Seized Engine

Wondering if anyone has experienced my problem? My 2007 Bandit was running sweey as a nut - stopped for a coffee and on trying to start the engine it wouldn't turn over. Called for assistance and they took me to Trevor Jordan in Wollongong for repairs. The Service Dept. guys tell me that the motor appears to have seized in the bottom end. It had plenty of oil and coolant - no sign of anything wrong before the no start. My Bandit is (unfortunately) only an occasional toy and has less than 30000 km. on the clock. Any clues? Any recourse to Suzuki Australiia even though I am out of warranty?

Hope to hear from someone.


Wayne

1250 or a 1200 registered in 07?

In either case, highly unusual, as Bandit bottom ends are renowned to be over-engineered and strong (although there's a 1200 on the forum at present with issues).

I don't imagine Suzuki Australia will want to know about it, unfortunately, but it's worth a crack

If they have only guessed I'm calling it a stuffed starter.
The same issue as I had.

How did it sound engine wise before you turned it off?

Can you bump start it? I suppose if it is a 1250 and it has EFI you can't bump start.

Dump the engine oil and see if there is any metal in the oil.

Ross. wrote:How did it sound engine wise before you turned it off?

Can you bump start it? I suppose if it is a 1250 and it has EFI you can't bump start.

Dump the engine oil and see if there is any metal in the oil.

Rest assured when my starter went south that thought went through my mind

It would be pretty piss poor effort on the part of the bike shop if it turned out only to be the starter. Would hate that they stripped it down only to find they were wrong.

Put it on the main stand, hold in the clutch and see if you can get it into 4th. Get it off the main stand and see if you can push it. If it rolls with the clutch out (ie the engine is slowly turning over) it may not be seized

2wheelsagain wrote:

Ross. wrote:How did it sound engine wise before you turned it off?

Can you bump start it? I suppose if it is a 1250 and it has EFI you can't bump start.

Dump the engine oil and see if there is any metal in the oil.

Rest assured when my starter went south that thought went through my mind

Starter was the first thing that sprung to my mind as well

There is something wrong here - a motor just doesn't seize whilst you're in getting coffee. If it was very low on oil you'd have started to hear noises long before any seizure happened - you certainly wouldn't be describing it as running sweet as a nut, one minute, rooted the next. Given this, I'd say you have another issue to worry about, that is, the dealer hitting you for the cost of all sorts of 'repairs' that either aren't done or were unnecessary, just to save face (and make a motza).

When you tried to start it, were there any noises? I'm assuming the usual lights came on, so what exactly happened when you hit the starter? If it was absolutey nothing, maybe it's as simple as a blown fuse? But, given 2WA already had a starter motor problem, maybe this is another example.

As you say there was plenty of oil and coolant my guess is a 1250
So long as it has lots of battery juice and everything cycles thru it's pre launch tests, clutch start that sucker and see if she runs.
Pretty rare for any engine to seize up in an instant unless there was some terrible sounds coming from the engine before you switched it off.

Ewok1958 wrote:There is something wrong here - a motor just doesn't seize whilst you're in getting coffee.

Unlike the rider after a long haul

I agree with everyone else here,bump start, if that does nothing,-centre stand-take plugs out-put in 6th-try and turn the wheel and listen for grinding

Put on center stand .easy . Pull 4 plugs out .easy .Put it in 5 th .Easy .Turn back wheel by hand ,.Should be fairly easy .
If not pull alternator cover off remove cog that connects starter mortor to flywheel , turn wheel .

If ya wana turn the engine by hand (not in gear by rear wheel) take the right crankshaft cover off (it's the cover that is forward of the oil fill plug on the rhs of the bike) fit up a appropriate socket (think it's 17mm) and turn it. Reckon that's about the easiest way to do it

If it turns it is most likely the engine is not seized

Locked Clutch? Hydraulic lock cause by dribbling injector? Water in a cylinder from crook head gasket?

Kaupy1962 wrote:Locked Clutch? Hydraulic lock cause by dribbling injector? Water in a cylinder from crook head gasket?

I hope its not already in the shop. It would be easy to be bent over in this situation.
The starter failure I had and many others in the UK had resemble a seizure even jump starting from a truck battery. When it collapses it locks everything up.

If it hydraulic'd it would have gone half a turn or there abouts.

Yeah, you're right 2wa. There should be some rotation of the crank if it was hydraulic'd. Not sure where I picked that up from, either on this forum or the net somewhere. Apparently the injector didn't shut off and filled the cylinder with fuel. Did you have a good run home?

Kaupy1962 wrote:Yeah, you're right 2wa. There should be some rotation of the crank if it was hydraulic'd. Not sure where I picked that up from, either on this forum or the net somewhere. Apparently the injector didn't shut off and filled the cylinder with fuel. Did you have a good run home?

Yes mate I had a blinder and loved Whitfield to Mansfield again. There was oil for a few k's near the powerlines which took the sting out and a frigging camera car on top in the middle of nowhere. Lucky I was flashed by a couple of cars.
465km going that way.

Good to meet and drink your coffee the other day

Edit: I got 5.2l/100km on the return. Not bad for 138hp

Ross. wrote:How did it sound engine wise before you turned it off?

Can you bump start it? I suppose if it is a 1250 and it has EFI you can't bump start.

Dump the engine oil and see if there is any metal in the oil.

They bump start. I had a fat battery once. 2nd or 3rd gear of she go's.

So why can't you jump start an efi bandit? Just curious as I am sure hubby jump started mine ..with out a clutch, cause the handle was bent when he smashed it. And could figure out why the bike wouldn't start, so he jumped it.




Oh brain wave... Check the clutch in sensor, otherwise it wont turn over with the starter switch.

Wayne hasn't responded.
Not surprised

I'm happy to stop speculating.

I hope it is just one of those minor problems. On a lighter note. I got on Jans V Star the other day to take it over for its service. Turned the key. Pulled the clutch lever in. Hit the button. Nothing. WTF. Instant thought. Oh no! Not a flate battery. Then hang on, cant be. Replaced that only a while ago. Headlight seemed dim. Just about ready to take off battery cover when I noticed that it was not in neutral. Away she went. Phew.

One other small thing, it may sound really stupid, but check the kill switch isn't off!

Kiwisteve wrote:One other small thing, it may sound really stupid, but check the kill switch isn't off!

Worse yet the tip over sensor hasn't fallen off its mount and slipped down.

Lets cross our fingers that it is something that simple.