Topic: Just toasted my 350T engine

[zeech]

Had to replace the alternator gasket and forgot to fill back with oil to replace what came out, 1.5QT or so? Engine seized up within a few blocks. Kicker is stuck but budges sometimes, got the pistons to move an inch or so. Tips, help, laugh and point at me?

FML

[Roach Carver]

let it cool completely. probably boned though.

[bjatwood]

Shoot some oil in the spark plug holes and give it some time to work down in. It just might come back to life.....it is a New Year and good stuff sometimes happens early in the year...

[K_Kalynuik]

Ouch! Sorry to hear man. Stay off the Ganja and you'll remember to put oil in next time.

That said, ive seen car motors run with no oil, make a terrible sound on the verge of ceasing and some time and oil soak somewhat fixed it. I say somewhat cause the car was never the same. Id pull the entire thing apart to inspect if it were me. Just my opinion tho.

[zeech]

Soaking it with PB Blaster, will keep an eye on it but I suspect a full rebuild will be in order. Got a spare engine so I'll probably swap them out for now.

[ADW]

Had to replace the alternator gasket and forgot to fill back with oil to replace what came out, 1.5QT or so? Engine seized up within a few blocks. Kicker is stuck but budges sometimes, got the pistons to move an inch or so. Tips, help, laugh and point at me?

FML

Too late for you, but may help somebody else: I take a tag that says OIL on it and put it on the handlebars with it's tie-wire whenever I'm starting an oil change on any of my bikes. I've got another for COOLANT too. I came reaaaaaly close once to doing what you did; now the tag is part of the oil change ritual. Heck, just stick a piece of masking tape on the tank or gauges. When you get on the bike to fire it up you'll say "what is that tape........F&*!@#(k! I didn't put the oil back in!!" and save yourself from this fate.

[zeech]

Had to replace the alternator gasket and forgot to fill back with oil to replace what came out, 1.5QT or so? Engine seized up within a few blocks. Kicker is stuck but budges sometimes, got the pistons to move an inch or so. Tips, help, laugh and point at me?

FML

Too late for you, but may help somebody else: I take a tag that says OIL on it and put it on the handlebars with it's tie-wire whenever I'm starting an oil change on any of my bikes. I've got another for COOLANT too. I came reaaaaaly close once to doing what you did; now the tag is part of the oil change ritual. Heck, just stick a piece of masking tape on the tank or gauges. When you get on the bike to fire it up you'll say "what is that tape........F&*!@#(k! I didn't put the oil back in!!" and save yourself from this fate.

So simple it hurts. Thanks for the tip. And yea, lesson learned and hopefully an avoidance to others!

[KrautKoffin]

Damn dude! Once you get one up and running you dry another one!

[zeech]

Hahah! Catastrophic oil leak in the first, little oil in the second. I guess that's what I get for wanting to rebuild them anyway. Luckily both engines were in crap shape and leaking all over from previous owners, but definitely annoying.

At least I'll have perfectly fresh, rebuilt 550 and 350 engines while I'm still riding both of them.

[calj737]

Z - you need to use oil, not just PB Blaster. Your engine may free up some once it fully cools, but oil from the top down (remove the plugs and squirt oil in, do the same at the tapper covers) is needed to help lubricate the metal parts.

PB is good, but oil is required. You may escape without tremendous damage, but certainly you've taken a few years of the engine. It happens to lots of people, so don't feel too stupid.

[zeech]

Thanks, will do that as well calj! Yea oh well, live and learn.

[calj737]

Can't be toast IF there was some oil in it, it seized quickly, but still moved "some". Probably locked up temporarily due to overheating and friction. Pamper it, whisper to it, use lots of oil, and see if it will come back.

Go easy on it too if starts. It's going to smoke, don't panic. It might clear up after a few minutes. But if it's REALLY clacking, shut it down quickly! Probably have damaged rod bearings or piston bearings. Save further damage and commence tear down. :-(

[fmctm1sw]

There's no oil light on those old twins?

[zeech]

Previous owner stripped the bike way down to pretty much nothing, which is fine, just dumb forgetfulness on my part, though I suppose that would have helped haha. Did too many things inbetween the gasket change and prepping to ride.

The tape trick or anything is a great idea as mentioned to prevent.

[78 k550]

Ouch! Sorry to hear man. Stay off the Ganja and you'll remember to put oil in next time.

You know for a fact? What a stupid comment.

Paul

[zeech]

Definitely no ganja here. Was probably meant as a joke.

[78 k550]

Definitely no ganja here. Was probably meant as a joke.

Ya I know, but I don't like people using it in that manner. It gets me toasted.

Paul

[zeech]

Agreed

[78 k550]

So have you found more out?

Paul

[cb650]

[/quote]
 It gets me toasted.

Paul
[/quote]
 

I got a nice 84 that way from someone at work.    FUBARED the rods/crank  though.

[fmctm1sw]

WTH is ganja?

[fendersrule]

Definitely no ganja here. Was probably meant as a joke.

Ya I know, but I don't like people using it in that manner. It gets me toasted.

Paul

If anything, it can make you pay more attention to things. I'm with you Paul. Statements like that show ignorance.

[78 k550]

WTH is ganja?

Marijuana.

Paul

[bryanj]

First thing that siezes on those is the cam bearings not the pistons unfortunately

[grcamna2]

First thing that siezes on those is the cam bearings not the pistons unfortunately

I agree,have a look to see if you have a spare set of cam tower/bearings,camshaft & possibly a new cam chain.
The pistons/cyls. may still be ok...

[bwaller]

You ran it with no oil.....now face the music! It'll be all blued & scored everywhere.

EDIT...sorry man that was harsh.

[Carver]

any update on the carnage/lack thereof?

[Roach Carver]

You ran it with no oil.....now face the music! It'll be all blued & scored everywhere.

EDIT...sorry man that was harsh.

the older I get the more I say the first thing that pops into my head. Usually truthful though.

[zeech]

I see you both fall into the "point and laugh" category haha. Pistons seem okay, cams are locked up but not discolored.

Problem is I can't even disassemble it because I can't rotate the crank to get the 2 bolts out of the cam sprocket so it's all stuck together right now. Do I need to cut the cam chain? I don't see any other way.

[Roach Carver]

I am no expert but that seems logical to me. And yes I am a point and laugh guy but I expect it when I screw up and have been on your end plenty of times. Good luck. Keep us posted.

[754]

If you can knock the cam end bearings out..puller might work.. , it may drop enough to get chain off sprocket.
 Not sure how stuck the cam is, and have not been inside s 350 twin for decades..

[KrautKoffin]

My motto is 'always break the cheapest part if you have to break something'. Cam chain seems logical.

[calj737]

If the motor won't rotate, you'll probably have to cut the cam chain. Prevent it from falling in if possible. I had to do the same on my current motor (seized since 87). Only way I could get the head off, then jugs.

Sorry it's worked out that way for you.

[crazypj]

If you can get the cam bearing off the points side you may be able to remove the tach side easier. Points side is furthest from pump so generally seizes first.

[bryanj]

Once the end caps/bearings have picked up they are toast , usualy along with the cam.  If with all the screws removed there is no movement at all you will need another cam and both end bearings, I would source those first before going farther