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Anyone had Speedbump damage before?

C

cole

Just got it firing!
Joined
Oct 10, 2010
Messages
6
Took the wrong road this weekend on my old indestructible 1983 Cali II and found a series of speedbumps I had to cross and although I crawled over them in first with old girl(whose suspension is really pretty good) the bike developed a strange rattle from the engine on the last bump. The bumps were a little jarring and the bike is now definitely not right.
Still running on both cylinders, no smoke or unusual exhaust, but power dropped right off. Clutch seems to work but makes a whirring noise when idling in neutral or in gear. Lets me go through all the gears but bike will just do 40mph now(no jokes about that being fast for a Cali please). Can't really tell where the rattling noise is coming from. I've had the rocker covers off and the engine is turning over by hand and all the valves and rockers seem OK. When running timing doesn't seem affected. All fluids were up to levels and the engine was not overheated.
I'd just appreciate if anyone has had some similar experience and any ideas what could have come loose to cause the problem. I'm thinking clutch or gearbox but would that make the rattle sound running in neutral? Would that make the power drop off as well? Any experience you can share is appreciated. I'd just like any ideas before I start taking the whole thing apart at random looking for the fault.
Really can't get over such a sturdy bike having a problem going over a little speedbump.
 
Sorry I can't offer any insight into your mechanical problem, but is this in the UK? Speed bumps in the UK are supposed to be within certain specs, but often they don't follow the rules. If that is the case, you can claim for any damage from the council.

But you really should measure up the bump and take photos (showing a ruler in the picture), and take witnesses if you can. Many people have made a claim against the council for damage caused by some road defect, and then mysteriously the defect has vanished (and with it, the proof required for the claim). Assume they're several orders of magnitude less honest than the worst used car salesman you ever heard about :(

I once bottom out on a speed bump on an Africa Twin! If you can't get a Dakar replica over these things, how are road vehicles supposed to cope??? Thankfully it just produced a loud clang on the big alloy bash plate...


Surini.Dakar.gif

above: motorcycle unsuitable for Edinburgh streets, apparently
 
How many miles on the timing chain? The stock 83 tensioner was poor at best. If worn significantly it may have jumped a tooth and your engine could be out of time. That would account for the power loss.
 
Thanks for the replies. Yes I am going to write to the local council as these had like a 3 inch drop to them. No I'm not in the UK but in the wilds of BC Canada so it will be good luck with the council claim. I'm sure Canada has its specs as well. They love rules here. Anyway thanks for the advice, councils are the same the world over.
As for the timing chain comment thanks for that. I wondered about the timing chain as I remembered reading something in a MGNOC Tips book about timing chain tensioners years ago but of course I haven't been able to find it now. You say the stock tensioner was poor. If I replace it what should I be looking to put in instead. Any suggestions?
 
Hmmm, can't help with Canadian specs., but if anyone in the UK reads this thread, here are our specs.: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1025/regulation/4/made

Summary: must be at right angles to road, no more than 100mm high, no vertical face exceeding 6mm, and at least 900mm long. Also, not too close to things like railway lines or bridges, and not close to pedestrian crossings (unless the hump is a part of the crossing).
 
Hmmm, I don't think that there are specs for speedbumps here in Canada, or if there are no one follows them. The latest craze here is "traffic calming" or "F**k off, motor vehicles" as I like to call it. Speedbumps everywhere! Right in the middle of the street! In ridiculous numbers in almost every parking lot! Yet oddly never in a cycling lane or on a sidewalk :cheer:

Some painted (yellow or white) some not, some low some high, some in groups, most singly, some at right angles, some in a V shape on the road, and finally some wide - like 4 feet. And since traffic is multi jusidictional here with the Federal, Provinical, Municipal governments all making roads, as well as private firms, I'm not surprised at the variety of versions.
 
Thanks to all for the advice. I'm still trying to find any rules here in BC Canada about height or size of speedbumps and you are so right about how they treat motorbikes or any motorists here. I think every politician in this country rides a bicycle....they seem to be the only people with rights here. Anyway enough of life in Canada, one new tensioner later (sorry it took so long but mail between here and the US takes forever sometimes so the parts took a while) and the bike is better than new now.
Yes you can replace the timing chain with the engine in situ but it can take little longer than the 2 or 3 hours some guys tell you. I had it done inside a day and its not impossible to be quicker than me. I'd insert an image but I've been trying to figure out how to for 20 minutes and I've given up.
Thanks again for helping me get the bike up and running again.
 
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