confirming seized engine diagnosis?

[lazlokovacs]

My friend was riding near my place when the rear wheel locked up on his Cali....

He stuck it in neutral and rolled it over to mine so that I could help him diagnose.

Hmmm.

Oil light had been recently flickering randomly. Oil level looked good according to the dipstick.

I put it on the centre stand and worked bike into 5th gear to see if I could rotate the engine via the rear wheel. Nope. It won't budge. Took plugs out and tried again. Same result.

Starter button just goes thud once and then gives up.

Oh O

Oil starvation causing a seizure????


 

[oldbike54]

 Well , something is broken . Could be a connecting rod has welded its self to a crankshaft journal , could be a broken piston stuck in a bore , could be a myriad of things . No way of knowing for sure until someone takes a peek inside . It is a good idea to do some checking when the oil light starts indicating a problem , not after the engine locks up .

 Dusty

[lucian]

Doesn't sound good. You can try turning it with a socket on the front crankshaft nut, behind plug on front of motor, in neutral with the spark plugs out. I would gently try a little back and forth and listen / feel for abnormal signs. If it's locked solid it's time to dig deeper.  Does clutch still feel normal?

[pete roper]

Incorrectly installed sump gasket? Loose oil filter or OPRV. My guess is its locked up the big end/s.

[rodekyll]

 Broken pushrod/valve seat unseated?

[lazlokovacs]

ok, we're all on the same page....

yowsers   

My first thought was locked up big end as well....

thanks guys

[Muzz]

Is this one of the models that should have the oil filter hose clamped? Oil light flickering.......

[guzzisteve]

Is this one of the models that should have the oil filter hose clamped? Oil light flickering.......

10 to 1 it's this. Place your bets, Goosechase Gamblin.

[Chuck in Indiana]

10 to 1 it's this. Place your bets, Goosechase Gamblin.

10-1 is pretty good odds, but I won't take it.  I wonder if it's a UFI filter? I haven't read of anything but UFIs coming loose..

[guzzisteve]

That would be around 07-08 when the rubber ring was thin, Guzzi told us to use a Bosch.

[LowRyter]

The number one thing I've learned on Guzzi forums is when the oil light comes on, shut the bike off ASAP.

I've encountered this twice.  1) Filter came off riding my Sport.  2) Pan gasket installed upside down after oil change on  my EV. 

If it's locked, I can't imagine that engine is reparable (note spelling; meaning, I would look for a replacement engine.)

[John A]

It points out a common problem with warning problems in general. Unless they are dead reliable we don't trust them when they are telling us there is a problem. The boy who cried wolf parable.

[lazlokovacs]

hmmmmm

not sure what elvis (my friend) is planning on doing.... he posts here sometimes, but I'll keep you updated....

I had a flicker of an oil light once under heavy accel, valves were checked and engine oil changed that very same day! never happened again....

It was my understanding  (i think from guzziology) that once the oil light comes on, its kinda too late as the big end bearing will have already experienced oil starvation????

[Old Jock]

This is why I'm old school and fit a gauge, belt & braces are worthwhile IMHO with something as critical as oil pressure

As far as wrongly installed pan gasket, that is always double checked, then I establish pressure with plugs out and use the starter motor to turn it.

Just what I do, everybody has their own ways of doing things