Well, we made it to Speedweek 2013, it was as hot as hell when we arrived late friday, and hotter than hell Saturday, Sunday & Monday.
I breezed thru scrutineering Saturday, after fixing a pin hole leak in the alloy seat tail / fuel tank.
As it was hot with a 10 MPH head / cross wind Monday (1st day of racing) , I chose to line up early Tuesday morning,,which saw me leave the line fourth, behind 2 bikes, and a lakester.
I had a 5 MPH tail wind
, and 30 degrees @ 8.30 am, the engine run rough in the 1st 3 gears, but cleared in 4th, although it was a bit fat, things seemed ok,,I hit 5th early (16,500 rpm) after tucking in,,I bagan to wind it out, heading to 17,000 RPM, the exhaust note changed to a "flutter",,DAMN,,,a holed piston, soooo early
Getting back to the pits,,I pulled the plug from #4 (the one I'd burnt a spark plug earth strap off during testing at home), it looked a bit browned, but on closer inspection with a magnifying glass, I noticed some powdered alloy up beside the porcelain , I then had no trouble poking 300 mm of wire down the plug hole,,,oops
I pulled #1 plug,,the 1st thread had only discoloured on one side, so was not running lean (methanol fueled)
I'm thinking I may have partially created the start of the hole during testing in November ?
I'll know more after tearing the engine down, I hope to find one more holed piston , which will help diagnose why the run failed.
I was doing 116 mph in 5th when it happened.
Such is life,
Tiny
DLRA Speedweek 2013 LASLO-CBR250R.holing a piston at 116 MPH in 5th gear