What a mess!

Twinstar Joined: Jul 16, 2007 Posts: 226 Location: NorCal

Went for a short rip on the "SuperF" Sunday afternoon and was about three miles from home when I noticed during a downshift that my boot sole was feeling a little slippery on the left rearset peg, I look down to see some oil on the toe of my left Sidi and a quick glance back at the rear tire was a shocker! The entire rear half of the bike was dripping with fresh oil! I pulled over and parked it immediately and as soon as I put it on the side stand I see oil pouring out of the countershaft, I had lost the countershaft sprocket bolt! I'm guessing that during assembly of the bike 650mi. ago I had only tightened it with a 3/8" drive ratchet and overlooked torqing it down tight. Like I said earlier, what a mess, thankfully Simple Green and some hot water and soapy Tide detergent cleaned up everything. Another sprocket bolt, washer, o-ring and two quarts of Honda GN-4 made it all good again. Thoughts of those 100mph sweepers a few miles earlier really spooked me.
Just curious, has anybody ever had this happen before and lived to tell about it?

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:19 am

Thanks for the warning!

I only put mine on last week. I'll go and check now. Smile

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:24 am

NorCalSuperF wrote:

Just curious, has anybody ever had this happen before and lived to tell about it?

Not the same cause, but I had an oil pressure gauge blow out of the sender gallery a while ago doing about 120KPH. Covered the right side of the bike (and my boot), as well as the rear tyre. Pulled up very slowly, and in a straight line. Just like you, I'd just come through a heap of twisties.

Apart from a new pair of brake pads, damage was limited. Never did recover the gauge - just re-fitted the light sender.

Maybe we should develop a 'badge' for survivors of oil-slicks, like the helicopter pilots who survive crashes Wink

cheers
ian

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:38 pm

My sprocket bolt came out on me after my last rebuild. luckily it just felt out right onto my left foot while I was at a stop light, after riding about 10 miles. just POP and I looked down and was able to move my foot fast enough to avoid the 1-2 quarts of oil spewing out.
put it on the side stand and hand tightened the bolt back in to stop the oil flow, walked it up on the sidewalk and called for tools.

yeah really spooked me cause I was just weaving in and out of traffic in center city philadelphia. All i could think was, i bet it would hurt to get your leg ripped off by the chain!!!

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:30 pm

Yikes. I just replaced my chain. I guess I better go recheck that bolt before I head out again. Maybe I'll put a dab of loctite on it as well. My bike has been blowing some oil out of the crankcase breather. Some of it drips out of the airbox and onto the oil fill cap and the rest runs down the drain hose where it drips on my centerstand and then sprays onto my rear wheel on the left side. The drain hose is capped but it still drips. I clean the bit of oil that ends up on the tire whenever i get a chance to prevent deterioration of the rubber and haven't noticed any slipping when cornering but I don't push it that hard. I'm glad all of you survived your near misses unscathed.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:35 pm

if oil is coming out the vent hose you either have over filled it or you have a blocked oil passage and there's pressure building up inside the crankcase.

same if you do wheelies alot too i guess, oil starts coming out that hose if you're verticle.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:09 pm

Had it happen to my VF1000R. Just coming into the neighborhood from a fast ride. Going slow, 1st gear from a stop sign, no problem, hit the gas a bit, back tire slides sideways, do it again, kicks out again, look down and the rear tire covered in oil, make it the half block to my garage, on the sidestand, loses about a half quart on the garage floor. Surprisingly, the sprocket bolt is still there.

After cleanup and adding about a quart I used an air wrench and safety wired the sprocket bolt.

Just happy it happened at 25 mph and not 80 mph.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:45 pm

I'm gonna go check the torque on mine too. Thanks for this thread, I'd never realized this could happen! Shocked

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:51 pm

Is loctite recommended on this bolt? I have a new sprocket, but I did torque mine to spec.. Maybe I should check mine also, its easy enough as I don't run that engine cover.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:59 pm

Im a blue locktite and nylok nut junkie, unless they're small screws, every fastner on any bike gets a dab orf loe blue or a nylok nut.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:10 pm

cbxdog wrote:

Im a blue locktite and nylok nut junkie, unless they're small screws, every fastner on any bike gets a dab orf loe blue or a nylok nut.

It sure can't hurt... But I was wondering how being in a hot oil atmosphere would effect loctite on a bolt like that? You don't use loctite inside motors. At least I don't think you should?

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:45 am

no locktite won't hurt it. In fact when you put the dyna ignition rotor you install the bolt with blue locktite.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:48 am

You can use loctite inside motors, we used to use it on rod bolts sometimes. Be sparing, you don't want any to mix with oil, might seize a bearing or some such. The part needs to be CLEAN AND DRY when you use it, don't put it on an oily part.

Twinstar Joined: Jul 16, 2007 Posts: 226 Location: NorCal

Well, I went back to the scene of this "near disaster" today and followed the clearly visible oil trail left on the asphalt, it measured close to a 1/2mi. from where I came to a stop at. Also, found that the oil trail originally starts about 100yds. past the last fast sweeper. Gulp.

(Tom, I'm diggin' that VF1000R avatar. Do you have any full screen views of that bike posted anywhere?)

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:57 am

Mor then anything I`m glad your OK.
Every corner and mile I think of that.
It needs to be said,
It can happen.
Ride on brother.,

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:13 am

NorCalSuperF wrote:

Well, I went back to the scene of this "near disaster" today and followed the clearly visible oil trail left on the asphalt, it measured close to a 1/2mi. from where I came to a stop at. Also, found that the oil trail originally starts about 100yds. past the last fast sweeper. Gulp.

(Tom, I'm diggin' that VF1000R avatar. Do you have any full screen views of that bike posted anywhere?)

Good thing it didn`t start at the beginning of the sweeper! Also, I had used blue loctite on mine and torqued it. I am using an offset sprocket though...just be careful!

I have some more pics, can`t post them here though. Maybe a link?:

VF1000RS

I am loving your Supersport back! That is very cool!