Wasn't expected that!

[Greencan]

Evenin' All...

Started ST numerio duo this arvo after it'd been sitting in the Sister-n-laws garage for the past few months, nothing unusual in that except on the occasion when I finally had got enough fuel to the carburetors and it burst into life, I was greeted with a cacophony of metal on metal filling the garage where there should have been just the muffled exhaust note. 

Top of the list me Lord as the the culprit I suspect is a stuck / sticking valve, which the first dozen or so revolutions of the engine with the piston (read hammer), failing to resolve the issue swiftly as I would have hoped. Ho hum

The good news is, I have all the neccessary 'bits' to remedy this conundrum...the bad news is they, the 'bits' and the now dodgie engined ST are approx 1,700 km apart...tis a challenge

Cheers the can :-)

NO!!! AJ1300...this doesn't include a 1930's flat head Ford V8 transplant...OK! Well not unless you can convince me otherwise ;-)

[saaz]

Damn! Always the way that the bits to fix have either just been sold or are a long way away.  I sold a spare complete frame, forks and all,  for the GS1000 years ago, and of course needed it a few months later.... Unusual to have sticky valves on the ST1100, but I think the bike has it in for you now...

[Nigel]

NO!!! AJ1300...this doesn't include a 1930's flat head Ford V8 transplant...OK! Well not unless you can convince me otherwise ;-)
[/quote]


Nice thought though..............................................................................................    

[Greencan]

Arvo John et al...

Well I am still up for the ride west this coming weekend as arranged...so wont be needing the T- shirt I had done saying...I'd rather be driving a Civic than riding an ST1300...so I'll probably need to list that in the For Sale section of this forum when I next get a chance. 

Pretty much convinced now that the source was indeed a partially opened valve (probably exhaust), within No:2 cylinder...started the bike this morning and noise free up to about 2-2.5K, so after a wee warm up off to put some air in the tyres...interesting ride isn't it, an ST1100 with about 20psi in the front...anyway with that done over to a Mate's place (who I regard highly for his mechanical prowess), and on the ride of about 10km to his place, no loss of power, no ungodly blue plume smoke trail and a slight noticable metal on metal knock on over-run. So confident after a chat to restart the engine and rev it (unloaded), up to 5-5.5k whereby, presto, all concerning and un welcome engine cacophanies abated intirely.

Ride home and engine music at idle (hot), most pleasing. 

As for the state of the top piston compression ring groove clearance on piston #2, well I expect it to have taken a hammering. Time will tell if that hammering was enough to pinch the ring enough to cause it to fail...likely! My saving grace is this engine is a high-miler that's already had a hard life. But in my opinion, ANY valves that have clouted a piston (like as fitted to the 1100's), will nip the top ring enough to cause it to fail...eventually

So hopefully see ya on Saturday.

Ciao, the can:-)

[saaz]

Good to hear    Probably needs a good run. I put Stabil in the ST1100 when I parked it, and it starts up and runs like it did when parked. Don't know if it might help this problem happening again.

[StinkyPete]

Greencan, my fingers are crossed for you, that all will be well.

[Bikebear]

Hmmm... time to make the modified crank motor you told me about at Yeppoon... Seriously hope you get things sorted ok.

[Greencan]

Hiya Craig et al...

I haven't given up on that fantasy, trouble is I am now preferring to cannibalise that same engine to eventually repair this one.  I do have another engine, but it has so few miles on it, it'd be a shame break it up, so that thrown 270 degree crank will just have to wait a little longer.

But Hey, watta racket it'd make...just like 2 Trixxies bolted together 

Cheers the can:-)

[Greencan]

Good to hear    Probably needs a good run. I put Stabil in the ST1100 when I parked it, and it starts up and runs like it did when parked. Don't know if it might help this problem happening again.

John...trouble I have during to the long duration(s) of having the bike idle, I am of the thought that what little fuel that remains in the carburetors, simply evaporates and what's residue in the line simply ends up back in the tank over time. Just a thought, as I have never bothered to remove the shelter and see if any fuel had remained in the fliter.  Can get a quite warm here over summer. Is your thinking with the Stabil that this might not be the case? If so I'll give it a go.

Cheers :-)

[saaz]

Stabil is used a lot in the us for winter storage. Mainly it stops the fuel going off for a year and reduces/prevents the gumming up of the carbs. Seems to work on the st11 stored since November. Cannot hurt to try it. Valve sticking may be another issue - oil, previous maintenance issues etc

[Greencan]

Mornin' Pete, John et al...

Well clocked up another 600 odd km over the weekend (2 up), and as usual young Baz continues to delight with his chose of roads and destinations...but I digress.

The upshot of which is the bike performed as normal, with its now normal engine rattles of aging and worn components, much like its owner. Rattly engine aside, its performance continues to amaze me (compared to my other 1100), in that its fuel consumption is a wonder...495km on 23lt on bog stnd 91 unleaded AND, literally begining to shred the rear after following Barry on the Bruxner to Casino. Maybe testiment to a very loose engine...dunno. We use to call em Wednesday engines when I earned a living using spanners.

John, I am in little doubt that I had a stuck valve that's now returned and that one occasional a while back when I started it up at Uralla on that cold morning and it bellowed out a plume of blue smoke should have been a clue of oil (excess), getting down the guides. So logical to suppose that the top end has become somewhat carbonised. Im the years I have had the bike, its only had Motul and high kms aside, the condition of the bike and its stamped service book leads me to conclude the previous owners looked after it.

What I will do (just having filled the tank), is pop some Moreys upper cylinder lubricant in this tank full before the next ride. Oh, are you still planning to pop in??? I have a nice bottle of Shiraz 

Cheers, the can:-)