Topic: FIRST TIME on the bike VIRGIN-very STIFF-very HARD kickstart

[ThatWolfKid]

I went out, my helmet just came in and I was eager to try the cb350f . I've never been on a motorcycle and just used what I knew from drive my manual car to ride the bike ....man it was great, it feels awesome annmnnd then as I was going through the gears on a turn trying to figure out which one I was in it turned off. I figured it just stalled but when I went to go kick start it was very hard ,stiff I did it only a couple of times to scared didn't want to ruin it more. So I thought maybe use the electric start and no...now I'm think I seized it or it needed oil but just before I went out I made sure I put a little bit oil..it's funny because the nuetral light wouldn't come on after words....when I try and start it it sounds like a car with a dead battery but if it was a dead battery why won't it kick start. This was supposed to be my spring semester transportation but idk....if any of you have a clue or just throw clues at me I'll probably spend Christmas working on it.

[firebane]

A little bit of oil? Did you check the oil before you went out? Or did you just add oil as you figured you needed? Have you checked the oil since?

[ThatWolfKid]

Oils actually a little past the line, first thing I did was change the oil. I'm in the manual but don't know where to start or should try first.

[ThatWolfKid]

I'm checking it more than once but its under and over the line, but it doesn't seem like its the problem

[Ericcb750]

Hey buddy. Whether the battery is dead or not, the kick starter should still be able to move through it's motion.... if it's stuck, like really bad.... I think you're engine may have siezed up. But I also feel like that would have led to an accident for a first time rider..... could be something little, just got to go through it one thing at a time..... were you able to get it home?

[ThatWolfKid]

I drove a half mile I would say I walked it home... Things pretty heavy .,. I let it warm up first and the oil seems fine, I'm lost if it did sieze what could have caused it and is there a way I could test and know for sure?

[whizzer]

To start it you want it in neutral. Looks like you walked it home holding clutch in or in false neutral, that is, between gears. Did it ever show a neural light?   In neutral, it starts with clutch out. 

[Ericcb750]

If you Step on the kick starter and it moves through it's full motion then it's not stuck. WHen the engine get's siezed it will be locked up. So if it's moving, then I think you're safe there. Maybe something electrical..... Yeah pushing a dead bike is no fun... try a cb750!! haha. Best of luck. let me know what happens or if you have any more questions. I'll do my best to help.

[ThatWolfKid]

Yeah the light came back on after I gave up on the side of the road....I walked in neutral ..... But I'm not going to lie I totally forgot about putting it in neutral to walk in but I guess since it moved freely it didn't cross my mind but yes I put the key in again a light down the road and the neutral light was lit

[ThatWolfKid]

Yeah it's been sitting in my front yard....I want to got try to start it again if I kick start it and the lever moves but is difficult show I keep pushing or stop?

[Ericcb750]

it should give you a bit of resistance just from the compression of the engine. Do you have a battery charger? Like Whizzer said, when you're in neutral if you try to start with the clutch in....you'll get nada.... WHen I got my first CB I did the same thing and thought something was broken....some kind of safety thing I think. But yeah you should get a bit of resistance from the kicker, just give in a nice swift, full kick, and try not to let it snap back too much when it comes up.

[ThatWolfKid]

Yeah no that thing is stuck....I don't want to do further damage...I tried electric start and it just sounds like it trys once and gives up and the kick start is still still.,.. Bummer I don't understand my cousin drove it about a week ago and it ran, not amazing wouldn't go past 60 but it starts one kick and had oil just went a couple blocks down....I didn't want to take it to a mechanic and wanted to work on it my self but this feels like its more than just messing with the carbs I might be over my head...I found this site does his method sound good.      http://www.dansmc.com/stuck_engine.htm

[ThatWolfKid]

When I was on it those few minutes it sounded great.... I wasn't the best at shift but I think I got up to fifth, was smooth and speed up quick I don't think I went over 40 though?

[mrbreeze]

Do you know anyone close by that may know a little about bikes? It's hard to diagnose through the keyboard when the guy on the other end isn't sure of what's what. There are different things a guy could do to quickly tell if it is indeed locked up. Kinda scary to me the way you described putting the oil in. Hope it works out for you.

