How do I know if my dirt bike engine is seized and if I can free it?

You might have found yourself in a frustrating situation with your motorcycle if you read this article.Several of the motorcycles I restored had their engines seized.I have been able to recognize the symptoms of a seized engine thanks to my experience.

How do you know if your motorcycle engine is seized?If your motorcycle battery and starter are in good shape, an electric starter engine will not work if it is seized.The kick pedal won't move as it will be stuck in the engine due to the seizure.

It's discouraging to have to deal with a seized engine.You might feel overwhelmed or that this is too much.When it comes to seized motorcycle engines, there is a lot to consider, and it may be possible for you to fix it yourself.

There are many ways a motorcycle engine seizes.It happens more often than you think.You are not alone if you suspect this is what happened to your bike.You may or may not be able to fix it.

Lack of lubrication is the most common reason for a motorcycle engine to seize.If you don't add or top off the oil in your engine, there is a chance of an engine seizure.The damage may be too severe for you to fix yourself if you suspect this is the reason your engine has seized.

The oil transfers heat away from the moving parts of the engine.The metal parts move against each other thousands of times a minute.The up and down motions are almost impossible if there isn't oil separating the metal parts.

The increased temperature causes the engine parts to wear out.Parts will want to seize together, but are forced to continue movement which will cause internal damage including bent valves, broken pistons, cylinder wall scratches, burnt piston rings, etc.

There are two reasons a motorcycle engine seizes.It's nice to change your oil on the wallet, but your motorcycle won't appreciate it and you eventually will too.Over time, oil thins out and degrades and will have minimal effects on your engine.

The expansion of the mechanics inside your engine will become too much if the lubrication is not doing its job or if it is doing a poor job.

Rust and grime build-up from sitting for long periods of time is the third biggest reason a motorcycle engine seizes.If you let your motorcycle sit for too long, water and condensation can find it's way into your carbs and engine which will expedite the formation of rust.

The cylinder wall is damaged by the Rust in the engine.Once there is a small amount of rust, it will spread around the entire piston and cause it to rust to the cylinder wall.I wrote an article about what happens when you let your motorcycle sit.

There are a number of ways you can free up your engine.These results are not guaranteed.When you are working on a motorcycle, be careful.Wear gloves and protective eye gear.

lubricating your pistons and combustion chamber is the first method you should always try.You can pour a lubricant down the spark plug holes if you take out all of the plugs.The spark plug holes lead to the top of the piston.If you are suspicious of only one part of the engine that is seized, pour lubrication down every spark plug hole to make sure you get the problem cylinder.Unless you are in the worst case scenario.

You can try some of the lubricants.It is important that you choose a lubricant that has penetrating factors to break down any dirt that is seizing the pistons.

You may already have it in your garage.You can use diesel fuel.It works great for lubrication, even though it gives off a strong odor.The highest recommendation I have is the Marvel Mystery Oil.It provides top notch penetration and is also a first class lubricant.

You should wait several hours for the lubricant to soak.If possible, rock the motorcycle forward and backwards after you have waited at least a few hours.

The force on the piston can be broken.You don't want to force something that is still stuck and cause more damage.

It is possible to manually turn the flywheel.The easiest way to do this is to remove the crankcase cover from your engine.It might be easier to completely drain the oil before you take off the case if you have an oil pan underneath.You should be able to see the bolt in the middle.

Try to turn the nut or bolt back and forth with a sockets.Again, don't use a lot of force as this could cause more internal engine damage.You are only trying to get the pistons loose.

These methods should work for you if your engine is seized.There may be significant damage inside if you ran out of oil/used low quality oil.A top end engine rebuild is probably what you will need.If you have enough mechanical experience, try to do it yourself.It is not a job for beginners.

If your motorcycle is old or new, you may want to upgrade it.I created a video series about restoring motorcycles.There are tips and tricks on the restoration process you won't find anywhere else online as well as other in-depth videos on hard to tackle components.If you are interested in restoring or building a motorcycle, click here.

Measures should be taken to prevent a motorcycle engine from seizing.If you plan on owning a motorcycle, make sure you give it the proper care.In the future, this will save you a lot of time and money.

Make sure your motorcycle has oil on it.You should change your oil at least once a year.If you plan to change the oil yourself, be sure to check your owner's manual for how often and what kind of oil to use.An article about the right oil to use in a motorcycle can be found here.

Even if you don't ride your motorcycle often, you should always change your oil.It is less effective if your oil collects dirt over time.We have heard horror stories of people who didn't change their oil for years.Don't be that guy.

If you can't use your motorcycle as often as you'd like, make sure it's not just sitting for long periods of time.It is important to turn it on and let it idling to let the fluids circulate and get the oil up to full operating temperature.This will prevent rusting.If you start the motorcycle for two minutes, shut it off.It needs to be hot enough to burn off condensation from sitting.

It isn't often, but some motorcycles need coolant.If you own a newer motorcycle, make sure you know whether or not you need to keep it cool.To keep your engine temperature in check, top it off every once in a while.There is a guide about motorcycles overheating.

I have wondered what would happen if my motorcycle engine seized while I was riding it.You won't have to worry about your motorcycle if you take good care of it.If your motorcycle seems to be acting up, you should not ride it.

It can be dangerous to have an engine seizure.It could try to break you off the front of the motorcycle.If you ride at 60 mph and your engine and back tire lock up, you will want to slow down, but inertia will keep you moving forward.

Pull over if your engine starts knocking.You will either have to limp it home or hope that it doesn't seize or get towed.There are many ways to tow a motorcycle.

There is another issue with having an engine seize.The locked back tire makes it hard to push it.If you break down, you should always have a cell phone with you.

What happens if you add too much oil?Take out the oil drain bolt if you pour in too much.If you put too much oil in, it will cause the oil to leak from various parts of the engine.This can cause unwanted smoke from your engine or even engine detonation, this happened to me in an old truck.

How much does it cost to rebuild a motorcycle engine?It can range from $500 to $8,000 for a professional to complete the task.It is difficult to set a specific price for an engine rebuild because it depends on a lot of things.

If you are buying a used motorcycle, you may want to verify that the engine has not been stolen.You can check to make sure you aren't buying yourself.