2010 Calvin
I bought this one new in 2010 and always felt that there was something slightly off about it... Like an extra vibration from low down... I lent it to a few very experienced guzzisti for a second opinion... They told me it was running fine.
Fast forward to 2018 and I gave the bike (in pristine condition, nicely run-in) to my friend Elvis.
A little while later, he calls me up and says, 'the oil light came on while I was riding, what does this mean?'
I told him that there is a little sensor there that lights up when it no longer senses oil pressure and that, if the light had come on while riding, he'd probably already spun his motor a fair few times without any oil getting to the furthest reaches of the engine (rear main bearing...)
I asked Elvis if he'd recently checked his oil levels...
How do you do that? he replies...
Ok, so I went over and we checked his oil, a little low. We did an oil change.
A week later, Elvis calls me back up and says, Oh the oil light came on again while I was riding but just for a moment. What does that mean?
I said, well to be completely honest with you, its either that you're losing oil pressure while riding or -maybe just maybe- your sensor could be bad... BUT it's a high stakes gamble....
A week or so later, Elvis calls me and says 'Orbison! (see how our nicknames work?) I'm not far from your place but my bike has just completely stopped working! The rear wheel locked up and now it won't move...'
Ok, we got the bike indoors and yep, it's seized.
Elvis got himself another Cali and I finally got round to the tear-down
Exhibit A
Oil sprocket retaining nut was loose on its shaft by quite some distance.
Upper portion of chain tensioner exploded
Oil sprocket woodruff key nowhere to be found (if it has one?)
but plenty of exploded tensioner in the sump.
see exhibit B
Bike had absolutely routine servicing its whole life. Bought from new.
Timing cover never opened since leaving the factory.
My theory, the factory forgot to tighten the nut holding the oil pump sprocket.
sprocket came slightly loose, causing the low down vibes I'd previously perceived.
Over time, sprocket loosened itself further and began dancing up and down the shaft
movement of sprocket put undue pressure on tensioner, which duly exploded.
As it unravelled, sprocket stopped turning it's shaft leading to no more oil
leading to rapid crankshaft lockup....
Sound plausible?
Anyone ever seen anything like this?
Ride safe and Merry Xmas to one and all
ps no hating on Elvis please, he's a great guy, just not very mechanically minded