[ThatWolfKid]

It had oil I changed it a week ago...just put the rest of the quart in and the dip stick reads it's very close to full. I warmed it up made sure it didn't seem off and took off everything went well until that turn where I was down shifting trying tho figure out what gear I was in then I put my foot on the ground for a bit and just died..check to see if it was leaking oil nothing checked the oil and it's there ...battery looks to be brand new so I doubt that ...I don't have anyone around me bug I'm sure the most some one could do would try to start it and come to find everything I'm describing...

[ThatWolfKid]

Besides kick starting it and or using the electronic what are some other things I could do to figure out if it's locked up....I'm all over the Internet looking up and trying my best to describe the situation. Only this would happen to me

[harisuluv]

Ok ok, we get that you put oil in it.  You don't have to tell us over and over.  Just because you put oil in it, means only that.  Doesn't mean that it got to the right places, doesn't mean the top end didn't get oil starved, doesn't mean it didn't lock up because of oil starvation.  You put oil in it, then it seized (maybe, still can't tell from what you're saying), that's all we know.

If your engine is seized, it will not turn.  Meaning if it is in neutral, you cannot turn it with the kickstand.  Meaning the kickstand doesn't move.  If you can barely move it and it requires a lot of force, then it is still basically seized just not to the point of not moving at all.

[ThatWolfKid]

Alright well I just didn't want a gang of guys telling me it needed oil...fine maybe it didn't get to all the right places but it seemed to quick for it to just give out and it didn't jerk when it gave out...went outside to try it again and the kick does move but it's tough I checked with my hand I don't want to give it a hard kick....and I also tried the electric start and now it's ticking...so I'm assuming it's stuck now or am I wrong

[seanbarney41]

Hey Wolfkid, we know you are new to motorcycles and all, but you are gonna have to figure out how to give us some more scientific, accurate info.  First, I am guessing you are posting from cell phone?...proofread your posts carefully so we can understand what you are trying to say.  Punctuation and sentence structure does count. (You too Harisuluv!  Pretty sure most here know that the kickstand is NEVER gonna turn the engine, but all bets may be off with this kid)

Second, do you have a multimeter?  Just because the battery is new means nothing.  If you have electrical problems, even a new battery can discharge quickly.

[harisuluv]

Yes it sounds like you have a stuck engine now.  Could be overheating, could be a valve or some other part that caused carnage, stray piece(s) of metal lodged somewhere.  Could be a lot of things, but it means a top end disassembly and rebuild at the least.

Ok just to say first off I'm NOT saying it is for sure oil related, but a short ride with oil not getting to the right places means locking up very quickly.  That happening in a mile is not a crazy thing.  It takes a very very short time to seize if not lubricated. 

Did you check the oil level AFTER the ride?  As in you could have had a leak at some point and lost it?  Also, the oil level can change.

[ThatWolfKid]

No multimeter on me
my KICKSTAND doing the job its intended to do and its pretty much the only damn thing that functions( every KID grew up with a bicycle and I'm sure most came with kick stands dude, I understood what he meant)
Either way if my battery was dead and the bike had no power kick starts pretty tough and not the same as before, been reading up and seen methods of lubing it up the release it, but I'm assuming damage is done.

[ThatWolfKid]

Yeah I checked the oil afterwards and looked back constantly while walking it and saw nothing dripping...oil is the same level. Wouldn't the oil light come on though ?

[mrbreeze]

There are other things that can lock an engine besides a seized piston due to oil starvation. You could have jammed the trans or any other number of things. It doesn't sound like it was low on oil. Was it overfilled with oil?. You say it turns now but it's hard. If it were seized when hot it could have cooled down and freed up. Like I said earlier.....it's hard to diagnose over the phone. See if it makes any difference turning over with some or all of the spark plugs out (at least the 2 outers). Maybe try lifting the back wheel and putting it in gear. Turn the wheel and see if it turns (with plugs still out). I don't know how the 350 is but on a 750 you can turn the crank on the big hex on the points side but don't turn the small bolt (easy to break). Hope you get it man or get ready for some major work and $$$.

[ThatWolfKid]

Yeah I get its hard to explain over the Internet,.. I was reading to open up spark plugs and lubricate them with diesel, wd40, or marvel mystery...will probably try that. All I was looking for were paths to take.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Over rev, float valve, bent valve, break valve, hit piston.