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Malc Group: Members Posts: 29 Joined: Feb. 2009 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,13:14 It lasted about 25kms, and then I was 19 again. Seize, grab clutch, coast to a halt, have a look, ominous drips of black oil coming from "somewhere". Oh well, been here before - gave it five minutes to recompose myself. Straight into the garage, I'll look at it tomorrow. I am distraught - For 24.5kms this morning I was 19 again - two-stroke bliss. Then, suddenly, I was 19 again - 2-strokes seizing on me. I cannot f***ing believe it. When I picked it up on Monday, it came with paperwork to suggest it had had a complete engine rebuild from Stan Stephens, so conscious of this and Pete's "this may very well need running in" still ringing in my ears, added to the fact this was the first time I'd (properly) ridden the bike, I was taking it easy, and the bike felt very good. I was very restrained on the throttle. Then, totally out of nowhere - BAM! Take that! Why oh why did I listen to my heart... Back to top

essarjayauto Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: Dec. 2008 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,13:52 Gutted for you malc, just when you think it's all going so well. How did it run after it seized ? Do you think you minimized the damage in time ? Back to top

Warwickb Group: Members Posts: 1911 Joined: Sep. 2003 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,14:02 Ah, that's rough, Malc. Sorry to hear that Stock, they are generally very reliable if set up properly as the motor is pretty understressed when making the stock 45 ponies really. The only problem I've ever had with a stock motor is when very worn pistons and rings have resulted in the upper ring eating the ring peg resulting in ring turning and the consequent ring end/exhaust port interaction... Messy, but I've never had one actually seize (in the sense of actually locking up) at all when that happens, you just lose a cylinder. Often you don't even realise til you get back on the gas and find it somewat lacking. Only time I've had one actually lock up at all is when toasting a big end of an R crank on the track in fact. In terms of practicalities, if it's a cylinder that's gone you can usaully see quite easily which by shining a torch up each exhasut port, and you can have the fairing and pipes off pretty quickly, so there's no need for a full strip 'til you've checked out if it's a relatively straightforward top end nip-up. And if it's the lower cyl you can have that one off in a matter of minutes really. 'Drips of black oil' sound a bit worrying and will need investigating as that's more likely to be gearbox than 2T I'd think? - although sometimes you can get the black stuff from a leaking exhaust or PV gasket so it may be unrelated. Best thing is to get stuck in and get it apart and see whats what I find. Otherwise you just find yourself with a long-term garage ornament. Really sorry to hear of your woes though, Malc; it's hardly the best introduction to 3XV ownership... As noted above though,they are not generally prone to problems. Do you know if it had been used or at least started and warmed up regularly prior to you buying it? Best of luck with it in any case Wb -------------- A garage overflowing with old stinkers... Back to top

Mr stinkwheels Group: Members Posts: 206 Joined: May 2006 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,14:24 Where did you buy it from? I would be straight back to the seller, 25km is just not on if he led you to believe the engine was good. Good luck with it. Back to top

Malc Group: Members Posts: 29 Joined: Feb. 2009 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,14:30 The worst of it is there was no warning at all - bang, seize, back tyre locks, then it was down to reaction times to grab the clutch - half a second? After I restarted it, it sounds bloody terrible, I expect big end damage is inevitable. Either way - shit happens (usually to me) but there's no way its going to end up under a cover in the corner. If it costs me a grand to put right then so be it. I'll get on it this afternoon after the SBK Superpole is finished. Fairings off, exhausts off, torch up the exhaust ports it is! Not sure about previous use history Warwick, but I am pretty sure it hasn't been ridden in the last two years, can't say about regular warmups, etc. Back to top

Malc Group: Members Posts: 29 Joined: Feb. 2009 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,14:32 Quote (Mr stinkwheels @ Feb. 28 2009,12:24) Where did you buy it from? I would be straight back to the seller, 25km is just not on if he led you to believe the engine was good. Good luck with it. Was bought from a private seller, who I believe has a good reputation - I'll call him Monday... Back to top

wullie3XV9 Wullie3XV9 Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: June 2008 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,14:37 Quote (Malc @ Feb. 28 2009,11:14) I am distraught - For 24.5kms this morning I was 19 again - two-stroke bliss. Then, suddenly, I was 19 again - 2-strokes seizing on me. I cannot f***ing believe it. BLOODY HELL Malc !!     You're NOT such a lucky b@$t@rd after all !!   Like Essarjay, I'm genuinely gutted for you. I hope the problem's not too major & a relatively easy fix. You'll find out now that they're easy to take apart quickly & fairly easy to work on !! I soon did on mine !!     Good luck with it later, mate. -------------- Just when I'm about to make ends meet, someone moves the ends !! Back to top

slinger Group: Members Posts: 182 Joined: June 2008 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,15:39 Gutted for ya mate not nice I see that you said that Stan Stevens rebuilt the engine .I have my thoughts about this guy but I would also look to getting it back to him, for him to sort out his shite work as he seems to do these day's. Best of luck Back to top

