brendasue555
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posted November 19, 2008 10:52 PM
This is the part of the story that makes me cry!
This is the hardest thing I have ever had to put down on paper. Mainly because I don't know if I caused it. Secondly, because I am not sure if I will be able to put together the cash needed to fix it right. And then I don't know if it will happen again. So with that said I guess that I should mention one other thing that I am not sure if I told ya'll. I had a ZX-14 it was one of those pretty blue ones and I loved it so much I wanted to marry it. I mean I loved that bike and I am pretty sure that it loved me. I had to sell it because of changes in our financial situation. I was going nuts without a bike to ride and that is when I decided to look for a used one. I have never bought a used bike before and have very mixed feelings about ever doing it again. So this is how I ended up coming home with a bike that didn't run good and had no working tail lights.......I could afford it........I was desperate for a bike, and it was a zx-11 (my second favorite behind the 14) !
Now with all that being said..........we get back from the Texas mile, Doug had given us his approval and blessing and I was on top of the world. As soon as we pulled in the driveway I unloaded the bike and was off for a ride. It was late but I was wide awake after such an exciting day. The ride was great and I was so happy as I drifted off to sleep that night. The next day I rode a little and rode more and then a little more after that. I got on it a little bit because Paul had been keeping me out of the throttle too much untill Doug checked it out. Well that had been done so I wasn't paying much attention to how fast I drove and I know I got on a few times. I remember looking down once and I was doing 160, I was a little surprised to be going that fast with so little effort and backed off for fear of getting a ticket........Man I just love this bike, and I am so lucky to have it, I thought as I hit the throttle again. I knew Paul and Doug had talked about a few things that Paul might do to make it a little more street friendly but I don't know that much about the actuall causes and effects of alot of the basics. Lets just say I know and understand how a combustion engine works, I can rebuild the holly carb on my boat, and I understand just about everything about breaking systems. What I didn't have a clue about are things like why the dyna ignition is a must instead of the factory one, why race gas would be needed as opposed to regular car gas. I dont even know the reason I always had to buy the most expensive car gas, except that it has higher octane.....whatever that is! Don't get me wrong I am a very smart girl and can learn anything without to much effort and because of this Paul (and others) sometimes assume that I know things that I really dont. Like detonation.........I still dont know what that is but I think it is something that I should have known and I know it is something Paul thought I knew. Anyway Paul had been doing some adjustments and riding the bike for a few days and I had not been on it for a couple of days and was itching for a ride. As I was getting ready to go ride Paul came in and told me he was going to run up to the store on the bike and would be right back. I asked him to make sure that I had gas while he was there and conttinued to get ready as he left. I sat down at my computer for a minute to check my email and in the back of my mind I wondered why I did not hear Paul take off when he got past the stop sign like he usually does. I got lost in reading my email untill I heard the front door open. I was thinking "I wonder who that is I didn' hear Paul pull up" and about that time Paul came into the room with a terrible look on his face. My first thought was that he had wrecked my bike somehow but he did not look like he had been in a crash. As my heart sunk to my feet I asked him what was wrong. He looked at me and said "I just blew your bike up!" I was crushed....."what do you mean you just blew my bike up" I cried. He said that he had not even got to the stop sign.......which is three houses down.......and he heard something or felt something or crap I can't even remember but he said that it wasn't good and that he would just have to take it apart and see. Well not good was an understatement I think. It had broken 2 valves in one cylinder broken pieces off the top of all four pistons cracked the sleeve in a cylinder and blah blah blah...........I was so heartbroken.............and all I could think is I hope that we have enough money to fix it and if we do can it be fixed. And then it hit me, once again I have no bike to ride, how am I going to survive. Well It has not been easy would definately be an understatement. I took the head to Robby at RLM, he is the only guy in Texas that I would trust with it and finally just yesterday he said that it can probably be saved. Well I think that is good news but I am not sure about the "probably" part. Paul eas wanting to put this zx-10 motor in it, he must have a death wish and don't get me wrong I am not that violent of a person but I would kill him. I know that with Dougs input and Robby's help this bike can be put back together like it deserves to be. And that is what I intend on doing. I am not sure why it broke or if I caused the dammage. I keep telling myself that the 5 or 6 hundred miles that have been put on the bike since I owned it could not have caused the pistons to be that loose in the cylinders but I don't really know. In fact I don't know much of anything right now except that I need to win the lottery. And when I let my my wander I think well hell... with the money I spent on the bike and the money it is going to cost to replace the pistons and valves and sleeves and have the head done and the sleeves done and blah blah blah, I could have another zx-14. Then I remember the wonderful people I have met and the things I have learned and getting to know Doug Meyer and Scott Valentine. I think of all the fun I have had as a direct result of this bike and I wouldnt trade it for anything in the world. And then I recieve a package in the mail...........it is from Doug. It is pictures of my bike on the salt real snapshots. And copies of the certificates of the speed records it set and 2 one way runs and I know that my zx-14 never got close to 199.444. Then I unfold the t-shirt that is with them.......it is from speedweek 1999 at Bonneville and on the front is my bike. How many of you have a bike that is on a Bonneville t-shirt? I still can't believe it....my bike on a shirt. And Doug signed it for me. I feel so lucky to be me. And I would not trade this bike for anything in the world. I hope that Doug still feels like I deserve to have it and hope that I have not dissapointed him. I will learn what I need to know so I don't mess it up again, and I have a feeling I wont be riding for a while. I also will be saving every penny and bugging Robby alot because he takes forever to do anything especially now that he is also building his new house. So ya'll enjoy riding and I will keep you posted on the progress and try to get some pictures of the damage to the motor on here soon. For now I am going to go cry myself to sleep.
