GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => General Technical discussion => Topic started by: loxsmith on Monday, 29 October 2018, 03:11 PM

Title: Scary find today
Post by: loxsmith on Monday, 29 October 2018, 03:11 PM
I bought a 2008 Z model with about 11000km on it about a month ago, not sure what the previous owners mechanical qualifications are but this might give you some basic insight

On the ride home from picking the bike up the tail tidy bolts fell out and the entire unit wedged between the rear wheel and inner guard
I managed to pull the bike up in one piece, did a temp repair to get me home then replaced the entire inner guard and indicators back to OEM. The number plate was also trashed

Went a 400km ride the other day and noticed the snatchy gear changes, suspected a loose chain. Looked at it closer today and went to tension the chain.... phaaaark, the axle nut was finger tight and near the end of the axle thread
Checked the rear caliper and one of the mounting bolts was totally missing. Now that would have been fun if the caliper let loose and locked up the rear wheel at 100kph

I think I need to spend a day and go over everything likely to have been touched in it's short life
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: loxsmith on Monday, 29 October 2018, 03:41 PM
Maybe i should have put this in the 'What did you do to your bike today' thread. Pls move it if you so desire Mods


hehe no need to move it. - landyvlad
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: mlivkovich on Monday, 29 October 2018, 03:48 PM
Quote from: loxsmith on Monday, 29 October  2018, 03:41 PM
Maybe i should have put this in the 'What did you do to your bike today' thread. Pls move it if you so desire Mods

And maybe you should start new thread named "What my bike did to me today". Scary find!  :doh:
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: KiwiCol on Monday, 29 October 2018, 04:26 PM
Geez!  That's staggering to think someone would sell a bike in that sort of condition.  Pleased no harm was done to you & only minor to the bike.  Very good idea to go over everything.  You'll be riding home 1 night & the bloody light could fall off, best ya check everything - then you can have confidence in it again.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Del on Monday, 29 October 2018, 04:54 PM
offt not good fella - I never trust a bike I buy and generally go over everything once I have it home - think this is another reasons all my intended winter hack turn into full rebuilds
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Blubber on Monday, 29 October 2018, 05:40 PM
Scary indeed.

I too do a full check up on the bolts and a full service just for ease of mind.

Never found anything like yours btw.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Mick_J on Monday, 29 October 2018, 07:00 PM
You're a lucky man, could have been very bad for your health, glad you found it in time, some people  :whatever:
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: grog on Monday, 29 October 2018, 07:05 PM
mate, youre very lucky to be posting. spend a whole day, just go over every bolt/ nut you find. then go to our check list for new owners, check and adjust all settings. when i first got mine, all services done and ticked in book by suzuki dealer. bolts in front calipers werent done up, one actually fell out. all the settings were way out. even fr. and rear suspension wasnt same from side to side. chain was way loose. throttle cables also. headlight was aimed at ground 2 foot in front. so much for dealer service. my bike was like new otherwise, so setting/checking made it perfect plus peace of mind. spend the time mate, youll have a much better ride.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Sweaty on Monday, 29 October 2018, 07:32 PM
What a tosser, to sell a near new bike in that condition. Glad you found out before some major damage to you & the bike.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: BbigMmac on Monday, 29 October 2018, 07:54 PM
Lucky man, worse things could have happend indeed. Hope you don`t find to much problems with the rest of the bike.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: barbz on Monday, 29 October 2018, 09:06 PM
Good find with the caliper bolts. Ive had them both go missing on a ride (first ride after picking it up), luckily the trailing arm kept it from doing any damage other than some scratches to the rim.

