Triumphrat

kpp80202 · 07-11-2006

After owning (and loving) my 01 Sprint ST for three weeks, I have had my first problem. On the way into work today, about 100 feet from the parking lot, the engine malfunction light came on, and there was a weird "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" noise that sounded like it was coming from the cooling fan. (Not the normal fan sound.) Shutting down the bike didn't stop it, and out of concern for some type of damage, I disconnected the negative battery lead for a split second. That stopped the noise momentarily. Then I disconnected it for a second or two, and reconnected it. At that point the bike was silent. I have no idea what caused any of this.

What should I do? Call the dealer to check it out? Is this some known issue? Anyone know what's going on with it?

I'd like to fix it myself if possible.

Thanks!

Kevin

rodneybrown · 07-11-2006

Sounds like you have already pin pointed the problem. If you turned off the engine and it continued but stopped by disconnecting the battery, it sure sounds like the fan. The fan, as you know does run after shut down. If you are lucky something got caught in the fan. If you are less lucky, the fan motor or blades may be wacked, but that isn't a bank breaking problem either.

pushr0d · 07-11-2006

I'm a little concerned about the Engine light...

thfwsf · 07-11-2006

If you browse the postings, you will find if it is only a temporary engine malfuntion, it will reset itself after three warm up cycles and turn the check engine light off. A warm up cycle is getting the ST up to running temp and then letting it cool completely down. However, if you are concerned, get to a Trumpet shop and have them plug in their gameboy.

chasbl100 · 07-11-2006

Hi Mate.
My 01 sprint quite regularly has the cooling fan on after ignition shutdown, especially in the hot weather we've been having lately.I agree with the previous post, you probably do have something lodged in your fan cowl :-D

miker · 07-11-2006

The engine light may have come on because you overheated a little because the fan was malfunctioning. You'll need to get in a see what's up with the fan. At best, there is something jamming it up and stopping it from spinning freely. At worst, you have had something jam it up, then spin the blades off the fan motor. It's happened to me. I had to replace the entire assembly, because I couldn't get a replacement blade. You can ride the bike without the fan, so long as you don't sit idling for too long in traffic. You might also want to check the fuse for the fan, this may have blown during the problem and stopped the noise.

Once you fix the fan, the engine malfunction light will extinguish after three start up cycles.

Mick

[ This message was edited by: miker on 2006-07-11 18:26 ]

kpp80202 · 07-11-2006

Miker--you hit the nail on the head. The fan blade assembly somehow came into contact with the radiator, and the metal center hub simply spun itself loose, melting the inside of the plastic fan blade hub. Looks like a new assembly is in order. Crud.

The "zzzzz" sound was the metal rub spinning against the plastic. I have no idea how something like this would happen.

[ This message was edited by: kpp80202 on 2006-07-11 19:09 ]

RexxyPup · 07-12-2006

If you can take the whole unit off and the metal shaft is still okay, you could rebuild the plastic hub with some stuff called plastic repair.

I got mine from Buster's Accessories, and have used it on a panel lug that I snapped. It should work well for this

Busters Accessories - Plastech

If it doesn't work, you've wasted £10 if it does you've saved an arm and a leg (Standard Triumph part cost :-D )

Rexx

miker · 07-12-2006

Not sure whether I'd try and fix the plastic, it needs to be very well balanced. You may be able to get a used fan from a breaker. Which is what I did. Simple to replace, except for the fairing off and on.

It happens because small road particles get up inside the cowling that holds the fan to the radiator. These particles build up and cause the fan to either stop, or rub until the plastic melts on the hub. Easy fix to prevent it again is to drill a larger gap at the bottom of the cowling to let the crud drop out easily.

Good luck with the fix.

Mick

kpp80202 · 07-12-2006

In doing a search, it looks like Muzzys makes a replacement metal fan for this motor for under $40. The motor looks ok, so I think I'll try the replacement metal fan. If that doesn't work, I can get a new motor, and mount the metal fan to that.

[ This message was edited by: kpp80202 on 2006-07-12 15:42 ]