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Message started by Finn on 11/08/18 at 21:12:01

Title: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by Finn on 11/08/18 at 21:12:01

I've been away for a few months and haven't been able to ride my bike. I got a family member to turn it over the other week, it fired up no issues. I got home today and tried starting it, nothing. No noises at all. So I thought I'd try bump start it. Put the bike in gear, held the clutch in and tried to move it, the rear wheel turns slightly then locks. Before I go and do something stupid and damage it further, where should I start for figuring out whats going on with it? Im heading out to buy a multimeter tomorrow, so will check the battery then. But any ideas whats causing it to lock up?
As you may have guessed I'm not the most mechanically minded. If this is looking like a complex issue I will take it to a mechanic, but if theres some simple things I can try I'd be grateful for any suggestions!
Cheers for any help

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/08/18 at 21:18:51

got a family member to turn it over the other week, it fired up no issues..

Not seized.

If someone was starting it, not riding it, letting it idle, the battery is probably dead.
Idling and sitting on the sidestand damages the cam.

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by stewmills on 11/08/18 at 21:23:22

I bet he turned the key up instead of down and it killed your battery graveyard dead.

For the tire movement, sometimes the clutch can be sticky. Work the clutch lever while rocking back and forth and see if it starts to roll.

Be patient, I’m sure it isn’t too bad. Expect others along with some more technical direction.

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by Dave on 11/09/18 at 06:33:59

Trying to push start this bike is a definite challenge - I weigh 170 pounds and am in pretty good shape.....when I try bump starting the bike all I get is a sliding back tire (and a really good Zumba workout).

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/09/18 at 07:44:15

Got lights?
Does your horn have asthma?

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by batman on 11/09/18 at 10:35:24

Agree with the above ,dead battery, you have to remember the key can be pulled out in either the off or park (leaving the tail light on) positions. You may have been better to let the bike sit and just charged the battery if needed ,when you returned home.

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/09/18 at 12:03:55

When was the last time you Touched the battery?
Checked the water?

Everything you've said says
Dayudd BatTree..

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by Finn on 11/09/18 at 12:38:49

Appreciate the replies!
Just checked the battery with a multimeter - 12.4 volts

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/09/18 at 13:22:22

When you push the starter button, you hear 1 click then another a half second later followed by the starter turning the engine?

Or do you hear 2 clicks and nothing?

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/09/18 at 14:48:18

76595E5E300 wrote:

Appreciate the replies!
Just checked the battery with a multimeter - 12.4 volts

The other questions remain.
Lights
Horn
Last time you touched it

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by batman on 11/09/18 at 21:45:47

A fully (freshly) charged battery should exceed 13volts. shifting the bike into neutral should release the clutch from service, the starter should then turn the motor over ,if the clutch switch is functional, this is the time. when hitting the starter button ,to check the battery voltage, if the voltage drops to around 10 volts with the starter turning, there's not enough power to the ignition to allow the sparkplug to fire. You could try jumper cables off a car battery (do not have the car running,that could damage the bike's electrical system )

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by Tocsik on 11/11/18 at 10:58:24

Also, bump starting this bike is "easier" in a higher gear. Don't try it in 1st. 3rd or 4th is good. You could take the timing cover off and try rotating the motor with a socket to be sure it isn't seized, but it probably isn't. Try a jump start from another battery. If you use a car, leave the car's motor off when jumping from its battery.

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by Hiko on 11/11/18 at 23:29:28

There is a Youtube video on push starting the savage. Apparently the trick is to rock the bike back until resistance is felt in gear Pull in the clutch and then hit the starter button to make the decompressor work at the same time as the clutch is released when forward momentum is up enough.
Sounds good in theory and seemed to work on Youtube
You do need some battery power though for decompressor solenoid and ignition.

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/12/18 at 07:23:25

152033373F37520 wrote:

DON'T push an early model bike backwards, it'll be an expensive mistake.
Instead, bump it forward until you can operate the decomp lever by hand. that'll put you on the exhaust stroke.
Pushing the starter button to get the decomp to work is a good trick but will pull down the battery and it will take a few seconds for it to recover. If the battery is near dead, it won't recover.
Just pop it in gear and hope it don't skid.

Title: Re: Bike not starting, is my engine seized?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 11/12/18 at 11:16:38

Having owned quite a few big bore singles over the years there is a technique to getting the bike past the compression stroke when push starting.

First and foremost, a nice hill is a good place to start. If you doen't have a hill, one or two good pushers substitute. Also, make sure the key is on and the choke is engaged.

1. Get the bike up to a fast run speed in Neutral
2. Hop/Jump on the bike and stand on the pegs (hard to do with forward controls). If you can't stand on the pegs, kneel on the seat.
3. With the clutch in, put the transmission in second gear
4. Here's the technique part...as you release the clutch, you want to give a big butt-bounce on the seat. This helps maintain traction past the compression stroke and the engine should begin to turn.