Have since run over the bike with a torque wrench to prevent further catastrophe.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Kiwifruit on Monday, 29 October 2018, 09:07 PM
Its going to be a whole lot nicer when you have given it the once over. You will have confidence in the bike knowing its all tight and not going to spring any nasty surprises on you. Should ride like a new one at those k's.
If its still got the original tyres on they are now ten years old. Treat yourself you won't regret it.
Ride safe and enjoy  :onya:
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 30 October 2018, 01:43 AM
Think you might need this to save a lot of time looks up torque's....

http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=194.0
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: loxsmith on Wednesday, 31 October 2018, 04:59 PM
It's kinda funny you mentioned the headlight, you actually hit the nail right on the head

This afternoon I removed the headlight lens (seems to be a little distorted even though the bulb is 60/55w???) and you wouldn't believe it, the case mounting bolts were finger tight
All I wanted to do was wire in a handlebar mounted USB outlet .....

I need to sort all this out before the run down to Wauchope NSW



Quote from: KiwiCol on Monday, 29 October  2018, 04:26 PM
Geez!  That's staggering to think someone would sell a bike in that sort of condition.  Pleased no harm was done to you & only minor to the bike.  Very good idea to go over everything.  You'll be riding home 1 night & the bloody light could fall off, best ya check everything - then you can have confidence in it again.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: froudy on Wednesday, 31 October 2018, 08:26 PM
After reading the above posts, I think you need to go through the whole bike and check every single part of it before you even think about swinging your leg over the seat again..

It sounds like a death trap to me :facepalm:

Oh and then go and assassinate the previous owner :imrgreen:
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 01 November 2018, 01:45 AM
Bolts missing from the brakes, axle nut near to falling off.
This topic may bring to light another question needing to be asked of the seller.
"Has your wife found out about your girlfriend ?" :bugga:
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: RickC on Thursday, 01 November 2018, 09:27 PM
When I first picked up my 14 from a reputable Brisbane dealer 3 years ago, I did the standard lets see how fast this thing goes, I was a little alarmed a few days later to find one of the rear shocks about to fall off - someone,  I assume the dealer had removed a rear luggage rack which was stopping the shock from falling off, the dealer gave me the proper shock absorber washers to return the bike back to a roadworthy state.

I'd say it is worth a good look over although you are probably all over that one now.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: loxsmith on Friday, 02 November 2018, 03:15 PM
I am hoping that now completes the nut and bolt check

1 of the 2 handle bar mounts was loose, bar have been replaced sometime with Renthal 758's
Rear indicator plastic spacers x 2 were used as one of the rear tank mounts..... why?
Rear pillion hand grip hand non genuine bolts fitted, must have had some sort of luggage fitted then removed

The local Suzuki now has a list of fasteners, spacers etc etc

Tomorrow's another day  :clapping:
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: Bov on Friday, 02 November 2018, 03:58 PM
Quote from: loxsmith on Wednesday, 31 October  2018, 04:59 PM
It's kinda funny you mentioned the headlight, you actually hit the nail right on the head

This afternoon I removed the headlight lens (seems to be a little distorted even though the bulb is 60/55w???) and you wouldn't believe it, the case mounting bolts were finger tight
All I wanted to do was wire in a handlebar mounted USB outlet .....

I need to sort all this out before the run down to Wauchope NSW



Quote from: KiwiCol on Monday, 29 October  2018, 04:26 PM
Geez!  That's staggering to think someone would sell a bike in that sort of condition.  Pleased no harm was done to you & only minor to the bike.  Very good idea to go over everything.  You'll be riding home 1 night & the bloody light could fall off, best ya check everything - then you can have confidence in it again.
Just aw well u checked it all out
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: grog on Friday, 02 November 2018, 07:03 PM
Rick C, wonder if same reputable brisbane dealer that had left my bolts loose. Southern end of town, something to do with springs n wood. long time ago, ancient history now.
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: loxsmith on Monday, 05 November 2018, 07:27 AM
Quote from: grog on Friday, 02 November  2018, 07:03 PM
Rick C, wonder if same reputable brisbane dealer that had left my bolts loose. Southern end of town, something to do with springs n wood. long time ago, ancient history now.

No, my bike was a private sale

But I am heading to the above mentioned dealer today for some product research....
Title: Re: Scary find today
Post by: GSX3 on Thursday, 15 November 2018, 02:35 PM
How did you go with your little fork problems Glen??🤔