Seized engine?

[The Stranger:Me]

Electrical ignition- when starting it tries to start, but something locks up before it makes it's first "turn" of the engine. It's only getting a tiny bit of the way through before it locks.

A dropped valve would do that.

[MaxB]

Got me stumped. A while back there were a few problems common to the Chinese made GNs based around assembly and clearances but blowed if I can remember.

My gut feeling, if everything is as they said, is starter motor or gearbox, something loose or disengaged.

[Pedrostt500]

I geuss it might be time to drop it in to your local bike shop, ask them for a diagnosis, and a quote to fix.

[ManDownUnder]

Sorry - it's still not clear (from what I've read)

Put it top gear, clutch in and push it - ease the clutch out - does the motor turn over? If so - not seized.

If it turns part of the way then suddenly STOPS it sounds like a dropped valve or something mechanical actually stopping things (try going backwards at the point see if the motor moves a bit then stops again...?). At that point - don't force anything... you'll only damage valve, piston and cylinder head

I'd put money on a dropped valve if pressed but it's not enough evidence. Taking the rocket cover off would prove it... 1 valve missing?

First things first - sprak plug out, a few drops of 2 stroke oil in the hole. If it is partially seizing that might helpd keep things apart long enough to dismantle it. Then it's buy a head gasket kit, head off - and take a looksee.

[xwhatsit]

A dropped valve would do that.

Yeah, but... would it drop a valve while turned off? He rode it quite happily, parked it, then came out a little later and went to start it. It drops a valve when he hits the starter?

Seems bizarre.

Do try and roll it in 2nd gear (or top) with the spark plug out. Or yes, take off the tappet inspection covers and have a nosy.

[The Stranger:Me]

start it. It drops a valve when he hits the starter?

Seems bizarre.

That it does.
That said R6_Kids GSXR did exactly that when we hit the starter.

[bobsmith]

Do try and roll it in 2nd gear (or top) with the spark plug out. Or yes, take off the tappet inspection covers and have a nosy.

First thing I tried when I got there....

It rolls find when I have it in gear with the clutch in but as soon as I let the clutch out the frekking engine won't turn (even with the spark plug off)

I'm going to go over there today with my tools and open the top end off the engine and see if we can see anything and if nothing's obvious will take some pictures of the inside and post it here. Perhaps someone can shed some light from the pictures.

[paturoa]

Try putting it in top gear and gently roll it backwards. If it is a jammed starter then that may unlock it.

Also before taking the head off, take out the starter motor and have a butchers around there. Eliminate the easier stuff before pulling it apart.

[Deviant]

It can't be turned in any gear, removing the spark plug has no effect on anything.

We didn't get around too looking at it because I got smashed last night and spent all day watching sci-fi TV series' in bed.

Perhaps tomorrow if we have time.

I'm thinking its what a couple of you said, dropped valve or cracked piston?

Thinking that as it cooled down after being heated up, something may have cracked. Expanding/contracting metal and all that.

My comment about the 'long ride' was to indicate the engine had heated up. It wasn't just a 2 minute trip up the road.

A truly long ride would be another trip up to Paihia taking the scenic routes or down south somewhere (Vegas).

Bring on summer!

[Deviant]

Got the bike back, it turns out a bolt had shorn off the cluthc (?) and gone through the engine ripping the shit out of everything it could, then the engine just cacked it. Took it to Chris at Queen Street Motorcycles in town who has replaced it with a Japanese made engine (old one), which seems to be running fine (just rode it to work on the shore).

It took a long time because of the Xmas break, lack of fund, car crash, unexpected $1300 bill that had to be paid immediately and other things.

Now I need to work on getting the car fixed before the winter storms because I wont be risking my life daily over that bridge on a flimsy little GN250 like I did all last year! I swear, the number of times I nearly ended up greasing some trucker's axles with my own body fat due to gusts coming down the Auckland side of that f***ing bridge!!!

Good to be on two wheels again though

[peasea]

Got the bike back, it turns out a bolt had shorn off the cluthc (?) and gone through the engine ripping the shit out of everything it could, then the engine just cacked it. Took it to Chris at Queen Street Motorcycles in town who has replaced it with a Japanese made engine (old one), which seems to be running fine (just rode it to work on the shore).

It took a long time because of the Xmas break, lack of fund, car crash, unexpected $1300 bill that had to be paid immediately and other things.

Now I need to work on getting the car fixed before the winter storms because I wont be risking my life daily over that bridge on a flimsy little GN250 like I did all last year! I swear, the number of times I nearly ended up greasing some trucker's axles with my own body fat due to gusts coming down the Auckland side of that f***ing bridge!!!

Good to be on two wheels again though

You lead an interesting life, don't you?

[klingon]

Got the bike back, it turns out a bolt had shorn off the clutch and gone through the engine ripping the shit out of everything it could, then the engine just cacked it. ...

That's zakly what happened to my Volty. (All fixed now too... I needed a new engine anyway) Hooray for you being back on two wheels!

[The Stranger:Me]

That's zakly what happened to my Volty. (All fixed now too... I needed a new engine anyway) Hooray for you being back on two wheels!

You get that with those high torque engines.

[Deviant]

Well it's been over a month now, and asides from a few loose bolts, I have to say Chris did a good job on the bike!

It's running as good if not better than ever before, and after a bit of wearing in and some general maintenance (helped out by pyrocam) the bike is in good shape.

We bled and replaced the front brake fluid, loosened the front brake, tightened the clutch and back brake, tightened and oiled the chain, tightened a few loose nuts, and some other stuff.

It's like riding a different machine!

[Conquiztador]

It's like riding a different machine!

It is! You have a different engine!

S/H working GN engines should not cost you more then $200 - $400. (Said that, I know someone who paid $800 for one apperently mint...yeah right!)