensive Care Unit...my eyes see his battered body...but my heart sees my two year old son from years ago, eager to show me his muscles....if this is a test....it is definately the hardest in my 50 years.... I know..it is written...."thy will be done..."and what ever that will be I will accept....but we hope and pray that it is what we also pray for

WE will all be there one day and be old....if we are lucky and have many years of our own. ...And let us all remember that our days are fleeting and to keep the important things close in our lives and loved ones closer still because love transends...use the time we have wisely in God's eyes.

Thank you very much.

I would like to ask every one to pray for Our son Justin, his wife and 18 mo. old daughter....and unborn child. Jan. 9th Justin was involved in a very bad auto accident and is still in critical condition. At the scene of the accident the EMT's originally thought he was killed.....and committed there was no hurry...he was already dead.....but then he moved or made a sound and once he was freed from the wreckage, he was rushed to Huntsville Hospital here in Alabama. My daughter-in-law was first told that he would not survive....but he did and has improved much from that point to very much alive. Justin Will be 27 in May. Though, he has sever head injuries...I know that he is young and strong....very healthy before his accident and that has been a very big plus for him. He has a long road ahead of him and while the Doctors are not to optimistic he will come out of his coma...we believe that with faith and God...all things are possible. He has done so much better, faster than expected...we know he is a fighter and is fighting for his life back and to be with his family again. So please, if prays could appear like rain drops going into the heavens.....help us make it rain. www.facebook.com/prayersforjustinhudson

We was thinking that...and looked at a computer keyboard cable.....looked like it was a smaller dia......but we will check it out again... thanks. Roy