Super Tenere caught on fire today

[KCW]

I am very sad to report, today my Super Tenure caught on fire, and I believe is a total loss.

I had a hard start episode while running errands. I held the throttle wide open and cranked. I'd estimate that I cranked for 1 minute continuously. I did smell fuel in the onset of the problem. As I cranked, I saw smoke so I stopped cranking. Shortly thereafter I saw more smoke and I got off of the bike. It was then that I saw a flame underneath the right side fairing. Shortly thereafter, the bike became engulfed in flames. The Kona Fire Department came and extinguished the flames (fortunately they are only 2 blocks from where this incident was) and the bike is now heavily charred.

I believe that the starter overheated or possible caught fire. I assume after that the fuel fumes ignited and the rest is history.

I am very sad about this event and hope that my warning on fires after the hard start helps someone else in the future.

 

[barkingllizard]

not good, KCW, at least you are okay.....

 

[itlives]

Wow! Not good. As said, at least you are ok.

Is this the first reported fire of a Tenere?

 

[TXTenere]

Wow! Not good. As said, at least you are ok.

Is this the first reported fire of a Tenere?

I am unsure if it is the first reported fire; certainly the first fire that I have heard of. I must say, I've been a bit uneasy when I see the advice here that some give to crank continuously until the engine starts. I am thinking the designed duty cycle of the starter is probably 10 or 15 seconds. So when I hear people say they cranked for 2 MINUTES, that makes me uneasy. I'd say at the very least, you're beating on the starter pretty hard and probably reducing the life of it. I'd think that in the case of a hard start, cranking WOT 15 seconds at a time with a cool off period in between probably has the same results as cranking continuously WOT, with much lower risk.

 

[Shovelhead]

Sorry to hear about the fire. Hopefully insurance will pay off.
Seems like you were leary of cranking on it that long and for good reason. Ain't no way in hell I'd ever engage a starter for anywhere near that long, on any piece of machinery.

 

[TheHelios]

Cranking for a whole minute? That seems really excessive.

I am thinking the designed duty cycle of the starter is probably 10 or 15 seconds.

I'm thinking the same way. Whenever I have the hard start issue, I fully WOT and try cranking for 5-10 seconds. If it fails, turn off bike, turn it back on, and repeat.

Anyway, glad you're okay KCW. That could've ended much worse.

 

[stutrump]

Really sorry to hear about that. Must be really upsetting to loose your bike like that.

 

[autoteach]

I vote wire fire, right hand side contains starter relay. this wasnt a gasoline fire. You would know if it was a gasoline fire.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I vote wire fire, right hand side contains starter relay. this wasnt a gasoline fire. You would know if it was a gasoline fire.

Good point, especially with the type of wire used.

 

[r1d1]

I vote wire fire, right hand side contains starter relay. this wasnt a gasoline fire. You would know if it was a gasoline fire.

::026:: If it was a fuel fire, it would have gone up like a torch. At least you are unhurt, that's the main thing.

 

[itlives]

Personally, I think 10-15 seconds is to long to crank on any starter.
I've had to WOT start three times now and the bike fired off in a second of two.
I'm of the bump- start mind set.

Hope the op's Tenere was fully insured.

 

[iClint]

I think every vehicle I have every owned has stated in the in the manual something along the lines of no more than 3-5seconds on the starter.

The starter motor itself could spin all day its the wiring that can't handle the continuos load.

::006::

 

[markjenn]

I think every vehicle I have every owned has stated in the in the manual something along the lines of no more than 3-5seconds on the starter.

If you can find a single manual with such a restrictive time limit I'd be surprised. If a hard limit is stated, it's usually 30-secs or so.

The starter motor itself could spin all day its the wiring that can't handle the continuos load.

I'm sure the wiring gets plenty hot, but I'd bet on the motor's overheating being the limiting factor. Starter motors are not rated for continuous duty cycles.

- Mark

 

[shrekonwheels]

I had a brand new starter burn a hole through its own housing once, very fortunate it was super cold and I caught it early. The smell of I guess it was magnisum stayed for some time however.


Edit: not on the Tenere was on a 97 power stroke.

 

[iClint]

If you can find a single manual with such a restrictive time limit I'd be surprised. If a hard limit is stated, it's usually 30-secs or so.

Here is 3

 

[Checkswrecks]

I'll add that if you crank the starter long enough to heat it, simply letting it sit for a minute or so is not enough for it to cool. Think in terms of putting it in an oven too hot to touch and then how long it would take to be able to pick it up with a bare hand.

 

[markjenn]

Here is 3

I read 10. And it is in the context of "preserving the battery", not starter overheating. I'm not trying to convince you or anyone that starter overheating isn't a potential problem when attempting to fix a "hard start." But a 3-sec limit is wildly conservative. You can safely crank longer but as already mentioned, you should also have relatively long cooling periods between.

Just my judgment call, but I'd limit it to 20-secs of cranking with a couple minutes wait between sessions.

- Mark

 

[ExTriumphExp]

I am very sad to report, today my Super Tenure caught on fire, and I believe is a total loss.

I had a hard start episode while running errands. I held the throttle wide open and cranked. I'd estimate that I cranked for 1 minute continuously. I did smell fuel in the onset of the problem. As I cranked, I saw smoke so I stopped cranking. Shortly thereafter I saw more smoke and I got off of the bike. It was then that I saw a flame underneath the right side fairing. Shortly thereafter, the bike became engulfed in flames. The Kona Fire Department came and extinguished the flames (fortunately they are only 2 blocks from where this incident was) and the bike is now heavily charred.

I believe that the starter overheated or possible caught fire. I assume after that the fuel fumes ignited and the rest is history.

I am very sad about this event and hope that my warning on fires after the hard start helps someone else in the future.

If the Smoke started from under the right hand side fairing my money would be on a regulator failure. A couple of friends have had there tigers fail recently, luckily they just melted the regulator, another mate wasnt so lucky today, his VFR went up in flames at the RTTW at Alrewas. Oh & yes his was a total right off too.

::003::

 

[Guls]

Sorry to hear about your bike, glad you are safe. Back in 80s I used to have a RD 350, it caught on fire while I was riding, passer by had to stop me and tell me about flames shooting rom it. In my case it was the battery.

 

[autoteach]

If the Smoke started from under the right hand side fairing my money would be on a regulator failure. A couple of friends have had there tigers fail recently, luckily they just melted the regulator, another mate wasnt so lucky today, his VFR went up in flames at the RTTW at Alrewas. Oh & yes his was a total right off too.

::003::

. He was cranking for over a minute, and we think it is his regulator? why? why do you think that the regulator would do this during long cranking periods?