Hydrolock Risk?

[MrC99]

Morning all,

Got back to house this morning after 5 days away to find bike blown well over on its side onto a slope next to where it was standing - enough to have both wheels well off the ground and RH cylinder gone past the vertical

Once I get enough hands available to get it upright, and as I don't know how long it's been over, presumably I'd be wise to check for oil in the cylinder before attempting to start it?

If so is the plug cap/coil pack remover from Nippy Normans OK or is there a better one?

Cheers for any advice.

 

[er-minio]

I'd be wise to check for oil in the cylinder before attempting to start it?

I think mostly depends if it was parked with the engine hot, and the state of it, but I'd check anyway. Takes a minute and potentially saves some money

 

[MrC99]

Ta. It would've been cold when it went over but decided I'll check regardless and have ordered the coil pack remover from Motorworks. Just need to find a neighbour (or 2) to give me a hand as it's so far over I can't raise it myself!

 

[er-minio]

I'd wait the suggestions of more experienced people than me.

I was warned by my mech about potential oil seep (I have an older bike and rings are not great) when tumbled over with a warm engine for a long/long-ish time, so I always had that in the back of my mind.
I also hydrolocked my GS (hex) in water years ago, and the pain in the ass that has been makes me overly cautious at times.

Do you need a remover on "newer" GSs? On the hex you can just wiggle it out with a screwdriver.


Use your back when you lift!
And good luck.

 

[MILLE_RIDER]

I've never had any trouble picking up my 1200 GS (Hexhead) after a tumble and I'm certainly not well built. The bikes are big but they are not particularly heavy. There must be vids out there showing the best way to right them although I've never needed to watch one.

 

[MrC99]

I've never had any trouble picking up my 1200 GS (Hexhead) after a tumble and I'm certainly not well built. The bikes are big but they are not particularly heavy. There must be vids out there showing the best way to right them although I've never needed to watch one.

Agreed - normally I've no problem at all picking it up on level ground - done it several times after it's previously blown over even with panniers & topbox and full tank (GSA). This time it went over onto a falling gradient soft earth slope and sank into the ground so that the wheels were above the rest of the bike. I couldn't even get the wheels back on the ground - real beached whale.

Fortunately a nice neighbour saw me struggling in the rain and he was able to give me enough of a hand that I could get it back up vertical again.

I need to review where I'm going to put it in future

 

[MrC99]

Do you need a remover on "newer" GSs? On the hex you can just wiggle it out with a screwdriver.

I've seen enough tales of woe of people breaking them plus the coil pack remover is only £15 so given my luck it's potentially a lot cheaper than a coil pack Unforch I've also got to order a spark plug socket as mine is in a different country

 

[littleade]

You could try letting the bike stand for a while, check the oil level, then put in in gear and see if the engine will turn over by rotating the back wheel without the ignition on? I've never tried it myself but might be worth a try unless anyone with more experience on here knows different

 

[MrC99]

You could try letting the bike stand for a while, check the oil level, then put in in gear and see if the engine will turn over by rotating the back wheel without the ignition on? I've never tried it myself but might be worth a try unless anyone with more experience on here knows different

I was thinking I'd do that with both plugs out.

 

[littleade]

That woukd be the ideal way, just though the other options might work to save you taking the plugs out/risk damaging the coil packs from behind my wimpy blanket

 

[MrC99]

I suspect I'd be too wimpy to rotate the back wheel over compression (without thinking it was hydrolocked)

 

[littleade]

I suspect I'd be too wimpy to rotate the back wheel over compression (without thinking it was hydrolocked)

Now you're getting way too technical......

 

[LOLGEOFF]

I was thinking I'd do that with both plugs out.

If you're going to take the plugs out why wouldn't you just crank it with the starter?

 

[Santa-2512]

Oil will drain past the rings , slooooooowly

its a loss system,

If your that concerned, take the plugs out , stick it in 4th and turn the engine over via the rear wheel,

 

[MrC99]

If you're going to take the plugs out why wouldn't you just crank it with the starter?

Because if the cylinder is full of oil a) there's still a risk of damage (as the starter will try and crank quicker than the oil can get out of the plughole) and b) it'll make a bloody mess when the oil is rapidly ejected through the plug hole

Lets be honest taking a couple of plugs out and rotating by hand isn't a huge deal.

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Because if the cylinder is full of oil a) there's still a risk of damage (as the starter will try and crank quicker than the oil can get out of the plughole) and b) it'll make a bloody mess when the oil is rapidly ejected through the plug hole

Lets be honest taking a couple of plugs out and rotating by hand isn't a huge deal.

Fair enough if that's what you think.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

Agreed - normally I've no problem at all picking it up on level ground - done it several times after it's previously blown over even with panniers & topbox and full tank (GSA). This time it went over onto a falling gradient soft earth slope and sank into the ground so that the wheels were above the rest of the bike. I couldn't even get the wheels back on the ground - real beached whale.

Fortunately a nice neighbour saw me struggling in the rain and he was able to give me enough of a hand that I could get it back up vertical again.

I need to review where I'm going to put it in future

I’d strongly recommend that once you’ve sorted it, you then sort a visit to ORS.

 

[TaskMule]

snip


Use your back when you lift!
And good luck.

Yes, not your knees, just your lower back and use a quick jerking twisting motion

 

[MrC99]

I’d strongly recommend that once you’ve sorted it, you then sort a visit to ORS.

TBH I think it'd be wasted on me. For now I've ballasted the LH pannier and left the cover off to try and avoid it going over again.

 

[TaskMule]

I've never had any trouble picking up my 1200 GS (Hexhead) after a tumble and I'm certainly not well built. The bikes are big but they are not particularly heavy. There must be vids out there showing the best way to right them although I've never needed to watch one.

Try one that's on a slope with the wheels in the air. You won't likely get it 3 inches off the ground