b-bry Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Anyone else blow an engine lately? I burned a piston in a friend's sled on Sunday. Took it across the lake and wanted to see how fast it would go (my friend had not opened it up yet - he bought it gently-used and was still getting accustomed to riding it). Went less than a mile - just accelerating to 70 mph when the engine just plain quit. I'm wondering what can cause such a thing. The carb jet on the affected cylinder was not blocked, no sign of water in the float bowl. The fuel filter appears clean, but maybe there's some "varnish" in there limiting fuel flow. Since then I learned from one mechanic that he had 5 other engines come in blown on the weekend. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the ethanol in the gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseski Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 where they all the same make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 What year 500SS is it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Everybody's Dooin' it......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Everybody's Dooin' it......... :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 What year 500SS is it ? You started it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 What year 500SS is it ? You started it Yeah, but you didn't need to jump on the bandwagon in one NanoSecond. Sheesh ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 What year 500SS is it ? You started it Yeah, but you didn't need to jump on the bandwagon in one NanoSecond. Sheesh ! Just trying to get the post count up...I secretly want to be a respected member instead of a newbie. Incidently we saw a RevXP have a headlight failure on our way into Kearney on Saturday...the poor guy almost got rearended by two of his buddies. I thought you SD guys practiced evasive manouvers..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 What year 500SS is it ? You started it Yeah, but you didn't need to jump on the bandwagon in one NanoSecond. Sheesh ! Just trying to get the post count up...I secretly want to be a respected member instead of a newbie. Incidently we saw a RevXP have a headlight failure on our way into Kearney on Saturday...the poor guy almost got rearended by two of his buddies. I thought you SD guys practiced evasive manouvers..... You're already an "Advanced Member" despite a 4-3 vote. What the heck else do you want. oh...... I'll opt for the burnt relay. :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildbill Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Anyone else blow an engine lately? I burned a piston in a friend's sled on Sunday. Took it across the lake and wanted to see how fast it would go (my friend had not opened it up yet - he bought it gently-used and was still getting accustomed to riding it). Went less than a mile - just accelerating to 70 mph when the engine just plain quit. I'm wondering what can cause such a thing. The carb jet on the affected cylinder was not blocked, no sign of water in the float bowl. The fuel filter appears clean, but maybe there's some "varnish" in there limiting fuel flow. Since then I learned from one mechanic that he had 5 other engines come in blown on the weekend. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the ethanol in the gas. You were shown loose debris in the float bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 You're already an "Advanced Member" despite a 4-3 vote. What the heck else do you want. oh...... I'll opt for the burnt relay. :poke: See how good a Yamaha is...it makes it's own evasive manoeuvres I think the SD problem was low stator voltage cause by lack of combustion... Now, how 'bout some details on the sled?? year, mileage, model.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 You're already an "Advanced Member" despite a 4-3 vote. What the heck else do you want. oh...... I'll opt for the burnt relay. :poke: See how good a Yamaha is...it makes it's own evasive manoeuvres I think the SD problem was low stator voltage cause by lack of combustion... Now, how 'bout some details on the sled?? year, mileage, model.... I'd be interested in knowing the same. But, despite year, mileage, model, I think WB has already given us a clue to the problem in his post just prior to yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 You're already an "Advanced Member" despite a 4-3 vote. What the heck else do you want. oh...... I'll opt for the burnt relay. :poke: See how good a Yamaha is...it makes it's own evasive manoeuvres I think the SD problem was low stator voltage cause by lack of combustion... Now, how 'bout some details on the sled?? year, mileage, model.... I'd be interested in knowing the same. But, despite year, mileage, model, I think WB has already given us a clue to the problem in his post just prior to yours. Ya...I had a "There's your problem" moment after I posted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
