Triumphrat

Crazyhouse100 · 08-08-2005

I was told everyone drops a bike. I didn't think it would happen, but I dropped mine this evening. Actually it was a little uglier than a standard drop. I was rolling down my driveway for a quick ride. The driveway wraps around the back of the house. When I rounded the corner the bike went over. Rather than let it hit the ground bad instincts took over and I tried to yank it back up. Bike in-gear and running! I inadvertently cranked the throttle at the same time I lost grip on the clutch lever. The bike took off down the driveway By Itself! Luckily it crashed into a bush and stopped, almost upside down. It sat there for about 10-15 minutes until I could round up some neighbors to help get it upright. The damage wasn't as bad as expected. The bracket holding the headlight and left directional broke, The tank has a small dent where the bars hit and now it wont start.
I have a couple of questions questions for everyone

* Where can I get a replacement bracket?
* Has anyone had luck getting a dented tank repaired. I was think of going to one of those paint-less dent removal places?
*Why wont the bike start. It tries to but sounds like the battery is dead. Battery was fine before it went over.
* Also is there anything I should be worried about? Fork Oil, Engine oil, Brake and clutch fluid/ It doesn't appear to have any leaks.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cafetbird · 08-08-2005

Sounds like hydro-lock on the start issue. Don't try to start it again! If it was upside down and running, you could have pumped oil up into the cylinder.

Remove the plugs, and then crank it a few times. This should clear it out. Pray you haven't bent a con rod.

UJMrider · 08-09-2005

You can get a bracket from most Triumph dealers, or you can order one online from one of the big suppliers (since you're in Mass, probably Great Bay in NH.) I think dealers stock these items because they are probably one of the most frequently broken/replaced items on the classics. Cost is about $50.

Crazyhouse100 · 08-09-2005

UJMrider..
Thanks for the advice on the bracket.

maxpower · 08-10-2005

.

Quote:

*Why wont the bike start. It tries to but sounds like the battery is dead. Battery was fine before it went over.

Check the battery. Internally a plate(s) could have separated or there may have been loss of electrolyte. Check the level if it looks OK then check the battery's voltage should be 12v look for loss of 2 v per bad cell/plate.

Crazyhouse100 · 08-10-2005

Maxpower..
Thanks. I will check the battery tomorrow. I found the bracket at Great Bay and will be working on the bike tomorrow.

Thanks :hammer:

rayhyland · 08-10-2005

It's always painful when you drop a bike (and I don't mean physical pain, I mean the pain of having scratched your baby...).

But living in Asia for over a decade, sometimes you pick up a few nuggets, and here is one I heard from some friends in India (Pashmir I believe).

They said that their local belief is that when you buy a new bike, it has some mischevious spirits in it. As long as it is still unscratched those spirits are waiting to wreck havok on you.

But the first accident you have lets those spirits out. So hopefully you have a small first accident. Leave one part of the bike still scratched so the spirits don't come back.

OK, so I may have different beliefs than my friends who told me this, but it is a cool concept. And when I dropped my Adventurer, I fixed the lights and whatever that was broken, but I left a little scratch on my tailpipe untouched. You know - just in case....

Ray

jimmyj900 · 08-11-2005

Quote:

Sounds like hydro-lock on the start issue. Don't try to start it again! If it was upside down and running, you could have pumped oil up into the cylinder.

Remove the plugs, and then crank it a few times. This should clear it out. Pray you haven't bent a con rod.

Yeah... pray. If it pumps oil out a plug hole you've potentially got a problem that may not show up for a couple thousand miles.

Quote:

They said that their local belief is that when you buy a new bike, it has some mischevious spirits in it. As long as it is still unscratched those spirits are waiting to wreck havok on you.

But the first accident you have lets those spirits out. So hopefully you have a small first accident. Leave one part of the bike still scratched so the spirits don't come back.

That is/was common belief in a lot of cultures. The version I heard was that "the gods are jealous of beautiful things." If I remember correctly the Navajos always left a "spirit path" in their weavings and the Hopis always built an imperfection into their pottery.

There are also a lot of folks in this country who will have a priest bless a new bike, so don't consider it a "primitive" belief. :wink:

You'll also a lot of folks around here with bells attached to their bikes to drive away the "gremlins" -- or attract "angels." It depends on who you talk to.

Jim

Crazyhouse100 · 08-11-2005

Replaced the bracket today. Took two trips to the dealer to get the right part. Apparently they changed mounting brackets sometime during the 2001 production. The battery checks out fine. I will pull the plugs tomorrow and check for Hydro lock. What future problems could there be if I find oil?
:???: :???: :???:

cafetbird · 08-11-2005

Your bearing could have sustained damage... engine will spin one. But cross that bridge when you come to it.

How long did it run while inverted?