I've got a 2011 fe390 with about 4 hours on it. Today while descending a very technical rocky(boulders) hill I dropped the bike, very slow as in less than walking speed pace. It died on contact and was down just a few seconds as I went to swing my leg back over flames were coming up from around the radiator and traveled down the inside of the skid pan. Eventually got it out and just burned/melted some wire conduit. It started right up and was able to ride it out of the woods with no problem. I suspect it leaked fuel from somewhere and ignited, but not really sure. Has anyone ever heard of this before? It is at the dealer now, they had never heard of anything like this before.
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Crap, ive dropped my 570 on both sides with out a prob, was fuel coming out of the tank breather as the tube is behind the rads ? How full was ur tank ?
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First...if you haven't already done so, remove the one-way valve in the hose coming out of the gas cap and the ball in the gas cap. This will help to avoid building pressure in your gas tank.
Next....check to make sure that the fuel injection unit is still tightly mated to the gas tank. I had an incident whereby I built up pressure in my gas tank which cretaed a leak in this area and gas spilled out on to my motor. Luckily, I avoided fire.
Next....check to make sure that the fuel injection unit is still tightly mated to the gas tank. I had an incident whereby I built up pressure in my gas tank which cretaed a leak in this area and gas spilled out on to my motor. Luckily, I avoided fire.
It seems to me that any bike can or will loose fuel when tipped over. I know all of mine have, on multiple occasions.
But what made it ignite? The autoignition temperature of gasoline is about 495 degrees F. I think that is way hotter than anything on the bike. My temperature gauge of the coolant seldom gets above 200 degrees when the bike is running well. The exhaust is probably hotter, but not that hot.
So it seems to me that there must have been a spark. Perhaps a faulty spark plug or wire. Or maybe something metal struck a rock that caused a spark.
By the way, how did you put the fire out? A fuel fire could be hard to extinguish without a fire extinguisher.
But what made it ignite? The autoignition temperature of gasoline is about 495 degrees F. I think that is way hotter than anything on the bike. My temperature gauge of the coolant seldom gets above 200 degrees when the bike is running well. The exhaust is probably hotter, but not that hot.
So it seems to me that there must have been a spark. Perhaps a faulty spark plug or wire. Or maybe something metal struck a rock that caused a spark.
By the way, how did you put the fire out? A fuel fire could be hard to extinguish without a fire extinguisher.
It could have leaked from the vent tube. Tank was no where near full as we had been riding over three hours since filling and no completely full then.
It was tipped over head down on a fairly steep grade, but it was really more of a drop than a crash. Flames first came up from around the right side of the radiator and I was able to pat it out with my hand, burned up a good glove and a few minor burns on my fingers. It then settled out, much smaller between the engine cases and skid pan, I was able to get it out with dirt. All the damage I could see was it melted off the radiator shroud on the right and some of the plastic conduit/bundling stuff for the wiring running from around the triple clamp along the frame under the tank melted, wires and insulation itself looks ok with a cursory inspection.
The only thing I can think of is when it was on its side front end down it leaked from the tank vent tube and must have ignited on the exhaust then just ran down in the skid pan. I wouldn't have thought the exhaust would be that hot, but maybe so. I've spilt gas all over hot air cooled two strokes way back when and never had one flame up.
It's at the dealer and they are going to give it a look. If you guys are interested I'll keep you posted.
It was tipped over head down on a fairly steep grade, but it was really more of a drop than a crash. Flames first came up from around the right side of the radiator and I was able to pat it out with my hand, burned up a good glove and a few minor burns on my fingers. It then settled out, much smaller between the engine cases and skid pan, I was able to get it out with dirt. All the damage I could see was it melted off the radiator shroud on the right and some of the plastic conduit/bundling stuff for the wiring running from around the triple clamp along the frame under the tank melted, wires and insulation itself looks ok with a cursory inspection.
The only thing I can think of is when it was on its side front end down it leaked from the tank vent tube and must have ignited on the exhaust then just ran down in the skid pan. I wouldn't have thought the exhaust would be that hot, but maybe so. I've spilt gas all over hot air cooled two strokes way back when and never had one flame up.
It's at the dealer and they are going to give it a look. If you guys are interested I'll keep you posted.
First off, sorry to hear about the fire and your minor injuries. Glad you got it put out so quickly.
If you've ever let your bike idle for a while you will notice that the header for a few inches beyond the head glows a dull red. If visible in twilight lighting conditions, that means the temp of the header is around 880F, and 975F if visible in daylight, well above the auto ignition point of gasoline.
I moved my fuel cap vent location a long time ago from the factory frame position. With the vent in the stock location it drools spooge all over the down tube down into the skid plate. Makes a mess and it stinks.
I ran a piece of vent line all the way down into the skid plate where it can just drool out onto the ground. I realize this is fine for dryer less muddy conditions, and if I ran in the mud, or had lots of long deep water crossings I would run it up higher, or at least have a "T" connection up high so there would be no chance of vacuum lock.
I have also removed the ball in the cap and have no one way valve in the tank vent system.
If you've ever let your bike idle for a while you will notice that the header for a few inches beyond the head glows a dull red. If visible in twilight lighting conditions, that means the temp of the header is around 880F, and 975F if visible in daylight, well above the auto ignition point of gasoline.
I moved my fuel cap vent location a long time ago from the factory frame position. With the vent in the stock location it drools spooge all over the down tube down into the skid plate. Makes a mess and it stinks.
I ran a piece of vent line all the way down into the skid plate where it can just drool out onto the ground. I realize this is fine for dryer less muddy conditions, and if I ran in the mud, or had lots of long deep water crossings I would run it up higher, or at least have a "T" connection up high so there would be no chance of vacuum lock.
I have also removed the ball in the cap and have no one way valve in the tank vent system.
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