Thanks for excusing my spelling and lack of proof reading any of this story but reading glasses make me dizzy and I fall out of my chair.
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Brenda
  
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VincentHill
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Posts: 6520
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posted November 20, 2008 08:49 AM
It WAS going to happen! Do us all a favor and Separate the read about every 10 lines or so. With white writing on Black you can easily lose your place and it is hard to return when there is no reference point!
There are places like Ladd Porting that weld up combustion Chambers and replace Valve seats to save a special head. A Cylinder is a Cylinder! Valve Fatigue caused the Problem and was not a fueling issue. At least it happened close to home and not on a top speed run where you WOULD have lost more but maybe your self to boot!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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brendasue555
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posted November 20, 2008 09:25 AM
Thanks Vincent, I am new to this and I apoligize for the inconvienence while trying to read my story. And it is a very very special head as well as a very special bike. I appreciate the info on Ladd Porting, has anyone else used them? Let me know please. Also did I somehow choose white writing on black or is it default? Again sorry for the problems but thanks for reading.
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Brenda
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dougmeyer
Needs a job
moderated
Posts: 2713
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posted November 20, 2008 09:02 PM
 Edited By: dougmeyer on 21 Nov 2008 05:04
Well everbody,
You'll have to admit that's quite a story. I kept quiet so Brenda would write it herself and I am so pleased and touched by what she wrote. This little story is just one of the coolest things!
Paul sent me pictures of the broken pieces. The pistons are broken above the top land, showing some pretty bad detonation and one of the valves is jammed sideways in the port.
The cases, rods and (stroker) crank all seem OK. When you think about it it's really a miracle this engine stayed together for 6 or so years of abuse by someone who knew nothing about it. This was a 15:1 engine, and who knows what kind of gas that dude had in it for the thousands of miles he rode it before selling it to Brenda. I'm pretty sure that since they took the Dyna off somewhere along the line, the timing ended up retarded and when Paul put it back on and got it set at 40 deg total, the pump gas must have killed it. I'm just thankful it didn't give up on Brenda's ride.
Don't worry Brenda, we'll get it back together right for you. I'll call you soon. And thanks for sharing your story.
Doug
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It's not that I think you're dumb, it's just that so much of what you know isn't true....
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brendasue555
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posted November 21, 2008 12:39 AM
Now I am really crying. I am so glad that you still think I deserve to have this bike. I feel so overwhelmed by all that has happened and I pray every night for things to work out concerning this bike. I look at it every day and long to ride it again. I wish that I had known more so that I did not hurt it. And I can honestly say that even if (god forbid) It were to never run again I am so thankful to have had the chance to meet you. I appreciate you so much and the kindness you have showed to me. Because of this bike I have met some of the greatest, kindest, smartest, helpful, generous people I have ever been exposed to in my life. I love to learn new things as much as I love to ride and never dreamed that all you motorcycle people would give me the time of day let alone be as great a group of people as all of you are. Thank you all for letting me feel like a part of such a great group of people. And Doug you are an amazing person, thank you so much for answering that first e-mail becasue if you had not this would have been the worst experience in my life instead of one of the very best. I will always feel indebted to you for this and wish I knew a way to show my appreciation.
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Brenda
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VincentHill
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posted November 21, 2008 08:23 AM
Brenda, I did not suggest Ladd Porting because that is the kind of Business they do it is because I personally used them to save a head ported by Yoshimura back in the 80 and they did all of this for me!
http://auto-racing.iaf.net/yp_results.php?ReportType=44&provider=107&MoreInfoResult=1&qrecid=1532277835&qbc=Auto+Racing&qc=Annapolis+Junction&qs=MD&qbn=Ladd%27s+Porting+Service&qi=0&qk=0
Maybe other people know someone better and closer, but I do not! They are not cheap and it would most likely cost about $500 per combustion Chamber to Weld up and to cut out the seats and replace them.
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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brendasue555
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posted November 21, 2008 11:08 AM
Thank you so much for your help I appreciate you for trying to help me and I will let you know what I end up doing. As I am sure you can tell this is all very new to me. Up untill recently I have never seen the inside of a bike I just rode them. I am busy learning about detonation and kind of in limbo at this point but I can't thank you enough for any input you have.
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Brenda
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entropy
Moderator
Posts: 8671
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posted November 21, 2008 11:43 AM
Sorry to hear you trashed the top end, but its just "parts n' labor" and it'll be good as new!
I sure cannot see it costing $500 a hole unless it has very serious welding needs.
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This moderator uses moderation in moderation
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VincentHill
Needs a life
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posted November 22, 2008 05:58 AM
quote:
Sorry to hear you trashed the top end, but its just "parts n' labor" and it'll be good as new!
I sure cannot see it costing $500 a hole unless it has very serious welding needs.
That was my guess including Inflation and worse case scenario! It cost me about $400 to have a completely destroyed chamber completely rewelded, all new seats and Guides then match the other chambers years ago.
SInce she has posted the pics of her head that is not bad at all! Hers may need minute welding and MAYBE some seats and Guides. I would be happy if my current head looked like that!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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brendasue555
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posted November 22, 2008 10:33 PM
That was not my head and I din't past those pics.
Doug,
Is that my head? did you post those pics? Do you have copies of any of the pics of the damage I did? If so would you post them? I am terrible trying to do the pics. But you will be glad to know that I am learning what detonation is and all about what exactly should and should not be going on in the area between the top of the piston and the spark plug/valve area.
Brenda
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Brenda
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brendasue555
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posted December 03, 2008 04:02 AM
move
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Brenda
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