Learning2race
Expert Class
Posts: 138
|
posted August 06, 2010 09:58 PM
My worst night racing EVER
I just came home from the race track - on the back of a tow truck.
Third pass of the night, spun the tire on the launch but recovered quickly. Made the 1-2 shift, accelerating hard. Heard a "ticking" noise. A second or so later a very large bang. Oil sprayed all over me and I was quickly engulfed in dark smoke. I was safely able to get the bike stopped on the side of the track and pushed it to the turn off lane. When I got back to the pit area I started looking for what had happened. Currently the bottom end of my number three connecting rod is located outside of the engine - various pieces of what used to be the block are wedged between the header tubes.
I'm not really sad or angry at this point - more numb I guess.
My immediate thought was how/where was I going to locate another engine to get back up running again. This is only my third season drag racing and I genuinely enjoy it - I've steadily decreased my time down to a 9.2 @ 146 which is think is quite respectable since I'm not a light rider (tonight the bike and I weighed in at 780lbs - 250 is me in gear).
The practical side, however is thinking about just selling off the parts and walking away from it. I have managed to accumulate some quality components, but each one stressed my financial situation (I do admit a certain amount of envy when reading the posts of some of the members here and the impressive budgets they are working with). Huh - it just came into my mind - the bike is - I guess was now - my daily transportation during the summer, so I'll need to cancel the insurance and renew my old Civic so I can get to work Monday.
I think I'm starting to ramble now. Really not sure what to do. Wondering perhaps if anyone has a motor in good working condition that they would care to part with and what it would cost. Maybe once I learn what a motor goes for I'll be able to make a decision as to what to do. I live in Canada, but I have a mailing address in Washington State to make shipping easier from the US if it matters.
Anyways, thanks for listening
  
|
gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
|
posted August 06, 2010 10:31 PM
Dang, sorry to hear.... Any ideas on why the motor literally exploded? What oil do you run, when was it last changed, and did you check the level?
|
Learning2race
Expert Class
Posts: 138
|
posted August 06, 2010 10:58 PM
Kawasaki semi-synthetic, changed 1 week ago, level was fine as of yesterday
Can't sleep now - feeling stress about the whole thing - a very sad day
|
gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
|
posted August 06, 2010 11:21 PM
sad day indeed.... how does this happen? What's your mileage? Ever run nitrous or boosted it?
|
CraigChrist
Pro
BAWLS
Posts: 1043
|
posted August 07, 2010 12:05 AM
does anyone know if jessejames still has the spare motor? I want to say he had a running engine for fairly cheap a few weeks ago, but he may have sold it by now.
____________
60ft-------1.42
1/8th------5.97
mph-------119
|
Big_T112
Pro
Posts: 1061
|
posted August 07, 2010 12:10 AM
every bike will tear up. I got a couple of 1000 motors with some big holes in the block. slap another motor in there and go racing.
|
Learning2race
Expert Class
Posts: 138
|
posted August 07, 2010 12:12 AM
Stock motor - ported head with heavier springs (performed by Capenter racing) - valves adjusted 3 months ago when I installed the head
2007 model, 24,000kms - approximately 16,000 miles
No turbo , never any nitrous - funny thing, I've always been scared of nitrous - always thought it would grenade the engine if something went wrong, but I was able to do it on pump gas alone
|
zx14fan
Zone Head
Posts: 547
|
posted August 07, 2010 12:13 AM
relax for a few days and think it over.most people buy parts on credit and are in hawk to there eyes with the drug called drag racing.Live with what you can afford not a post with an 8 second time slip.
|
eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
|
posted August 07, 2010 02:29 AM
Don't do like me. Totalled mine at the track last year and I go the next week and finance a new one because we were in the middle of our semdra season and I was up in the points. It took two months to sell the totalled one and I was making payments on both... Bad decision on my part
____________
Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
|
LeonidasZX14
Pro
Posts: 1277
|
posted August 07, 2010 04:44 AM
Sorry to hear and I certainly understand your finance situation. My advice is once you get over being upset don't do anything stupid or rush into anything. You should be able to find a used motor for no more than $1500.00. Be patient and you'll find a good deal. Good Luck
Chad
____________
09' ZX14
|
LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
|
posted August 07, 2010 07:00 AM
There are several engines on Ebay. Least expensive was a 2006 with 8,000 miles for $1,600.00. No throttle bodies just the engine but you have all that. A 2009 with zero miles $3,900.00 plus $250.00 freight...good luck selling that one. Sorry you hurt the engine, but he glad you are OK.
|
smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
|
posted August 07, 2010 07:09 AM
quote:
does anyone know if jessejames still has the spare motor? I want to say he had a running engine for fairly cheap a few weeks ago, but he may have sold it by now.
Jesse sold his a while back ..
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
|
smokinZX14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
|
posted August 07, 2010 07:19 AM
Learning2race sorry for your luck .. As you know this rarely happens to a zx14 motor , so chances are if you replace the engine it will never happen again .. I would pull the motor and see if your head has damage , if it's ok start looking for a short block to replace yours ..
____________
Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
|
dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
|
posted August 07, 2010 07:31 AM
shitty deal. sorry for your luck.
Get another motor and in the mean time I would spend some time inspecting it and try to figure if it was fluke or fault.
meaning can it be prevented.
Some have ran the oil on the low side, and with successive hard launches ran the cranks dry, some have ran the ptv / pth clearances too tight, some have pulled clutch fibers into the oil pickup and starved it, some have just had bad luck...
If it were me, I would be doing everything possible to ensure it was not my fault.
Nothing in this world is perfect, but after inspecting my motor, and having it inspected prior to rebuild, a few local pro engine builders and machinists could not beleive the tolerances these motors are made to..... real damn close to perfect!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC