really sorry to read this Jimmy, there is possibly some good news from your first post, because I feel sure you know your bike well enough to know that when you did the attempted start, there wasn't that much additional noise? not sure if you had your helmet on at this point. It sounds from this as though there's a good chance that valves were all relatively close to shut, and could be you might have just kissed the crown of the piston or just bent a couple and not even damaged the valve guides if you are really lucky.
Fingers crossed mate. I’ve had enough bad luck lately so hopefully this isn’t another helping. Thanks.
Am I the only one thinking it? Aren't those Cycleworks Exactfit belts (if they are) supposed to be the dogs danglies?
Funny you should say that - I just spoke to Stew at the UK distributor and he says he's never known a belt to snap in 10 years and Cali Cycleworks have had 3 go due to issues with the bike not the belt - in 20 years. I've sent him pics and they are going to California for analysis to see if they can see why it happened. I have noted that a lot of the printed info (plus logo etc) on the 'smooth' side of the belt is very worn and wonder if there was an issue with tension/fitting - or maybe something on the bike went and it caused the failure. I'll let you all know as soon as I find out.
I spoke to Glenn at MotoV and he said even a small stone or bit of debris could cause it. I guess given the speeds involved and tension, a foreign object could do the damage.
And Stu at Exact sent me this (after a lengthy response from the manufacturer which went into a lot of detail too) “Yeh, if it gets between the belt and the pulley / rollers at the tension they are it can only pierce / damage the belt as the steel won't give. It won't necessarily have caused an immediate failure and could have been running for a while with a rupture to the cords in the belt I guess.”
Exactly this ^ (npi) the downside to enclosing a belt drive system so that no dust or debris can get in, is that nothing can get out either so (what looks like) this hard piece of plastic could have been bouncing around within the belt drive area for ages like a time bomb. It would be good to try and identify just what the plastic item is but low priority compared with fixing the engine.
Could it be part of the belt drive cover? I remember on my 900SSie the belt covers were broken, If I remember correctly I saw something like this.... fitting stud? I am not native English so can't find the right word for it..
@bigjimmyb : Endoscope Camera? I have one lying around with wifi, works on iOS and android , I ever hardly use it. So if you want it for free.. feel free to contact me, I will send it as a gift with zero value. Hope this Helps. Cheers! Frank.
Really? That’s very kind. I can send it back to you once I’m done if that’s OK and will obv pay postage both ways?
A stone is hard, that looks like plastic or rubber, and I’d have thought the forces inside would have torn that to shreds before it damages a steel-laced belt
yip, i've seen the evidence of a loose water pump bolt come through a timing belt when checking for a coolant leak. i cant tell you how many miles had been covered between the bolt coming out and inspection. the customer was v,lucky. that part does look like a locating dowel.
god knows. i guess it could even be an insert where the bolt goes through on some kind of sensor, throttle isolator, coil ect
