Engine blocked (feels almost seized)

[woolgatherer]

Hi all,
My 1100 gs has been in hibernation for the winter. I put her to bed every year, and she normally starts without problems in the spring. But this year she will not start. I put in the battery and when I press the ignition, the starter motor attempts to turn, but does not turn at all. I've tried in both neutral and with the clutch pulled. I've tried pushing the bike, but the back wheel simply will not turn.
Help!!!

 

[Muppet]

Stuck clutch? Is it n gear? If the clutch plate is stuck to the flywheel (not so uncommon after layup), and you have the bike in gear then it won't start even if you pull the clutch lever in.

 

[woolgatherer]

Stuck clutch? Is it n gear? If the clutch plate is stuck to the flywheel (not so uncommon after layup), and you have the bike in gear then it won't start even if you pull the clutch lever in.

Definitely not in gear. I put in neutral.

 

[1130cc]

If the bike rolls free in neutral tis not the gear box.

There is a small chance there was moisture in the pistons, and a lip of rust is holding the pistons to the cylinder.
Put it in 6th and see if you can rock the cylinders/pistons free.

If you pull the clutch in and it rolls free(ish) then it is not the clutch.

One of the cells in the battery may have gone down, so there is not enough "umph" to turn the engine.
Try another battery, or jump off a car battery.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Make sure the alternator is not seized solid, which would stop the motor turning over. If you take off the front plastic cover and you press the drive belt firmly with your fingers, as you do that the driven pulley wheel on the alternator should move a few degrees if it is able to rotate.

 

[Neil W]

Pull the spark plugs and see if it turns over

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

.... I put in the battery and when I press the ignition, the starter motor attempts to turn, but does not turn at all.....

You sure the battery is okay?

.... If the clutch plate is stuck to the flywheel (not so uncommon after layup), and you have the bike in gear then it won't start even if you pull the clutch lever in.

Why not

 

[Mac]

Pull the spark plugs and see if it turns over

I second that as your starter for Ten.

 

[Neil W]

Remove the plugs and try again to see if it will spin over

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Pull the spark plugs and see if it turns over

Remove the plugs and try again to see if it will spin over

Give the poor lad a chance, it's only been 11 minutes

 

[Gecko]

Give the poor lad a chance, it's only been 11 minutes

How long does it take to remove a couple of sparkplugs ?

 

[gerarddwatts]

Starter motors fukt.

 

[DrFarkoff]

whilst on the centre stand take the sparkplugs out to try it just put it in top gear and grab the rear wheel and try to turn it, it should turn over easy enough

Be careful not to push / pull too hard in case you rock if off the centre stand!

IF you want to try with the starter when the plugs are out you must ground them so they can spark! or you may damage the coil

If the motor turns with the back wheel get battery tested first then if it is okay Remove the starter and see if the magnets have fallen off

 

[Lobo]

Given gear in neutral and clutch in, starter not turning engine over and rear wheel not budging ... there must be at least two things wrong. No single fault surely causes both?

 

[Udders]

I'll give you £30 for it.

 

[richierex]

seconds on the starter

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Hi all,
My 1100 gs has been in hibernation for the winter.I've tried pushing the bike, but the back wheel simply will not turn.
Help!!!

Flat / low battery for starter and back brake pads stuck to disc?

 

[woolgatherer]

Yeah!
Thanks all for the help.

In the end it was the battery.
Putting it in fifth gear resolved the fact that it was not seized.
The reason I thought it might be seized was that the started made a really strong grating noise. I've had a flat battery before, and it simply had difficulty turning. Not sure what the gear grating sound was, but hooking up to the car worked a charm.

So off we go! May the summer be glorious.