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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Ionatan on June 17, 2012, 05:12:18 AM

Title: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: Ionatan on June 17, 2012, 05:12:18 AM
Hi, everyone, the other day a pedestrian walked in front of me on red light, I was driving around 70 km/h, I slammed the front brake and crashed. :-(. I fell on the right side, so did the bike. The cover on the right side of the engine is shattered completely, what is there? the starter? I haven't tried to start it again yet, before I do what should I be looking for, so as to not do any more damage to it? The brake lever got some metal off, and also the side of the handle bar, but not to much. I have a cross style handlebar on it, and no fairings, it's a gs500E. What could have got affected by the crash? the suspension maybe? it, did't hit anything, just slided on the asphalt.
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: AussieChick on June 17, 2012, 06:03:11 AM
Sorry to hear mate, crashes always suck but a busted up bike is better than hitting a pedestrian and potentially being liable for thousands of dollars in damages...

Last two times I've come off I went to a repair place and had it looked over. Not sure how much you'd be able to "diagnose" online (especially based on text without any pictures). Maybe it's just the nice people at my local bike shop but they didn't charge me to give the bike a once over - I think they saw it as a chance to quote me for how much damage is done - but you can ask them for what the bare minimum you need to fix is, even if you don't do any work through them.

Put up some pics, there's some very knowledgeable guys on here  :thumb:
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: Ionatan on June 17, 2012, 02:49:51 PM
some help please with what is on the right side of the engine!? does anyone know? what could break there?
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: 007brendan on June 17, 2012, 03:02:32 PM
You should post some pics.  The stator is on the right side.  I've heard of people having the magnets shatter and pop off.  Look up "goats" on the forum (have no idea where that name came from).

You should probably check to see if your forks are bent too.
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: merlinq21 on June 17, 2012, 03:03:00 PM
The right side of the engine holds the timing cover and the bolt that is used to turn the crank shaft. This side of the engine is not as exposed as the left side of the engine. If there is no oil leaking from the engine you are okay to try and start it. If there is oil dripping out of the the side cover then do not try to start the bike. You will need to take off the side cover (you will need a side cover gasket and oil drain pan).
Goof luck, but as aussie chick said with out pictures, it is difficult to advise or even try to dispense any advice
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: Big Rich on June 17, 2012, 05:09:15 PM
The stator is on the left side. The timing pickups is under the smaller cover on the right side, and the clutch is under the larger cover on the right.

If there's no oil leaking out and no obvious damage to the timing, you should be ok.
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: Ionatan on June 18, 2012, 05:11:24 AM
so, I have started the bike, and it works, it's the small cover on the right side that was shattered, but everything inside is intact. The bolts were broken....so I have to figure out how to take them out so I can put a new cover on. How to add pics?it doesn't work!
Anyway.... I have a few questions:
-when I first started the bike the oil light stayed on, so I turned the bike on and off a couple of times, and checked that there is enough oil, and there was. So I said I'll take it for a small ride in the parking space...and after half a minute it turned off and works normally now, it goes off when the engine starts, should I be worried about anything there?
-my fork was misaligned, so I loosened the 4 bolts there(2 on each side) and straightened it, how can I make sure that there is absolutely no problem there(it's pretty important)...that there is no bend or smth.
-my neutral light doesn't work...what could cause that problem?
-my rear light doesn't work....the brake light does....could it be the bulb or some cables?
-regarding the neutral light and rear light problem could it be caused by some cable problems that go through the front light, because the front light cover got damaged and got some dents in the back(luckily the glass is ok)


thanks a lot for the help!
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: Big Rich on June 18, 2012, 06:09:08 AM
1) If the light is on when the motor is running, you're good. But there are ways to test your oil pressure if you want.

2) There are some good ways to check for bent forks (but a Google search would be easier than me typing it out)

3) The neutral light is basically just a ground near your front sprocket. Might have to find it and test it for continuity to see where it broke its connection

4) Your tail light could be a couple of things - bad bulb or a loose/cut wire. And both wires do run into your headlight, so you can check there.
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: Ionatan on June 22, 2012, 10:10:10 AM
Hi again, when the contact cover got shattered, so did one of the bolts, it got broken in there, and as you all know it's a very small bolt....any methods on how to get it out? and is it very important that the covert is well sealed? because the contacts are there...should I be really careful in sealing the new cover....because maybe water and other stuff shouldn't get in there?
thanks a lot again
p.s. I think the forks are all right, rear light was the bulb...I still have to figure out the neutral light.
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: merlinq21 on June 22, 2012, 10:23:02 AM
simple google search for broken bolt extraction and you will have a ton of how to video's etc. There are many tools to help so look around and if all else fails find a shop and tow it in.

Good luck
Title: Re: Crash! Help Please!
Post by: adidasguy on June 22, 2012, 11:59:59 AM
There are no contacts under the "contact cover". There is a magnetic sensor - no physical electrical contacts.
You can ride without the cover - though I wouldn't. Some people ride without the logo sticker so there is a hole in the middle. No gasket on it. There is a drain hole at the lower rear edge for water and what not.
2 screws will hold it. You can drive it to a shop to remove the 3rd broken screw. You can cover it in duct tape if you wish until you get a replacement.