writetwisted Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 It wasnt lean on fuel... It was rich on air! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 It wasnt lean on fuel... It was rich on air! So basically, what you're saying is that it failed the Jetting test? Lean is Mean baby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-bry Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 It wasnt lean on fuel... It was rich on air! So basically, what you're saying is that it failed the Jetting test? Lean is Mean baby... There was certainly dirt in the carb, but not in the jet - at least not when we looked at it. It could have indeed been plugged when the engine blew. It's also possible that the fuel filter had goo in it from old gas sitting there for who knows how long before the sled was sold to my friend. It might have allowed enough fuel to pass to feed the engine at slower trail speeds, but not enough when we finally opened the throttle to let it wind out on the lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CjGaughan Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Buddy of mine did the same thing to his sled a few weeks ago..burnt one cylinder. Had to go get it relined (nikaseal). The oil line has rubbed through more than once on this sled before so we're thinking that has something to do with it - along with the fact he was using cheapie fuel in it. Funny thing is we were on our way back from a 180 mile ride and it didnt decide to break until we were at about 160 miles (20 to go)...good thing though. And also good thing..it didn't wreck anything else. A burnt cylinder is the best kind of "blown" engine you can have, heh. Question though...do these newer engines have some kind of feature that completely shuts them down when this happens? The other cylinder was still mint but it would not fire. When the problem occurred it was as if he hit the kill switch...just coasted to a stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoktorC Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 There was certainly dirt in the carb, but not in the jet - at least not when we looked at it. It could have indeed been plugged when the engine blew. It's also possible that the fuel filter had goo in it from old gas sitting there for who knows how long before the sled was sold to my friend. It might have allowed enough fuel to pass to feed the engine at slower trail speeds, but not enough when we finally opened the throttle to let it wind out on the lake. Keep in mind if there is dirt going through the jet there is less fuel...and it could also be interupting fuel flow causing evelvated cylinder temperatures even at part throttle....then you hit the lake and Boom. It looks like Bill has mentioned this....drain your tank and start anew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-bry Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 <snip> - along with the fact he was using cheapie fuel in it. <snip> Question though...do these newer engines have some kind of feature that completely shuts them down when this happens? The other cylinder was still mint but it would not fire. When the problem occurred it was as if he hit the kill switch...just coasted to a stop. What do you consider "cheapie" fuel? Your description of it coasting to a stop is exactly what happened in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cehyoopers Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 miles on the sled,maintenance that was done/not done,the other 4 fill up the same place??Pretty hard for dirt to get through a filter unless it failed.Water would make more sense giving the temps on the weekend.But dirt at the carb,,,,that is not good,,,and why only at one,why not the other,it was checked also right???A lot can be determined from the damage,,,,did you take pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-bry Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 miles on the sled,maintenance that was done/not done,the other 4 fill up the same place??Pretty hard for dirt to get through a filter unless it failed.Water would make more sense giving the temps on the weekend.But dirt at the carb,,,,that is not good,,,and why only at one,why not the other,it was checked also right???A lot can be determined from the damage,,,,did you take pics? We only pulled the bottom off the one carb, saw dirt down around the plug, both will get cleaned. Both pistons suffered some damage, apparently one more than the other (one cylinder needs to be honed). Keep in mind this was a friend's sled. He bought it used through a dealer. The dirt could have been from anywhere. Most of the gas we've bought in the Parry Sound area comes from the Esso at the Seguin Trail & 400, occasional fill-ups wherever we find ourselves on the trails. We took no pics. If there's dirt in the gas tank, how would we clean that out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2fast4u Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Don't forget it's a 2 stroke so maybe it was just time for a rebuild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-bry Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Don't forget it's a 2 stroke so maybe it was just time for a rebuild Just over 1000 miles on the odometer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevRiders Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 STG...interesting you ask about a 500ss...my wifes 04 sled 500ss sled only has 2000 miles....on the lake burned a piston..carbs where cleaned, we drained the gastank...no water..in the fall check the boots on the carbs where breaking down so they where replaced... Something else we should look at? Any ideas would be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMSOMAIR Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 STG...interesting you ask about a 500ss...my wifes 04 sled 500ss sled only has 2000 miles....on the lake burned a piston..carbs where cleaned, we drained the gastank...no water..in the fall check the boots on the carbs where breaking down so they where replaced... Something else we should look at? Any ideas would be great Writetwisted had some cracked carb boots a few years ago. Good thing to check! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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