Engine shutoff while riding and now will not start. Help!

[Keepongsing]

Hello, I have been fixing up a 1980 Gs550 that I bought as a fun project and also my first motorcycle. I have been taking it on short trips near home to build confidence that the bike will be reliable and to work out any kinks. Last week I filled the tank with gas for the first time and then parked it when I got home. 3 days later I took it for another short ride and I began to notice a faint whining noise. A few minutes later I came through a turn slowly and the engine cut out. As I coasted into a nearby parking lot the bike continued to have a slight whine.

i pulled the spark plugs in the parking lot- all have good spark. It seems like the starter/ engine is turning over faster with a higher pitch from the starter. Initially I thought filling the tank had washed some junk into the carbs so I took them off and cleaned all of the jets and circuits but that didn't get the bike to fire. Even starting fluid doesn't get it to kick over. It sounds like there is no resistance from the engine while the starter is spinning, but I can see the pistons and valves moving with the spark plugs out, so the engine is turning but not firing.

Can anybody throw some ideas out for what might be happening? Timing chain? HELP!

 

[Guest]

Hello, I have been fixing up a 1980 Gs550 that I bought as a fun project and also my first motorcycle. I have been taking it on short trips near home to build confidence that the bike will be reliable and to work out any kinks. Last week I filled the tank with gas for the first time and then parked it when I got home. 3 days later I took it for another short ride and I began to notice a faint whining noise. A few minutes later I came through a turn slowly and the engine cut out. As I coasted into a nearby parking lot the bike continued to have a slight whine.

i pulled the spark plugs in the parking lot- all have good spark. It seems like the starter/ engine is turning over faster with a higher pitch from the starter. Initially I thought filling the tank had washed some junk into the carbs so I took them off and cleaned all of the jets and circuits but that didn't get the bike to fire. Even starting fluid doesn't get it to kick over. It sounds like there is no resistance from the engine while the starter is spinning, but I can see the pistons and valves moving with the spark plugs out, so the engine is turning but not firing.

Can anybody throw some ideas out for what might be happening? Timing chain? HELP!

Check your timing. It may have jumped a tooth. Enough to loose compression, but not enough to hit an open valve. Also have you checked you valve clearances? It would be a good time to do so if you haven't.

 

[Big T]

Rick, you should specify cam timing is what he needs to check

 

[Guest]

Is the bike still full of gas? I'm thinking the petcock leaked and filled the crankcase with fuel.

 

[Keepongsing]

I emptied the fuel tank after I got it home, seemed like it was all there and no fuel smell from the oil.

Sounds like im pulling the valve covers off to check timing and clearances, anything else I should consider while doing this?

 

[tom203]

Maybe the camchain tensioner was not set right, so while you're checking camshaft to crankshaft, make sure you understand how to check/set the tensioner properly!

 

[Keepongsing]

Maybe the camchain tensioner was not set right, so while you're checking camshaft to crankshaft, make sure you understand how to check/set the tensioner properly!

I will do my best to check it, I think I saw a section on how to do this in the Clymer Manual- Any tips outside of what the Clymer says?

Thanks!

 

[Redman]

. ....... . . . . . ..... . . Even starting fluid doesn't get it to kick over. ...............!

Ah, you have spark on all plugs, but still doesn't even sputter when using starting fluid .......

Might you be able to get the compression checked....?

.

 

[Cipher]

starter clutch seized?

 

[Keepongsing]

Ah, you have spark on all plugs, but still doesn't even sputter when using starting fluid .......

Might you be able to get the compression checked....?

.

I checked the compression with a cheap tester from Autozone, but I can't tell if it isn't working or there is no compression . All of the cylinders move the needle but it seems like the cam chain jumped some teeth and is opening a valve during the compression stroke, disallowing ignition. It may have sputtered a few times, but without a proper seal in the combustion chamber, no ignition is happening.

 

[Keepongsing]

starter clutch seized?

