350x just died on me!!!

[ssrecords]

Riding great and it just killed...feels like it lost compression...the valves have been tapping the past couple of days...sad sad day :confused:

[250sxman]

Wow, that sucks. I just got mine shifting today after three weeks. Sorry to hear about your situation.

[dom]

Did you hear anything crack or break when it happened? Pull the plug and stick your thumb or index over the hole and have someone kick!

Make sure you put the spark plug boot on your pinky finger while you are doing it! LOL

[ssrecords]

just did that.....got nothing...no air or compression..so what does that mean??

[dom]

Do one more test. See if you can stick something long in there and turn the engine over slowly and see if the thing comes up. Use like a long screw driver, or piece of wood.

Caveat: Don't beat up your piston, or break off anything into your cylinder.

But see if the piston is going up and down.

If it is, then you more than likely busted the chain, or a valve.

[ssrecords]

the piston is moving up and down....i opened the valve covers they are moving freely...

[dom]

That is weird! Are we talking about an X, or do you have something else? Is there a decompression on it?

[ssrecords]

yeah its a 86 350x...it has a decomprssion cable on it

[dom]

Is it working correctly?

[ssrecords]

i believe it is..i set it about 4 months ago...you think i should take it off and try to turn the motor to see if i have compression

[dom]

Well.. I don't know. I am just trying to think what the heck is happening.

I would not say take it off, just look at its engagement and see if it is working correctly.

[Fitz]

The valves may be moving but they might not be closing completely.

[dom]

I suppose that is possible, but why would they not be returning to their seat!

[Fitz]

Well I would first rule out the decompression cable. If its not that it could be a few things. Blown head gasket, broken valve spring, burnt valve or piston. Bent valve could make it not seat all the way.

[dom]

Take of the cover and see if the valves are moving.. I still think it might be something simple (wishful thinking).

[ssrecords]

all the valves are moving....the valves were tapping for about a week til it died

[Fitz]

I'm not exactly sure what it means when the valves start making noise but it probably wasn't a good thing. When you kick it over does it make any noise? Rattling or knocking?

[ssrecords]

no...no wierd noises..you can here the piston moving along with the valves