Drowned in a river near San Blas, Panama - Page 2

Grad · 01-28-2008, 08:24 AM

Please update us with your adventure!

Here is the map

bananaman · 01-28-2008, 10:08 AM

Carlos Torrero, the head mechanic at the BMW dealership, agreed to help me once I get the bike back from Cocuye. You should have seen the light in his eyes... he was, like, (in spanish) Damn, I wish I didn't have to work today because I want to come! Then he got worried about the truck- would it be strong enough? It's a toyota hilux diesel with a flatbed. It's strong enough. It's going to be a trick getting the bike onto it...

We've got a concrete-form panel for a ramp: aluminum with marine plywood. I've got a rope and pulleys to lift the bike.

Bonebag · 01-28-2008, 10:53 AM

Like said above more or less...change the oil..start..run up to operating temp. Stop..change oil again..run for as long as you can..maybe ride her 100 miles or so..then..stop..change engine oil/transmission oil/plugs..DO NOT let your bike just sit there for a couple days.."I'll get to it later" will start corrosion in your engine..which most likely is already happening as you sit.....you may want to change your FD fluid as well as sitting in the deep water..there is a chance some water sucked in through that seal..your choice. Running her at temp as much as you can will cause all the water in your engine to evaporate and exit the exhaust pipe..it will take a while but your motor should be fine...You may see some chocolate milk streaks in your oil sight glass for some time to come...

don't ask me why I know this..

Peka · 01-28-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaman

The clutch... holy shit the clutch got abused in the mud. I buried the rear wheel right up to the axle. A lot. To try (in vain) to keep from spinnin, I's start out in 2nd. Or at least try to start out in 2nd

Unless mud/water got into the clutch, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Good luck.

bananaman · 01-28-2008, 11:36 PM

The starter makes a terrible clang-clang when I start it. Once running, the engine sounds fine.

The bike is on the back of a truck. I'll take it to the BMW dealer tomorow. I'll clean it and change the fluids and find out about the clang and I'll have Torreo check the pressures to make sure the pistons are working ok. Then I'll ride to Yavisa. 400k each way.

Wait. I can't do Yavisa until I fix the side cases. They both got bent terrible. One kind of broke. I'll get it welded.

eric2 · 01-29-2008, 07:27 AM

Chances are; if you tried starting it while it still had water in the motor you've lost a tooth or 2 off the flywheel where the starter engages it. Best case is the starter suffered damage instead. Not terminal, but will need repair eventually

J2Jonner · 01-29-2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaman

Here are the coordinates (aprox). Check it out on google earth. n 9, 30.945, w79,14.888

Best of luck on the bike. Thanks for posting the co-or, it was fun to look it up.

whiteknucklemc · 01-29-2008, 08:35 AM

No advice but please post some pics.

PRW · 01-29-2008, 12:04 PM

Bananaman - you are my hero!

Wish I were there to help...

John_Mann · 01-29-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaman

The starter makes a terrible clang-clang when I start it. Once running, the engine sounds fine.

The bike is on the back of a truck. I'll take it to the BMW dealer tomorow. I'll clean it and change the fluids and find out about the clang and I'll have Torreo check the pressures to make sure the pistons are working ok. Then I'll ride to Yavisa. 400k each way.

Wait. I can't do Yavisa until I fix the side cases. They both got bent terrible. One kind of broke. I'll get it welded.

Same exact thing happened to me on the TransAm trail. Hopefully its the starter but Im guessing its the flywheel. Good Luck!!

bananaman · 01-30-2008, 04:43 PM

I know I need to post pics, but I'm still on the crappy computer.

I got it fixed!

I drained the oil and it came out black until the end, when it turned chocolate. Torrero said that it wasn't enough water to worry about- that he's seen much, much worse, and been able to fix it. The tiny amount that was in the oil would evaporate through the filler cap. I'll change the oil when I get back from Yavisa- about 500 or 600 miles.

The transmission oil was perfect. It actually looked brand-new. I had changed it right before I left (actually November, but only about 150 miles or riding).

The final drive oil was bad. And it smelled like sulpher.

Lone Rider · 01-30-2008, 04:51 PM

Very nice, man!

Ride 'er on.....

We'll take pics when you get to 'em.

Did you get a real air filter or are you doing the stinky sock thing? :)

Ron Seida · 01-30-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaman

The final drive oil was bad. And it smelled like sulpher.

No sweat, it's susposed to smell like that

.

bananaman · 01-30-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

Very nice, man!

Ride 'er on.....

We'll take pics when you get to 'em.

Did you get a real air filter or are you doing the stinky sock thing? :)

I bought a new air filter from BMW Panama. I'm thinking about snorkels for the air intake and the final drive breather. I've always changed my own oil but this was the first time I didn't pay to have the transmission and final drive changed (having it done for me has always been a guilty pleasure... like when women get pedicures or something). I did not know the final drive stunk so bad. Yuck.

