FZR600 Starting clunk - locked engine?

[calorgaz]

Hi guys/gals

I had my bike running just over a week ago and all was well, I came to start it up yesterday and all I got was a fairly loud clunk and nothing else. I thought the battery may have died so I put in on charge and within an hour it had indicated it was full, all the lights work and the fuel pump primes, relay clicks but the starter motor doesn't spin.

I took the starter motor off and rotated the shaft by hand to check if that had jammed but it was fine. I put the starter back on today and it tried to turn over but soon clunked and wont turn over again. I have tried to move the bike in a higher gear but it locks the back wheel with the same clunk - with the clutch in the bike moves and i can select all the gears which makes me think the clutch is ok.

I have looked around the internet and got a few possibilities to try tomorrow when I have more time but I was wondering if anyone here may have other ideas. So far posts I have read say to;

Check the starter motor spins (ie. connect it up to a battery)
Check the starter clutch (should spin only one way)
Check idler gears from the starter motor to the starter clutch
Check for Hyrdolock in the cylinders

The bike is a 1995 FZR600R with about 25k on the clock, I think it was imported from the USA.

Any ideas folks?

Cal.

[pefrey]

What do you mean "clunk"? A battery with a dead cell will indicate full charge but when you push the start button, "clunk". Does it sound like there is metal to metal contact?

[calorgaz]

Yes, sorry I thought I had put metallic clunk.

[reelrazor]

Of your options, I would lean towards the fourth one.

You are hydrolocked, or in another way the engine is mechanically locked.


If you cannot turn the engine with the rear wheel ( in a high gear) , the starter has NO CHANCE of being able to.


Pull the plugs, sniff the oil, look for a rod thru the cases

[Sikowanalize]

...youve checked the oil level, right?

I dont know anything about whether or not you can turn the rear wheel by hand when the bike is in gear or not, although I bet reelrazor knows what hes talking about.

but I do know if your battery is bad (load test it), it will fall flat on its face as soon as you engage the starter. the first time I heard that happen, I had no doubt in my mind I destroyed something. it was a nice loud crack.

[calorgaz]

Update

I was Hydrolocked. Once empty I rolled the bike in gear to make sure nothing was hitting and the engine was free, plugs back in and after a bit of spluttering (no choke and its fairly cold today) she started up.

Thanks everyone.