Engine won't turn over

[Trimster]

Just before I parked the bike for the winter I went to start it. It cranked about 1/4 of a rev, there was metal breaking sound and what sounded like a spring or something under tension releasing. Push the starter button now and nothing happens accept the starter trying... dead electrical load. The engine will not spin over. Where do I start looking and testing?

 

My thought was to pull the left side center cover and try to turn the engine crank over with a socket and breaker bar. I'm hoping to eliminate a broken valve I think. If that proves to be good, is there something in the starter gear train I should then dig into.

 

TIA

[BradT]

I would probably try and turn it over slowly, Pull the plug before trying to turn it.

 

Another than that I am not sure, unless the battery / starter are not good. What happens to the dash lghts when you try to crank it ?

 

Brad

[Squeeze]

I'd have a good Look at the Battery and Cables first.

 

If the Battery is weak, the Starter Clutch on the 1Gens is weak Point under such Condition and the Sound which occurs is horrible. The Engagement and Disengagment of the Clutch produce a hammering Sound.

 

Now, your 2Gen has a updated Starter Clutch and this Sound would be way different. As is see these new Parts, i do not believe they are going to crack or break.

 

As is said, check Battery and CableConnections first, make sure the Battery is charged and give it another try. Jump Start from a good Battery or your Car would possibly help.

 

The Chances of a broken Valve Spring are not high.

[Trimster]

Battery is fresh. When you push the button... it's the sound of every amp possible trying to move the starter. Everything dims. It's not the weak sound of a dying or low battery... it's the sound of lots-of-amps trying to move something.

[Squeeze]

Well, with that Presets, i'd take the Plugs out and try to turn the Crankshaft as you described in the first Post.

 

If the Crankshaft can be turned for more than 2 Turns, i'd mount the Plugs and try again with the Plugs in Place. As it is hard to dismount the Plugs on your 2Gen, i'd even try to turn the Crank with Plugs in Place.

 

If this turns out to be positive, it's seems time to undo the left front /Stator) Cover and take a close look at the Starter Gearing and the Starter Clutch. The Gears are to be seen after you dismount the Cover, to reach the Starter Clutch it takes to dismount the Flywheel. This is not an easy Job.

[V7Goose]

Well, with that Presets, i'd take the Plugs out and try to turn the Crankshaft as you described in the first Post.

 

If the Crankshaft can be turned for more than 2 Turns, i'd mount the Plugs and try again with the Plugs in Place. As it is hard to dismount the Plugs on your 2Gen, i'd even try to turn the Crank with Plugs in Place.

Huh?? Plugs are very easy to remove on a second gen.

 

As for trying to turn it over with a wrench, be careful. I certainly would not put any undue force with a breaker bar. If something is broken and blocking a part from moving, you will just make it worse. Since you said this all started with the sound of breaking metal, you most likely have a serious problem somewhere. I would probably pull the valve covers first to verify all of the valves, springs, and keepers are still properly in place. This is very easy to do. If all looks good on the top, you can then go to the next step.

 

Start by turning the engine BACKWARD. Gently. If you hear any metallic noises or feel any jerkiness or resistance, just stop. Your only reasonable course of action then is to open the engine and find the broken stuff (but start with the starter motor). If you can turn it in reverse without problems or noise, then try to turn it forward. Same advice as above. I do recommend you pull the plugs first, so you can detect any resistance while turning the engine and not be misled by thinking it might be compression. Even if the engine turns smoothly in both directions, I would NOT try to start it until you find the cause of your initial problem. If you have a broke piece in the transmission that dislodges when you turn it backward, but then you start the engine, prepare for major metallic explosion when that piece finds its way into the machinery!

[muffinman]

Put the bike in nuetral and try turning the back wheel if it turns then put it in 5th gear with the wheels on the ground and try moving the bike and listen closely to the engine to see if there is any noises.I would think that maybe you had moisture in the cyls and that the pistons are stuck before I would suspect that something in the engine broke.If all else fails pull the starter or stator cover and try again.

Jeff

[Squeeze]

Huh?? Plugs are very easy to remove on a second gen.

 

...

 

Well, for what i've read, there's the Gas Tank to be dismounted and some Other Parts(hangers??) to be removed... ok, it's easy, but it takes more Time than on a 1 Gen.

[Trimster]

I think I can rule out moisture in the cyl. I was driving it daily to work. Soooo... I'll fire up the garage heater to get things tolerable in the shop and start wrenching. More posting to come....

Thanks folks, you are great.

[Yammer Dan]

Get some help and put it in gear as Jeff says and see if it is stuck or something broken in there. Probally starter just died. Mine did that. Skid heard it start last time that starter worked at his house and I was lucky I didn't shut it off on the way home. Didn't sound good at all when it started.

[rod]

Easy way to turn it over by hand is to jack it up and spin the rear tire (with plugs out). Try in neutral first then in gear. If it turns over OK it is starter if it don't I would still start with looking at the starter before getting into the engine. Good luck Rod

[Trimster]

OK... new news and it's good. Pulled the plugs and put a wrench on the crank via the left crank cover plate, and spun the engine and... wait for it..... no bad noises. That rules out the valves. So I'm putt'n it back together and will spin it over with the starter.

 

The other good news... is that we have angles looking out for us. When I put the bike on the lift, I found a rather nasty metal screw in the front tire. It had not been there long. Maybe the day before. I blast to work and back in the fast lane, feet away from the concrete divider wall. Front tire blowouts at 80 do not have good outcomes in most cases. So what ever jammed up that day in Nov. saved my bacon.

 

I'll keep you posted on what's up from here. Thanks for the input.

[Kregerdoodle]

Bob, that is great that you saw the screw..... thanks be to God.... remove it get tire repaired/replaced and it may start right up!! wouldn`t that be awsome!! good luck and God Bless..