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1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case


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dsignpro
Novice

Sep 7, 2012, 6:18 AM

Post #1 of 11 (8110 views)
1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

98 Suzuki Intruder 1400
30k miles

I hit a 6" diameter trailer commercial trailer hitch chunk of metal doing about 60 miles per hour. It bent the front wheel, and the bottom engine crank case got a hole knocked in it, also knocking out the oil drain plug. I stopped the engine fairly quickly after I got off the road, unbelievably still riding and didn't go down. Now what do I do with the bike? It was a remarkably conditioned, yet salvaged 1998 Suzuki Intruder 1400, with less than 30k miles on her. Curious if there's a way to fix this or should I part the bike out? Lots of really good stuff on this bike.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Sep 8, 2012, 6:24 AM

Post #2 of 11 (8052 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

Maybe you could get just the crank case and swap all the other stuff into it?





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dsignpro
Novice

Sep 8, 2012, 10:09 PM

Post #3 of 11 (8035 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

Unless I do that myself, which I haven't yet gotten into an engine like that, it's cost prohibitive. I'm really trying to Mickey-Mouse this back together for a ride at this point. I want to see how many other problems there might be once it's running. Like shocks, for instance. My neck is sore now by the way. I must have gotten a bit of whiplash. Better than a body cast....or worse. Didn't want to check out yet. Thanks for all your suggestions!


(This post was edited by dsignpro on Sep 9, 2012, 10:04 AM)


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Sep 9, 2012, 8:57 PM

Post #4 of 11 (8004 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

There's no good way to fix this unless you know a good machinist who can tig weld the aluminum case after making a fiece to fit the busted section. Even then you'd still be looking at the fork damage and such. I'd part the bike out and go get a lotto ticket. Lot of people have laid theirs down in lesser circumstances and its your lucky day man. Shame to hear about the bike.


dsignpro
Novice

Sep 11, 2012, 7:30 PM

Post #5 of 11 (7981 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

I got a machinist working on it now. Only one side of the case has the hole, the other side has some of the bolt housing taken away. Extremely lucky to have stayed upright and get control of steering, that I'm playin the lotto by attempting a repair. I'll keep you posted. Just need a wheel and I've got three leads on that. I totally realize how lucky I was. Kinda unreal actually, cause I've never been going that fast and fallen, and with no gloves, and wearing only a padded mesh jacket and helmet...on California grooved highway.


dsignpro
Novice

Sep 13, 2012, 8:07 PM

Post #6 of 11 (7952 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

The engine was torn down, saw the shape it was in... the drain plug stem, a couple of cracks leading from the break has been repaired. I'll have to wait to see if there are any leaks. Engine made it back into the bike today. I bought a wheel assembly including tire and brake rotor from a member over at Intruder Alert. I should receive that early next week.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Sep 16, 2012, 7:49 PM

Post #7 of 11 (7908 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

Sounds like good luck in every step of the way for you. Glad you could get this fixed and are still in one piece keeping it on two wheels. I doubt I could've done that.


dsignpro
Novice

Sep 17, 2012, 6:42 PM

Post #8 of 11 (7889 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

That's right Nick. I can't stop thinking just how absurdly lucky I was. The mechanic even told me of all the similar stories he's heard or seen, they all crashed! 1 or 2 inches difference and my life this week would have been completely different, if at all! This is the thing now for me. I've have had other accidents, but this one is weighing the most on my mind now.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Sep 17, 2012, 8:31 PM

Post #9 of 11 (7882 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

15 years ago I lost all the skin on my left arm from wrist to shoulder to road rash. Laid down a dirt bike on the road. Took a month to heal up. That was the first and last time I ever dropped a bike, but there were plenty of close calls before and after. Had an old CB350 and was pulling a hard corner when I was about 16. Front tire blew in the middle of the curve and by no means was I going slow. Still to this day have no idea how I didn't lay it down. At that age it certainly wasn't skill and experience. If I had that then I would've changed my weatherchecked tires and it would never have happened. Since then whenever I ride my bike or anyone else's I look closely at my tires. I'm sure you'll have an eagle eye for road debris after this one. You could've been fitted with a catheter and a colostomy bag for life. Makes me look a lot closer at what could be laying in the road thinking of your story.


dsignpro
Novice

Sep 18, 2012, 12:49 AM

Post #10 of 11 (7878 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

Nick, your words and experience are what I couldn't come up with myself and I do appreciate them tremendously. Even with my accident, you still bring it to another level for me and it helps a great deal. This incident had me doing something yesterday I might not have done otherwise. I was on the freeway, on my bike once again. This time I'm in the left hand faster lane and I suddenly observe chunks of metal debris flying off the top of a tow truck carrying a damaged bobtail. These chunks landed in the middle it's lane following after it. I don't know if any cars or bikes hit them, but I proceeded to get that guy off the highway and did the best I could to make him aware of the dangers. Geez, if I'd been behind him!!! I remember a wheel cover hitting me too a couple of years ago. All in all, I hope as much good and watchful care can be reckoned with all the other riders that read this.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Sep 18, 2012, 7:07 PM

Post #11 of 11 (7858 views)
Re: 1 inch hole in motorcycle crank case Sign In

I haven't had the accidents you guys experienced, but I had a couple of close calls. I had an 1984 Kawasaki LTD750 while I was in the service. Was riding with a buddy who was on a 1984 Yamaha XJ Seca . We were in the middle of Kansas about 2 am in the morning hauling ass down some highway. Our bikes were pegged out and a grey Dodge Charger passed us like we were standing still. The Charger actually was able to do a U turn up the road and come back the other way as we passed him. I had my head down and looking through the handle bars while my body was clutching the bike. There was a dip in the road I didn't see and I felt the bike come off the ground. It had some head shake when it landed. I was doing over a 120 mph. Even my Sh!t turned white. Me and the buddy pulled off the road. The battery on my bike was boiling because the regulator was fed up and had overcharged the battery. I sold the bike after that and haven't ridden since.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 18, 2012, 7:37 PM)






 
 
 






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