My first scary motorway experience

[Jayneflakes]

I had to ride to work this morning along the M5, only by one junction and I have done this journey many times before. Not like this though.

Left on the bike, came back on a truck and am now facing a large bill for a new engine. My precious little XJ lump let go while over taking a slow moving lorry, as I drew level with the cab of the truck, my engine let out a huge bang and I lost power, the truck sailed past me and I had to pull over from the middle lane on to the left lane and then the hard shoulder. Where I lost all motive power from the engine and coasted to a sad and sorry halt.

Thirty minutes later a very nice man with a very large truck came to pick me up, via the RAC. When he got there he tried to start the engine, but it was utterly dead. So I was brought home in a truck and decanted into the garage.

With out taking the engine apart we can only wonder at what has gone wrong.

Aunty Jayne is an unhappy Bunny.

Women....put some oil in it next time.

Not nice! Glad you're ok!

[yorkie_chris]

At least it didn't lock the wheel up ey

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by BigBaddad

Women....put some oil in it next time.

Oi Mister! I checked the oil on Sunday and topped her up slightly then. Oil was not the problem.

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

Not nice! Glad you're ok!

Thank you, was a bit scared and I did not cry, well not much anyway!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

At least it didn't lock the wheel up ey

I was grateful for that, it was the wheel turning that was driving the engine though. Can't wait to look inside and see shattered lumps of metal.

[yorkie_chris]

Could be anything, little engine there is a lot of mass moving to crunch through stuff, but they can still lock. We putting bets on what has gone wrong?

My bet, timing chain fail, bits of piston in the sump, lots of bent valves.

Jayne, you would be forgiven for crying after that!

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

We putting bets on what has gone wrong?

My bet, timing chain fail, bits of piston in the sump, lots of bent valves.

I think you know more about this than your letting on Hmmmmm

Jayneflakes I'm glad your ok even though the bike isn't.

all that matters is that your okay, it couldve been alot worse. its better to have a dent in your pocket than a dent in your head.

have to keep us updated on what you find in the sump

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

My bet, timing chain fail, bits of piston in the sump, lots of bent valves.

Oh how we laugh! Speaking to Carol she tends to go for this option too, my poor little bike is all mangled inside!

Some good news, new engine found in Leicester and is being shipped down to us for a reasonable amount. It is the 550, but is the same size engine cases etc. The 400 is a Grey import and getting another 400/4 will be an almost impossible mission, so a nice 550 will do the job. My only worry is the Power output, I am still on a restricted license and we had a Dyno run on the 400 that showed that she was putting out 31BHP. I do wonder how much restricting we will have to do to the 550?

Ooh, all excited now, it has been ages since I pulled an engine out of a bike. It has been an expensive month for us, it all started with the Fridge freezer packing up, then the washing machine, yesterday my computer failed and had to have a rebuild of mother board and graphics card and today the motorbike. Thank f**k it is nearly February!

Thank you to every one for kind words and thoughts. Will keep you posted of what we find, could be quite exciting.