Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Sods Law !

Well, where do I start. After just getting my Speedy back on the road after a nice little old lady rear ending me. I have now got a blown cylinder base gasket. anyway, any you guys had this problem before. The bike has only 9000 miles on it, though maybe the fact that I was doing 105 MPH at the time maybe had something to do with it. Is there a problem with our bikes that I should know about ?....

Any feedback please.

I have had mine well over 100 many times and pretty much every time it was up around 115 - 120 and have had no problem.

How hard was the hit? It is possible that the shock may have done more damage than you know and caused the leak. None of the bikes I know of have ever had a leak there. SM or America I mean by bikes.

Hi Dog.....

Was'nt a hard rear end shunt, so I don't think it was related. I think the gasket has gone, though at worst it may be a cracked cylinder. I had'nt had this problem before I had done 105MPH. I think there's some kind of shim type seal at the base of the cylinder to crank casing, so fingers crossed it aint serious.

Sod's law indeed!

I can't see it being to do with the speed though - I did 108 on the '03 last summer... and had no problems till mine was hit. And that was at around 9500 miles on her.
If it is a cracked cylinder I would suspect it is due to the smack...but I'm just really cynical at the mo.

have it looked at to see if maybe the part had a flaw that could have caused the failure as well.

Gina....It's been a while !

I'm sure it's nothing to do with my recent nice old lady meet !

I was wondering if this was, or has been a problem before.

Prob just my luck.

I know that trying to re-Torque the cylinder head aint possible without loosing the head all together, so it's a strip down for me. Lucky white heather.

Spud, I've gone through an entire tank at over 100mph, just over an hour's time, and no problems. Blame the accident.

i have hit the 120 mark on the speedy and the bike was just fine

Frank

You were going 105 and a little old lady rearended you? Was she driving a Bristol Fighter?

If she hit you hard enough, there is a chance that your frame was distorted and is putting some stress on the cylinder barrels. You can tell by undoing the top engine mount to see if the bolt holes shift. I have seen over 115 on my speedometer with no ill effects, so speed should not have done anything to it unless there is some other problem such as a pinched breather pipe.

Thank's for the comments guys.

Kinda knew it was "Sods Law" to start with !

will check head, when off.