Bike did a wee

If you want the history and you haven't read it yet look at one of the
French Run threads posted yesterday.

Upon inspecting the bike today it appears to have done a wee during
the night and is now parked in a puddle of oil that wasn't there
yesterday when I stuck it on the side stand after taking it out of the
recovery van.

(Photos 1-3 taken with digital camera, photos 4-7 taken with mobile
phone so excuse the quality)

<http://hayn.gotadsl.co.uk/bike/wee/1.jpg>

I looked around for the source of the leak for a few minutes and
noticed the swing arm was wetter than usual, especially as it hadn't
rained today and followed up from there. The area below the air box
is covered with mayonnaise and a thinner liquid, like water, is
dripping from it.

<http://hayn.gotadsl.co.uk/bike/wee/2.jpg>

I removed the seat and right LHS cover for a better view and I notice
from the photo that it's also run down the outside of the frame,
although I didn't notice it at the time.

<http://hayn.gotadsl.co.uk/bike/wee/3.jpg>

I removed the cover from the air box and water started pouring out of
it to reveal a very, very dirty and soaking filter.

<http://hayn.gotadsl.co.uk/bike/wee/4.jpg>

Removal of the air filter is a bit saddening. The 'tray' at the
bottom is full of that magical blue water, the like of which one sees
in tampon adverts. A quick inspection of the coolant reservoir under
the seat reveals that as well as pissing out most of its oil yesterday
on the ten mile journey to Dover it also pissed out the coolant. It's
worth noting that the water under the air filter doesn't have any oil
in it and the air filter just looks grubby and very wet, but doesn't
appear to contain the oil.

<http://hayn.gotadsl.co.uk/bike/wee/5.jpg>

I can't see the source of the oil but it doesn't appear to be in the
coolant and I'll need to remove something like the tank in order to
make any further progress. The oil is covering the underside of the
air box.

<http://hayn.gotadsl.co.uk/bike/wee/7.jpg>

The next time someone is in the area and has a spare hour or two I
would be most greatful if you could give me a hand as I've not removed
the tank before and even if I do I don't know what I'll be looking at.

From what you've seen today do you think it's even worth investigating
the possibility of fixing it and if not... what should I consider?

 

Loz H wrote

Dunno but there does look like there has been a mixing of oil and
troubled waters.

Depends dunit, if it is something common and silly like the head gasket
then it is more or less all labour, if he has a broken engine casing
then it is materials and even more labour.

Oh yes do that.

I'm not and am in a perfect position to help, except that my darling son
who I am so delighted is living back home for a month has fucked off for
the weekend and taken his car keys with him so that I can't drive it[1]
and consequently left the mongvan blocked in so I can't take my tools
and stuff for a ride anywhere.



[1] It's one of them Audi Quatro things and when he first got it he let
me have a go and a couple of weeks later when he was telling his mates
what you couldn't do with it he got quite pissed off when I said you
could and he hasn't let me drive it since.

 

Shame he's not closer to Paris, 'cos AOL.

Mind you, if he was, then he wouldn't be visiting me.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, steve auvache belched forth and ejected the
following:

Personally, I think this is God's way of telling him to get rid of the
bike[1]. It's not like this sort of thing hasn't happened before and the
breakdowns/events have been getting.. how should I put it?... larger
since his first bin, way back when.

[1] It could be God's way of telling him to give up biking, too.

 

Whinging Courier wrote

Couldn't possibly comment but I was careful to include some reservations
in my offer.

 

If I was up the road, I'd be pleased to have a look at it for you -
however distance precludes this. I'm sure that one of the locals will
sort you out, Nick ... but ...

It isn't good, mate. At the very least there's a head gasket at fault
and possibly (as others have mentioned) damage to head, crankcase or
components. It needs looking at by someone who knows what they're
doing. Technically speaking, as it stands at the moment, the fucking
fucker's fucking fucked.

