Good day of riding turns bad...

[tcoop]

I've taken over the garage with the bikes. No car can fit in there currently. My wife only complains about it when it’s really cold out or really hot.

I have already pulled the motor out to the 80 and pulled the head (it had bent valves) Need to hone the cylinders and get new valves and gaskets.

I'm also going to go look at an engine out of a 79 that would be less down time.

[motoman]

Sure would consider installing a cam chain self adjuster from the V-Max/Venture series or the 550Vision. Had my stock manual adjuster slip on two occassions, once in garage while running and once a short from the house. First time, happened setting on centerstand after syncing carbs with a blip of the throttle. Re-set it and locked down thinking just a wierd occurrance. Second time after a downshift and decel. The instant noisey chain was the tell-tale sign. Changed out the tensioner getting one here locally from salvage solved what could have been catasrophic. IMO, a combination of not implementing an actual set-screw and the previous set marks on flat portion of shaft which end up allowing shaft to "walk" back to previous set mark under load is causing this to happen, which I verified was the case when I removed the stock tensioner.......JAT.

[tcoop]

Sure would consider installing a cam chain self adjuster from the V-Max/Venture series or the 550Vision. Had my stock manual adjuster slip on two occassions, once in garage while running and once a short from the house. First time, happened setting on centerstand after syncing carbs with a blip of the throttle. Re-set it and locked down thinking just a wierd occurrance. Second time after a downshift and decel. The instant noisey chain was the tell-tale sign. Changed out the tensioner getting one here locally from salvage solved what could have been catasrophic. IMO, a combination of not implementing an actual set-screw and the previous set marks on flat portion of shaft which end up allowing shaft to "walk" back to previous set mark under load is causing this to happen, which I verified was the case when I removed the stock tensioner.......JAT.

As a matter of fact I had a Venture self adjust one in. I don't think its the cam chain I will know more later tonight or tomorrow.

[tcoop]

Here's the pictures of the hole.

[remi]

Ouch, that sucks! Hope ya getter fixed up soon!

[natemoen]

Not cool! That really sucks!

[crazy steve]

That's the kiss of death... extra 'vent' holes are never good

[DAVINCI]

No, that ain't no cam chain, pardner. More like a loose rod bolt, or a piece of piston skirt got jammed in there by the rod. can't imagine anything else that would come loose in that area. When you crack it open, post more pics.

[DGXSER]

When we say your engine needs to breath better, that is NOT what we mean!!

Definitely looks like a rod made contact. Now if it was something stuck to it, or of the bearing got wiped some how and created that much play, you may never know.

[jwhughes3]

black duct tape will fix it

or maybe JB weld it closed iffen you want a more permanent repair.

No reason to think she's done - just crack it open and fix whatever fell apart and glue it shut. Good as new.

You may think I am joking (I was about the duct tape) but really I think you can just patch that (you may want it brazed up) and take the opportunity for freshening up the engine.

John

[tcoop]

Not for the faint of heart...

Here are the gruesome pictures. #3 must have been running really lean.





The cam chain was perfect still. I sure there is a lot of debris in the engine. If I can swing the finances I have an engine lined up that looks like it came directly from the factory (at least the outside looks clean)

[crazy steve]

Yep, that one's now a parts motor...

That valve head is still MIA, but if it didn't get into the trans the gears should be salvagable. You're lucky it didn't seize; that wouldn't have been fun.

[DAVINCI]

Sure is a bummer, but she got you home. Interesting, that's not the first time we've seen a valve head snapped clean off.

[DGXSER]

That looks VERY VERY Familiar!!! Seems your valve head must have gone down through the piston and ended up getting peened around in the rods. It is surprising you did not hear the thing bouncing around in there as it did the damage you see. That did not all happen in that short period you described.

Yep, a replacement engine is most certainly your best bet at this point.

[jwhughes3]

OK I give...

Duct tape won't fix THAT!

I am really surprised the hole isn't bigger.

Good luck with the new motor.

John