Boxerworks.com

Hi everyone. I have a bad feeling I've damaged my engine by doing something very stupid. I'm pretty green with Airheads and though I've ridden British Bikes for years, my mechanical knowledge is unimpressive, to say the least. So, please indulge me.

I have been experiencing a problem lately where my neutral indicator light will not come on after my '78 R100 has been sitting overnight. I fuddle around with the gears for awhile then just push start the bike. After riding it works fine the rest of the day. So, after doing this today, I push started the bike then let it idle (on the side stand!) while I perused a Clymer manual. I may have been reading the manual for 20 minutes before returning to the bike and finding it burning oil off the elevated (Rt side) head...it appears there was a little seepage previously from the gasket on this side but it wasn't enough to cause alarm or drip. I sat the bike, noticed the neutral indicator light now was on and I turned the engine off. I then tried to restart the bike almost immediately and my starter engaged but didn't turn the engine. I let the engine cool and retried. Starter gives it's initial kick then nothing. I placed the bike in 5th gear and attempted to push it around to moves the engine. It may have barely turned then the wheel locks up. I tried moving it about in gear for a bit without much success then hit the starter again...it seemed that it got further through the starting process than before (barely) but then stopped cranking. Almost like the crank or piston moved so far then nothing. Now, it's back to one hard kick from the starter and then nothing. I'm going to try to pull start it in a minute but thought you may be able to tell me the effects of my folly while I wait for help.

Welcome to the mad house!

I think there are several issues that you need to deal with!

The neutral light sounds to be sticking.........changing the switch on the bottom of the tranny might solve the problem.

Your battery/charging system may also be in need of some love.

I would find someone nearby who knows bikes, and get them to have a look and assess the vitals.

At this stage, there are so many things that 'might' be causing problems.

It is difficult to say where to start in less than a thousand words.

If you let the bike idle for 20 minutes the battery could have drained from running the light. The alternator does not charge the battery at idle. Or even around town. Motorway speeds yes. Well that's how it is on my R100.

Take the spark plugs out, put the bike in 5th gear and then see if the engine will turn over when the bike is pushed.

Taking the plugs out will make this task MUCH easier!!!!


I have a n awful feeling that you may have cooked the motor.

Darryl

Its hard to say from a distance, but I'd be surprised if the motor was cooked. If it didn't seize up during your long idle it shouldn't seize up after you've quit.

But.... I was wrong once before.

I hope it is better than it sounds. Spark plugs out and pushing in fifth sounds like the first port of call.

not quite light reading for you, but this 100GS was 'idled' with the choke on, at around 4000rpm, for 45 minutes before before things went belly-up.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=645324

hopefully your outcome is a lot better.

Idling for 20 minutes will drain the battery so the starter won't turn the engine over. I'll assume it is a US delivery bike and the headlight was ON during this time too. Lots of battery-drain for that.
Spark plugs out and rolling in 5th is the way to turn the engine over. Maybe squirt a little fresh oil in those SP holes first?
TWENTY minutes idling on an air-cooled engine without a fan is not a good idea.
I would advise NOT doing it again!!

I hope it's ok!

Yeah, I seized it. It was idling at about 1500 RPM, btw and that was enough to cook it. Thanks for the advice. Time to find a guru around me to fix it.

Sorry to hear it. To my mind it would indicate that the motor was pretty worn anyway, perhaps with an unhappy oil pump.
Somebody here should be able to suggest a good mechanic - I assume you are in Cincinnati?
All the best with the resurrection, and welcome to the forum.