I think I just killed my 675

[Mookie]

Check engine light came on this morning, still rode it to work and it was fine, temp and power seemed fine.

Checked it out just now and there's barely any coolant in the reservoir.  The oil smells like gas.  And now the stupid underseat lock won't open so I can't get to the dumb allen bolt so I can add water to the radiator.  

I also noticed that I magically lost 4000 miles off of my odometer, as I've only got 8000 something miles even though I had over 12k last month    I guess that's the good news

[DNA]

Sounds like typical BS Triumph stuff.  and all this time I though these things only happened to me.
Usually, it turns out ok for me, I hope yours is just temperamental as well.
Good luck.

[bizarro]

Sounds like typical BS Triumph stuff.  

 



Anyhow, sorry to hear that Jake! Keep us posted on what's going on.

[miles]

Hmmm... wassup wit dat?

[DNA]

On my Sprint, you have to heat cycle the engine 3 times once the issue is resolved to make various lights turn off, and random odd things are always happening.  Ask Jenks - his has it too.  Triumphs are just moody.

[Mookie]

It's been perfect up until today with the exception of a small coolant leak from a faulty connector that had been fixed previously.  

It was great at the track on Sunday and it's gonna bum me out if I can't get it fixed by the end of the month when we're going to the track out at Spokane.  That's besides the fact that it's my only real form of transport  

[Mookie]

On my Sprint, you have to heat cycle the engine 3 times once the issue is resolved to make various lights turn off, and random odd things are always happening.  Ask Jenks - his has it too.  Triumphs are just moody.

My definition of moodiness does not include losing all coolant and blowing head gaskets.

[miles]

No, that's full-on raging PMS.

[DNA]

My definition of moodiness does not include losing all coolant and blowing head gaskets.

Sorry to hear.
Mine pissed oil all over my boot. Several times. It was the oil seal.
Moody.  

Still under warranty?  The warranty is usually pretty good, if a bit slow.\

Yours sounds more like my first wife.

[Mookie]

Yeah, it's got a 2 year unlimited mileage deal.  For some reason I thought it was only a one year and that would have been up as of the beginning of the month.    At least I don't have to worry about paying for it at this point.

[DNA]

I'd forget about any track opportunities should they have ever come up in your past...

[hovmaven]

Want my VFR???  

Hint -- it's been in the shop for the last 40 days. . ..  

[keystonejenks]

On my Sprint, you have to heat cycle the engine 3 times once the issue is resolved to make various lights turn off, and random odd things are always happening.  Ask Jenks - his has it too.  Triumphs are just moody.

What?!?!? My Triumph has been perfectly fine.  

[Rincewind]

     Hope you get back on the road/track in a jiffy.  Glad it's still under warranty for you...

[R Doug]

Are you sure this has nothing to do w/ the fact you took out a 3-Series Bimmer w/ your bike?  

... seriously, sorry to hear about your troubles.

[miles]

I'd forget about any track opportunities should they have ever come up in your past...

Exactly.  Fail to mention track days to the service manager when you take it in.

[hovmaven]

I don't think track opportunities are problems.  It's the full blown races that cause issues. . ...  

[Mookie]

Exactly.  Fail to mention track days to the service manager when you take it in.

It's completely stock, would that somehow void my warrantee??

[miles]

I don't think it says anything in my owner's manual about track riding voiding the warrantee, but still I'd stick to the JRA story.

[Mookie]

I think they would know just by looking at my tires.  Or they would think I'm a literally insane street rider.  I guess both are equally plausible  

[Windblown]

I think they would know just by looking at my tires.  Or they would think I'm a literally insane street rider.  I guess both are equally plausible  

Let them think your an insane street rider.  Don't know if it's actually true but when I had a problem with my Triumph the dealer took one look at the TD sticker on it and said Triumph wouldn't cover anything.  Something about any closed course riding voiding the warranty. I called BS but fixed the issue myself versus paying the dealer to do it.

[greench440]

Well that sucks.  Is the coolant low or completly gone?  Modern FI bikes can throw a check engine light for many reasons.  The primary reason is to get you to take it to the dealer where they can read the codes from the engine computer.

Did it overheat?

[miles]

My triumph dealer's service manger is intimidated by my bike.  I bring it in for new tires and the old set are totally burned off, edge to edge... he's mentioned that he's never seen another S3 go through tires the way I do.

[DNA]

Parking lot - circle of death practice!

[Mookie]

Well that sucks.  Is the coolant low or completly gone?  Modern FI bikes can throw a check engine light for many reasons.  The primary reason is to get you to take it to the dealer where they can read the codes from the engine computer.

Did it overheat?

Nah, there is still a bit of coolant in it and the temp was fine on the way to work.  