Warwickb Group: Members Posts: 1911 Joined: Sep. 2003 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,16:36 I'd doubt it's anything to do with Stan's engine build myself. He's built more stroker motors than any of us have had hot dinners and certainly knows his stuff. He sometimes gets a bad rep when he tunes a motor and then it blows when the owner doesnt set it up properly, which is hardly fair. When strokers break it's usually poor set-up or general wear and tear/failure to service/rebuild them at sensible intervals that causes it - A 2t motor having so few moving parts. In view of the recent rebuild though, If it is the bottom end I'd think it's more likely to be the 'pretty bike, with a dried-out crank' scenario, or perhaps a lack of oil, or oil pump failure perhaps? I've never known a 2t pump fail myself though... I have lost a crank to a broken low oil level indicator bulb though If it's a big end that's gone it might have flung some debris up the transfers so you may have 'secondary' cyl damage too, that might not be the root cause. If it's an outer main then these can be replaced without splitting the crank and is do-able at home On a more positive note they can sometimes sound like a crank has gone if the top end goes and the piston breaks up a bit. Let us know what you find when you drop the pipes, Malc. -------------- A garage overflowing with old stinkers... Back to top

slinger Group: Members Posts: 182 Joined: June 2008 Posted: Feb. 28 2009,21:39 Quote (Warwickb @ Feb. 28 2009,14:36) I'd doubt it's anything to do with Stan's engine build myself. He's built more stroker motors than any of us have had hot dinners and certainly knows his stuff. He sometimes gets a bad rep when he tunes a motor and then it blows when the owner doesnt set it up properly, which is hardly fair. When strokers break it's usually poor set-up or general wear and tear/failure to service/rebuild them at sensible intervals that causes it - A 2t motor having so few moving parts. In view of the recent rebuild though, If it is the bottom end I'd think it's more likely to be the 'pretty bike, with a dried-out crank' scenario, or perhaps a lack of oil, or oil pump failure perhaps? I've never known a 2t pump fail myself though... I have lost a crank to a broken low oil level indicator bulb though If it's a big end that's gone it might have flung some debris up the transfers so you may have 'secondary' cyl damage too, that might not be the root cause. If it's an outer main then these can be replaced without splitting the crank and is do-able at home On a more positive note they can sometimes sound like a crank has gone if the top end goes and the piston breaks up a bit. Let us know what you find when you drop the pipes, Malc. I'm sure he has built more engine than me Warwick, but his reputation lately is not good at all. In his day he was one of the best and his development work was cutting edge. But it's all the negitive storeys I here about Stans business well the monkeys he has working for him ,but if you employ monkeys to do your work it's only your name and business that suffer, I've been there. Back to top

Malc Group: Members Posts: 29 Joined: Feb. 2009 Posted: Mar. 02 2009,16:58 I got home Sunday evening after a day out with the family to find Peter had called me, left me a message asking me to call him. As it was 8pm on Sunday evening, I decided I'd leave it 'til this morning. This morning, I got a PM via this forum again from Pete asking me to call him, which I duly did. Basically, his words were - "I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble, bring her back and I'll give you all your money back". So there you have it - my first taste of 3XV ownership lasted a week, she broke my heart (don't they always!?   ), then a genuinely good person gave me a full refund. Maybe Wullie is right enough - maybe I am a lucky b@$%@~d after all. Seriously, a big thanks to Peter Harris who would have been well within his rights to leave me to it, but proved beyond doubt there are good people left in the world today. Back to top

Mr stinkwheels Group: Members Posts: 206 Joined: May 2006 Posted: Mar. 02 2009,17:40 Its good to see there are still some decent honest people out there. Good on you Peter Harris. Shame about the 3XV though, I hope this has not put you off them. Back to top

Malc Group: Members Posts: 29 Joined: Feb. 2009 Posted: Mar. 02 2009,22:53 I don't think it has put me off - I'm kinda hoping Peter calls me again soon to tell me its all fixed, and I'll buy it back again... ;) Beautiful bike, was gutted to have to take it back. Back to top

bobbyboy Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: Mar. 02 2009,23:39 It takes a special person to do what Peter has done. I sometimes wonder if everyone is becoming too selfish to consider others, Peter is obviously isn't one of them! Back to top

wullie3XV9 Wullie3XV9 Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: June 2008 Posted: Mar. 03 2009,19:44 Hi Malc. I'm pleased to see that Peter Harris gave you a full refund without hesitation.   "What a thoroughly bloody nice block" to quote Tim Nice-But-Dim, there's not many of them about !! Keep the faith & keep that money handy to buy 'er off Pete again once it's sorted. You won't regret it a second time.       -------------- Just when I'm about to make ends meet, someone moves the ends !! Back to top

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