I done goofed

[Redman]

.
.The more I read about it, the less likely hydrolock seems to me. ..

Could have been gas in cyclinder the other day, and has since drained out of cyclinder (past the rings) and now in crankcase. See if oil level is way above the sight glass, if so, that aint oil no more.

About the electrical problem .... you have a voltmeter or at least a test light probe?
Cant troubleshoot electrical problems with your eyeballs, well, other than a wire completely disconnected.

.
.
.
.Also, I had power this morning when I turned the ignition on! And when I tried to start it, I heard more electrical shorting noises coming from the rectifier. Could this be why the starter is not engaging?

I'll replace fuses and check continuity tomorrow.

Electrical shorting sound? ...... spark?
or click ?.
If click that is probably coming from the the starter solenoid, the round there with big red cable from battery and other big red cable going to starter. If it is clicking then know the starter button circuit is okay. THe click may be a perfectly good click, just that should also be starter motor sounds also. Or could be a weak click, hard to tell since are not accustom to hearing it anyway.
And, (quess what I am going to say..) can not really troubleshoot electrical problems with your ears. need a volt meter.
Before saying more, would be good to know what battery voltage is, and what it is when try to start, and what is voltage to the solenoid and after solenoid when trying to start.

Or put on small battery charger for a while and see if things are different. If they are then can suspect either weak battery and/or problems with your bikes charging system.




PS: Add bike model and year to signature line (goto UserCP). And maybe add your general location (no need to be too specific) to user profile. Then those things show up in every post.

[poorgradstudent]

Could have been gas in cyclinder the other day, and has since drained out of cyclinder (past the rings) and now in crankcase. See if oil level is way above the sight glass, if so, that aint oil no more.

About the complete electrical failure.... you have a voltmeter or at least a test light probe?
Cant troubleshoot electrical problems with your eyeballs, well, other than a wire completely disconnected.


.

I do have a voltmeter, so I can begin checking continuity tonight. Should I drain the oil and check for gas? Not sure if I'll notice or not though. Exactly how much fuel would it take to lock the motor and bend/break a rod?

[JTGS850GL]

Exactly how much fuel would it take to lock the motor and bend/break a rod?

Not much if the gas is above the piston. Maybe 1/4 cup or less in one cylinder. Hydro-lock wouldn't explain the loss of electrical power.

My bet is you have a loose connection or a bad battery cable. Check the battery cables going to and from your stater solenoid. You may have a loose connection. You should have 12V+ on one side of the solenoid going to the battery and nothing on the other side when the starter button is not pressed. Once pressed you should have around 12V on both sides (big wires). Have someone push the starter and listen for the "crackling sound". You also want to check the ground wire going to the negative side of the battery from the frame.

[Big T]

To determine if you have an interior problem, get

1. 4 drinking straws
2. Sharpie
3. Spark plug tool
4. Wrench to turn crank

A. Remove spark plugs
B. Remove ignition cover
C. Inset straws into spark plug holes
D. Rotate crank to 1-4T
E. Mark the 1&4 straws at the spark plug holes*
F. Mark the 2-3 straws also
G. Rotate crank to 2-3 T
H. Mark all 4 straws again

Pull straws and compare the marks. They should all be the same, crude measurement aside

*use a hemostat or something long to indicate where the straw comes out of the head. Clamp the hemostat/LN pliers/whatever onto the straw and pull it out and mark it

[Redman]

..... Should I drain the oil and check for gas? Not sure if I'll notice or not though. ....

How much fuel in cyclinder to cause lock is not much, like someone said, just a cup or little more - I in any one cyclinder so piston cant come all the way up.

But the fuel would go not only in cyclinder and stay there but also drain down past the piston into the crankcase oil, and will be lots more than just a cup, like a quart or more, most of entire tank if left overflowing long enough. SO look at oil level sight glass and see if way high like outta sight, cant see the level because is way past , .... and/or open oil fill and sniff to determine if smells more like gas than oil.


And again, this probably not at all related to electrical problem.


.