My loop puked.......added carnage photo

[ratguzzi]

I am currently working in Philly. Last week, I flew to AF1 in Austin to pick up my new SWM Superdual X. I rode it home to Wonder Lake, IL over the weekend and decided to ride my 68 Loop back to the job in Lansdale, PA. Very pleasant ride. Then yesterday, I rode to Delaware City for a lunch of blue crab. Slabbed it to PA32 just northeast of Philly and rode up the Delaware river just past US202 to a backroad that brings me back to US202. Decel down a small hill and it all of a sudden sounded like a semi engine brake out the left exhaust and left carb. Get close to the stoplight and instantly back to normal. I ride another mile or so and it does it again but banging and rattling. 12 miles back to the hotel, maybe I can limp on one lung. Blowing gas out the left carb so I shut off the petcock for the left side. I am assuming I lost the intake valve. I go about 2-3 miles and I hear the carb barfing stop. I turn the petcock back on and it starts running perfect. Another mile and this time, it for sure sounds like it ate the valve. I was at about 45mph and as I was slowing down, I hear all hell bust loose and then the motor crank take about 10 seconds to come to a stop. I am sure both connecting rods or crankshaft busted to bits. Lucky now about 7 miles from the hotel and it happened near a stoplight with a nicely paved should so easy to stop. I grab my helmet with my left hand and start walking with my thumb out. Not even 100 feet and a guy offers me a ride to the hotel. I grab my van and go to the jobsite to fetch my trailer and had it back to the hotel about 50 minutes after it blew up. Just thinking how it could have been so much worse, I guess I was really lucky!
I do have a 04 hydro motor in my basement with a fresh recall camshaft/etc done. The 98 EV motor was milled out for the points to be installed but I will need the ECU this time for the 04 ignition. I need to work on the schematic to determine what little of the harness I need to fire the coils.
JB

[Madtownguzzi]

Luck was on your side being close to your hotel and having your own rescue equipment along on your job. That SWM super duel X is a sweet ride but the 35 inch seat height is a killer for my 29 inch inseam. Did you get the free Givi panniers and AGV helmet they are offering now?

https://swmmotorcycles.com.au/superdual-x/

[ratguzzi]

Luck was on your side being close to your hotel and having your own rescue equipment along on your job. That SWM super duel X is a sweet ride but the 35 inch seat height is a killer for my 29 inch inseam. Did you get the free Givi panniers and AGV helmet they are offering now?

https://swmmotorcycles.com.au/superdual-x/

That really sucks. Luck wasn't on my side for the SWM! I paid full price for the panniers.
I have been investigating a lot. I have confirmed the Kouba lowering link for the Husky SM 610 will work.
JB

[Lannis]

I'll be interested to hear what the autopsy (if there is one) reveals.

How can a motor sound like it's eaten a valve or snapped a con rod, and THEN go back to running perfectly for a while?

Perhaps a valve seizing in its guide and then freeing up?    Hmmmm ....

Lannis

[ratguzzi]

I'll be interested to hear what the autopsy (if there is one) reveals.

How can a motor sound like it's eaten a valve or snapped a con rod, and THEN go back to running perfectly for a while?

Perhaps a valve seizing in its guide and then freeing up?    Hmmmm ....

Lannis

The first noises were different. It was more like the valve could have stuck open and maybe the lifter just slapping the crap out of the cam and valve. The sounds before self destruction sounded like the valve spring keepers let go and then it dropped into the cylinder. Probably the momentum and instant impact either busted the crank or rods.
JB

[Lannis]

The first noises were different. It was more like the valve could have stuck open and maybe the lifter just slapping the crap out of the cam and valve. The sounds before self destruction sounded like the valve spring keepers let go and then it dropped into the cylinder. Probably the momentum and instant impact either busted the crank or rods.
JB

Ouch.

[John A]

sounds like you almost ran over the crankshaft
All I can offer is moral support, don't have any parts to send

[ratguzzi]

sounds like you almost ran over the crankshaft
All I can offer is moral support, don't have any parts to send

I will most likely be putting in my spare 04 hydro 1100.
JB

[pete roper]

If this was an early loop/V7/Ambo I'd have a guess at a valve seat coming loose. The alloy of those early heads is very, very ordinary. I've experienced dropped seats with them before. The initial noises may of been caused by the seat dropping a tad so the valve clearance got horribly wide. When the seat returned to its register it would go quiet for a bit before it came loose and dropped again. Eventually it dropped right out and the valve jammed on it followed by the piston bashing the valve and the seat shattering. Utter carnage ensues.

