So this could have sucked

[bajabomber87]

Was riding along the highway last nite, just pulled into the fast lane and checked my mirror to see if the cars behind me were closing in, I see what looks like dust I'm kicking up or steam. I did a double take and its SMOKE! Right at that instance I look at my gauges and notice the oil pressure light came on, engine was running for less than 10 seconds from when I noticed it first smoking to shutting the bike down, so it should be fine, considering I ran it for a few seconds with the oil light on.

Stopped and pulled over to see wtf happened. Then a passing car headlight shined on all the oil covering my leather pants and shoes! All I could see was oil on the back tire, swing arm, and belt.

Called CHP first since I was sitting on the narrowest side of the road in the area, then started calling tow trucks because Harley just shutoff their phones for the nite, luckily a motorist stopped (Harley rider) and he happened to have a motorcycle ramp in the back of his truck. We got it loaded up right as the CHP arrived and took off to get to Harley before the management left. We made it within 3 mins of them walking out, hopefully they can get to it today, but more than likely Tuesday.

I'm just lucky I was going straight when this happened because I was less than half a mile away from my exit which I usually take at a spirited 90mph

Onto the pics!

So this blew out and then shot the oil forward into the front wheel, then blew back all along side the bike

Yikes!

 

[marko138]

Wow, luckily all you've got on your hands is a mess. I've been there with you! I lost an oil drain plug going down the hiway at about 70mph. Luckily for me, the guy behind me (who was having hot oil blown all over him and his white Harley)waved me to the side of the road. No engine damage for me either.

 

[browland]

bajesus thats terrible... Glad you are okay and your bike to some extent... any idea why that sploded on ya?

 

[bajabomber87]

No clue, the clip is still in the fitting on the engine block, could be a manufacturing error on the line flare itself or the fitting/flare was damaged when Harley rebuilt the tranny and dismantled the engine.

 

[boreas]

baja , glad that you are okay... crazy that tube flaring came out like that..wow!!!

 

[BuddhaBuell]

man that would def push the ol adrenaline button..
glad you both are ok!

 

[dave_xb12r]

Well Baja, you're Buell is just that much closer to being a airplane! Get a big ramp and learn to skywrite with that bad boy. You could write a big "n" in the sky!

Let us know what good ol' Tom has to say about that.

 

[jet6]

Gee you very lucky you never slipped off

 

[80rs427]

Wow, glad everything worked out for you.....could have been lots worse!

 

[torreytyler]

Damn man, at least you were going straight down the highway and not carving up some road somewhere, that could've gotten ugly.

 

[fwkapaun]

Thank Heavens you are OK. Bikes can be replaced...

 

[bajabomber87]

Is it still under warranty? If so make them replace the tires and all rubber that has the oil on it. YOu will never get all the oil out of the rubber and it will bite you in the ass eventually. Just make sure everything is right before you accept it back from them. Looks like they already took one short cut when they fixed it the first time. At least you are all and well.

That's what I was thinking, Dave thinks it can be cleaned with degreaser but I don't feel like that is a safe thing.

 

[Baal]

Holy crap that's nasty. Glad you stayed vertical. Agreed with tuneport67ss, I'd want them to replace the rear tire as well.

 

[bajabomber87]

Holy crap that's nasty.  Glad you stayed vertical.  Agreed with tuneport67ss, I'd want them to replace the rear tire as well.

Both would need replacing, the sidewalls of the front are covered with oil. I didn't get a call today so I'll call in on Tuesday afternoon to see what they are going to do about it (oil line & tires).

 

[marko138]

When mine got covered in oil I cleaned them over and over again with degreaser. I rode on them again. Never had an issue, but I didn't have a warranty. So if you can get the tires replaced then go for it.

BTW...mine didn't happen on my Buell. It was on my old Zuk.

 

[bajabomber87]

I'm going to require them to replace it, I'll also be calling Harley Tech tomorrow to get their take on it or to make the dealership order new tires come Tuesday when they reopen for the week.

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123557

 

[xtremelow]

Had a similar issue when my oil filter came loose, only difference was I went off the end of a parking lot into the grass and stop 5ft short of a massive ditch that could have eaten a truck.

Oil is no joke on two wheels that is for sure.

 

[bajabomber87]

Great, this just popped in my mind
[mad]

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Stained-Frame

So if the frame is stained like that, does Hardley replace the frame and swing arm or just give me a new bike?

God this bike is always messed up haha

 

[racepro716]

Glad you're ok, and sort of a post hijack if I could...Anyone ever replaced the oil lines to the cooler and swingarm with proper braided lines? The stock ones look kinda cheesy. Just wondering... Wayne

 

[bajabomber87]

So if you guys are familiar with your bikes, the little clips that hold the flared oil lines into the black fittings on the block, well that is what failed and let the line out. The dealership says they've seen this problem before, I think they just reused the clip after the engine was disassembled this past Sept. for the tranny rebuild.