ACE VenTRa

We had some awesome weather the other day so I took my bikes out for a ride. Now just before I took the vtr I glanced at the "todo" list that I put together and somehow completely glossed over the "DOUBLE CHECK CCT BOLT!"

The 6 lb flywheel is really nice, the OEM gearing is very long legged and the latest jetting changes are pretty darned good. Forgetting to double the check the lock nut on the manual cct for the front cylinder is not so hot. Exactly 1 mile away at my normal turnaround spot the V stalled on decel, confused I attempted to restart and all I heard was a grind. I knew what happened immediately, my heart sank, and I almost sank to my knees in tears after all the hard work this winter, how could I have done such a stupid thing?
Fast forward an hour to my garage aka triage. A quick teardown shows the chain bunched up at the front of the head but no apparent damage. The intake valves are cycling easily and normally by hand and the cams appear unfazed. I reset the timing and button it all up later that night and get ready to bump the ignition...

It cranks...

It starts!

It runs! No damage whatsoever, it runs like a top after losing all tension the front cct and the chain slipping off the sprocket. I can't friggin believe it! I've done the dumbest thing I can do to that bike and it survives to tell the tale.

1.) Apparently a vtr engine will survive if the chain comes off.
2.) Double check your damn tensioner before riding.

All I can think is that if it were thirty seconds later I would have bee non the return leg of my test n tune run and it would have been at about 9k when the chain came off, I probably would not have been so lucky.

On a positive not my valve spring are in and on their way to cryo treatment and the 39mm ss valves are being fitted now!

Wolverine

E.Marquez

Actually that's about the ONLY way it does survive, with the cams free to spin, the spring pressure forces the cams to rotate off the ramp, and with valves closed, no crash... Very lucky indeed

Personally I could never put the bike back on the road or track without confirming no damage ...its just the way I am... Id have to at least do a leak down test.......and stick a borescope in the cylinder ...but its just me being picky

ACE VenTRa

Runs like a top!!

My choices were:

• Confirm damage and tear down
• Confirm no damage certainly and put back together before tearing down again for new heads and jugs next winter
• Confirm no damage to a reasonable degree and ride like the dickens.

I suppose if I didn't have plans to tear it apart again anyway...and I didn't have another bike...then maybe I'd get all finicky. The intakes looked good down the throat and there was no binding, I called it good.

AV

Pidge

Make sure you put your god mother, god father, fairy god mother, guardian angel, and the devil on your valentine day list. Someone is certainly watching over you.

ACE VenTRa

I am widely known among a small group of people for being the luckiest person alive. For that I am grateful, without my good fortune from I suspect I would not be here to type these words, certainly not with smile and a light heart.

AV

Bald Eagle

I can't believe it....my luck would have been, bent valves, ruin cam shaft, hole in piston...etc...etc....etc. Hey Ace...when are we going for a ride? I am waiting for a good rain shower to clean the roads of salt...which was yesterday...on the next 50 degree day...I will be out there. Might have to go west and visit you. I need to PM Marquez for a lighter fly wheel. Hope to see you out there.

ACE VenTRa

Oh I'm ready to ride. Until I get the Hawk registered I'll be on the Triumph though, it's ok my Hawk considers it family by now, I think that makes it a distant cousin to your Hawk. I'm hoping by mid April I'll have proper plates and inspection on it, we'll see how it goes. Looking forward to a ride on clear roads for sure.

AV

Bald Eagle

Hey Ace
Had a Triumph Speed Triple 2011. Very nice bike...better than a screaming 4 cylinder....with lots of torque...but a little on the heavy side for me. It wasn't at the time, until I rode the VTR. I just love the VTR so much....and to beat the Triumph out, it had to be good.
On the track, the VTR has so much more flexibility, I feel anyone can get out there and do well. Palmer here I come....hopefully with the Track Bike with the carbs set up and a lightened fly wheel....Thank you Erik.

Later folks.

Cadbury64