IBR Failures

[OCfjr]

Just heard from Jerry White, FJR rider in the IBR. His Electrosport stator fried on the way to the start in Spartanburg. Fortunately for him, he had the prescience to have a stock stator and gasket on hand and has made repairs and is back in action, ready for the start.

 

[TriggerT]

Those damn Gen 1 bikes. At least it broke before the start, and not during the IBR.

 

[squeezer]

Oooh, sucks. I hope that clears any lingering bad rally karma.

Is it just me, or do we hear a lot of reports of Electrosport stator failures?

 

[ionbeam]

...Is it just me, or do we hear a lot of reports of Electrosport stator failures?

As an owner of a failed Electrosport I would have to agree, there are a lot of ES failures.

While talking with another manufacturer of stators/starters/RRs I mentioned that my Electrosport failed when it had ~40k miles on it. They told me that 40k miles was actually a very long life for an aftermarket high output stator :blink: That is something for Gen I people to think about before upgrading(?) to a high output stator. If you are already a HO stator owner be informed that beginning around 30k miles your stator could fail at any time. Funny, there was no mention of this in the sales pitch :glare:

Any LD guys that have a lot of miles on an aftermarket HO stator should be taking a lesson from Jerry White and have a replacement stator and gasket on hand (plus some RTV for the rubber grommet for the wire feed-thru in the stator cover).

 

[Sportster]

....your stator could fail at any time. Funny, there was no mention of this in the sales pitch :glare:

Say it ain't sooo!!! Not another 'The Shitz" or "The Bomb" farkle that turns out, with real world use, to be a POS... :angry2:

Sportster

 

[wheatonFJR]

The used bike I purchased has an ES stator...now I wished it didn't have it.

I really don't run much juice thru it beyond the stock bike stuff...unless I start riding at night and begin using the bright, shiny after market lights that are on the bike.

 

[squeezer]

(snip)I really don't run much juice thru it beyond the stock bike stuff...unless I start riding at night and begin using the bright, shiny after market lights that are on the bike.

Turns out that doesn't matter. In the other Jerry-White-stator thread, slapnpop points out that stators run full blast no matter what voltage you're pulling. I didn't know that.

I know our admin coverage is a little low at the moment due to the IBR, but I hope one has time to merge these threads. Interesting stuff.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

(snip)I really don't run much juice thru it beyond the stock bike stuff...unless I start riding at night and begin using the bright, shiny after market lights that are on the bike.

Turns out that doesn't matter. In the other Jerry-White-stator thread, slapnpop points out that stators run full blast no matter what voltage (wattage) you're pulling. I didn't know that.

I think?, tho, you can be trying (with accessories) to extract even more than maximum -- that's when you start taking from the battery and voltage starts to fall. Eventually, the alternator (stator) is trying to handle way more (current) than it was designed for.

Remember, too -- max out-put starts around 5,000 rpm. Running at less rpm means a less proficient alternator. IMO, high load (lots of high-wattage accessories) and low rpm (below 5K-ish) is a recipe for stator disaster.

I know our admin coverage is a little low at the moment due to the IBR, but I hope one has time to merge these threads. Interesting stuff.

I agree. There needs to be one all-encompasing alternator (stator) thread. There are resources on this Forum (smart guys) to solve these issues -- well, at least as much as possible (given the compromised design... ).

 

[OCfjr]

I know our admin coverage is a little low at the moment due to the IBR, but I hope one has time to merge these threads. Interesting stuff.

Actually, I was hoping to keep this thread separate for IBR failures of any kind, rather than focus on just one type of failure.

 

[jwhite518]

I know our admin coverage is a little low at the moment due to the IBR, but I hope one has time to merge these threads. Interesting stuff.

Actually, I was hoping to keep this thread separate for IBR failures of any kind, rather than focus on just one type of failure.

And I didn't know Eric was going to start a thread on my stator, or I would have put my photo there.

 

[LDRydr]

As Jerry found out, sometimes you have issues on the way to the IBR. I was just reading Terry's post HERE and he found something in his tire at a gas-stop and needed to patch it up. He also says that TurboDave had an encounter with a flying truck tire on his way in but was OK. I'm sure we'll hear more, then the parking lot tipovers can also cause problems.

