Noooo!

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

After a great evening with Keith and Ann, my bike goes and breaks down Crying or Very sad

Hoping someone can help me out if I post the symptoms...

Anyways, I was caning the bike down a straight, changed into 5th (top) opened the throttle again and the bike just lost all power and started spluttering. Pulled the clutch in, stopped on the side of the road. Bike cut out, and wouldnt start. After a few kicks and some playing with the choke, it started. But it makes a clicking noise at medium revs, which wasnt there before and is quite worrying. I have lost power in the low range, and a chunk of the top end speed.

Anyone got any ideas Question

Cheers muchly,
Dodd

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

FFS, now it sounds like my monitor is gonna blow up

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Ouch

I would want to hear the noise to have some idea. However, a sort of slapping noise is a loose cam chain, tap-tap-tapping is likely to be a valve and a heacy knock is likely to be a big end bearing. None are that likely really from your description.

If the engine had nipped up and wrecked a piston it would probably have locked the rear wheel which you would certainly have noticed.

I would say that when it gets light have a good look over it. I hope it is just something silly (for a wild example, like the carb loose on its mounts, etc)

All the best

Keith

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Cheers Keith.

Well i topped up the oil (it was quite low) and tried it. Still fecked.

The sound is a heavy knocking, in time with the revs. Almost certain it is coming from the cylinder or very near to it.

My dad reckons it's the piston rings, but he isn't great with engines and stuff either.

Cheers muchly,
Dodd

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Being a 4 stroke the rings get a fairly easy life. I would expect them to only get suddenly damaged it you seized it. No sign of that from what you have said though. Piston would be the same, but that could fail in other ways (such as part of the piston skirt breaking off).

Might be best to get hold of the gaskets you need and pull the top end off the engine to have a look. At least being air cooled it shouldnt be too difficult.

Did the oil warning light come on (assuming it has one).

All the best

Keith

PS, somewhere we have the remains of a piston from the CB125T Charlotte once had. This is about 1/4 of the depth it should be and has a large hole in the top, along with 2 valve shaped indentations. The con rod on that cylinder snapped!

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

No oil warning light Confused

What damage could have occured from an engine running without oil?? Cuz there really wasnt a lot in there at all

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Running out of oil can knacker most things. Likely to be the first to suffer would be the big end bearing, then piston and camshaft bearings (not sure if yours is overhead cam or pushrod, but a pushrod engine would probably get away with it for slightly longer before wrecking the cams). Run it really low and you would wreck the gearbox (and, frankly, the engine would be scrap).

Only real way to check the big end bearing is to take the top end off the engine and check for any vertical play in the con rod (a little side to side play on a 2 stroke is usual, but there should be no vertical play)

The importers web site is:-
https://www.symscooters.co.uk/

The 2 nearest dealers seem to be:-
Scooter Station
12-14 Castle Forgate, SHREWSBURY, Shropshire, SY1 2EE
(01743) 341211

Acorn Ford Chasetown
Queen St,Chasetown, BURNTWOOD. WS7 8XW
(01543) 685656

Might be worth getting hold of a gasket set and having a look

All the best

Keith

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Cheers Keith

Yeah I used Scooter Station to get my speedo cable.

Anyway, I phoned up my mechanic and explained the symptoms. He immediately asked if it had any oil left. He said that it sounds like it had run out of oil and had a momentary seizure Sad

He also said the damage is probably terminal, as I was riding it for another 15 minutes after it seized up.

Anyways, he cant have a look at for me over the weekend cuz is he racing, but he can probably have a look on Monday. Doesn't sound so good Crying or Very sad

Thats really annoyed me, even if it was my fault for not checking the oil

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

did u go to chelsea bridge or something?

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Nah, the Wheel at Worfield here in the midlands

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

is it cursed too then?

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Nah, I just have a shit bike!

Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

unlucky dodd Sad

unfortunately this stuff just seems to be part of biking

Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Wheels not cursed! I only brain dmaged a rabbit on the way home with my boot!

Dodd!!! NNOOOOO!!!! ITs not fair!!! We'll get it sorted man....really
____________________
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I did Cadwell! Very Happy

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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Think you did brain damage the rabit, cos it tried to run along the road for about 10 yards and then back out in front of me

All the best

Keith

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Well I have thought about my situation a bit. I have 3 options-

1) Sell my bike as spares or repair, buy an old CG, pass my test, get a ducati
2) Sell my bike as spares or repair, buy an old NSR/RS and keep it longer
3) Do some training for the test, and use my scoot in the mean time.

It's gonna cost loads to sort my bike, they are very rare so it will be hard to find one in a breakers yard! Cant really afford to replace engine bits with new genuine ones, imported from Taiwan

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

I think number 3...plus stick "get a Ducati" on the end... Razz

Tin

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

yeah sorry.... thats what I meant

M1ke · Ped Boi Joined: 11 Jun 2002 Karma :

find out the cost of fixing it first i would say. It may be worth your while fixing it so you can sell it at a higher price.

Sell scoot and bike once fixed (hopefully) then you have money for a ducati Cool

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

My guess would be that it will cost around £150~£200 for a 2nd hand engine, so it may be worth trying one of those parts finder services

Fixing it will probably cost about the same in parts, but I would take it to pieces and check. After all, if it is just the piston then that is not likely to be expensive.

By the way, Sym started out making Hondas under licence, and still build Honda cars. Is the engine in your bike a developement of a Honda design?

All the best

Keith

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

Its not just a CG engine is it???

I thought I heard that somewhere.
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

From a brief glance, no it isnt

All the best

Keith

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

/me crawls under table in shame

Obviously I didnt hear that then Embarassed

____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Havent looked in much detail at all, and to be honest it could be but with some different outer covers on it

Would not surprise me if some internal bits are the same if it is Honda based

All the best

Keith

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hey Dodd, here's an affordable Ducati, and you can ride it legally! Razz

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1747258218

Tin