DRZ motor just died!!! I think

Started by VinnyL28, Apr 04 2006 08:56 PM
24 replies to this topic

  • VinnyL28

Posted 04 April 2006 - 08:56 PM

#1


Maybe someone might have an idea. I have a 2002 DRZ400S with motard tires, This morning I was cruising to work on the freeway when all of a sudden the engine felt like it wanted to cut out. It didnt die and I barly made it to work it kept popping out of the exhaust. Almost sounded like there was water in the gas. well I drained the tank and the float blowl. refilled and rechecked: samething. So I got it home. went to crank it and it sounded like there was no compression. Then all of a sudden it had compression and made a god awfull noise. Now I cant get the dam thing to start. I checked my valve clearence checked the valve timing they are spot on. As it was cranking it was popping out the exhaust but would not fire. Anyone have idea ideas on where I should go? before i pull the head off??
thanks

Visit the ThumperTalk Store for the lowest prices on motorcycle / ATV parts and accessories - Guaranteed

  • GarryOwen

Posted 04 April 2006 - 09:02 PM

#2

Are you getting a good spark?

  • Eddie Sisneros

Posted 05 April 2006 - 04:35 AM

#3

what cam chain tensioner?

  • obrianmcc

Posted 05 April 2006 - 05:13 AM

#4

Eddie Sisneros said:

what cam chain tensioner?
Looks like he has the MCCT installed? Could he have a restriction causing his jetting to lean out?

  • Eddie Sisneros

Posted 05 April 2006 - 06:08 AM

#5

primary nut.

bikes that are lean enough to hurt them selves run so bad its obvious.its not a 2 stroke.

  • digitaldan

Posted 05 April 2006 - 06:19 AM

#6

He did say the clearances were fine, if it was the primary nut should there not be noticable problems up at the top end ? Hope you get it sorted, not a good feeling when your DRZ is sick :confused:

PS how about broken valve spring, thrashed valve, how about if there were enough oil in the motor ?

  • VinnyL28

Posted 05 April 2006 - 08:41 AM

#7

Eddie Sisneros said:

what cam chain tensioner?
Yes I have the MCCT, I also locktight the primary nut. I cant get the dam thing to start again!I really dont want to pull the head off. Do these motors have a promblem with valve springs?

  • eric121

Posted 05 April 2006 - 08:50 AM

#8

i had the same exact problem but not with my drz it was with my quad so when i took it in they told me it was the stator....dont know if this was any help

  • digitaldan

Posted 05 April 2006 - 09:56 AM

#9

Stator bolts came undone ? Worth checking by removing the left hand side case :excuseme:

  • VinnyL28

Posted 05 April 2006 - 10:07 AM

#10

eric121 said:

i had the same exact problem but not with my drz it was with my quad so when i took it in they told me it was the stator....dont know if this was any help
That makes sense. how can i tell if the stator is bad?

  • digitaldan

Posted 05 April 2006 - 10:13 AM

#11

Check for spark, short the spark plug against the cylinder. You could also measure stator wires I guess although I'm not sure where this is done ? Do you have a manual ?

  • MoTo_IsLo

Posted 05 April 2006 - 10:18 AM

#12

This is a guess, but, if the stator was bad, the battery wouldn't charge properly and would be low. :excuseme: Throw a new plug in it and see what happens.

  • digitaldan

Posted 05 April 2006 - 10:20 AM

#13

Hmm maybe the stator went, drained the battery and now it can't start. When you say won't start is it doing nothing or turning over ?

  • VinnyL28

Posted 05 April 2006 - 10:47 AM

#14

digitaldan said:

Hmm maybe the stator went, drained the battery and now it can't start. When you say won't start is it doing nothing or turning over ?
It turns over, I have to put gas in the carb, and try to restart it. I have the valve cover off rechecking everything. What I dont get is why the starter was freewheeling then it caught and you could hear compression. Then when it started i heard that nasty noise. That may or not be related to the way then engine was running that morning. I just want to avoid pulling the head off if possible

  • digitaldan

Posted 05 April 2006 - 10:58 AM

#15

Maybe the starter was not retracting and that caused the noise, broken bendix (sp) ? Before pulling the head get hold of an compression tester, it will be the easiest way of checking to see if the top end is ok. They are avaliable at most autoparts stores, get the right adapter to fit into your plug hole.

PS - have you checked for spark ?

  • VinnyL28

Posted 05 April 2006 - 11:06 AM

#16

digitaldan said:

Maybe the starter was not retracting and that caused the noise, broken bendix (sp) ? Before pulling the head get hold of an compression tester, it will be the easiest way of checking to see if the top end is ok. They are avaliable at most autoparts stores, get the right adapter to fit into your plug hole.

PS - have you checked for spark ?
No not since i have pulled the valve cover off. Why all of a sudden would it loose spark? Like i said when it was acting up it was running like crap but still got me another 3 miles to work

  • Eddie Sisneros

Posted 05 April 2006 - 11:42 AM

#17

when the starter clutch bolts back out they take out the stator.

  • twistgripper

Posted 06 April 2006 - 04:42 PM

#18

I had my bike do something similar, it started cutting out, came back then died altogether...Then when you tried to crank it, it would kind of fire once, but then wouldn't start...it appeared to have spark and my shop was thrown until.....they physically checked the stator. It was totally wrecked. It would test OK with a meter, but in fact, the bolts had come loose and the thing was wrecked :eek:
:cry:
Hope yours isn't too...Dealer price for the stator was high ( of course) and I later found out a cheaper place for them...can't remember now. Maybe Burned knows :confused:

  • obrianmcc

Posted 06 April 2006 - 06:26 PM

#19

Yes...I was also thinking that it sounds like the dreaded starter gear bolt backing off issue I am hearing more and more about. Sounds like the damn starter gear bolts are as big of an issue as the primary nut, which both are on my to do list!!!!

  • PBR_StreetGang

Posted 06 April 2006 - 07:06 PM

#20

Had the exact same thing happen with a Husaberg; stator bolts vibrated loose and the stator was beat to pieces. It was an ex-Tulsa ISDE bike but had never been officially "sold" till I bought it, so it was all under warranty! :worthy: It had the exact same symptoms as described in the first post.

twistgripper said:

I had my bike do something similar, it started cutting out, came back then died altogether...Then when you tried to crank it, it would kind of fire once, but then wouldn't start...it appeared to have spark and my shop was thrown until.....they physically checked the stator. It was totally wrecked. It would test OK with a meter, but in fact, the bolts had come loose and the thing was wrecked :eek:
:cry:
Hope yours isn't too...Dealer price for the stator was high ( of course) and I later found out a cheaper place for them...can't remember now. Maybe Burned knows :confused:



  1. ThumperTalk
  2. Dirt Bike
  3. Make / Model Specific
  4. Suzuki
  5. DR-Z 400
If you enjoyed reading about "" here in the ThumperTalk archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join ThumperTalk today!