Frozen Engine? Locked up? Seized?

[jso5000]

Hello All-
A little history on my bike. Its a 1989 K100 RS-SE. I bought it from a guy who said it needed a starter and a battery. The bike has been sitting about two years.
Its in kinda rough shape. Anyway, this was my plan:
Pull starter. Assess. Rebuild
Replace plugs
Replace fuel filter
Replace fuel lines
New battery
Drain tank of old gas. Do not put any new gas in yet.
Once this was done. I just wanted to see if it would turn over.
So I hook up battery, turn key and behold...the lights come on, the instrument panel lights up, it is almost alive.
Then I hit the starter button...and all lights go off and nothing. try again. nothing. No more lights.
So I think maybe the starter rebuild was not so good. So I pull the starter and bench test. Its OK.
I begin to think that maybe the motor is locked up or seized. The starter wanted to turn the motor but couldn't.
It drew too much current in the process and blew a fuse or something yet to be determined.
So I remove all plugs, take it off the center stand and put in first gear to see if it can be pushed and perhaps I
would hear the pistons moving. Couldn't push it without significant force.
So now I appeal to the forum.
What is the best way to determine in engine is frozen/seized or not?
Should I spray some fogging oil into the cylinders? or some other gas/oil mixture?
Is there a way to manually turn the crank (I believe CCW) to verify?
Any other help is appreciated.
Thanks,
John

[The Mighty Gryphon]

First, the higher the gear, the easier it is to push.  First gear is almost impossible.

Second, you need to clean your ignition switch.  My K75RT does exactly what yours did when the switc.h is dirty. 

http://www.eilenberger.net/K75S/IgnitionSwitch/

[jso5000]

ok will try a higher gear and the cleaning the ignition switch.
Thanks for your help.
John

[billday]

If you remove the camshaft cover (left side of the engine), you'll see a place where a 19mm open-end wrench can be used to turn the motor over, just to verify that that's not the problem.

But like Gryph says, your problem is probably electrical. Was it stored in a damp place? Try cleaning and De-Oxit- ing connections, including the relays in the box under the tank.

[jso5000]

Hard to say exactly where it was stored. It was outside when I bought it, so who knows could have been outside for a couple of years.
I am a BMW car enthusiast (CCA member blah,blah) and saw this poor thing and had to "save" it. I've owned other motorcycles in the past but this is my first BMW.

I'll try first the higher gear push. Crankshaft cover right?
I do plan to go through it electrically too.
Thanks for your reply.

[koapono]

camshaft cover, same side of scoot as shift lever, clutch lever.

[Laitch]

If you remove the camshaft cover (left side of the engine), you'll see a place where a 19mm open-end wrench can be used to turn the motor over, . . .

Crankshaft cover right?

Houston? We have a problem.

You can always just raise the bike on the center stand so the rear wheel is off the ground then turn it by hand when the transmission is in high gear. Pretend you're at the wheel of a tall ship. Ahoy! Land Ho! Mr Christian! 50 degrees starboard, if you please, and mind the breadfruit!

[jso5000]

Ahoy there...
Yes I got that and will try it tonight and report back.

[koapono]

If you're going to "spin the wheel" whilst in gear, remove the spark plugs first, makes things a great deal easier.

[jso5000]

Already got them out...

[Martin]

I'd spray a bit of lubricant in there, just to be sure. It can't hurt.
Regards Martin

[Laitch]

I'd spray a bit of lubricant in there, just to be sure. It can't hurt.

+1

Make a party of it. Use fogging oil though, not tanning oil.

[jso5000]

Update:  Put it in high gear and spun the rear wheel with the spark plugs out and the engine turns just fine.
So no it is not frozen or seized.
Next steps are:
Reinstall starter
Clean ignition switch per Gryph's link
Clean relays and connections per billday's advice
Reinstall battery
Then give it a try to see if it turns over.
If YES - then I will add gas and see if it starts.


Thanks for the good advice.
John

[jso5000]

I'll put the plugs back in too...

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I'll put the plugs back in too...

I'm always amazed at how much better they run with spark plugs(and fuel)!

[kris]

If you're in at the starter then it might be an idea to pull your alternator and check the monkey nutz as well. Mine were worn and the assembly made a strange (disconcerting) noise due to the worn rubber. They are cheap to replace and will prevent any German from cringing at the sound of a noisy Beemer....you know, they are the best motorcycles in the world! :hehehe