1150GSA Rear wheel seizure

[markjmason65]

Haven't been on the forum for a while, in fact not since I bought my GS1150A in June 2011. A week last thursday I had what can only be described as an 'interesting' experience.

I was in the outside lane on the M25 during heavy 'variable speed limit' traffic. As the limit increased from 40 to 60, I was at the front of the traffic and tried to accelerate away. I can't remember whether I was in 5th or 6th by the time the engine note suddenly sounded laboured and wouldn't pull. The next thing I knew was the rear wheel sliding out to the right and I was thrown left. Thankfully everything stopped, and I'm left with a couple of cracked ribs but sadly feel unable to trust a bike again.

My question really is whether anybody has had similar experiences, or have any idea what might have happened? The bike is with my local bike guys whom I trust, but aren't BMW specialists. They are currently at a loss as to what the problem was. I confess I'd let the oil level drop and they reckon it was a litre short but feel that that wasn't the cause and the engine now will idle happily and they have ridden it on their industrial estate up to 2nd gear without any problems.

I would like to know, if nothing else to know whether I am just selling it for parts or could get the relevant part repaired and sell as a running bike (obviously with full disclosure to the prospective owner- consider this part of that process I guess).

Sorry to go into detail on the tale of woe, but felt that the devil is in the detail, as they say!

 

[Den]

Back brake calipers have been known to bind causing the brake to get extremely hot and virtually jam the back wheel.
Happened to me once, but was going slow at the time. I remember because I burnt my fingers on the almost red hot disc.
Caliper almost seized to the shaft which it slides on.

 

[markjmason65]

Thanks Den, a useful steer which I'll pass on.

All the best, Mark

 

[Steptoe]

Are you sure it was the engine ? Was the bike "pushable" after the incident. ? Did you pull or attempt to pull the clutch in when you felt it locking up ?

I've had bikes in with the drive shaft U/J locked up. But they tend to stay locked up, or knock whenever the rear wheel revolves.
I've also known of gearboxes locking up momentarly, but there's always other damage if that happens at speed.

Also what's the point of the mechanics riding it or testing only up to second gear when the problem happened in high gear ??

 

[Jurassic Mark]

Happened to me once. Gear box on my 100GSPD seized. Damage was obvious though as the main bearing failed and a shaft in the gearbox drilled through the outside casing spilling oil everywhere, including all over the back wheel. I was lucky as I pulled the clutch in and didn't touch the brakes. Managed to coast to the hard shoulder. Also happened on the M25. There is no way my bike was rideable after that so don't think this is what happened to you.
Glad you're OK, that's the important thing.

 

[The Grey One]

A possible cause?

I had this happen, without a crash thankfully, the day after our local BMW dealer had the bike in his workshop for the MOT equivalent. I rode up our valley to the top (2000m) for the last 100m or so the bike slowed and when I stopped I could not turn the rear wheel. Close inspection showed they had adjusted the rear brake pedal travel and removed any free play. This was obvious from the clean area of thread on the adjuster. The free play prevents the heat build up from holding the brake on all the time-the brakes just get hotter and are applied even more.

The whole thing had gotten so hot it had melted a hole in the swing arm gaiter. Using the tools on the bike I was able to adjust it back to where it had been.

The dealer denied all responsibility!

john

 

[Slipperyeel]

After reading your story my first thought was the rear brakes locking up, especially since the bike could be pushed around after. I'm with Steptoe's line of thinking here...

I had a similar thing happen on my ST many years ago, but thankfully i was on local roads. A cold bucket of water and a screwdriver to part the pads sorted it to get me home.

Perhaps check the whole rear caliper, disc, gaitor (as per John's comments above). Basically look for any signs of severe overheating/ Perhaps look at the colour of the pad retaining pin and the springs in the caliper.

 

[markjmason65]

Thanks for all your helpful advice guys, will pass it all on to the guys in the workshop. I have to rely on them (and I do trust them), as I have no experience of dealing with such things so wouldn't trust my judgement. Obviously of critical importance, as it might cost somebody's life if I sell it on and the problem recurs.


Take the point about only going up to 2nd- constrained by the length of the road in the small industrial complex, and (I suspect) a reluctance to expose themselves to unnecessary risk!

Best wishes and Happy New Year to all!
Mark

 

[Steptoe]

Happened to me once. Gear box on my 100GSPD seized. Damage was obvious though as the main bearing failed and a shaft in the gearbox drilled through the outside casing spilling oil everywhere, including all over the back wheel. I was lucky as I pulled the clutch in and didn't touch the brakes. Managed to coast to the hard shoulder..

If your gearbox had seized pulling the clutch in wouldn't have made any difference ?

The clutch is upstream of the problem, the rear wheel downstream .

 

[Fanum]

Thanks for all your helpful advice guys, will pass it all on to the guys in the workshop. I have to rely on them (and I do trust them), as I have no experience of dealing with such things so wouldn't trust my judgement. Obviously of critical importance, as it might cost somebody's life if I sell it on and the problem recurs.


Mark

Mark......take it to Steptoe in Kingston Vale- He's a grumpy old fekker but he'll do a better (and less expensive) job than a dealer will

(He's also more likely to be totally honest about the cause of the problem because he won't have any potential arse-covering to do)

 

[Jurassic Mark]

If your gearbox had seized pulling the clutch in wouldn't have made any difference ?

The clutch is upstream of the problem, the rear wheel downstream .

Thanks, I guess I was just lucky that whatever caused the rear wheel to seize broke very quickly. The gearbox was a mess so I'm guessing that the main shaft failing in such dramatic fashion could have released the rear wheel to spin again. All I know is it made my underwear change colour and put to an end the French bike tour I was setting out on with my Mrs on back. Every cloud......

 

[markjmason65]

Thanks again guys. Again, all really helpful. Am due to hear from the workshop (AVSCO in Watford) in the next day or two, and will of course feed back the advice on this thread.

May well be in touch, Steptoe!!!

 

[Pekkavee]

Final drive big bearing has collapsed, I think.
I saw it once. It was a rear wheel seizure on a high way.

We could fix it with no other failures. Just a new bearing and a new seal. No big deal.

Pekka