GSX750F 'teapot' 'seized'... on the starter motor???

[mark_biggles]

hi Boys n girls
my 2002 teapot is far more 'loved' than 'ridden' (I bought it from new and it still only has 5,000 miles on the clock - yea I know, shame on me )
Everything was fine until a year ago when my missus cut through the cable supplying power to the garage, killing my little trickle charger,... flat battery.., no kick start... (yep I am THAT old)
anyway, I finally got round to buying an ultrasonic cleaner and a new battery. Took the carbs off and zapped em one by one (does a damn good job, btw). Since the bike would still start and run, but only on the choke, up to 3 days ago, and the bike has never been mucked about with, I deliberatley DIDNt want to lose any settings, so only unscrewed the main emulsion tubes, left everything else in place. (Although I did take the tops off after they came out of the cleaner to make sure they were dry - nearly lost two of the teeny tiny o-ring seals in the process).
Put it all back together and it started, and responded (sort of ) to the throttle (it didnt before - two of the throttle slides were stuck) but it was popping and farting... and I realised I hadnt re-connected the vacuum tube.. (I had used the PRI position) oops.. so took off the airbox again and reconnected the vacuum tube.
Only now it wont start at all?? But it gets worse, while Im cranking the motor, all of a sudden there is a clunk, and now the motor wont turn? just like someone had inserted a spanner into the cylinder head. I selected 6th gear and rocked the back wheel gently and its solid as a rock. This bike has been cossetted, barely even seen rain in its 14 year life, so its not like the engine or box should be falling apart. So I take off the airboxes again, and undo the 17mm plug on top of the starter motor or alternator not sure which it is. (not really sure what i was expecting to see, but in desperation...)n (under the airbox anyway). Couldnt see anything so just put it back in. Thumbed the starter and... miracle, the engine turned normally, tho no sign of starting whatsoever. The old car battery that Id been using to crank it was starting to struggle so I went and got my brand new bike battery. Put that on, and tried again, and after about 5 seconds worth of cranking, the same thing happened, clunk, solid. Could it be a hydraulic lock ? I didnt change any of the rubber seals, and I did notice that there was a little trickle of petrol running down the centre stand. Wouldnt that mean that I ve now got a load of petrol in my oil? I had noticed that there was petrol coming out on the first try after the carb clean, but I put that down to a combination of using PRI and forgetting to reconnect the vacuum tube, but the second time around, that cant be the reason because the tap was in the reserve position and the vac tube WAS connected. Any ideas anyone. Oh dear I never meant to write a novel! sorry, was just trying to give you all the information. Im 54 years old and have had bikes all my life - took the engine out of my mini when I was still at school (and Ive got a BSc in Physics, so I sort of know what Im doing ha ha ) I did say SORT of LOL
So if there is still anyone awake, Id be grateful for any help. Thank you very much. Mark
PS Sorry it's such a long one! (I'd love to say that's a regular expression, but...! )

[mentalboy]

Sounds to me like you have at least two issues.

The clunk/locking up is quite probably a starter motor issue. Definitely a 'clunk' and not the hefty 'click' of a starter solenoid?
I'd drop the starter, check it out of the bike and if any doubt remained drop a side casing and turn the engine over (minus plugs), using the crankshaft nut, to make sure that it's not an internal clunk - better to turn over by hand if it is because you should be able to minimise further damage than if you were to continue whirring at it with the starter.

Silly question but your 'vacuum' pipes were definitely that and not fuel return pipes?

In short, I had a low mileage 600 teapot and if someone hadn't purchased it out of sympathy ( more fool them) then I'd quite happily have pushed the bloody thing in the river - it was a complete pain in the arse and totally wound me up, despite the fact that I didn't have it for long...


edit: Easy to check if a hydraulic lock by removing the plugs and turning over using above mentioned method... I've just remembered what a PITA it is getting plugs out of those bitches, best of luck...
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[Pete.]

From your description it sounds like you have had fuel leaking through the carbs into the cylinders.

First check the oil level and see if it smells of fuel. If it reeks of petrol remove the spark plugs and try turning the engine. If it doesn't turn, check that the pistons of 1 and 4, 2 and 3 are the same height in the bore. If they are it's probably the starter gear.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[mark_biggles]

as you say getting the plugs out needs a ladder they are so far down inside the head but it would rule out the hydro lock...
And Im not too sure whether it was a clunk or a click!
So what exactly in the starter motor could make it lick, oops lock..?

[Hong Kong Phooey]

[mark_biggles]

hi guys
havent had chance to investigate the starter motor issue yet, but just tried the in-gear wheel turn again and its still solid, which i thinnk rules out the hydro lock cos that wouldve seeped past the rings by now. So it sounds like it IS mechanical. Weird tho, on only 5Kmiles.
And it's a shame cos its never missed a beat. My fault for leaving it in the garage for so long (tho its never gone more than 6 months without starting- as in not totally abandoned.
Ive had lots of bikes, including RD350, RD 500, FZR600, 1000 Genesis and exup, and ive got to say, I love my teapot, (150mph - in COMFORT ) the only thing I'd change about it, is to put it on a diet and lose 20Kg
(I suggested that to the missus once and got a black eye for me trouble - ho hum

With regard to the vacuum pipe, its not a silly question, but Im pretty sure its correct cos there are two overflow pipes but only one vac pipe and they fell more or less naturally where they used to be.

One more thing, check out the before and after pics of my carb cleaner - and thats with no scrubbing whatsoever, just 30 mins in the ultrasonic with water and a splash of vinegar. It was £56 brand new off ebay - made in China of course, but shipped from Germany.