You don't do things by halves, do you?

 

I've always aimed to die in a ball of flames, but this does seem
pretty mild.

I'm going to try to get the tank off, it's a two spanner job in the
Haynes manual. If I understand the BOL correctly once the tank is
removed I should be able to see more clearly where that mass of oil is
coming from forward of the air box. If there's a big hole smashed in
it then that's my decision made: The whole thing will go on ebay as a
non-runner with a warts 'n all review. If a hose is leaking then I'll
seek assistance from someone local who knows what they're doing (I
might have to redefine 'local') or throw it at a garage for their
opinion.

Once I'd taken the photos earlier on today I moved the bike to the
other side of the driveway entrance and put it on the centre stand.
There are no further oil drips on the road so I can only assume the
oil is leaking out of the top left of the engine or a related
component.

 

Head gasket's gone.

 

That's like four hundred spanners in the Haynes BOL.

 

If I've never let scars, bandages, stitches, knackered backs, being
blue lighted off to hospital, broken bits of metal, kicked cars,
punched-off wing mirrors, brake drums ripping themselves apart at
speed, wheel bearings collapsing, shitty and negligent workmanship,
wind, rain, ice, snow, shitty comments from friends and family, queues
of traffic, being rear ended in London and the dreaded YELLOW CAR put
me off in the past so why the hell should I let something as simple as
a fucked engine put me off now? I struggled, passed and repeated my
riding test not once but twice to get my unrestricted licence so I'm
not going to give up now.

I'm sure that if I live to be 40 and a seized up engine while
stationary on a fucking ferry with a recovery van en route upon my
return to take me ten miles home is the worst thing I've ever
experienced then I'll have had a very, very boring life thank you very
much.

Yes it may be expensive, yes I may be without wheels for a while but
I'm certainly not going to let this little hiccup put an end to my
future riding career. I love the pace, I love the excitement, I love
the grin that I still can't wipe from my face when I'm out having a
blast. I love the camaraderie, fellowship and even the solidarity that
comes with sitting on two wheels and an engine. I love getting up in
the morning and being glad I'm going to work on two wheels. Yes, I
may have been handed my hat but I'm not taking my coat and I'm
certainly not walking out of the door.

 

Piece of piss. [1]

[1] When you actually get around to sorting it, that is.

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

Good for you. I think the problem is the ER was really just a bit small
for an extended blast and you might be better off with something a bit
larger. Having said that, lots have used 500s for touring, but it's
usually at a steady pace and not straining the plot too much. Imo, it's
significant that two ER5s have blown up on exactly the same type of
journey, pointing to their weaknesses. Yours was using or losing oil at
an alarming rate before seizure - did you notice any blue smoke? The
coolant in the air filter box is a puzzle, but not being familiar with
the ER, I can't guess where it came from.

Still, if you strip the tank and stuff off and find the fault is
repairable, you can fix and get shot of it for something else.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, SP belched forth and ejected the following:

Yep. Even a gurl can do it

 

*waves*

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

If the engine turns out to be horribly knackered, this lot in Luton have a
1998 ER5 engine with (allegedly) 15,000 miles for £280 with a 14 day
warranty:
http://www.m1salvageandbreakers.co.uk/kawasakiengines.htm

First one I saw, prolly there are others more local to you, but not too bad
cost-wise if it comes to it.

Needless to say, I hope it's not bad news.

HTH,
Martin.

 

the morning and being glad I'm going to work on two wheels. Yes, I

Applause, much applause, keep going, keep fucking going, do * not* let the
bastard(S) get you down.
__

Drew
CB 500
(Pissed)

 

Or a few pints if you can get it to Brighton.

 

Dinner is roasting away merrily.

 

Well, it works now. It survived me journey to and from Halfauds for
some more oil. Thanks.

 

I think I can make it to Brighton now but I'm not sure if the problem
was ever diagnosed or not. It just kinda works now.