Topic: Engine locked up after drop?

[robvangulik]

I was advised not to use the electric starter as any spark could ignite any gas or fuel. But if it's safe to do it without the plugs I'm game to try that.

Set the killswitch OFF, no sparks!

[smee]

What's the free play in your tappets? Take the caps off and check the intakes and the exhausts. Anything way out of spec?

Start from one side and put one plug back in at a time. Can you isolate which cylinder(s) it is?

Prior to the drop, did the bike run fine the previous day? Not using new spark plugs or anything? You picked up the bike after the fall and then it would not start? Have the engine run switch to ON (did it get bumped OFF)?

[RAFster122s]

If it fell on right handlebars then you could have damage in right controls causing your running issues if electrical in nature...

[HondaMan]

What is the oil level on the dipstick? If it is higher than normal (about 4mm higher than the FULL mark) the oil level is very high inside the engine. This can cause big-time drag on the piston skirts in this little engine. Changing the oil out may help, especially since this means the oil is also full of gas?

[PatrickZ]

Hey folks,

Huge thanks to everyone, I finally got her running again! (If a little roughly)

Based on feedback, I suspected I had stuck floats that were just flooding the engine and hydrolocking. I took some of the posters great advice and turned the petcock off, took the plugs out, and used the kickstarter till it I cleared all the gas out of the carbs.

I then put the plugs back in, and with the petcock still off, used the kickstarter and the electric starter to turn the engine. And it worked! It turned freely over and over. (of course not starting since there was no gas). So it must have been the floats flooding it.

I then turned the petcock back on, and actually got the engine running. Its a little rough but that's probably because it's been sitting for 5 weeks without being turned on. Draining the carbs must have allowed the floats to reseat correctly.

I super appreciate everyone's help and tips. Now that I know some critical lessons in case I have a bike on its side (which hopefully is not a frequent occurrence).

[newday777]

Be sure to change the oil and filter right away as Hondaman said.
And had you been turning off the petcock after each running before the tipover? If not, do so. It will be a good practice and it is highly recommended to save you from hydroloc again.

[Kelly E]

Yep, don't want to hydrolock it. Last night I left the petcock open on the 77' KZ 1000. This morning the shop smelled like gas. I turned off the petcock and opened the doors. The Mikuni RS 34 carbs have fuel bowl overflow tubes so no disaster. The original petcock had a hole corroded through it and the aftermarket one is not quite as good. The other option is a Pingel petcock but $200+ is hard to swallow for an on/off valve.