1986 Aspencade Goldwing

[Jamtndll]

I have a friend who has one of these and it only clicks when he tries to start.  He has put a new battery on it, tried to jump it straight from the starter and still only gets a click.  He has tried to push start it.  He lives on a hill.  When he gets on it, puts it in gear, and lets out on the clutch the back tire locks up and will not turn.  Is this due to the shaft drive?  What is the easiest way to check to make sure the engine is not locked up?  Need help ASAP.

[TLRam1]

What gear is he in when he dumps the clutch? Probably has to be in at least 2nd if not 3rd, stand up than bounce on the seat as he dumps the clutch at a good pace down a hill. 

Is there a reason to think the motor is locked up?

Has he owned the bike long and been sitting? If sitting, inside or out? How long?

[Jamtndll]

he has owned the bike about 4 months, he was riding it and then one day it would not start.  Just clicks
He has tried both 2nd and 3rd gear when push starting it.  In both instances the back wheel did not turn at all.  As soon as he let the clutch out the wheel locked up and stopped the bike.  That is why we thought maybe it was locked up.  He keeps it inside.

[TLRam1]

Has he taken the spark plugs out to see if the motor will turn over?

[Curtis_Valk]

I'm with Terry again on this.  Pull the plugs and see if it will turn over.  It could be that a carb float stuck and filled a cylinder with fuel.  Liquid being non-compressable, that will lock up a motor if the cylinder it leaked into was on the compression stroke.

Curtis

[Jamtndll]

i suggested that to him tonight.  I think he was going home to pull them.  I have not heard back from him

[MagnaDaddy]

I have read that the starters on the GL1200's are notorious for dying at the most inconvenient time....  Also that the replacing starter is an adventure in Motorcycle maintenance 

But I agree with the guys here to check for a flooded cylinder!

[connor]

Recently had this problem on my 3rd gen 94 Magna.

Yes the needle valves in two carbs had indeed jammed open.  Petrol found its way into two cylinders which resulted in symptoms similar to a seized engine...ie  A resounding clunk when pressing the starter button.

A tell tale sign could be petrol in an exhaust pipe...have a sniff at each tailpipe and see if you detect the smell of neat petrol, if so suspect the needle valves or possibly a punctured plastic float.

[texas-ss-tornado]

If he's already tried to push start it numerous times with a hydro-locked engine, he's probably going to be an unhappy camper once he get's the gas out of the cylinders.  Sure fire way to bend a connecting rod and ruin a motor.