[MisterSmooth]

My triumph dealer's service manger is intimidated by my bike.  I bring it in for new tires and the old set are totally burned off, edge to edge... he's mentioned that he's never seen another S3 go through tires the way I do.

That darn bike!  It must go out when you're at work.  

[MisterSmooth]

Nah, there is still a bit of coolant in it and the temp was fine on the way to work.  

Still 8,000 miles instead of 12,000?  And speaking of that, is your warranty unlimited miles?

If you have to take it up to Lynnwood to get it fixed that's kind of a PIA.  If, God forbid, you need to truck it up there post up here or give me a PM.

-N

[greench440]

If it didn't over overheat then you probably didn't hurt anything.  I'd ride it over to I-90 and make it their problem.  Then have Frank set you up with that used Speed Triple with the Leo Vince pipes until they figure it out.

[Mookie]

They give loaner bikes at i90??

[greench440]

Not from the Service Department.  Go to the sales floor and tell Frank that I said he was a good guy and would lend you a bike.  I-90 has probably the most liberal "demo ride" policy i've ever seen.  Frank thought I was going to keep the Speed Trip overnight while they did the recall on my FJR.

[Mookie]

Not from the Service Department.  Go to the sales floor and tell Frank that I said he was a good guy and would lend you a bike.  I-90 has probably the most liberal "demo ride" policy i've ever seen.  Frank thought I was going to keep the Speed Trip overnight while they did the recall on my FJR.

Well, I did buy the 675 from Frank so maybe that might work.  I've been trying to get all my work done at cycle barn since all my triumph friends recommended them over i90, but I did buy the bike from i90 and I'd much rather have a bike while I wait for mine to get fixed.  Sure beats the bus, that's for sure.

[greench440]

What happened to the Pimp Daddy Q-45?

[Mac]

Is this what people refer to as "character" in a bike?

[Optimus Prime]

Nah, there is still a bit of coolant in it and the temp was fine on the way to work.  

When there is a low coolant issue, you may not be able to trust the temp reading.  Most times, the temp is from a thermocouple that's in the coolant path somewhere.  Usually an accessible hose.  If you're low on coolant, than the thermocouple is just reading the air temp inside the hose.  I had this issue on a previous bike.

[davenay67]

Was there an earlier issue that caused the bike to blow a head gasket, as this may be a lingering reason why the coolant is low right now.

Also, the possibility of gas in the oil is a whole other issue. Is the oil level reading high..?? My POS gixxer did this to me a few times, where the gas would flood into the pistons and down into the crankcase because some 'o' rings in the float bowl allowed gas to pour through the carbs. FI is a different system, but probably the same effect..??

Hope this gets resolved for you OK....

Dave.

My definition of moodiness does not include losing all coolant and blowing head gaskets.

[Gaolee]

Holy crap, Jake!  I guess you won't be headed to Spokane at the end of the month.  I wonder if the problem is related in any way to having been hit on the freeway.

[Hoss]

Whoa! First time I see this post. A trip to Nova Scotis in a weeks, and my first track day coming in about month  


Hope everything gets resolved quickly. Keep us informed!

[Mookie]

I may have jumped the gun slightly.  I rode it home last night, since I had to work late there were no buses around.  The temp and everything seemed fine.

I was finally able to get to my tools and was able to check the radiator and it's totally full of coolant, it's just the reservoir that's empty.  So, it may just be the same thing that happened before with the elbow joint leaking.  Of course the first time that happened I didn't really lose any coolant there were just a few drips coming out.  

I have no idea why the oil smells gassy.  Maybe too much olestra

[DNA]

I have no idea why the oil smells gassy.

I have had this issue as well. Is the oil volume higher?  I think there might be something about the syntetics that smells like gas sometimes when hot?
I changed the oil and all worked out ok, (well after I had the rings replaced, the cylinder sleeves replaced, the valves and the guide rods replaced).
Like I said - moody. I had hoped the 675 was different.

[davenay67]

+1....check the oil level when the bike is cold. Any gas actually in the tank will show noticablly on the dipstick. Hopefully everything is OK and this is a non-issue.

Dave.

I have had this issue as well. Is the oil volume higher?  I think there might be something about the syntetics that smells like gas sometimes when hot?
I changed the oil and all worked out ok, (well after I had the rings replaced, the cylinder sleeves replaced, the valves and the guide rods replaced).
Like I said - moody. I had hoped the 675 was different.

[Gaolee]

I haven't had a moody Triumph yet.  Well, not since the first few days with the first TT600.  It had a bad IAC valve and some other issues.  It was more tempestuous than moody.  After it was fixed, it got fat, lazy and slept on the porch a lot.  Oh, that was the dog.  The bike was indestructible and completely reliable until I blew it up.  The next one was fine, and the 675 has been as reliable as you could hope for so far.  Only problem with it is how fast it destroys tires, brake pads, and brake fluid...

