89 gs locked up @ 45mph

[Toyota83]

Hey i am a new member. anyhow, i bought this bike in Fort Worth, Tx for $900 with minor problems but the owner had recently put a new starter on it. It ran good enough to get me home 130 miles away. Once home i drove it alot (probubly 1500 miles if not more) in the next 2 months. I fixed the minor problems. (ie new sprockets, chain, cleaned carbs, ext.) and changed the oil once. The bike was running GREAT until one nite while on a ride 50 miles away from my house, the rear tire locked up while leaving a friends house. I was approching a stop sign when the back tire locked up @ about 45 mph. The motor had oil, but it was at the very bottom of the dip stick with the bike straight up & down. The starter just clicks when you attemp to start it. The bike rolls fine when out of gear. I heard no noises due to the head phones in my helmet and the static x that was playing at the time and I was down shifting from 5th to 4th. PLEASE HELP ME. I dont want to tear if all down if i dont have to. What all could cause this, and what all options do i have? Where can i find a replacement motor, and is there any way to fit a larger motor on this frame?

[GeeP]

Were you screwing the dipstick in to check the oil? 

[Toyota83]

Yes

[Toyota83]

This is honestly the first bike i have ever owned. I know my way around vehicles but have never really worked on something this small. Just doing my homework before i get started

[Yev]

Yes

Your supposed to measure your oil level without threading it...

[Toyota83]

OK Then that means the oil was lower than i thought. Well that Su{s

[GeeP]

It sounds to me like the engine is seized.  To check the oil on the GS500 you DO NOT screw the dipstick in.  Rather, simply wipe it off and place it in the hole, then remove and check.  There may only be a few ounces of oil in the engine.

Drain the oil, if there is any to drain, and have a look at it.  Does it have silvery streaks or look like a metallic car paint?  If so, diagnosis confirmed, tear down the engine and overhaul.  If not, you may get by with just a spun bearing, but you'll still have to tear the engine down.  Be sure to de-glaze the cylinders and install new rings if the bores are still within spec.

The moral of the story is to always read I love YOU.  Some bikes require that you DO screw the dipstick in, others don't.   

[Toyota83]

Thanx, I never recived an owners manual i basicly listened to the guy i bought it from and did things the way he told me he did it.

IF i have to rebuild, do you know of any upgrades that could be done somewhat easily.

[spc]

There are a few overbore options...........not very cheap though......you'd have to find the pistons and then have the sleeves bored.........might get by doing that for a few hundred start to finish.  Dgyver or Werase would be able to tell you what pistons to look for and I believe any bore above 555cc requires new sleeves but it could be even lower than that.

You could have Megacycle work some cams for you but again not cheap..........

[Toyota83]

Thanx, I havent been able to find many sites that offer anything for a GS, But then again I am not the best a navigating through the internet.

What about a motor swap, Say GS750

[spc]

You 'could'...
would it be easy?  Hell no
Would it be cheap?  Hell no
would it be a good idea? hell no

If you really want to do a swap there are a few ideas out there.   Did Srinath ever get that GR motor in right?  I always thought dropping an F650 engine in would be cool but those are pricey little buggers............maybe if you could find a 650r motor really cheap and had some buddies with machining skills and time to kill.................

[GeeP]

It would be cheaper to buy a first-gen SV-650 than bore it to 555, cam and port it, etc. 

Not that we won't support 100% if that's what you want to do. 

I suggest you rebuild it stock and learn to ride before turning it into a pseudo fire breathing dragon.   

[spc]

That was basically what I was getting at, you just made it a little more clear.  Hey as long as your talking about power, I'll sell ya a Gix6..........I found a Duc M620 that I want..........

[Toyota83]

Actually, For a year and a half i rode my brothers KLR 650 everywhere. and when i would go visit him in Fort Worth, I would Ride his sv650 around a race track in south fort worth. So i really know how to and ride safe. I bought this bike because it was cheap, and my wife was screaming at me not to buy something bigger. (Almost had a GSXR 750!! Got to love my wife) She didnt want me to get a bike at all.

[Toyota83]

HOw much? What condition? What year? How many Miles? Any Adds?

[Toyota83]

Anyway, if there is still anyone out there, Do you know were i might find a working engine?

[Kerry]

Whoa - slow down a bit.  Before you buy a new engine, drain what's left of the oil and pull the left-side engine cover.  (You have to pull the rear section of the cover first, to uncover a couple of the bolts for the forward section.)

If you're "lucky", you may find that it's "just" goat's syndrome, as shown in the photos in [THIS POST].

What is "goat's syndrome"?  It's a condition first documented by GStwin member goat.  Basically, it's where one or more of the rotor magnets in your alternator self-destruct.  If the chunks are large enough, they can lodge between the magnets and the stator coils and lock up your crankshaft.

If you "only" have goat's , you may be able to get away with replacing the rotor bucket / magnet assembly.

[gsJack]

Same thing happened on my 81 CM400A Kerry, magnet came loose and locked up the engine 2 or 3 times.  It always happened as I was coming to a stop and centrifugal force quit holding it in place.  Could happen during the shift when rpm's dropped off in this case.  Finally found a used rotor with magnets for $70 and fixed it.  Honda only sold the new rotor/magnets and the stationary coil assy as a pair for about $400 back then, close to what I paid for that bike.

[beRto]

89 gs locked up @ 45mph

Yikes!    I'm glad you're OK.

Here's to hoping that you get things sorted out soon! 

[ohgood]

When you pull it apart, please document it with pictures. Let's hope it's goats, and not a real seizure.