Seized engine.. Help!

[Cryptic45]

Okay so I just recently purchased a 1980 1100 xs special for a very cheap price, due to the engine being locked up. The bike has been sitting for around 6-7 years luckily with the spark plugs in it. Also I am a new member to this forum! yay!

Okay so here is what I've tried, and I wanted to see if you guys had any recommendations (before I have to tear into the engine). I have pulled the valve covers and sprayed a good amount of penetrating oil there. Also I pulled the spark plugs and sprayed a good amount on top of the pistons. I put the bike into 5th gear and tried rocking it, without any luck. My next step is to try and turn the engine by the crank, but I wanted to verify on which way I needed to try and turn it (I would assume clockwise?). And also where I need to try and crank it from, this should be by taking off the right side crank case cover and turning it by the bolt on the generator? If so how much force should I apply?

I'm sorry if these are silly questions, I've have yet to deal with a seized engine. I would really appreciate any tips and concerns you may have!!!

Thanks!!

[DAVINCI]

Give the penetrating oil time to do it's work. Give it another squirt today then try rocking it again the next day. As far as trying to break it free, I think you'll get better results using the in-gear-and-rock method, but use first gear.

[WMarshy]

Welcome to the form! You might want to try the search button, im sure there are some posts regarding "stuck engine" out there. Sorry I cant answer any of your questions... I do know people have brough back stuck engines though. Seemed like it took a few days of soaking with various fluids to get them to release. Think I remember someone using a combination of trany fluid and penetrating oils... Good luck and welsome.

PS. If you dont have any, go out and get PB Blaster. Nothing compares to it, its the best.

[natemoen]

Time is your friend when it comes to stuck engines. If you force it you quite often will break things, if you do it slow and give it time to free up things are usually good to go.

I have had engines that have been sitting outside for years without plugs and sometimes it might take a couple months but you can get them free without breaking things.

Diesel fuel and atf make a nice penetrating fluid for breaking engines free. Just give the cylinders a good coating each day and rack it back and forth a few times each day and she will come loose when it is ready to.

[crazy steve]

Well, first, do you know why the motor is seized? If it became seized due to a mechanical failure of some sort, it may be easier to just get another motor.

As far as turning it by hand, your best bet IMO is to remove the alternator cover, use a strap wrench on the rotor and try turning it counter-clockwise as you're facing it. If it's really locked up, trying to turn it via the bolt will just loosen the bolt. If trying to turn it on the ignition side, you'll damage the timing wheel or advance unit where it keys into the crank if you use too much force.

Have you tried turning it with the starter? This would be your easiest method; connect a jumper battery to the bike. Hook the negative directly to the motor casing, then touch the starter lead to the solenoid to positive. If that doesn't spin it, time to pull the head....

[Toolmaker Tim]

Pentrating oil

I have used PB Blaster with mixed results over the years. I use CRC Knock'er Loose exclusively now. The stuff melts rust. We use it at work to get bolts that hold hot manifold systems on injection molds to come loose. The bolts get rusted and baked into place, but it gets them loose! We used to have to drill the heads of the socket head cap screws to get the manifolds off. You can get it at W.W. Grainger.

[fredintoon]

Give the penetrating oil time to do it's work. Give it another squirt today then try rocking it again the next day. As far as trying to break it free, I think you'll get better results using the in-gear-and-rock method, but use first gear.

Hi DaVinci,
if the motor is rusted shut and NOT mechanically jammed, patience is what's needed, that, and penetrating fluid.
Squirt and rock, repeat daily.
But high gear, NOT first. The leverage works backwards when the wheel is trying to drive the engine.

[SFerinTEXAS]

Before you try turning the crank Get electric power to it using jumpers if you need to to find neutral with the dash light.So far as Ive seen a seized engine is an assumption.This will disengage the motor from the middle drive.Then try the starter, with the plugs out of course.

[mxmikie]

check the oil in the mid drive

[Mortician57]

1979 XS 1100 Special parts all are original

I have decided not to ressurect my yamaha 1100XS special. Other than the starter, and the front tire, clean and synch carbs, everything is available for part-out. Contact Mike Butler 714-828-5812 or 714-326-5720 on my cell. I live near Knott's Berry farm

[Cryptic45]

Thank you everyone for your reply's! I will try these recommendations and keep you all updated. I also heard that a good penetrating oil is a 50/50 mixture of powersteering fluid and acetone, any thought on that? I have tried PB blaster without any luck so far, it has been sitting for a few days now. Also I did try to turn the engine with the starter and I didn't have any luck with that. And also as far as I know the bike was a daily driver for the previous owner, and he just let it sit too long so it seized up. So as far as I know there is no mechanical failures... but people say just about anything to sell a bike

[WMarshy]

I've heard good results from using Kroil...

http://www.kanolabs.com/

[b.walker5]

Diesel is all iv'e ever used for a seized top end. Takes a while, and daily attention, but usually works. Not sure about the atf/acetetone mix? Acetone is a solvent and would likely dilute the lubricating quality of the atf, and would evaporate out pretty quick I think.

You need to remove the head, as filling the cylinders through the plug holes could result in a hydraulic lock, and possible piston and/or valve damage when you do get it moving. Even hand cranking can damage things if you've got a cylinder full of liquid trying to compress, (if the plugs are put back in of course, which iv'e seen). And, besides, pulling the head removes the added load of the cams which should allow the engine to turn a little easier. 'course you'll have to re-time the cams when you do get it moving, but that's not hard.

[petejw]

if its a seized bearing all the penetrating oil
wont help any, might not hurt to drain the oil
and see if there is any foreign material in it,
if the engines been sitting for a long time, ull
at best need new valve stem oil seals,
personally id pull the engine apart and see what you have
to deal with.

[jetmechmarty]

If you think the rings are stuck you can free the engine with hydraulic pressure.

Find a cylinder that has both valves closed. Fill that cylinder up with oil. Take an old spark plug and knock all the ceramic out of it. You should be able to look right through it. Go to your favorite parts house and procure a grease fitting with a half inch base. Screw the grease fitting into what's left of the spark plug. Screw the assembly into the spark plug hole you just filled with oil. Get your grease gun and pump grease into the cylinder. It's going to break free in a hurry. You're going to have to take it apart to get the grease out, but you won't be breaking up any pistons trying to get them out.