legionnair Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 just curious if any one has had a cold lock up. Loaded the bike outside temp wasabout -3C drove about 20 min and unloaded the bike. Went to kick the bike over and it was frozen like a seized motor. Removed the spark plug thinking it might be full of coolant but nothing. My riding partner then mentioned he had a propane torch after I mentioned it might be a cold lock up. After slowly heating the cylinder on all sides I started rocking the bike and slowly the piston started to move and then was free up completely. Reinserted the spark plug and first kick she flashed to life, let it idle until fan kick on and rode it all day with no problems. I thought I would just share my story Dustin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan williams Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Yes this week. Tried propane torch on cylinder with no luck. Waited until it was near 50F out and it kicked right over. Opened ignition side cover and drained the water out. All good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revfinn Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 I had the same happen on my Gas Gas a couple of weeks ago when it was -7 and -8 two nights on the trot. Left it for a week weather "warmed" up tried again and all was good Luckily i diint have a trial over that weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jse Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 just curious if any one has had a cold lock up. Loaded the bike outside temp wasabout -3C drove about 20 min and unloaded the bike. Went to kick the bike over and it was frozen like a seized motor. Removed the spark plug thinking it might be full of coolant but nothing. My riding partner then mentioned he had a propane torch after I mentioned it might be a cold lock up. After slowly heating the cylinder on all sides I started rocking the bike and slowly the piston started to move and then was free up completely. Reinserted the spark plug and first kick she flashed to life, let it idle until fan kick on and rode it all day with no problems. I thought I would just share my story Dustin Not surprizing. Trials engines run really tight piston skirt/cylinder clearances, in the neighborhood of .0015"/.002". Another good reason why you, on "normal" weather days, should allow the cylinder to get warm before taking off and rev'ing the engine, it will reduce piston wear a huge amount over time. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastducs Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Not surprizing. Trials engines run really tight piston skirt/cylinder clearances, in the neighborhood of .0015"/.002". Another good reason why you, on "normal" weather days, should allow the cylinder to get warm before taking off and rev'ing the engine, it will reduce piston wear a huge amount over time. Jon Jon, are you saying that when the temps drop below freezing, the cylinder shrinks enough (relative to piston) to create an interference fit? I.e. the piston is physically seized in the cylinder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybroad Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 (edited) happened to me once a long time ago - someone reckoned any condensation in the engine can freeze particularly on the mains or where the rings touch the barrel and it doesn't take much to lock it up, a camping stove under the bash plate sorted it out eventually and it ran fine once freed Edited January 4, 2011 by tonybroad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jse Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Jon, are you saying that when the temps drop below freezing, the cylinder shrinks enough (relative to piston) to create an interference fit? I.e. the piston is physically seized in the cylinder? Not an inteference fit, but possibly very "snug" all the same with any frozen condensation and thick oil entering into the process. Also bear in mind that a good deal of the contact surface in the cylinder/piston area is ceramic, in addition to metal. Nikasil being Silicon Carbide particles in a Nickel matrix and piston composition being about 14-22% Silicon Carbide in most cases. This may be part of the equation, although I'm not sure as I've had no reason to experiment. I'm sure it doesn't happen all the time, but a little warmth applied to the cylinder when starting at extreme low temps might be a good idea. I've run my bike at those temps without any problems (for the bike that is, not for my old body....). Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legionnair Posted January 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Well I am glad to here I am not the only one. I do let the bike warm up completely everytime. 0.0015 to 0.002" is very tight most of the diesels I rebuild run from the tightest 0.003" right out to 0.006". When I mic a cummins M11 crank we wash it first in a hot water cleaner and then I have to let it cool down over night cause it will grow 0.004" when it is hot. Anyways thanks for the reply Dustin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsp Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 had my rev 4 do it, i used kettle water around the water pump and that did the trick. i drained out some of the water in the rad and added more coolant and its been fine ever since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham2 Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 ... When I mic a cummins M11 crank we wash it first in a hot water cleaner and then I have to let it cool down over night cause it will grow 0.004" when it is hot.... 4 Thou? What's it from? a ship? I knew of a 315 years ago that lived in a small shed and regularly cold locked...never harmed the bike at all,ran very well in fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legionnair Posted January 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 4 Thou? What's it from? a ship? I knew of a 315 years ago that lived in a small shed and regularly cold locked...never harmed the bike at all,ran very well in fact. 11L bus engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatabeta Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 I keep my bike wrapped up in an old duvet. Been laughed at before for this but having read this thread it appears its a relatively good and simple idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebarr Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 just curious if any one has had a cold lock up. Loaded the bike outside temp wasabout -3C drove about 20 min and unloaded the bike. Went to kick the bike over and it was frozen like a seized motor. Removed the spark plug thinking it might be full of coolant but nothing. My riding partner then mentioned he had a propane torch after I mentioned it might be a cold lock up. After slowly heating the cylinder on all sides I started rocking the bike and slowly the piston started to move and then was free up completely. Reinserted the spark plug and first kick she flashed to life, let it idle until fan kick on and rode it all day with no problems. I thought I would just share my story Dustin Hi there. When you let it idle until the fan came on, was the choke on or off? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legionnair Posted January 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 Hi there. When you let it idle until the fan came on, was the choke on or off? Thanks The choke is on for about 5 to 10 secs max then I shut it off turn the idle up about 1/3 a turn and leave it until the fan spins Dustin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebarr Posted January 8, 2011 Report Share Posted January 8, 2011 The choke is on for about 5 to 10 secs max then I shut it off turn the idle up about 1/3 a turn and leave it until the fan spins Dustin Thanks very much. Just been having a bit of trouble warming my bike up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.