 

[Warchild]

This is why I encourage those that I mentor in this sport to **RIDE** the damn bike to the Start Line... so you can uncover last-minute problems.

I just spoke with Jerry a few minutes ago.... he had a pedicure done on his feet. Well.... his right foot. Okay, only the big toe... photos to come!

 

[SkooterG]

.... he had a pedicure done on his feet.

Freakin Iggy too!

Since when did the IBR attract all these metrosexuals?

 

[OCfjr]

.... he had a pedicure done on his feet.

Freakin Iggy too!

Since when did the IBR attract all these metrosexuals?

Hey, you've got time to kill Skoot, get-R-done. You should like having your feet fondled by women. Or just fall asleep in a chair in the bar with sandles on, someone will help you out...

:lol:

 

[doug5551]

I just spoke with Jerry a few minutes ago.... he had a pedicure done on his feet. Well.... his right foot. Okay, only the big toe... photos to come!

WTF- are they trying to give GZ ideas for his Spank Rally next year???? :assassin:

 

[jwhite518]

Hey, you've got time to kill Skoot, get-R-done. You should like having your feet fondled by women.

Not only that, when she was leaned in to give me a nice calf massage, she braced her ...uh...chestal area...against my foot. Yes, I copped a feel with my toes! Too bad she was a skinny Vietnamese chick - not much there. We need more St. Pauli Girl pedicurists! :dribble:

 

[OCfjr]

Next failure - BMW K1200LT with a badly slipping clutch, believed to be "slave cyl. problem" that is a known issue. Rider losing a full day waiting for repair, but not out of the game yet. edit: And now reporting driveshaft noises...

One of the RE-5 Rotary Suzuki's is down for unknown, but deadly mechanical failure. That rider is out of the rally unless a Ninja 250 or older unique replacement bike can be very quickly found for him to ride the rally on. He's in West Palm Beach if anyone wants to loan him a suitable bike to ride the IBR on. I'm sure it would make his day if he can continue on anything that might have a shot at finishing w/o failure. Anyone?

Barry is 6'2", so needs something by this early afternoon that he can possibly sit on for 10 days. Storing the RE-5 for him would also be desired. Contact Bill Watt on his cell @ 773 682 8120 if you can help.

edit: Barry has caught a ride to the checkpoint and will be picking up a rally prepped ninja, (if the bike can get delivered).

 

[Cal24Master]

This is why I encourage those that I mentor in this sport to **RIDE** the damn bike to the Start Line... so you can uncover last-minute problems.
I just spoke with Jerry a few minutes ago.... he had a pedicure done on his feet. Well.... his right foot. Okay, only the big toe... photos to come!

OK, what about the people who have bikes fail in the last day or two of the rally? I bet those people would love to have the 2,500 miles they put on the bike riding to the start back for the end of the rally.

I think that if you have the bike and yourself ready to go, it doesn't matter if you ride to the start or not. I have done both, and I can tell you that I didn't miss the character building experience of riding across Kansas in 100 degree heat, 100% humidity and 40mph crosswinds for 500 miles one little bit.

There are advantages and disadvantages both ways. But it is a huge advantage to get to the start of the IBR rested, relaxed and with both you and the bike ready to go.

 

[OCfjr]

OK, what about the people who have bikes fail in the last day or two of the rally? I bet those people would love to have the 2,500 miles they put on the bike riding to the start back for the end of the rally.

IMHO, those are different kinds of failures and in some cases may be related more to the conditions during the rally, than just miles ridden.

I think that if you have the bike and yourself ready to go, it doesn't matter if you ride to the start or not.

Well said! WC's statement was about those that didn't have their bike ready to go, slamming last minute stuff together and not proving it out with some riding time. C'mon now, I know you've seen some farkling that was complete crap, as well as guys like Paul Glaves that make better parking lot repairs than most dealer's service work! The full range exists.

There are advantages and disadvantages both ways. But it is a huge advantage to get to the start of the IBR rested, relaxed and with both you and the bike ready to go.

Absolutely! Whether done by taking an extra day to ride there, or trailering the bike is really moot, as long as your bike is dialed in before the rally. If you're still working on your bike at the last minute, better to prove those changes/repairs/farkles on the way to the rally than during the rally.