[RexRider]

Yet, he keeps messing about with the intake dangler flap and swallops-valve settings...  Sooner, or later, that 675 is gonna get PISSED and throw an absolute snotty!  

[bizarro]

Well...... don't know what was it was leaking but Gaolee came over to burn off his rear tire since he was swapping them out and on the second pass the 675 was pissing out some kind clearish fluid.

[Gaolee]

Yeah, I guess I spoke too soon.  This one appears to be a bit moody.  I have a pretty good idea where the leak is coming from, so if it ever stops raining, I will pull the bodywork and figure it out.

[Mookie]

Yeah, I guess I spoke too soon.  This one appears to be a bit moody.  I have a pretty good idea where the leak is coming from, so if it ever stops raining, I will pull the bodywork and figure it out.

is it leaking from behind the coolant res?

[maddjack]

It's completely stock, would that somehow void my warrantee??

YES, if Triumph finds out it was on a Track for ANY reason,track day ,racing ,stunting ,its void.

[cultureslayer]

It's an honorary Harley.  

Does suck though, and I feel your pain being another one of the carless forum members.  I hope you can get it resolved.

[Mookie]

YES, if Triumph finds out it was on a Track for ANY reason,track day ,racing ,stunting ,its void.

Just checked out the war rantee info, and you're wrong I believe.

All it says about anything track related was:

Conditions and Exclusions

1.  The machine must not have been used for competition, *misused, inadequately maintained, or incorrectly serviced or maintained.

[Gaolee]

is it leaking from behind the coolant res?

Yes.  Actually it was coming from the hose between the radiator and catch tank, because the fitting was broken clean off.  Beats me how that happens, but there you have it.  When the coolant in the radiator expanded, it spat up on the side of the bike instead of going into the catch tank.

It sure was a process to get at the reservoir to figure it out, but it gave me an excuse to take everything apart for a good cleaning.  It isn't spotless underneath, but it sure is better.

The part itself is a nylon 90 degree elbow that cost a princely $1.03 from Cycle Barn.  Fortunately, they had had one left in stock.  It all went back together just fine, and it is probably 5 lbs of road mung lighter.  I even changed the oil while figuring it out.

[Hoss]

Yeah it seems that part is breaking on a bunch of 675's. I've been meaning to get the bike apart and swap it out. I've seen people who just use a longer piece of hose instead of putting a new connector.

[BBB]

  The bike was indestructible and completely reliable until I blew it up.  

That's not much of a testimony for a manufacturer. What caused the blow up?

[bizarro]

That's not much of a testimony for a manufacturer. What caused the blow up?

Four words: Gaolee, Tune Boy, laptop.

[RexRider]

   Indeed!  I was there the day it blew up, and Gaolee was messin' with it after every track session, until it went Bang!  

[Gaolee]

45K miles and a 1500 rpm raised fuel cutoff might have had something to do with it.  The fact that it was a magnet for truck bumpers could have contributed.  It got hit while parked twice and knocked down on the freeway once.  That doesn't include a couple trips to the ground caused by the idiot riding it (me).  It had a very hard life, and the fact that it didn't blow up sooner is pretty amazing.

[RexRider]

Want a testimonial of high build quality?  Give your bike to Gaolee for a year.  If he doesn't manage to kill it, you used to have a really good machine *!  







* Of course, after he gets done with it, it might not be in such good shape...  

[Gaolee]

Only that bike.  It was a magnet for all kinds of wierd damage.  It got the lifetime achievement Oopsie award.

[RexRider]

 

[DNA]

So what is the diagnosis?

[Mookie]

So what is the diagnosis?

The diagnosis is that the idiot light randomly turned off, I put some water in the reservoir (which hasn't leaked out) and I'm pretending nothing happened until I take the bike to the shop this Saturday.

I'm still curious where all the coolant went since it didn't leak out  

[DNA]

I understand the situation perfectly.
Like I said before: Moody.  Mine wold do the same thing, but with oil!
Good luck on Sat.

[davenay67]

Why oh why won't Triumph learn their lesson about using crappy (read cheap) parts design..?? These silly little annoyances create bad publicity for the brand, which is exactly what is not needed when they have the eyes of the world on them now because of their new and exciting product line. The fuel connectors plagues the 955 engines, and Triumph were slow and inneffective with their remedy.

Triumph....please learn for your lessons....

Dave.

Yeah it seems that part is breaking on a bunch of 675's. I've been meaning to get the bike apart and swap it out. I've seen people who just use a longer piece of hose instead of putting a new connector.