low rpm engine knock. Water in Engine?

[Anonymous]

haven't had a chance to throw it on the charger yet...

but here is another hint...

i walk started it again and rode it around for about 5 minutes (city driving...lots of lights and stop signs) to test out my front forks cause i changed the oil, don't think i got above 30 mph.

when i got back i tried starting it again and the battery was definetly almost dead.

if i kill the battery and then leave it for a few hours it charges back to a point where i can get those 3 or 4 slow cranks out of it....so does that mean that the battery is still by itself? how does it regain that little bit of power each time? does this also mean that it's probably the battery? i assume if it was an electrical problem that it would drain the battery dead with the bike just sitting there to the point where i wouldn't even be able to get a few cranks out of it...

[flyingace]

Those are classic symptoms of charging system failure. You are sucking power from the battery to run the bike, so right after you run it the battery is at the lowest charge. Charging system failures are very common on these old bikes - usually starts with the R/R which in turn leads to stator failure.

An easy test is to check your battery voltage before you bump start it, and check it again after the bike is running. It should be 1.5-2 volts higher if the charging system is working.

[Anonymous]

ahhh yes BUT the other day i went on a lot longer ride on the highway (about 15 miles of 55mph) and when i got back the battery was very strong.....it was only letting it sit overnight that the battery was back to being weak....

so THAT would sound like a battery problem right?

[flyingace]

That's what you need to determine.

[Anonymous]

ha ha...

ok....thats what i'll do.


sorry that last message was just me talking out loud i think. i will hook up the VOM tonight and see what happens...

[syafi]

Isk Isk, I am having the exact same problem on my GS450L

Water in the fuel tank - battery dead because try to start it 30-40 time while water in carburator.

Knocking sound in low rpm.

I remove water from tank, remove all fuel also & put new fuel. Battery still no good because I dont ride at higher speed yet, just 30-40mph now. last time I had battery problem, I change to 16W headlight and ride 50-55mph for 2 hour to work then battery is super power back. so will try that later tomorrow.

The knocking sound is still there in 1k rpm, adjusting the carburator to run at 1.5k rpm fix the sound problem. This knocking sound has come so many time since I own this bike about 3 month ago. and I leave it in the rain all the time, I just made a roof for it just 8 hour ago because the extra rain pour 3 days ago make my bike unusable for 3 days stupid me.

I just hope this is the sound that happen because of the water & not the rod

The sound Did come when at high rpm last time. it is there once a while.

Here are my spark plug picture, both are tan but 1 is darker & another is like while inside it. so i what should I do with the carb?





My other problem is this, After I ride my bike for about 400 Miles I noticed my lubricant is a bit low then when i pour it. then after another 1k mile it has 1 liter lubricant 4T oil short??? Is it normal to topup engine oil all the time? I never own 4T bike before.

My last problem is this, I usually ride only ~60miles, 30 miles / stop at 50-55mph but 2 week ago I went on riding for 150 miles, 60 miles/ stop & 30 miles in the town.

After I go that 60 miles ride at 60-70mph I noticed white smoke coming out from my exchaust, Then in the 30 mile in town ride also got the white smoke then ride back home 60 miles @40-50mph also got the white smoke .. The next day after the bike rested all night, there is no more white smoke.

What may cause the white smoke? I heard its because the engine oil being burned?, Is it not good to take 1988 GS450L on 60-70mph for an hour straight?

[flyingace]

Using oil and white smoke usually means worn piston rings. Check your compression and compare it to the minimum in your manual. If one cylinder is below, a top-end rebuild is required.

[Anonymous]

ahhh my thread has been hijacked!!!!! 8O

just messin with ya.

[flyingace]

But Dude, he had pictures!

[Anonymous]

i got PICTURES TOO!!!!

anyway...here is my poor poor bike that needs some lovin....

[Anonymous]

i stuck the voltage meter on there. before the bike was started it was at 11.5


after the bike was started the voltage was at 13.5 at 1400 rpms....how is that? is that good?

i have it on a trickle charge right now and will leave it on for the next 18 hours.

[DCgs450L]

I just replaced the batteries in my car and truck in the last year, and my symptoms were the same. You are definitely charging, so lose the battery, it ain't holdin a charge. If you let a dead battery sit, the chemical reaction inside will continue and it will recharge itself a little, enough to get a few cranks as you said. Still makes it a ten pound paperweight when you need it. You don't get enough juice from the batt to both spark the plugs and crank the engine, so no start.

[LW_Icarus]

Have you checked the acid level in your battery? use distilled water to top it up. also look for sulfation, a white crusty look to the plates. if a battery isnt sulfated and isn't low, then it should take a charge, presuming no broken plates.

sometimes its the simple things. BTW, it sounds like somebody ran the dogcrap outta your bike. low on oil, rod knocking, battery possibly boiled dry... Im just saying, sounds like suspicious circumstance... :P

[syafi]

ahhh my thread has been hijacked!!!!! 8O

just messin with ya.

I prefer to think that I joined your wagon instead of hijack it :P

[duaneage]

Batteries can die pretty quick. If the sediments that are a by product of the charging process gather in the bottom they can short one cell out. Motorcylces are hard on batteries. 2-4 years is about average for one that gets regular use. Car batteries can go 5-8 years , just lok at the warranties for them.