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**skids** · 11-05-2011, 07:02 PM

No oil? Not good! No oil light? Middle drives have been known to seize. You would need to be able to turn the engine just to check compression. I would pull of the valve cover and see if you can spot some cam alignment problems. Then, pull the cams out and see if you can turn the crank with the valves relaxed.

**XS1100_OEM4ME** · 11-05-2011, 07:02 PM

Wow

WOW, that is bad, When was the last time you "knew" the oil was full? If no sign of leak, was she smoking more then normal, as the oil had to go somewhere. Did the two quarts fill it to the top oil level? I hate to say it, but the sounds and almost no oil in the case probably means a compleat rebuild or motor replace from a doner bike. The smoke can travel and will come out any hole it can find, ie trans vent, etc. Man, sorry to give bad news, but, i would do a complet take down to be sure, or replacement if you have a cheap motor availabule, good luck and keep us posted as to what you find

Originally posted by ShootersHoliday View Post

Sooo...

Cruising at about 70 this morning, I start to notice a clicking noise. Keep in mind I've got a full mask, ear plugs & the general ambience of the motor

drowning out the bad noises.

So, I slow it down to 55 or so, and can still hear the noise. CLick, click, click... Sounds rotational, but seems to go away when I'm not on the throttle. But, I pull over anyways to make sure I didn't explode the shaft or something. By the time I pull over the click click is more of a CLACK CLACK CLACK.... Yah, still no real smell of burning, and no smoke. I restart it and thats when all hell breaks loose. Smoke pouring out from under the transmission area, the lovely smell of burning, and the sound of a Detroit diesel that doesn't exist in my engine...

I checked the oil, or rather, the lack of... The engine won't turn at all. Seems frozen or stuck or... I put a couple quarts in and no dice...

Where should I start inspecting to see what could have happened, or to inspect what could be destroyed.

The odd thing, I still don't see an oil leak

Oh, and from the time I noticed the noise to the time I shut it down and "locked" the motor was probably less than 60 seconds. Any thoughts????

**XS1100_OEM4ME** · 11-05-2011, 07:07 PM

Crank case/

I may have missed it, is it your crank case that was emtpy? middle drive empty too? The noise you discribed sounds like rod beaarings burring up to me, 1st a rattel, then a clank, then a seize of the motor. sorry if it is, I mean that

Originally posted by skids View Post

No oil? Not good! No oil light? Middle drives have been known to seize. You would need to be able to turn the engine just to check compression. I would pull of the valve cover and see if you can spot some cam alignment problems. Then, pull the cams out and see if you can turn the crank with the valves relaxed.

**crazy steve** · 11-05-2011, 07:12 PM

Sounds like you may have sucked a valve..... that'll mean a new top end for sure, and if it destroyed a piston and metal got spread through the motor, a complete teardown. Bummer....

**3Phase** · 11-05-2011, 07:14 PM

That sucks but good thinking when you pulled over! Ask DiverRay about lockups at speed.

If you can't roll the bike at all then the transmission is probably kaputski but the engine might be alright.

If you can shift the transmission into Neutral and/or roll the bike with the clutch pulled in then the engine is toast.

Good luck and hopefully it's just the transmission!

**ShootersHoliday** · 11-05-2011, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by 3Phase View Post

That sucks but good thinking when you pulled over! Ask DiverRay about lockups at speed.

If you can't roll the bike at all then the transmission is probably kaputski but the engine might be alright.

If you can shift the transmission into Neutral and/or roll the bike with the clutch pulled in then the engine is toast.

Good luck and hopefully it's just the transmission!

Thanks all for the condolences. I might have to shoot it and bury it in the back...

The last time I "knew" there was oil in the engine was (gulp) three months ago. I park it in the exact same spot at home, and generally at work and have never seen a leak. Its also pretty clean underneath. Although, once I get it home (yes, I had to leave it in the mountains so I could get picked up and spent the day in trainings... ) So, I'm heading back to pick it up tonight after I finish accounting homework... Joy

Yes, it rolls fine, in neutral or with the clutch held and in a gear. However, it definitely does nothing when trying to start it.

**ShootersHoliday** · 11-05-2011, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by XS1100_OEM4ME View Post

I may have missed it, is it your crank case that was emtpy? middle drive empty too? The noise you discribed sounds like rod beaarings burring up to me, 1st a rattel, then a clank, then a seize of the motor. sorry if it is, I mean that

Not sure. The only spot I could find in a pinch was the oil cap (which is where the smoke was coming from) just behind the clutch cable.

