[oldsomeman]

Cant find my old post so i will try again
Last year i had a falling out with my bike, but on the way home the bike suddenly stopped.Oil seemed to come out from underneath into a pool and the stater motor wouldn't turn or move.even though all the other lights and instrument panel where working.
The tow truck guy said basically is buggered when he saw the oil.and eventually towed the bike home some 200 miles.
I have not had time or inclination to fix the bike, but now i either want to repair or scrap it!
So the battery is charged and when turned on all lights up....but when you press the starter motor nothing happens. The lights dim and there is not even a noise as the fuel primes itself.I assume there is a short somewhere but which do i check first solenoid or starter....and how do i check these?
I assumed the solenoid or starter motor is faulty or shot but question is where the **** are they. My online manual got lost somewhere and the handbook does not show where these things are.I can trace if if i take all the plastic off.but i don't want to take off more than I need to
Im still wondering if its easier to just get shot of the bike,,,,but its only done 31000 miles since 2002! Or is that enough for these engines?
i would appreciate our ideas and opinions about the best tactic to sort this out.
I have to do all the work in the front garden as i do not have the luxury of a garage or cover...and whilst i don't mind making the effort I am finding getting up and down harder off the floor
Be kind to me.i might have fixed motor bikes in the pas but age it taking a toil

 

[InfernoST]

I suspect something in the engine broke causing your oil leak also binding up the motor making you unable to start the bike. I would take off the cvt cover and try turning the motor over manually using a socket & ratchet, I suspect you won't be able to rotate the motor manually either. If you are unable to rotate the motor manually I would then remove the cylinder head and see what's going on inside the bore.

 

[oldsomeman]

cheers....ill try that but i suspect that if its a wipe out then its not worth repairing....These models did suffer from the dreaded oil loss..and it possible the time of being slung off the bike meant some oil wasn't getting to the bearings as the engine had kept going till someone switched it off.......I was busy lying on the floor waiting for an ambulance! lol
If the engine is kaput then ill reconsider.I was hoping it might be something like the starter motor!

 

[NormanB]

The early 400 units suffered a lot of reported engine failures of this kind (Bill Meek of this forum being but one). Not sure how statistically significant that failure rate is but it is has no relevance to you as it is now shagged.

Depending on the extent of the damage it is emminently fixable but probably not economic to put into a shop.

It is a simple single cylinder engine, get it up on the bench - or direct a helper to strip it out and get it on the benchfor you. A methodical strip, examine, clean, order new parts (wait a long time) and then reassemble.Simples.

Fowlers of Bristol are a good outfit in the UK if you have an extensive spares order to fulfil.

 

[oldsomeman]

That's very kind of you Norman .oh you wasn't offering?
yes i know they suffered but til i take the cvt thingy off then i wont be able to try the engine
Is it cheaper to buy a 2nd hand engine for say £250 or to strip and rebuild.
I do not mind stripping it but long time since i rebuilt an engine and I haven't the special tools( assuming at worst it the big ends gone.
I was thinking f0r the year its worth about £1000, As it then have the buy in parts or replace is is it worth the effort as I am fixing it outside of a terraced house with No bench available and no cover!
Tomorrow il take off the ctv cover( new one 0n me) and try turning the engine if it moves at least i have hope its not the big end gone!

 

[NormanB]

If I was not so busy - I would offer to help.
I doubt you will find a second hand engine - but no harm in trying.
You might be better off parting out.
It is a good winter project though.

 

[oldsomeman]

trouble is i want to ride it now while the good weather here.im getting so desperate to ride im even considering restoring th eold Honda 90 which has sat rusting in the back garden..at least the engine was working when it was stopped being used some 8 years ago..just have to tackle the rust lol

 

[NormanB]

I am pretty sure the old Honda 90 would not only run - it would take you round the world.

 

[Mel46]

I would say that you should look on Craig's list there but I just did and was surprised to find that there aren't any Burgmans for sale in that region. Then I tried my area here in Atlanta, Ga just to make sure the search engine was working, and I found 19 within 200 miles! So I would guess that you may have a better time rebuilding than finding a replacement.

 

[Scootereno]

Quick search on eBay pops up a few Engines available ranging from $400-1000usd. Some even had free shipping...but maybe not international???
http://www.ebay.com/sch/?_nkw=burgman 400 engine&clk_rvr_id=499127256995

 

[Mel46]

I think THAT is the key. I wonder how much he would have to pay for taxes and import fees too.