She was ready to blow.........

[isiahstites]

Here are some photos I took today of my land speed buell that I am parting out. She was ready to blow up for sure, and to think I made all of those wide open passes with a piston like this??



http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/misc/100_6477.jpg





http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/misc/100_6478.jpg





http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/misc/100_6482.jpg





http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/misc/100_6483.jpg

[vintagemxr]

Brings to mind that old racer's adage "They always run best just before they blow." Looks like you dodged and expensive bullet.

the other Doug

[BobFV1]

Scott - excellent decision making - your "Spidey sense" was working well!

[NakedRider]

WOW! Where do you suppose the rest of the piston is? Looks like the cylinder must have be scored as well going by the scuff marks on the piston. You were VERY lucky.

[jamming]

So I wonder where the rest of that skirt is? Dodged one there.

[panthercity]

Oh my! :eek2:

[Rchop]

After looking at the pics Scott, I would say that once the piston skirt "clearanced" itself from the bolt and the broken bits stayed in the sump...she had a few more fast passes left in her!

[isiahstites]

I am sure the rest of the skirt is in the bottom of the motor. I will tear it down in the next few days and find out.

I showed my motor guy the pictures and he thought it was incredible that the bike ran like that. Very close to be a catastrophic failure.

Scott

[Blackdog]

How fast have you had it?

[isiahstites]

Last pass at Bonneville was 172 mph.........

[Sir Limpsalot]

I would say that once the piston skirt "clearanced" itself from the bolt and the broken bits stayed in the sump...she had a few more fast passes left in her!

And that, gentlemen, is how a RACERS mind works.. :023:

Si.

[Dirty Doug]

Scott,

I don't think it would have handled a little " happy juice " good thing you found it when you did. Is the rest of the motor O'K' or will you need to sleeve or replace that that side? I bet it was time for a rebuild anyway wasn't it?

Dirty Doug

[DarthRider]

The mantra of the cream of the crop American AMA Class C pro flat track racers in the 60s & 70s was "Go, blow or poke a pole in the fence!"
The hardest charging, win at any cost, take no prisoners racing I have ever seen, 2 wheels or 4, pavement or dirt.
I don't know who first coined that phrase, probably Gary Nixon or Gene Romero...but it could have been any one of 20 or 30 more of the same ilk.

[JCsman]

I'll bet 172 is a record for 1 -1/2 cylinders that will stand a long time.

[vintagemxr]

The mantra of the cream of the crop American AMA Class C pro flat track racers in the 60s & 70s was "Go, blow or poke a pole in the fence!"
The hardest charging, win at any cost, take no prisoners racing I have ever seen, 2 wheels or 4, pavement or dirt.
I don't know who first coined that phrase, probably Gary Nixon or Gene Romero...but it could have been any one of 20 or 30 more of the same ilk.

I was always partial to "Stay on the gas until you see God, then turn left."

the other Doug

[DarthRider]

I was always partial to "Stay on the gas until you see God, then turn left."

the other Doug

Yes!
And the one even the likes of we mere mortals can use, "When in Doubt, Gas it!"
That philosophy earned me a busted ass a time or 6 but it saved it much more often than that...

[isiahstites]

I'll bet 172 is a record for 1 -1/2 cylinders that will stand a long time.

Yeah that 1/2 piston really has me thinking I could of gotten that 176 record that is 30 years old.

[isiahstites]

Scott,

I don't think it would have handled a little " happy juice " good thing you found it when you did. Is the rest of the motor O'K' or will you need to sleeve or replace that that side? I bet it was time for a rebuild anyway wasn't it?

Dirty Doug



Doug - The rest of the motor was fine. I am parting the bike/motor out so no replacing for me.........so far I have sold mainly motor parts only and am up to $3500. I still have my heads, cams, frame, wheels and most of the bike left. I got $2000 for my cases and carrillo rods.

Here are some pics of the case before cleaning them up and shipping them to the new owner. Here is the anwser to the question "where is the rest of the squirt?"
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/Buell%20re-build/100_6531.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/Buell%20re-build/100_6532.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r98/isiahstites/Buell%20re-build/100_6533.jpg