Peka · 01-30-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaman

I got it fixed!

So what was causing the sound from the starter?

01-28-2008, 08:24 AM	#16
Grad Wannabe Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA and Blairsville, GA Oddometer: 2,220	Please update us with your adventure! Here is the map __________________ Rent our cabin in the N. Georgia mountains. Close to some of the best roads in the country! Discount for ADVriders! 2007 Triumph Tiger 9200 miles, 22 states, 7 weeks on my GS.

01-28-2008, 10:08 AM	#17
bananaman ^OP transcontimental Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Madison, Wisconsin and/or Panama, Panama Oddometer: 5,640	Carlos Torrero, the head mechanic at the BMW dealership, agreed to help me once I get the bike back from Cocuye. You should have seen the light in his eyes... he was, like, (in spanish) Damn, I wish I didn't have to work today because I want to come! Then he got worried about the truck- would it be strong enough? It's a toyota hilux diesel with a flatbed. It's strong enough. It's going to be a trick getting the bike onto it... We've got a concrete-form panel for a ramp: aluminum with marine plywood. I've got a rope and pulleys to lift the bike. __________________ Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Hall of Wisdom How To Diagnose Problems. Sticky Latin America Ride Reports. Drowned near San Blas. Crazy Girlfriend Stories. Front Page Photo. IBA #28229

01-28-2008, 10:53 AM	#18
Bonebag ADDvrider Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Wisconsin..Hot,Cold and everything in Between Oddometer: 5,168	Like said above more or less...change the oil..start..run up to operating temp. Stop..change oil again..run for as long as you can..maybe ride her 100 miles or so..then..stop..change engine oil/transmission oil/plugs..DO NOT let your bike just sit there for a couple days.."I'll get to it later" will start corrosion in your engine..which most likely is already happening as you sit.....you may want to change your FD fluid as well as sitting in the deep water..there is a chance some water sucked in through that seal..your choice. Running her at temp as much as you can will cause all the water in your engine to evaporate and exit the exhaust pipe..it will take a while but your motor should be fine...You may see some chocolate milk streaks in your oil sight glass for some time to come... don't ask me why I know this.. __________________ *CADVR 6 CENTRAL RALLY 6 "THE SOUND OF AWESOMENESS"* Cannonshot's Central Rally GPS Routes Tracks and Info HERE!! *Official Central Rally Website:* Sign up and Ride Hard too!

01-28-2008, 11:36 PM	#20
bananaman ^OP transcontimental Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Madison, Wisconsin and/or Panama, Panama Oddometer: 5,640	The starter makes a terrible clang-clang when I start it. Once running, the engine sounds fine. The bike is on the back of a truck. I'll take it to the BMW dealer tomorow. I'll clean it and change the fluids and find out about the clang and I'll have Torreo check the pressures to make sure the pistons are working ok. Then I'll ride to Yavisa. 400k each way. Wait. I can't do Yavisa until I fix the side cases. They both got bent terrible. One kind of broke. I'll get it welded. __________________ Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Hall of Wisdom How To Diagnose Problems. Sticky Latin America Ride Reports. Drowned near San Blas. Crazy Girlfriend Stories. Front Page Photo. IBA #28229

01-29-2008, 12:04 PM	#24
PRW living @ 11.5740741uHz Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago Oddometer: 1,092	Bananaman - you are my hero! Wish I were there to help... __________________ “When I’m riding my motorcycle, I’m glad to be alive — and when I stop riding my motorcycle, I’m glad to be alive.” -Neil Peart 2008 R1200GS (Slate Gray Metallic Matt) 2003 R1150GS (Night Black)

01-29-2008, 08:35 AM	#23
whiteknucklemc Studly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Apache Junction, AZ Oddometer: 643	No advice but please post some pics.

01-30-2008, 04:43 PM	#26
bananaman ^OP transcontimental Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Madison, Wisconsin and/or Panama, Panama Oddometer: 5,640	I know I need to post pics, but I'm still on the crappy computer. I got it fixed! I drained the oil and it came out black until the end, when it turned chocolate. Torrero said that it wasn't enough water to worry about- that he's seen much, much worse, and been able to fix it. The tiny amount that was in the oil would evaporate through the filler cap. I'll change the oil when I get back from Yavisa- about 500 or 600 miles. The transmission oil was perfect. It actually looked brand-new. I had changed it right before I left (actually November, but only about 150 miles or riding). The final drive oil was bad. And it smelled like sulpher. __________________ Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Hall of Wisdom How To Diagnose Problems. Sticky Latin America Ride Reports. Drowned near San Blas. Crazy Girlfriend Stories. Front Page Photo. IBA #28229

01-30-2008, 04:51 PM	#27
Lone Rider Registered User Joined: Jan 2002 Location: out and about Oddometer: 25,005	Very nice, man! Ride 'er on..... We'll take pics when you get to 'em. Did you get a real air filter or are you doing the stinky sock thing? :)

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