Tecate Engine Locked up!

[Frankencelery]

We finally had some warm weather yesterday, so I dragged all the trikes out and got them washed and we rode them all. Saved the green one for last. Kicked it once and the kick starter stopped 3/4 of the way down. It won't turn at all. I've heard of engines seizing, but not when it's not running. Is there anything common that might freeze up on this engine that anyone knows about? It's an '85.

[jb2wheels]

Flywheel magnets jammed in the stator coils?

[3 Wheel Drive]

Try pouring a little Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinder, let it soak for a while. Then try it again, it's supposed to be good for getting rings and cylinders unstuck. Google it, lots of uses for it!

[nd4speed]

Rats nest in the cylinder?

Did you put it in gear and turn the rear tires to see if the trans would spin the crank? If it does then it is something jammed on the clutch or flywheel side.

[MIK6]

Flywheel magnet.. been there, done that!!
Thats the 1st place I'd look. Good luck!

[Frankencelery]

No, it doesn't move at all when you push it in gear. I don't think the cylinder is seized. I'm no expert, but I always think of that as being something caused by either sitting for years without moving, or running too hot, or with no oil. It ran well a month or two ago, and when I kicked it Sunday, it did move a bit before locking up. Anyway, I like the flywheel magnet theory. Well, I don't LIKE it at all, but it's something to go on! I might have to wait until the weekend before I can get it apart to look at it.

[nd4speed]

Yeah I got to crunch a magnet one day...gotta love the TEcate...Mik is probably right.

[90nut]

Iwould also look into the flywheel area, i had the key shear off and got wedged in there. i was convinced the crank was locked up but come to find out i just needed a new key!

[Yamaha_Rules69]

100% SURE flywheel magnets, as mentioned above.

[Frankencelery]

Finally got it apart today. What a mess!

190753190754

Interestingly, the flywheel already has internal magnets, so it wasn't those that fell apart. It looks like the bolts for one of the coils came loose. Do you guys think I can re-use the flywheel?

I found this stator assembly on Ebay, is this a good choice? I know Ricky stators have a good reputation....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kawasaki-KXT250-Tecate-3-80W-Ricky-Stator-Assembly-/331166843181?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d1b15012d&vxp=mtr

[jeswinehart]

I am 100% confident your Ricky Stator flywheel is fine. What a MESS ! Yes, your choice of replacement electricals is a good choice too.

john

[El Camexican]

So it sort of was a rat's nest:lol:

[Frankencelery]

I am 100% confident your Ricky Stator flywheel is fine. What a MESS ! Yes, your choice of replacement electricals is a good choice too.

john

I thought that had to be a Ricky Stator flywheel. It has the same symbol on the front as the one I saw for sale on Ebay. Very cool. I just ordered the stator assembly too.

By the way, what are the slotted mounting holes for?

[jeswinehart]

Slotted mounting holes ~ hmmm on the stator (?) ,,,, those be for timing adjustment

[nd4speed]

Yeah I would say the flywheel would be fine too.

Sure does look like there is a lot of oil and black stuff??? carbon?? going on in side that flywheel cover. What's up with that?

And the slots are to line up to the 3 marks on the stator plate to the triangle that is cast into the case half.

[Frankencelery]

Slotted mounting holes ~ hmmm on the stator (?) ,,,, those be for timing adjustment

Yeah, I figured it must be something like that, but it's under the flywheel...how would you adjust it? I admit I'm rather clueless on this machine. Now that I think of it, the only machines I'd adjusted timing on are the old points-type like my CT70.

[Frankencelery]

Yeah I would say the flywheel would be fine too.

Sure does look like there is a lot of oil and black stuff??? carbon?? going on in side that flywheel cover. What's up with that?

And the slots are to line up to the 3 marks on the stator plate to the triangle that is cast into the case half.

Oh, I hadn't seen your response. So there's a timing mark or marks? Thanks for the info on that.

Yeah, there was a lot of carbon. Maybe the wiring was shorting out and arcing in there...? It wasn't oily though.

[nd4speed]

Carbon and oil could be from leaking crank seal allowing exhaust and oil to blow in there instead of out the pipe. Or maybe there was a fire in there??? lol, idk. Usually I just find it dry dusty or rusty under a flywheel cover.

Um yeah there are 3 timing marks, and rotating the stator plate counter clockwise retards the timing.

[Frankencelery]

Ok, I got the Ricky Stator, but I'm still wondering about this flywheel. What's with the glue on the inside? Is that supposed to be there, or did something melt?

191453

[nd4speed]

WEll the last T3 i got had a flywheel in it that looked just like that except that glue or what ever is inside yours. Mine was all clean on the inside just metal to metal surfaces.

I suppose it could be an overflow / excess epoxy they used to glue magnets in place.

[Frankencelery]

It's the "except that glue" part I'm concerned about. The main "bead" seems to be out of the way, but there's a large blob at the top of the picture that looks sure to interfere with the stator coils. I don't want to spend another $125 without cause, but I don't want crap coming loose and ruining my new stator either.

[MIK6]

Call ricky stator.. tell them what you see..
explain to them politely that you will post picts of their product and what happened.. see if they will make it rite..

[Frankencelery]

Good idea, MIK6, I did exactly that. Talked to the guy and he was really nice. He asked me to email him a picture, so I did that on Wednesday. I haven't heard back yet.

[MIK6]

Good idea, MIK6, I did exactly that. Talked to the guy and he was really nice. He asked me to email him a picture, so I did that on Wednesday. I haven't heard back yet.
Man.. I had a magnet let go on a RS flywheel a few years back, 1 call and I got a new one at a discounted price. The flywheel was a few years old but only had a few hours on it, they made it rite for me.. call them back.. lol

[Frankencelery]

I would certainly appreciate it if he'd get back to me, but I don't really expect them to warranty it. It looks to me like the stator plate came loose and that's what caused all the damage in the first place. As far as the "glue" inside the flywheel, I had another friend who's been a mechanic for years (not on motorcycles or ATVs) look at it, and he thinks it's foreign material as well. Maybe melted plastic from when the coil came loose and got really hot scraping around inside.

[Frankencelery]

Ok, Ricky Stator got back to me. Here was the response:

"Looks like it got so hot it started melting the glue inside. My guess is it will still work ok"

I think I'll clean out the glue, put it back together, and ride it. What could go wrong? :lol:

[just ben]

That's what I would do.

[Frankencelery]

As of tonight, she's back up and running! Bonus...it idles now with the stator plate actually bolted in tightly!

Couldn't really go anywhere in the dark, so now it's time to get some lights and put that 80w stator to use!