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Re: [ST] Re: Underdawg (Motor goes BOOM!)



original message:

>David "Bird Dawg" Viosca wrote:

>Underdawg you sure have been quiet about your Betty. What's the word?
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Well David I have been quiet on this subject hoping to get a conclusive 
answer as to the culprit.  But it appears no exact cause can be determined 
so here is "the rest of the story".

If ya'll remember, just before the Texas RAT Raid, I had a "ticking" sound 
in my motor.  This was diagnosed as a small exhaust leak by the mounting 
bracket/centerstand.  We all remember the thread THAT discussion started! 
(please stay dead)  Anywho, the welding did not completely cure the 
"ticking".  Went to the rallye anyway, no problems.  EXCEPT, on the way back 
home with "Bird Dawg" I began to lose power, just a little (I could still 
outrun the "Guzzi" ;-) ).  Turned out I had lost the number one spark plug, 
electrode had burnt off due to the plug not being seated properly. And I 
still had the ticking sound.

Shop pulled the entire header and checked/welded any possible exhaust leaks. 
  Replaced the spark plug and it ran fine, EXCEPT I still had the ticking 
sound!  OK I'm getting a little impatient by this time. 3 weeks, three 
visits to the shop, two problems solved, but still that damn ticking!  We 
are now up to my scheduled 10 day trip to the Ozarks (this was May19th).  I 
take the bike back in on the once more, determined to have this problem 
resolved.  They drop everything else and proceed to tear the top end apart. 
They pull everything down to the pistons, check all the valves, check the 
camchain, everything is to spec. Re-shim the valves to the tightest 
tolerance.  Put it back together, guess what, it keeps on ticking.  Now this 
is not a loud, dangerous sound, just a quiet, tick-tick-tick.........like a 
time-bomb.

I decide to go ahead with the trip (famous last words).  Head out on Monday, 
21st.  Up to Lake Ouachita (Mountain Harbor Resort) get in about 9:00 pm, 
great ride.  Friends from Michigan show up Tuesday, we lounge around most of 
the day, and take a little afternoon ride, about 200 twisty miles, another 
great day, perfect weather.  Did I mention the ticking noise?

Wednesday morning, planned a big loop over the Talimena Drive, then north up 
through the Ozarks and back to our trusty digs at Mountain Harbor.  Thirty 
miles into the Talimena I have just finished a very "spirited" downhill 
twisty section.  I am quite a ways ahead so I turn around and head back up 
to intercept the group.  Second gear, oh, 60 or so, the motor locks solid.  
I immediately grap a handful of clutch and stop.  Find neutral hit the start 
button.  Nothing.  Have you ever tried to turn an ST around on a 40 degree 
uphill slope?  I get her pointed downhill and coast to the next overlook 
(Sunset Overlook).  My friends show up a few minutes later, sad looks all 
around. I had signed up for AMA "Mo-tow" service three days earlier but did 
not know if it was activated, call the number, it is.  Nice guy sends a 
Flat-bed out of Mena (35 miles away)   An hour later we load up the bike 
(with visions of Patti and Booh in my head).  Have you ever ridden in a tow 
truck with you bike in the back on the twistiest mountain roads you could 
find?  Not Fun.  Make it to Mena, find a U-Haul joint, rent a truck, 
transfer bike to truck, send friends to buy tie-down straps.  Tie bike down 
at FIVE points (thinking of Booh again).  Then drive back to Mountain Harbor 
for the night.

Thursday drive back to Dallas.  Drop off bike, Thursday May 23rd.  Today is 
Monday June 11th.

This is what I know.  Number one piston, rings, valves:  disinegrated, 
rubble.  On order, new: 2 pistons (1 & 2) and associated rings connecting 
rods, pins etc.  New crank, complete new top-end with valves installed. And 
Friday they found a gouge in the left main case, so that is now on order.  I 
may never know what actually caused the seizure.  Everything was so blown up 
the evidence was lost.  I am out the $350.00 I spent on towing/truck rental 
but I knew I was taking that chance.  Everything else is under warranty.

So the good news is I did not wreck (hate to think what would have happened 
if I were going downhill)  bike has no irreversible damage, and I had Mo-Tow 
and a cell phone.



STeve Duncan
Underdawg
2K -ST (Betty)
Dallas, TX

p.s. In case you are wondering, "Betty" has about 17,000 miles and was one 
year old May 10th.
_________________________________________________________________
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