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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
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Message started by Digger on 08/14/08 at 19:20:42

Title: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by Digger on 08/14/08 at 19:20:42

Funny occurrence today:

I was only a few minutes into the day's ride. I was putting along in second gear, light throttle, going about 15-20 mph.

Suddenly, I heard a moderate clunk and the rear wheel locked up for about half-a-second. Then, everything was back to normal. If I didn't know better, I'd say it felt like I'd stomped it into first with a closed throttle and dumped the clutch lever out while going 30 mph.

I stopped and looked everything over.....no joy.

I remember something like this happening about five years ago with this bike. That time, I was going only about 10 mph in second gear and the bike skidded to a halt. Started right up, though.

Thoughts? Should I suspect gearbox trouble. It didn't feel like an electrical cutout. Just to double check, I hit the kill switch while I was in second going 15 mph. The fire went out (as suspected) but the engine kept turning. The engine braking did not cause the rear wheel to lock up when I did this test.

My bike is in my signature. 9100 miles, basically stock except for some air-screw diddling. It usually runs great.

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by savage2k on 08/14/08 at 19:27:53

Sounds like you kicked up a rock or some sort of debris into the drive belt, and it tossed it out. It happened to me once, coming out of a parking lot that had loose grape sized gravel....Jammed me enough that the back tire skidded about 12 inches.

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by Digger on 08/14/08 at 19:47:12

Savage,

Interesting thought. I'll check the belt for any obvious damage.

Any other ideas?

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by Robertomoe on 08/14/08 at 21:19:49

Rock sounds like an extremely likely culprit. Stopping your rear wheel enough to skid requires a lot of force, and if something in the engine caused it, I would think that it wouldn't be a one-time problem.

I guess a good question to ask someone else would be this-

If you shut the engine off while still running at speed but didnt disengage the clutch, would the engine stop rotating completely (which would lock up the rear tire) or would the rear tire have enough torque to keep the engine turning over?

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by Max_Morley on 08/14/08 at 22:44:05

I would remove the rear wheel and clean and inspect the 3 bearings back there, or consider replacing them if there is any roughness or catching when you rotate them with a load radially, Max

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by serowbot on 08/15/08 at 10:42:03

My vote goes with savage2k's rock idea...

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by skrapiron on 08/15/08 at 12:49:58

Yeah, I read that and immediately said rock in the belt as well.

Rotate the wheel and look for a gouge on the pulley or a chip taken from the belt.

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by Digger on 08/15/08 at 19:41:04

172A272037312A282A20450 wrote:

.....If you shut the engine off while still running at speed but didnt disengage the clutch, would the engine stop rotating completely (which would lock up the rear tire) or would the rear tire have enough torque to keep the engine turning over?

Rob,

I tested that. On a cold engine, I got going about 20 mph in second then hit the kill switch. The fire went out, but the engine kept turning as I decelerated.

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by Digger on 08/15/08 at 19:44:23

I think Savage2k got it (thanks!).

I looked at my belt today. There was evidence of a tarry rock being stuck in there recently.

Luckily, there was no damage to the belt or the sprocket. Although the evidence is circumstantial, I'll apply Occam's Razor and call this one solved.

Thanks, all, I would have never thought of that as the cause of my little incident.

End of problem.

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by savage2k on 08/15/08 at 20:11:09

517C72727067150 wrote:

You're welcome......If it hadn't happened to me, I may have guessed differently....Glad there was no major damage. Still pretty frightening when a wheel locks up though :o

Title: Re: Rear Wheel Suddenly Locked Up Momentarily
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/15/08 at 23:29:55

I'll apply Occam's Razor and call this one solved.

I would just let the tar wear off. Scraping with a razor could cut the belt. Occam's razor MAY be safe tho, since its so old & Ive never heard of anyone sharpening it.