engine problems after oil leak

[drincruz]

hey guys, i just picked up a new  '04 gs500f a couple of weeks ago. everything has been great until yesterday. my oil light came on and the engine gave up on the highway. the dipstick was dry so i had my friends drive to the nearest gas station to grab some oil. we got the bike started and i was able to ride again. though, it started dying out on me about 1/4 mile down the highway. i needed to have the engine on choke to get it running again.

now, i start up the bike with the choke on, let it idle a while and warm up, but then it gradually dies whenever i take off the choke. also, if i try and put it into 1st gear after taking off the choke, the engine just gives up immediately.

i can put the bike in gear with the choke on, and i can even ride it. but obviously having the choke on isn't good for the bike. anybody have any ideas?

[trumpetguy]

You need to do some very basic checks like a compression test, a visual inspection of the cam and cam bearings, etc.  Is it making any unusual noise when it is running?

The only way to know if you toasted a main bearing is to tear it down - a complicated and time-consuming process.  It happened recently to someone on the list -- search and you'll find pics of the damage.

Air-cooled bikes do consume oil and need to be checked frequently.  Sounds like yours wasn't.  Could be VERY bad.

[drincruz]

You need to do some very basic checks like a compression test, a visual inspection of the cam and cam bearings, etc.  Is it making any unusual noise when it is running?

actually, yes. while idling the engine coughs up quite a few times.

i'm gonna attampt to ride it to the shop and have them take a look at it since my bike is still under warranty.

thanks for the feedback. i'll keep you guys posted.

[drincruz]

so just to close this thread up, here's what happened: we put in too much oil in the engine which of course clogged up the carburetors so that's why bike was only able to run in choke. ack!

so even though dipstick was dry, there was apparently still enough oil in there to put me over the limit.

sucks. i should've paid attention more to the oil level. but i guess panic set in while i was stranded on the side of the road.

so, had the oil drained & changed and had the carbs cleaned. now she runs good as new.

live & learn.

be safe guys.

[LOUiE]

did you check the oil while the bike was on the side-stand?  being a newbie once myself... I dipped the stick while on the sidestand and got no reading.  Gotsta put it on the center-stand on flat ground to get a proper reading.

[bill14224]

Your engine will no longer run without choke because it's harder to turn than it used to be because you ran it out of oil and now you have a bad bearing(s).  Your engine needs to come apart, bank on it.  You learned a basic lesson in motor vehicles.  CHECK YOUR OIL OR PAY THE PRICE!

[sledge]

so just to close this thread up, here's what happened: we put in too much oil in the engine which of course clogged up the carburetors so that's why bike was only able to run in choke. ack!

Is this what the Shop told you?

[drincruz]

did you check the oil while the bike was on the side-stand?  being a newbie once myself... I dipped the stick while on the sidestand and got no reading.  Gotsta put it on the center-stand on flat ground to get a proper reading.

yea, had it on the side-stand. now, i know to get it on the center-stand.
:-(

[drincruz]

so just to close this thread up, here's what happened: we put in too much oil in the engine which of course clogged up the carburetors so that's why bike was only able to run in choke. ack!

Is this what the Shop told you?

yea, i had them show me. carbs were filthy.

[drincruz]

Your engine will no longer run without choke because it's harder to turn than it used to be because you ran it out of oil and now you have a bad bearing(s).  Your engine needs to come apart, bank on it.  You learned a basic lesson in motor vehicles.  CHECK YOUR OIL OR PAY THE PRICE!

well, in my defense, the bike is less than 2 weeks old!

but yea, learned a big lesson indeed. definitely gonna check the bike before heading out for any type of travel.

thanks for the feedback guys.

stay safe.