The starter still spins and it turns the engine over, just no ignition. I don't think this would have caused the bike to shutoff while riding either, but I've been wrong many times.

 

[Redman]

I checked the compression with a cheap tester from Autozone, but I can't tell if it isn't working or there is no compression . All of the cylinders move the needle ..................

A cheap one from AutoZone should be okay for occassional use.

Moved the needle, you say.

Did it move only a little and stay there then maybe go up a little more and stay there (untill you pressed the release)? Just not go up as high as should....? That sounds like very low compression.


Or ..... did it go up some and then go back to zero..? If so maybe the guages pressure release is stuck on somehow.

 

[Cipher]

pop the valvetrain cover and do the check for the cam timing and chain stretch etc.

 

[Cipher]

so th emechanical advancer failed and is abrading something under the cover and took out one pulsar coil? holy hell wrong thread sorry all disregard

 

[Keepongsing]

pop the valvetrain cover and do the check for the cam timing and chain stretch etc.

Well im not sure how to do these checks, but I popped the valve cover off and the cam chain is shot. Not surprising that it jumped a few teeth because the chain is hanging on by one side of a link in a spot. I'll post pics- what is the easiest way- do I have to upload them to a host first? What host?

 

[Redman]

....................... Not surprising that it jumped a few teeth because the chain is hanging on by one side of a link in a spot. ...................

Seems like you found the problem, so dont need to do the checks. The symptoms you stated (have spark, not fire with starter fluid, crank easy) all sound like no compression due to valve timing.... and... now you see why. I do not recall any other posting of a failed cam chain.
So, yes, would like to see pics.

You may not like to hear about what is required to replace a cam chain. Oh, you did not ask.

.................. I'll post pics- what is the easiest way- do I have to upload them to a host first? What host?

Any host that makes the IMG code available. Might also be called "3rd party hosting". So about any photo hosting site (well other than Photobucket that started charging hundreds of dollars a year for that service).

 

[Burque73]

Well im not sure how to do these checks, but I popped the valve cover off and the cam chain is shot. Not surprising that it jumped a few teeth because the chain is hanging on by one side of a link in a spot. I'll post pics- what is the easiest way- do I have to upload them to a host first? What host?

You can attach a single file pic for now but if you want to upload to a site like Flikr, here's how.

If you haven't signed up for a Yahoo email account you'll have to start there as you access Flickr through Yahoo.

Once Yahoo and Flickr are setup, on your flickr home screen in the top right corner there's a cloud with an arrow pointing up which is the upload link.

Self explanatory here, drag and drop then some options appear on the left. You'll see the owner's settings for that pic; License, Privacy, Content Filters. I had to click any red squares and make them green. In other words, instead of private- visible to anyone and instead of restricted- safe. Then in the top right click the blue square, upload.

Once uploaded it will show up in your photostream. Click on the pic and it opens in a new window, then four options appear next to the pic, click on the arrow pointing up and to the right to share it. (If that arrow is not there, try clicking the two arrows pointing away from each other to expand the pic. If it's still not, the settings may be private and it can't be shared.)

Now, after clicking the share arrow a window pops up with what should be four options; Share, Embed, Email and BBCode. The BBCode is what get's copied and pasted into the body of the post here on the GSR. (If you don't see the BBCode link, the settings are not right. Go back and make sure they are set to safe and at a minimum visible to other members or friends and family.)

Once the BBCode link is clicked, your size options appear in a drop down. Choose the size you want, right click and copy the BBCode then paste it in you post. The largest format will overwhelm the screen So maybe two sizes from the largest is best. Preview post shows you what it will look like. Also if you preview your post, you can delete your name and file info that appears after the pic, then post it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Keepongsing]

Well I only got 1 good picture, hard to show the breakage.

 

[Cipher]

2nd pin back from sprocket arrow. if it jumped you may have dodged a bullet as total breakage would have resulted in carnage. Now begins the debate of using a master link in the new chain or tearing down the engine.

 

[Burque73]

Can you find the missing part from that chain?