Bike lay on its side

RegionX · Post by **RegionX** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:25 pm

Some very dim-witted transporters decided that because my bike was damaged on one side they could lie it down on a pallet! It lay on it's left hand side if that makes any difference, was running 3 days ago, probably been on its side since then. Besides draining carbs, letting the oil settle and maybe drying plugs I'm not sure what to do, any ideas what problems it may cause, wont start.

Searched it but everyone says why not to put it on its side but not what to do once its been on its side.

amorti · Post by **amorti** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:35 pm

If it was laid down carefully so that nothing else got damaged through impact, the only things I would be thinking to do would be check the fuel system through as you say. It is possible that fuel will have drained through the carbs into the cylinders. If so, then an oil change would be required. It might also be prudent to squirt a little oil into the cylinders as the petrol could wash off the oil film from them. Open the oil filler and see if the oil whiffs of fuel.

It might have upset the battery, too? Check the volts and see if it will hold charge.

Did you turn the fuel off beforehand?

I am considering having my bike shipped, so this might be useful to me, too.

RegionX · Post by **RegionX** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:49 pm

Unfortunately I had it sent from another city, havent had a chance to see if the fuel was off but I doubt it. I've only ever worked on 2-smokes, when you say squirt oil in to the cylinders you mean take the exhaust off?

Excuse my noobness

Nickd · Post by **Nickd** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:55 pm

RegionX wrote:Unfortunately I had it sent from another city, havent had a chance to see if the fuel was off but I doubt it. I've only ever worked on 2-smokes, when you say squirt oil in to the cylinders you mean take the exhaust off?

Excuse my noobness

I would imagine he means squirt it in through the spark plug holes, if you put oil in the exhaust ports it would sit behind any closed valves and wouldn't get into the combustion chamber.

RegionX · Post by **RegionX** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:58 pm

I thought it was bad for a lot of oil to get past the rings? Obviously it is just a sign of worn rings and not a problem for the engine. Will let you know if it all goes to plan.

thanks

Post by **Neosophist** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:24 pm

when i sent my vfr down the road and over a cliff it was a bit of a buggar to start and that was only from lying in a field for about 20 minutes.

Get the bike upright, check the oil to make sure theres enough in it.

Open the float bowl screws and drain the fuel out (use a cup to catch the fuel)

Now

full choke no throttle at all.

crank it for 5 seconds and let it rest for 2 minutes... after draining the carbs it will take a mintue or two for them to fill up and the fuel only flows when cranking as its a vaccumn tap so it might not catch on the first try or two but it should fire up.

If it still won't go then it's time to investigate further.

remove plugs and inspect, see if they have spark too, if not chances are somethings been disturbed.

Also, check battery voltage and make sure it's fully charged.

RegionX · Post by **RegionX** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 6:43 pm

Okay, checked oil and it came half way up the end of the dipstick.
Battery at 12.85V
Looked for the float bowl screws but couldn't get in there.
Fuel tap had been put off so I turned it on and followed your instructions, tried 4 times with no luck so I guess I do need to drain the float bowls, what needs to come off to do this?

EDIT: Just found the carb jetting guide, from what I saw looks like the carbs have to come off to drain them, may be a while before I have time to do this

Post by **Neosophist** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:09 pm

the carbs dont' need to come off to drain them, you un-do the drain screw on each float bowl.

if you look with a torch you'll see them.

if you have the fuel on then they should be full so i dont know if draining them will help, might be worth opening one to make sure fuel comes out and that you are getting fuel.

kill switch isn't on is it? crack a plug and check yous till have a spark

RegionX · Post by **RegionX** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:40 pm

Already pulled it off but had to lube the throttle springs anyway and the back carb bowls were on the wrong way round so not sure I would have gotten in there. Most of the fuel came out one side.

I put the kill switch to run, seems straight forward.
Will test spark then put it all back in a couple hours.

RegionX · Post by **RegionX** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:15 pm

Things are not looking any better, didn't realize it was so hard to get to the spark plugs. Can you only do this with a special tool? Anyway didn't check spark obviously, put it all back and no luck.

Battery voltage drops by 1.7V down to 11V when cranking over if that means anything?

The petrol smells weird (maybe that's just me) and there isn't much of it in the tank so it obviously should be on reserve. Am I right in saying that if Res is at the upper most point on the tap then it is selected?

Really not sure what else to do besides charge the battery if you think that's a problem and check spark but I dont have the tool.

EDIT: Will quickly check that there is petrol in the float bowls since draining.

Bike lay on its side

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