HELP /Advice after breakdown please

[harlequin6]

Guys,

I am just about recovering from a nightmare weekend and feel utterley down and out

I had planned to ride from Manchester to Truro to visit and treet me mam who I hadn't seen since March.

I set off at 4.30 am and had a great ride down listening to an audiobook of 'on the road ' by Jack Karouack via my new autocom. I had a couple of stops for a P T P break and life was wonderful.

Afer passing Bodmin I noticed the battery light was on ( I'm not sure how long as the sun was out by then) I stopped and had a bit of a mooch but could n't see much wrong and as I had about 20 miles to go I took it steady. A couple of miles later I knew something didn't feel right so looked for a safe place to stop .As I did this the engine spluttered , the digi display flashed off and on and it all died. I coasted into a small laybye pissed off as I was 15 miles from truro.

By this time it was 10.15 am . If I tried to fire her up the Starter motor gave a rapid series of clicks but thats all. I called the AA at 10.30am

11.30 the local garage turned up , we tested the battery figured it was the alternator and took the cover off .

Now what I saw was a neat hole with a burned/ melted ring on the inside where the BMW logo is . We took the cover off and the 20 pieces of belt dropped out.

I tried to turn the top nut it felt like it was grinding ( bearings gone ?? )

So I had to wait for assistance / breakdown recovery . I was told the AA would allow 1 recovery per fault so it was Truro and on my own or back to Manchester !!


15 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION !!

I waited for the recovery which arrived at 12.30 and changed again for the 2nd leg at Strensham services . I eventually arrived home at 9.30 pm !! 11 hours recovery . And I still have a shagged bike .

Now , whats the damage likely to be , bearings? something else??

Can I get to/ remove the alternator myself ?

Do I need to remove forks / shock etc ??

Will it cost a kidney for the dealer to do it.

The bike has never had a fault so far , I don't thrash it ( 9 points etc etc ) average speed on the trip down was 75-80 + a bit when overtaking.

Serviced on time by Williams

What could have happened .

I' m to totally demoralised today ,
Any advice would be much appreciated.


Pics








PS I waited in the laybye for a total of 2 hours and was passed by dozens of bikes and not 1 stopped or even slowed to check if I was ok

Cheers ,

H6

 

[harlequin6]

FORGOT PICS

jUST MADE A 10 MIN BLOG TO SHOW A COUPLE OF THE PICS,

http://ukgser.blogspot.com/

cHEERS

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I cant help you, but, you have my sympathy. i always worry just before a trip.
Let us know the out come.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Bad news? I was stranded in France years ago when my alternator bearings failed on a K75. I had a nightmare trying to deal with a French Auto electrician. Is there any chance you could pull the plastic cover off and show us some more detail?

Assuming it's the bearings that have failed on the alternator.

The alternator is the same as the ones used on Fiats so you should be able to get it rebuilt by a local Auto electrician or because they rarely go buy a second hand one.

Whats the mileage on your bike? the bearing should be replaced at the 36k service. If it has been replaced theres alays the possibility that it was over tightened and put a stress on the bearings - thats only speculation though.

If you are used to working on the bike yourself then it's not that big a deal once you have a replacement alternator. But you do need to make sure that that was the cause of the problem. It could simply be that the belt has shreaded wrapping it's self round the alternator in the process.

Still a bummer having your weekend wrecked?

 

[Steptoe]

Guys,

Now what I saw was a neat hole with a burned/ melted ring on the inside where the BMW logo is . We took the cover off and the 20 pieces of belt dropped out.

I tried to turn the top nut it felt like it was grinding ( bearings gone ?? )

Serviced on time by Williams

What could have happened .

,

H6

Your alternator belt has snapped - can happen at any time, even on a new belt, these things happen.
The hole in your front cover is where the belt has wrapped around the pulley and worn it's way through the cover, again fairly common, but you can use this to your advantage -

Don't get a new cover, get a rubber bung the size of the hole. Fit it. And if you ever need to turn the engine over by hand, i.e. to adjust the valves etc, remove the bung and put a socket onto the bolt

What bolt are you turning that's grinding ??. The bolt on the alternator should just spin around if turned with your fingers.

How many miles has your bike covered

 

[harlequin6]

Ahhh Neil Neil Neil ,

At last , I had been hoping you'd be along soon.

I'll give the top nut a spin tonight when I get in . I'm pretty sure the mech that attended found it stiff to turn with an adjustable.

To be honest I parked it up after an 11 hour recovery on Sat night and havn't opened the garage to face it yet, poor thing.

I'm desperately hoping it was just the belt , but also gutted as I could have carried on with a temp on and had my weekend sorted.

I appreciate all the replies , It really reassuring to have a bit of back up / support when the s*it hit the fan and your down.

I'll check in later with an update ,

Thanks again

H6

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Bit late now I know BUT

If Any Tossers find themselves in the same Predicament whilst down is SW please give me a ring.
Send a PM before leaving and I'll give you my moby number.
15 fecking miles !!
I have a Single and a 3 bike trailer sitting here.
We are ALL Bikers and I would expect to be able to help in cases like this.
I could have took him to Truro, and if he was still bolloxed he could have gone the standard GS1200 route back home { back of AA wagon } after seeing his Mum.

PS. I will give any Site Sponsor my moby,
I do not want to post it on a thread where it can be seen, used and abused by non sponsor TOSSERS


Sorry 'Quin i know this is a bit late but please feel free to contact me any time your down here and in trouble.

Keith....

 

[tod]

Now dont take the p**s Proff I see from Harlequin's photos it wasn't a 1200

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Now dont take the p**s Proff I see from Harlequin's photos it wasn't a 1200

I didn't say it WAS ,
I'm surprised that his DID break down

 

[harlequin6]

Thanks a lot prof & the rest of you chaps.

With Steptoe's wisdom telling me it should spin freely by a hand turn, I have Taken off the cover and had a go at turning the alternator nut . I feared the worst as as I could hardly budge it . But after a few turns both ways it freed up a bit and a 2inch piece of belt dropped out from between the fins of the alternator . There was another rattle in there but after a few spins a small marble sized piece of molten belt popped out.

So I am hoping that it was nothing catastrofic with the alternator, just a snapped belt .

Now, if I put a new belt on and there may be a small bits of belt in the alternator will it cause more damage ? How easy is it to remove the alternator and give it a shake out ??

Altogether I feel happier today , in no small part youse lot.

Thaks for taking the time.

H6