Seeking experienced mechanic

[Cynic]

I bought my 2k STD back in February, and have ridden when weather is good. The other day, after having been gone for a month on vacation, I tried to start it, only to have it not turning over. Back a few months ago, I had to rebuilt the petcock. Seems like a similar problem now, but I smell gas (almost like its flooded).

Not being a wrench-turner myself, and having moved from Kansas City to Springfield MO, I don't have my old-buddy support system nearby, I'm looking for a reputable mechanic that knows what he's doing on a valk. I'd like to get whatever is wrong fixed, as well as get a once over on the whole bike this winter.

Any suggestions in the Springfield MO area? I'd prefer to avoid the stealership, as their prices are obnoxious, but will go there if all else fails.

Thanks,
Daryl

[cokebottle10]

Sounds like a hydro-lock. If you do a search for it you can get a better understanding, but hydro-lock is when one or more of the cylinders is full of gas. The gas will not compress in the cylinder and so the motor will not turn over. You will need to remove all the plugs and turn it over outside. If this is the problem then gas will shoot out of the cylinder. This means that you really have two problems. One, the petcock is leaking and two, the carb float valve is also leaking.

If you keep hitting the starter while it is hydro-locked then you will break the starter gear.

Thanks, David in Fletcher NC.

[WintrSol]

Can't help with a local, and you're 3 hours from me.

But, it won't turn over, and you smell gas? Do not try to crank it again, as it could be hydrolock, and you can do some serious damage. When you find someone, tell him to first take out the spark plugs, then see if it will crank. With luck, you didn't break anything, and a carb cleaning will get you going again.

[old2soon]

I'm 80 miles east of you BUT I work on mine. The best guy fairly close-Tulsa Ok-has an ad here and goes by atticrat. But I will tell you up front-generally he is busy. His phone# is in his ad. Or P M da prez-my Brother-who B T W is a cracker jack M/C wrench and swap Phone # he might be able to talk you thru some stuff iffin yer so inclined. I'd be willin to help but all my tools are here. And just gittin back to ridin after I unloaded last August. RIDE SAFE.

[Hooter]

Pull the plugs and see if there is gas in the cylinders?  I used a small wood dowel to ck a buddies bike for fuel in the cylinders b4 I even turned it over. His was a completely defunct battery not hydro lock.  He had lights to but no go. Was the gas turned off when you went away for a month? Do you have power? Did the motor not turn at all? Did it try and go "clunk:?

[John Schmidt]

Distinguish between "not turn over" as opposed to "not starting."  Not turning over means the starter literally can't/won't rotate(turn over) the engine....whether it starts or not. If in fact it does rotate(turn over) the motor but won't start, that's an all together different set of possibilities.

If the motor does roll over by the starter but won't start, it may well be a petcock, i.e.; fuel issue. Drain the bowls and see if you have gas in the carbs. The drain screws are at the bottom and at the side of each carb. If you have fuel, then look at ignition.

If the starter can't/won't rotate the motor at all, I'd first check to see if the battery has gone bad or is simple too dead. If that's in good order, pull all the plugs and then try turning the engine over....assuming the battery is up to it. If you get gas shoot out of one or more plug holes, you have either or both a petcock or carb float problem. In any case, don't touch the start button until you pull all the plugs.