That can't be good for the bike...

squall_line · 06-13-2014, 05:49 PM

Picked up my bike from service today, and got about 5 miles up the road before it lost all power, died, and then blew a giant cloud of black smoke out the pipe. It was bad enough that the rear cowl is soot-covered.

Pulled over, tried to turn it over, and nothing but more smoke.

I called for a lift and while I was waiting decided to pull the ignition coil and make sure the spark plug was still in place. Looks like the plug is still in decent shape, if a little cokey.

I have a StaInTune true-dual exhaust, so that helped me see that I get black smoke from the right cylinder during turnover.

I managed to get home on an S1000RR, and I'm not quite hooked, but I still wouldn't want to give up my R11S for anything.

Did I puke a valve? Is there anything else that could cause such an issue?

I've had better days, but I've had much worse, too.

Steve Carlton · 06-13-2014, 05:56 PM

5 miles from service?

squall_line · 06-13-2014, 06:00 PM

Yes. Service was to fix an oil leak from the alternator cover/seal. I'd rather speculate on what the issue may be, and keep my assumptions limited to what's wrong with the bike rather than how it was caused/who caused it (that will come after it gets diagnosed by the dealer, I'm sure).

The dealer picked me up with a trailer and gave me a ride back to the shop even though they were already closed; I'm VERY lucky in that regard.

Steve Carlton · 06-13-2014, 06:11 PM

I was thinking if they adjusted the valves or something that could cause the problem. 5 miles after service is what they call a "red flag!" Hope it's nothing serious...

squall_line · 06-13-2014, 06:14 PM

Got my 24k/annual/tires about two months and 500 miles ago, so I hope they didn't go back in and touch the valves when they were fixing the oil leak, but that crossed my mind, too.

squall_line · 06-13-2014, 06:17 PM

Also, completely unrelated, Shift Assist on the S1kRR is VERY addictive… I can see why guys are getting it retrofitted on their 2014 R12GSW's.

brentw1 · brentw1's Garage

sounds like maybe oil starvation

squall_line · 06-13-2014, 06:46 PM

I looked for a large oil puddle because that's what I was expecting to see under the bike when it happened. I didn't think to look at the sight glass and see if it got drained/filled because of the service (I figure the seal on the alternator shaft is a pressure-leak seal, rather than a static-fill seal, but I could be wrong).

*sigh*

squall_line · 06-14-2014, 02:55 PM

Service manager's guess before opening up the bike is the Hall Effect Sensor. Definitely preferable to a valve issue, but not exactly a cheap or easy fix. They won't know more until Tuesday when the shop can get it up on a lift.

Droptarotter · Droptarotter's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by squall_line

Service manager's guess before opening up the bike is the Hall Effect Sensor. Definitely preferable to a valve issue, but not exactly a cheap or easy fix. They won't know more until Tuesday when the shop can get it up on a lift.

I wonder if the tech buggered something up or left the ignition pick up loose while replacing the oil seal in that area????

Sounds like the timing was off somehow and the bike just let out a huge fart.

Could be an easy fix.

Cheers

squall_line · 07-03-2014, 05:55 AM

Hall Effect Sensor ended up getting replaced; I plan on trying to pick the bike up today.

sgoodwin · sgoodwin's Garage

They charging you for this as they just had their grimy fingers all over it before it went poof?

PFFOG · 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgoodwin

They charging you for this as they just had their grimy fingers all over it before it went poof?

If it wasn't left loose and destroyed by the spinning shade, they should charge him for it.

Yes them moving it around may have caused the insulation to crack, a known failure but hardly their fault.

And if they quoted automatic replacement because of the possibility, people would be screaming rip-off!

squall_line · 07-03-2014, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFFOG

If it wasn't left loose and destroyed by the spinning shade, they should charge him for it.

Yes them moving it around may have caused the insulation to crack, a known failure but hardly there fault.

^This

I didn't ask what the price/cost was, because there's no sense in worrying about it or discussing it until I show up with my cash/checkbook, and I've always been treated fairly on prices there.

As far as whether it was the service tech's fault or wear and tear, the bike has over 52k miles on it and has spent the last 7 years outside (under a cover, though the cover finally started to rip and leak this past spring), including at least 3 of the last 7 Iowa winters. I'm frankly surprised that the bike has remained in as good of shape as it has and that more wires and rubber parts haven't completely worn out.

PFFOG · 07-03-2014, 06:38 PM

Their, their!! I need to proof read gooder