No Oil - Don't start it!


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Blue-Sun

Elite Member
On the parking lot where I live, there is a young kid that just bought a used 50cc scooter about a month ago, he parks next to my FZ6R. All of the oil from his crankcase was on the ground, he was debating starting it up and riding it to the repair shop. Now this was not a small leak, I mean the crankcase was EMPTY, not a drop.

I told him if you start it, you might as well throw it away, because the engine will seize in a couple of miles.

I talked him into putting it in the back of my truck and taking it to the shop that way. I was surprised how light the thing was, we easily lifted it into the bed. When we got to the "Scooter Shop" the mechanic/owner told him he was very lucky he didn't attempt to ride it, that it could seize and throw him off... I don't know how true that statement is.

I was shocked as to how little this guy knew about his "ride"...

They do walk among us and they occasionally ride!!
 
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bmw675

New Member
reminds me of what i read on another forum a few years ago. someone tried running their truck while they were draining the oil, so that they could get all of it out. :eek:
 
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husker525

New Member
That statement at the shop was fairly accurate. If the crank seizes, everything can lock, causing the rear tire to skid. At any rate, he would come to an unexpected stop very quickly.

I had a motor lock up (not due to lack of oil though) in the air, while attempting a 90' triple jump on my quad. Let's just say the landing and the trip to the hospital and 4 month recovery was not so pleasant.
 
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Blue-Sun

Elite Member
husker525 said:
That statement at the shop was fairly accurate. If the crank seizes, everything can lock, causing the rear tire to skid. At any rate, he would come to an unexpected stop very quickly.
Click to expand...
I didn't know that... I thought being an automatic transmission style scooter it might slip on the bands or drums (if it even has those). But I guess it would make sense that it would lock up the rear wheel.

Sorry about your mishap.
 
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pyrocpu

New Member
IIRC, when I had my scooter, you could point it down a steep hill w/ the engine off, and it'd freewheel... However, that's STARTING with the engine off, not running, then suddenly lock up.

I've had an automotive engine seize up on me, at about 80mph, 6400rpm... As Newton wrote, things in motion tend to stay in motion... KAPOW!
 

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