Fluid lock

[merka685]

Hoping to get some help- My RF400 recently got blown over (overnight) and I have now replaced the indicators but the bike won't fire up (starters fine but battery has gone flat now). Did some research and looks like its fluid lock (least one of the cylinders is likely to have filled up with petrol). How do I fix this? Any help would be greatly appreciated, going a bit crazy from lack of riding.

[The Pastor]

Take the spark plugs out and turn the engine over, the petrol will come out the spark plug hole.

Then check your oil level, replace the plugs and u should be right.

Wait for someone whos done this before to guide you, ive only read about it and you can do serrious damage to ur engine if you start it while hydrolocked.

[Ragingrob]

Wouldn't there be some carb drain valves sitting under the carbs somewhere? Found on my mate's bandit and you just unscrew them and excess petrol drains outta the carbs.

[The Pastor]

Wouldn't there be some carb drain valves sitting under the carbs somewhere? Found on my mate's bandit and you just unscrew them and excess petrol drains outta the carbs.

nah it sounds like the gas is in the cylinder, not the carb

[merka685]

Thanks for your help guys, very helpful, did a bit more research, only extra advice I have found is take the spark plugs out and let the petrol evaporate.

[CookMySock]

Take the spark plugs out and turn the engine over, the petrol will come out the spark plug hole.

Then check your oil level, replace the plugs and u should be right.

Wait for someone whos done this before to guide you, ive only read about it and you can do serrious damage to ur engine if you start it while hydrolocked.

This is good advice. Yes you can bend a conrod trying to start a hydrolocked engine.

Spark plugs out, unplug ignition sensor so the plug leads can't fire, hose or bucket of water handy, and flick the starter over gently. Remember, spraying petrol everywhere plus leads sparking = bad! so watch out.

Take your time, and think! and you will be fine.

Steve

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

you will have to pull all the plugs out as you dont know which cylinder/s is/are flooded.

if its hydro-locked, then the engine should not turn. as you press the starter you will here a click as the starter motor is engaged but wont turn the motor.

Dont worry, you wont bend a con rod as the starter motor wont have the juice to turn the motor over anyway.

pull all plugs out.

cover your eyes and face. hit the starter. fuel will piss out EVERYWHERE. dont allow to get into eyes!

continue to turnover until no more fuel comes out.

refit plugs. good as new. easy as

[xwhatsit]

This is good advice. Yes you can bend a conrod trying to start a hydrolocked engine.

I've heard this many times, is it really true? You know, if (as it is at the moment) the decompression mechanism on my bike isn't functioning, I can stand on the kickstart lever and the engine simply won't turn over, just on normal compression. Electric motor would just baulk at that unless it decompressed the engine too. Surely the electric motor wouldn't have the grunt to keep turning the crank against an immovable force on the piston?

Or is this a multi-cylinder thing, when one cylinder fires and pushes the crank around?

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

I've heard this many times, is it really true? You know, if (as it is at the moment) the decompression mechanism on my bike isn't functioning, I can stand on the kickstart lever and the engine simply won't turn over, just on normal compression. Electric motor would just baulk at that unless it decompressed the engine too. Surely the electric motor wouldn't have the grunt to keep turning the crank against an immovable force on the piston?

Or is this a multi-cylinder thing, when one cylinder fires and pushes the crank around?

not possible with inline 4 electric start. maybe on the road at 100 clicks with the wheels turning the engine this would be quite possible. ie, you sucked water into the engine

[CookMySock]

I've heard this many times, is it really true?

Well I do not know, really. I have seen plenty of bent and shortened rods from water entering the combustion chamber, especially on diesels. I wouldn't be game to try starting any engine with any liquid near it.

If the liquid is petrol, substantial fire precautions should be taken. Leaving plug leads sitting against the engine and having large quantities of compressed petrol/air flying about will be bad.

Steve

[Katman]

If the starter motor has been winding the motor over enough to flatten the battery it certainly doesn't sound like it's hydrolocked.

The plugs are just likely to be wet. Take them out, wind the motor over to dry out the cylinders, dry the plugs off, put them back in and try again (with a recharged battery).

[merka685]

Just thought I'd mention what the problem was in the end, blocked carbs! Once they got cleaned the bike started fine, unfortunately now that bike is sluggish, I think it may may picked up some blockage from when I had to shift to reserve tank in the weekend.

[Disco Dan]

Just thought I'd mention what the problem was in the end, blocked carbs! Once they got cleaned the bike started fine, unfortunately now that bike is sluggish, I think it may may picked up some blockage from when I had to shift to reserve tank in the weekend.

Change your fuel filter pronto... most likely a easy to find and change inline one.

If your game enough, take your tank off and clean that out too.

A good fang down the mway should be enough to clear your carb now you got it running. If not running right after that, you'll need to pull carb off and clean it proper.

[paturoa]

This is good advice. Yes you can bend a conrod trying to start a hydrolocked engine.

Spark plugs out, unplug ignition sensor so the plug leads can't fire, hose or bucket of water handy, and flick the starter over gently. Remember, spraying petrol everywhere plus leads sparking = bad! so watch out.

Take your time, and think! and you will be fine.

Steve

+1

Seriously BAD idea doing this ....

If there is a petrol lock, it will spray petrol everywhere if you use the starter motor and the plugs out.

This is a BAD thing!!! Even a tiny spark (starter motor relay, starter switch, ignition switch etc) will enable your neighbours to roast marshmellows from a distance.

First put it in a higher gear, on the center stand, and turn the rear wheel by hand. If the go go juice is in there you'll see it spray out.

DAMHIKT