2004 VN1500L down

[Crash]

Well I changed my oil to synthetic 10-40 Lucas motorcycle oil. After letting it run for a bit and checking the levels I rode it around the block. Let me rephrase that, I tried to ride around the block but the rear end locked up and she slammed down. She went down on the right, caught on the pavement and slammed left then back over on the right side. Insurance says its totaled. I was only up to about 30-35 mph.

I am wondering what could have caused the transmission to lock up like that. When it happened it felt like it was grabbing and releasing inside the trans case area. I keep the oil changed and check everything regularly. I just am stumped by this whole thing.

On another note me and the wife are going to look at a 2010 Voyager ABS next week.

[MAS Tequila]

So I'm guessing that the answer to the first question is, OK?

That being, how did you come out of it, any damage to you?

That's a strange one, it sounds like the wheel was spinning in order to turn the bike over side to side.

Are you sure you didn't lose traction somehow and the rear came out?

That does feel like the trans is catching and releasing when the wheel hits the pavement and comes back off.

Just asking, trying to compare to a very long ago almost forgotten experience.

MT

[Crash]

I have road rash on my left arm, and that's about it. The bike flipped when it was sliding sideways and something metal grabbed on the ground and it flipped. When its in neutral and I push it forward it feels like something inside is getting caught up and releases and then grabs again. I went down when it locked up the back wheel completely. After the crash I was able to put it in neutral and roll it out of the road. When I fired it up to put it on the trailer it locked up and released again.

[BudMan]

I'm sorry to hear of your accident.
I don't have enough mechanical knowledge to have a opinion on what could have happened.
Glad you are okay.

[VulcanE]

WOW.............. that's a new one on me too, glad there was nothing really serious that happened (other than the bike that is)

[DragonLady58]

Sounds like that pesky angle drive, one of the bearings came apart. Or the possibly something activating that ratchet mech. just behind the clutch or in front of your angle drive. They're stupidly jerky and dangerous when they ratchet as designed.
For the spill to have happened, something between your rear tire rotation (wheel bearing, ring&pinion, OR inside the trans.) caused it.
A wheel bearing lockup can cause this also, possible something in the brakes....
You have alot of pieces/parts rotating and moving....I had diagnose a late 90's flh that the owner said had locked up going 45 mph. Tore his ass up good. The culprip?
A rock had wedged between the rear rotor and the brake pad support rods in the caliper. Freak accident, he was driving down a gravel road in La., behind a big gravel truck on his way home.
If she's totalled, sell he for parts on Ebay....or advertise on craigslist as a mechanics special. Someone might wanna strip her down, repair her and get her on the road agian....

[jesse]

Isn't there a u-joint on the front of the shaft? Should have given some indications before it got to that point, if it is indeed the problem.
They can do amazing when they are enclosed like these are. Could the oil screen or spring get up in the transmission?

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by jesse

Isn't there a u-joint on the front of the shaft? Should have given some indications before it got to that point, if it is indeed the problem.
They can do amazing when they are enclosed like these are. Could the oil screen or spring get up in the transmission?

yep, right in front of that rear drive units pinion....
Would take some of Merlins better spells to get the oil screen/spring into the trans. Something else could've dropped into the trans gears though.....
I would say the oil change wasn't the cause, UNLESS they were running heavier oil in it to take up some slack somewhere. Or something got accidentally in thru the oil fill hole. Sounds to me something just let go somewhere....
If its totaled, as in windshield gone, crashbars, possibly frontend, tank, etc, so on and so forth.....All that money to replace all that, then have someone go inside the drivetrain to fix the problem.....your looking at about the price of a good, used, early model 1500 nomad. Or shop around salvage yards for parts.
I'd pull the side covers off the engine, strip her out and put her carcass on eplay....and just get another bike to ride.
The transmissions on these bikes are seriously overbuilt, almost bulletproof. Now I'm not saying that couldn't have broke a tooth off a gear, or lost a gear bushing, but the chances are slim....Shifting forks are easy to bend if you try to force it, other than that, these bikes are pretty rugged.
If it was the trans, you'll come out cheaper just buying another engine ebay with a warranty (usually 60 or 90 day).
I'd elevate her on a jack, shift into neutral, spin the rear wheel and feel for catches, or noises, clunks. Grab the wheel, rotate the wheel about 10 degrees then change directions, see if you can feel anything. Do it all around the wheel.
Kickstand wasn't down, was it?

[Crash]

Well guys the Insurance man says its totaled. Its probably a good thing as they would only cover the cosmetic damage leaving me to pay for the mechanical repairs. Me and the wife did a bunch of looking and found a 2010 Voyager 1700 for sale pretty close in great condition. It has around 18,000 miles on in and is a 1 owner bike. He has the factory repair manual so that's a plus. We are going to buy it tonight.

[recumbentbob]

Sounds like you came out OK. That's low mileage for a 2010.

[BudMan]

Originally Posted by Crash

Me and the wife did a bunch of looking and found a 2010 Voyager 1700 for sale pretty close in great condition. It has around 18,000 miles on in and is a 1 owner bike. He has the factory repair manual so that's a plus. We are going to buy it tonight.

Good deal.

[gleam]

Sorry to hear about your wipe-out. Especially something like that that comes out of the blue and isn't a result of any mistakes by anyone. Share pics of the new bike when you get it.