Did I just kill my bike?!?

Started by sert duc, July 09, 2011, 11:11:37 PM

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sert duc

So...

I was riding my 04 620 on the freeway, in the carpool lane, and came across a long empty strech of road in front of me. I downshifted and gunned it, the revs went high and the bike almost immediately lost power. The oil light came on. I pulled the clutch in pretty quickly but since I had lost power and there were cars behind me and I was in the carpool lane with no shoulder I started to waive my arm to warn the cars behind me, so I could have let out the clutch again - don't really remeber because I got pretty spooked.

Anyways I slowed the bike without getting run down and parked in the 6 inch space between the lane and center divider. Was stuck there for about 10~15 minutes (felt like forever) until CHP was able to stop traffic and I pushed my bike across 6 empty lanes of freeway.

Tried to start the bike over and over. It would turn over but thats it. It kept just turning over and over, but never starting. I've got my belt covers off and the belts were moving as the ignition was trying to turn over. Still can't get the bike started.

I'm assuming I was 1 gear lower then I thought I was when I downshifted.

Did I just kill my bike?
You may run the risks, my friend, but I do the cutting. We cut down my percentage---uh, cigar?---liable to interfere with my aim.

The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body.

Howie

Got fuel?  Got spark?  Year and model?

sert duc

ITs an '04 620. It has half a tank of gas in it. Spark plugs were changed about three weeks ago.
You may run the risks, my friend, but I do the cutting. We cut down my percentage---uh, cigar?---liable to interfere with my aim.

The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body.

xplodee

I wouldn't assume you did anything wrong. Downshifting one gear will definitely not result in an over-rev type of bent valve situation. Something must have given up the ghost, I'd bring it to a dealer if you're not familiar with bikes.
2009 M1100s
1988 Honda Hawk GT (track)

Past Bikes:
1995 Ducati Supersport 900CR
2007 Ducati Sportclassic S1000 SE

caperix

But is the fuel  spark getting to the cylinder.  Your bike has a rev limmiter but that does not prevent a forced over rev from a downshift.  When you turn the bike on can you hear the fuel pump prime?

sert duc

Pardon my mechanical ignorance as I say this:

I tried to start the bike this morning (oil light is still on). When I turn the ignition on, the speedo and tach do their thing but that mechanical buzzing sound that usually accompanies the start up sequence with the tach is no longer there. Nothing happens when I push the starter either. I'm assuming that buzzing noise during start up is the fuel pump priming?
You may run the risks, my friend, but I do the cutting. We cut down my percentage---uh, cigar?---liable to interfere with my aim.

The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body.

NorDog

#6
Say a prayer to the patron saint of bikers (St. Columbanus) and check your fuses.
A man in passion rides a mad horse. -- Ben Franklin


caperix

Quote from: sert duc on July 10, 2011, 01:50:42 PM
Pardon my mechanical ignorance as I say this:

I tried to start the bike this morning (oil light is still on). When I turn the ignition on, the speedo and tach do their thing but that mechanical buzzing sound that usually accompanies the start up sequence with the tach is no longer there. Nothing happens when I push the starter either. I'm assuming that buzzing noise during start up is the fuel pump priming?

The buzzing is the fuel pump, the oil pressure light should be on when the engine is not running as it is not making any oil pressure.  Check the fuses to see if one is blown.  Sounds like you may need a fuel pump.

sert duc

#8
Quote from: caperix on July 10, 2011, 03:29:51 PM
Check the fuses to see if one is blown.

Good eye! The 20 Amp injector fuse was blown. I replaced the fuse and she's running now! No oil light, no check engine.

Now was the fuse gonna blow in that exact same spot anyways? Or did the downshift/acceleration somehow cause it?

What other steps should I take to ensure there are no other problems? I'm very hesitant to get back on this bike at the moment. Loosing power in the fast lane was scary as hell!
You may run the risks, my friend, but I do the cutting. We cut down my percentage---uh, cigar?---liable to interfere with my aim.

The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body.

caperix

Quote from: sert duc on July 10, 2011, 05:18:36 PM
Good eye! The 20 Amp injector fuse was blown. I replaced the fuse and she's running now! No oil light, no check engine.

Now was the fuse gonna blow in that exact same spot anyways? Or did the downshift/acceleration somehow cause it?

What other steps should I take to ensure there are no other problems? I'm very hesitant to get back on this bike at the moment. Loosing power in the fast lane was scary as hell!

I don't have the wiring diagram in front of me so I don't know what all is on that fuse.  I cant think of a reason why acceleration would cause the fuel pump fuse to blow, the pump runs a the same speed no matter what the engine load.  Does any one know if the ducati rev limiter cuts fuel or is just ignition?  Maybe if it shut off the fuel pump due to an over rev there was an amperage spike that blew the fuse. 

battlecry

FWIW, change the fuel filter and check the hoses for bends/constrictions.    Those things would tend to make the pump eat more juice.

bikepilot

The rev limit probably cuts fuel and spark, otherwise you'd get a really fun backfire/flames when bouncing off the rev limit  [evil]

Your downshift/WOT isn't the problem.  Either the pump is going bad and pulling too much amps or there's a short in the fuel pump circuit somewhere.  I'd probably lift the tank and carefully inspect the wiring to the fuel pump to try to see whether the wire is rubbing against something somewhere.

A new filter etc should also help, but 20amps is a lot and even clogged I don't think it'd pop that fuse.

Make sure to run the correct fuse too, some folks think a higher-amperage fuse is a fix - this just means that when it shorts something other than the fuse pops - usually the wires melt/catch fire, not good! 

Its also possible the fuse just got old and broke internally and that there's no other problem.  Maybe go for a ride with a spare fuse in your pocket and see if it happens again.
2009 XB12XT
2006 Monster 620 (wife's)
1997 TL1000S
1975 Kawasaki H1 Mach III
2001 CR250R (CO do-it-all bike)
2000 XR650R (dez racer)
2003 KX100 (wife's)
1994 DR250SE (wife's/my city commuter)