Seized motor??

[Silver4]

Was out today outdoor temp 0 to +5C (41F) but new snow on trail last night (when not road running!) and I have studded track. Buddy says it threw lots of snow into track. I did not see (or notice) an overheat light if that exists, loaded up, got it home after 1 hr., started fine to get off trailer then this....

Turned key, all it did was a wee squeaking sound. nothing else
Only other thing I can say is I also washed it finally, sprayed underneath, not too much on front cowl.
Any thoughts? What symptoms does a seized engine exhibit???
I fear the worst, any reassurance it may be something else?
Thanks in advance...

 

[74Nitro]

Can you rotate the engine forward by hand with the clutch?

 

[Silver4]

Excellent question! I will attempt tomorrow. Thank you!

 

[Silver4]

Yes I can! Thanks for that suggestion. Now I can sleep tonight.
So what would issue a single faint little squeal without anything mechanical happening I wonder.
That's it .. a single short eeet" sound and nothing else....
Any thoughts?

 

[theCATman]

Yes I can! Thanks for that suggestion. Now I can sleep tonight.
So what would issue a single faint little squeal without anything mechanical happening I wonder.
That's it .. a single short eeet" sound and nothing else....
Any thoughts?

Sounds like the starter is fried. That's worst case, but sounds like it.

Make sure the battery cables are tight. Make sure battery is fully charged. Look for corrosion on the starter relay, they are known for that. Start simple 1st.

Turn the key on, and try jumping it across the relay with a screwdriver. See if you get the same results. If so, starter is shot. If not and it starts, the relay is corroded.

 

[Silver4]

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE TO THIS THREAD. As was suggested, I turned the clutch and it did move. BUT I didn't pay attention to the word "forward"!
I moved it clockwise (a bit- 1/4 turn) and felt the pistons move. My joy was short lived as now I discovered I may have jumped the chain off the timing gear and require the engine taken out to verify or whatever. I will post what happened when I get it back from the dealer for this oversight. Fortunately I did not start the engine. Beware- CCW ONLY!

 

[74Nitro]

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE TO THIS THREAD. As was suggested, I turned the clutch and it did move. BUT I didn't pay attention to the word "forward"!
I moved it clockwise (a bit- 1/4 turn) and felt the pistons move. My joy was short lived as now I discovered I may have jumped the chain off the timing gear and require the engine taken out to verify or whatever. I will post what happened when I get it back from the dealer for this oversight. Fortunately I did not start the engine. Beware- CCW ONLY!

Why do you think that has happened?

 

[Mooseman]

You can try turning it by hand two full revolutions counter-clockwise and if you don`t get any hard stops, as if a piston is hitting a valve, you can try with the starter (if it still works). Just because you turned it backwards doesn`t necessarily mean it jumped the chain. That might take more than 1/4 turn. Make sure your ignition is OFF or it could start while turning.

 

[Silver4]

I thought I seized it riding in warm weather and a fair amount of dry pavement running.
It was odd it suddenly didnt turn over.

I should also add that I powerwashed the thing... water issues perhaps?

 

[74Nitro]

I thought I seized it riding in warm weather and a fair amount of dry pavement running.
It was odd it suddenly didnt turn over.

I should also add that I powerwashed the thing... water issues perhaps?

No, I mean why do you think it jumped time?

 

[Silver4]

Simply by reading posts that said you can only turn that thing counterclockwise or bad things happen - such as the timing chain bunching up and skipping a tooth or two. In my case, I only turned it a quarter turn so hopefully nothing happened. That said I was afraid to start it in case damage was inevitable so I took it to the dealer where they spun the clutch and he seemed to feel there was no interference.
He also believes the starter or bendix s dead,

I can't help but feel it's somehow related to the power washing. It just seems so random.

 

[Mooseman]

Not likely power washing would do that since it's made to go through snow (frozen water). Same stay out all summer in the rain and start next winter. More than likely the starter just died. Anyway, we're done for this season (I actually never went out) but at least it will be ready for next season.

 

[74Nitro]

Simply by reading posts that said you can only turn that thing counterclockwise or bad things happen - such as the timing chain bunching up and skipping a tooth or two. In my case, I only turned it a quarter turn so hopefully nothing happened. That said I was afraid to start it in case damage was inevitable so I took it to the dealer where they spun the clutch and he seemed to feel there was no interference.
He also believes the starter or bendix s dead,

I can't help but feel it's somehow related to the power washing. It just seems so random.

It's very rare that skip timing happens. Before I knew this was a possibility, I had rotated these backwards hundreds of times, and never once had one skip time.