Just a guess.

[brider]

For those of us unfamiliar with your '68 Loop: Was it the original engine, or from a later vintage?

Please pull a valve cover when you get a chance just to show us what it looks like on the surface, so we can imagine what it looks like inside.

[larrys]

For those of us unfamiliar with your '68 Loop: Was it the original engine, or from a later vintage?

Please pull a valve cover when you get a chance just to show us what it looks like on the surface, so we can imagine what it looks like inside.

Looks like a square fin motor in the photo.
Larry

[ratguzzi]

Peter's opinion makes sense. It is a motor from my 98EV which I put in my T3 after a guy ran a red light and I flew over his truck and then watched him drive away.
I am guessing the motor has 200k plus on it so maybe it was time.
Yeah, I am interested in looking into it but not as interested in doing it in the hotel parking lot. I will pop a valve cover off this weekend.
The 04 motor should work well in it.
JB

[pete roper]

If it's a 98 my scenario is unlikely.

[brider]

Looks like a square fin motor in the photo.
Larry

Oops, sorry, my browser at work won't display photos for some reason.

[MattP]

My bet push rod took a shit. I had 3 do that on 95 cal. Had to make one out of a chevy six on the road in a small shop. Matt

[reidy]

More out of curiosity and general knowledge to file away, is there a way to make the vale seats more secure in the early heads. Do they require a tighter fit, peening over or some sort of loctite/retaining compound.

Thanks

Steve

[pete roper]

The temperatures, especially around the exhausts, mean that no Loctite type product will work. On ones that have needed it I peen the seats in place.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

More out of curiosity and general knowledge to file away, is there a way to make the vale seats more secure in the early heads. Do they require a tighter fit, peening over or some sort of loctite/retaining compound.

Thanks

Steve

Not disputing Pete's experience, but I've yet to see or even hear of any early big-twin Guzzis here in the US with dropped seats.

[Furbo]

I broke a conrod in an 89 Le Mans engine back in '01. Rod spun around taking out the bottoms of both cylinders and stuffed itself thru the case......uuuugly.  Still have the rod in my tool chest. 3 weeks later I broke the crankshaft on a Laverda 750. Oh yeah, I got skills...

[Muzz]

Only 200,000 miles.

It may still be under warranty.  <shrug>

[MattP]

Well what was the problem?

[Lannis]

Well what was the problem?

JB works "on the road"; hasn't been two weeks yet since the blow-up, probably hasn't had time to tear into it yet.

If that happened to me, it'd probably be 6 months before I'd be "in the mood" .... !

Lannis

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

JB stopped by here on Sunday, from his description, it sounds like the crankshaft broke. Starter spins the flywheel, etc. and it takes a long while to slow down, the alternator isn't turning at all.

[Lannis]

JB stopped by here on Sunday, from his description, it sounds like the crankshaft broke. Starter spins the flywheel, etc. and it takes a long while to slow down, the alternator isn't turning at all.

With the massive crankshafts on those bikes that are a big load for picking up in one hand .... I'm sure that's not a common occurrence!

Have you seen any of them do that before?

Lannis

[pete roper]

Yes, a few times. It's usually down to poor radiusing on the crankpin.

[ratguzzi]

Yes, a few times. It's usually down to poor radiusing on the crankpin.

I have paid my dues wrenching in the late 70s and again in the 80s. This crank is sheared off, I tell ya! But when finally home, I will send naughty little photos of the cause of death!!
JB

[John A]

Some guys are just hard on equipment.{ running and ducking..

[ratguzzi]

laughing! I bet I never hit over 4000 rpm on that ride!
JB

[ratguzzi]

Well, I am home finally and started to pull the motor to put in the hydro.  Just removed the left carb and I heard metal hit the floor!
Yeah, I think the motor is shot! More pics as I get further along.
JB

[Markcarovilli]

solid fuel??

Mark