Topic: Cycle X Drag Bike - Sneak Peak!

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Talked with Kenny today....not good, man, he's bummed. 8 years in the making, 320 lbs total, too much power,compression, torque all made for something broke in engine on test ride! Damn, he's cancelled booth etc. May still come at last minute, still in shock! Just damn! Sux, Bill

[madmtnmotors]

Dammit! 

Ordered new pistons from them today, hopefully the proceeds will go towards helping them get it sorted.

Heck, there's got to be something parked in Kenny's garage that he can bring down to the race. Like John says: "you don't have to be fast, you just have to be consistent".

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Hope it didn't damage that special head. Maybe he can 'practice' on Bill's laydown ride so he won't feel left out    I was just on his site this afternoon listening to it. Dammit!!

[y2kc0wb0y]

That's drag racing for you right there.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Yep, the new bike blues, you think Samauto went out and just ran well.....haha, I wish! Sometimes it takes a hell of a lot of time, dedication, late, late nights...oh and money, money, patience, luck, a little skill helps , man it don't just happen, especially on old SOHC 750's! Kenny, you can fix it, we all pulling for you! C'mon man. Bill

[bwaller]

Yep, the new bike blues, you think Samauto went out and just ran well.....haha, I wish! Sometimes it takes a hell of a lot of time, dedication, late, late nights...oh and money, money, patience, luck, a little skill helps , man it don't just happen, especially on old SOHC 750's! Kenny, you can fix it, we all pulling for you! C'mon man. Bill

Never a truer word spoken.

[kmb69]

Yeh, I'm bummed too. 

I talked to Kenny yesterday a few minutes after it happened. He was seriously bummed out, hadn't had time to assess the damage, and wasn't in any mood to discuss it. I did not talk to him today as I thought he might need a little decompression time. He has really been pouring his heart, soul, and a ton of money into this effort. I'm with Jerry hoping that head suffered no damage. No doubt, Kenny will be back!!!

Bike #2 is still apparently a possibility. We will see.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Bring it down in boxes! We have a helluva pit crew to put it back together while we're hangin out.....

[dragracer]

That's drag racing for you right there.

And thats the only practical way to look at what happened.  When building a custom motor, its necessary to check every detail multiple times. Even then we miss the simplest things that can cause failure. I know Kenney is an experienced engine builder/machinist/fabricator and did his homework well. He'll have this thing torn down tomorrow, evaluate the cause of the failure and likely start getting things in order to build the motor again.  He doesn't seem like the kind of person to give up when he has the knowledge to push through.

Again, its all in racing. Been there, done that myself. Don't give up yet boys!!!!!!!!!!!

[MRieck]

The crank broke in the middle(where it is thin). All other parts are in perfect shape...Ti rods, head trans etc

[Retro Rocket]

The crank broke in the middle(where it is thin). All other parts are in perfect shape...Ti rods, head trans etc

How will they get around that Mike...?  Weld it up and balance it...?

[Sam Green Racing]

BUGGER 

[joe p]

Building something like that can be a big headache! God know how much power that thing make. Hope it was just a bad crank

[cbr954]

Almost had to of been a bad spot in the crank I would think, especially since they have held up to nitro.  But then again I dont know what was done to the crank.  I am bummed for Ken too.

[kmb69]

This is in reality, the best of many possible much uglier scenarios. They caught it early before any of the other next to unobtanium parts were damaged. He was in a real positive mood today and planning the resurrection. I'm just guessing that the crank was probably not magnafluxed after being stroked. Was possibly cracked after welding, grinding, and straightening. This part of the job was not done inhouse and had been farmed out to one of the most reputable crank builders in the business.

New crank required for sure. Missing the Valdosta 2014 Final will actually take some pressure off and give Kenny an opportunity to come up with a better crankshaft solution as well as a few other items that may require a little beefing up. That top end combination is making some serious power. Motors built to this level will always provide the builder with the "weakest link" data.

Kenny may still attend the ManCup final. Come on Kenny, we need to drink about it!!!

[madmtnmotors]

The crank broke in the middle(where it is thin). All other parts are in perfect shape...Ti rods, head trans etc

How will they get around that Mike...?  Weld it up and balance it...?

Duct tape!

[Retro Rocket]

The crank broke in the middle(where it is thin). All other parts are in perfect shape...Ti rods, head trans etc

How will they get around that Mike...?  Weld it up and balance it...?

Duct tape!

I didn't mean the broken crank, i meant weld up a replacement crank to add strength....   I'm not sold on the duct tape idea yet, you'll have to sell that one a little better...

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Keith +1. I told him that also. Hell, bring the DOHC bike, but if not STILL come, damnit Gumby! 
Sam said so! 

[madmtnmotors]

How will they get around that Mike...?  Weld it up and balance it...?

Duct tape!

I didn't mean the broken crank, i meant weld up a replacement crank to add strength....  

Yeah, I kind of figured. You set it up so well that I couldn't resist (must have a little bit of Red Green in me)    Hard to imagine pressing something like a failed crankshaft back into service, especially in a race motor!   

Glad to hear that the damage appears to be limited. Could have been a whole lot worse. 

[TurboD]

I hate to hear this after all the hard work, hopefully they will get it together.

If Not Kenny should go through his parts and assemble an engine using one of his 1000cc kits and use parts like he would sell to customers, put it into this chassis to showcase his kits and parts. Hint Hint..

[madmtnmotors]

Kenny should go through his parts and assemble an engine using one of his 1000cc kits and use parts like he would sell to customers, put it into this chassis to showcase his kits and parts. Hint Hint..

There ya go! Just pull an engine off the shelf, slap it in there and go racing! 

[dragracer]

When you set one up really tight to get compression, its a good idea to pull the head back off after a heat cycle just to be sure nothing is hitting the heat. A piston hitting the head will break a crank every time. Yes, I've done it before. Plus I'm not a fan of lightening a crank in any way for dragracing. It does not help!!!!!!!

[bear]

We gave up on welded cranks years ago.

Cheers,
Brian

[MRieck]

We gave up on welded cranks years ago.

Cheers,
Brian

They (large strokers) all eventually break Brian as you obviously know. Billets are nice....I have seen the busa Marine stroker crank.....NICE! (Jay sells them)

[MRieck]

When you set one up really tight to get compression, its a good idea to pull the head back off after a heat cycle just to be sure nothing is hitting the heat. A piston hitting the head will break a crank every time. Yes, I've done it before. Plus I'm not a fan of lightening a crank in any way for dragracing. It does not help!!!!!!!

I agree with that especially with larger than stock bores and added stroke....you need all the counter weight mass you can get. You will kill main bearings secondary to flex.