The pics I took this morning trying to make the best of a craptastical situation...

**ShootersHoliday** · 11-05-2011, 07:48 PM

Originally posted by XS1100_OEM4ME View Post

If no sign of leak, was she smoking more then normal, as the oil had to go somewhere. Did the two quarts fill it to the top oil level? I hate to say it, but the sounds and almost no oil in the case probably means a compleat rebuild or motor replace from a doner bike

Oh, and the bike did smoke, but nothing that seemed "weird". It appeared to be a gasket leak at the headers. But, once I get it home I'm sure I'll find it was actually an oil leak I only noticed it at times, you could see the smoke through the headlights beam.

**jwhughes3** · 11-05-2011, 07:49 PM

So sorry..

My condolences...not a quick fix by the sound of it...

But many bikes are organ donors and will give up an engine for you.

If it were me I'd replace the engine and get it going, then teardown the old one to see whats inside.

John

**XS1100_OEM4ME** · 11-05-2011, 07:55 PM

Keep your head up

Man, I hate to hear your story from a fellow XS owner. I know how bad they can make you feel, don't shoot it and bury it just yet. If she rolls, then not middle or rearend lockup. Yes, it is the motor, could be a valve drop, but I never had one drop and let the motor run for that long before locking up. Thank God your OK, and the bike can be fixed. Remember, it was one of the higest production motorcycle motor's ever and plenty of cheap parts and lots of good advice form friends on here ,don't give up.

Originally posted by ShootersHoliday View Post

Thanks all for the condolences. I might have to shoot it and bury it in the back...

The last time I "knew" there was oil in the engine was (gulp) three months ago. I park it in the exact same spot at home, and generally at work and have never seen a leak. Its also pretty clean underneath. Although, once I get it home (yes, I had to leave it in the mountains so I could get picked up and spent the day in trainings... ) So, I'm heading back to pick it up tonight after I finish accounting homework... Joy

Yes, it rolls fine, in neutral or with the clutch held and in a gear. However, it definitely does nothing when trying to start it.

**TopCatGr58** · 11-05-2011, 08:08 PM

Hey Shooter,

Sorry to say I have to agree with the others, that it ran low on oil and burned up the engine, bearings, etc.!

As to finding a leak, it may not have one, but these old engines can BURN oil as they run, and that's probably what happened, that you ran it slowly down on oil as you ran the bike normally, and it got too low and was unable to maintain it's lubricating and cooling ability!

Yep, get a donor engine, swap it out, and then keep riding, just remember to check your oil level once a week, or every few fillups.

Then you can take your time doing the Post Mortem exam on the old engine!
T.C.

**Danny Crawdad** · 11-05-2011, 08:24 PM

Ouch -- sounds like it ran low of oil and over the three months since you checked the level it burned enough to run low. Have seen it happen on cars. Even if you had an exhaust leak at the header, it shouldn't have had smoke coming out, it sounds like it was gradually burning oil.

Time for a donor engine and a big bore kit

**XS1100_OEM4ME** · 11-05-2011, 08:26 PM

Man

Man, that is one cool looking bike, and that comes from a guy who is called OEM! You can fix her! A doner motor for now and if the motor is fryed, you will have all kinds of spair parts that are still good to use if you need them. Good luck on bringing her back, and truly sorry for your pain

Originally posted by ShootersHoliday View Post

Not sure. The only spot I could find in a pinch was the oil cap (which is where the smoke was coming from) just behind the clutch cable.

The pics I took this morning trying to make the best of a craptastical situation...

**ShootersHoliday** · 11-05-2011, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by XS1100_OEM4ME View Post

. Thank God your OK, and the bike can be fixed.

The 2nd I started getting the click under acceleration I pulled it over quick. I've seen death wobble, and had a tank slapper once..

I hit a wall at 60mph in my truck, took about three years to get back in it. She's been rebuilt and I drive it all the time now.

Thats probably what I'll do though, or something like that. I've enjoyed this bike, and see no reason not to keep riding her. I've had the same truck for years, so I tend to keep something when I like it. Find a new, well running motor and figure out what killed this one I'm sure

Originally posted by TopCatGr58 View Post

Then you can take your time doing the Post Mortem exam on the old engine!
T.C.

sounds like a good time to make use of some of my brothers spare turbos

And seriously, thanks for the condolences and "well wishes". I know when I cut the bike up a few people were less than amused, but I continue to appreciate the attitude here. Definitely makes jumping into the teardown a little less daunting. I should have pics of carnage in a few hours

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CLACK CLACK CLACK... there goes my morning

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