Damn it!

[Marc]

Well, my bike is out of commission. I was riding it home from the DMV after getting my motorcycle endorsement (seriously,) and it started to die as I came to stops. To counter, this I started giving it a little gas to keep the idle up.

Well, I got a little further and then my bike started making this ridiculous horrid squeaking/grinding sound as I was riding (it's very hard to describe) and the bike turned off.

I pulled in the clutch and coasted off the road and stopped. I looked in my oil tank and saw that it was low so I got a ride home, got some oil, and came back and added some. The bike started up and I rode it around the parking lot where I was. All seemed to be going well until the squeaking/grinding sound came back and then the bike violently shut off.

As I restarted it, it died again, i started it again, gave it some gas to try to keep it running, and it violently shut off again. Then the starter wouldn't even work. I would press the starter button and it would make one little sound and that's it.

So, with that said the bike is sitting in a parking lot and now that it's finally legal for me to ride it, I can't. Ideas?

[choylifutsoccer]

Maybe you should record a video and upload it on Youtube for us to see the problem and hear the sound? I hear squeaks sometimes when I downshift..but that has nothing to do with your problem probably...

[zong2005]

i have squeeking whem im riding sometimes but it sounds like birds chirping(high pitch). and lately mine shuts off at the first stop i have, i have to pull the choke and restart but after that it keeps going after all the stops.

[Myth]

Marc, these are all just shots in the dark.  Things that I would use to attempt to find the problem.
How many miles do you have on it?  Have you changed the oil yet?  If so, did you clean all the metal shavings off the filter?  Is you chain tight enough or too tight?  Mine was making some pretty ridiculous noises when my chain was too loose and the ride was very jerky.  If you have reached your first maintenance point, did you adjust the valves?  When I'm warming my bike I get some strange clatter sometimes... and I think it's from the way I adjusted my valves.  What kind of oil are you running in it.  I would recommend a fully synthetic cause it withstands heat better and since the Zong is air cooled, it gets pretty hot and having synthetic well help prevent burning the oil.  Are you over heating the bike, air cooled bikes don't like to sit and idle for a long time.  
Like I said before, a few shots in the dark.  I'll talk to some people I know and as you post more info on the crisis, I'll give them more info and we'll see where we end up.

[xanthmo]

Sounds mechanical, like a broken or loose gear.  Do you think you ran it out of oil, was there any burning or heat?  Could you hear which part of the engine or transmission the noise was coming from?

If you drain the oil, are you getting metal pieces mixed in?

There are a few engine covers that are pretty easy to access, and remove.  I would start with the 2 on the right side, check for broken gears or shafts.

Maybe the starter motor went out?  I am not sure how to check it, or even where it is, but I had that happen on a lawn mower once in a similar manner.  

With the bike in gear, can you push it forward?  Or start it by pushing it with the clutch pulled in and dumping the cluch.

[Marc]

Marc, these are all just shots in the dark.  Things that I would use to attempt to find the problem.
How many miles do you have on it?  Have you changed the oil yet?  If so, did you clean all the metal shavings off the filter?  Is you chain tight enough or too tight?  Mine was making some pretty ridiculous noises when my chain was too loose and the ride was very jerky.  If you have reached your first maintenance point, did you adjust the valves?  When I'm warming my bike I get some strange clatter sometimes... and I think it's from the way I adjusted my valves.  What kind of oil are you running in it.  I would recommend a fully synthetic cause it withstands heat better and since the Zong is air cooled, it gets pretty hot and having synthetic well help prevent burning the oil.  Are you over heating the bike, air cooled bikes don't like to sit and idle for a long time.  
Like I said before, a few shots in the dark.  I'll talk to some people I know and as you post more info on the crisis, I'll give them more info and we'll see where we end up.

950 miles. Yes I've changed the oil before and just did so again now. I cleaned the metal shavings. My chain appears to be of adequate tightness. I guess I don't really know what adjusting the valves means, so probably not.

Sounds mechanical, like a broken or loose gear.  Do you think you ran it out of oil, was there any burning or heat?  Could you hear which part of the engine or transmission the noise was coming from?

If you drain the oil, are you getting metal pieces mixed in?

There are a few engine covers that are pretty easy to access, and remove.  I would start with the 2 on the right side, check for broken gears or shafts.

Maybe the starter motor went out?  I am not sure how to check it, or even where it is, but I had that happen on a lawn mower once in a similar manner.  

With the bike in gear, can you push it forward?  Or start it by pushing it with the clutch pulled in and dumping the cluch.

It might have ran out of oil. If it didn't run out it was at least very low. It's hard to say where the sound was coming from. I drained the oil and didn't see any metal, but then again I didn't dig around in it. How do I check for broken gears or shafts? And I think the starter is back to working again. When the bike is in gear, I can not push it forward, which brings me to my next point; even with the clutch pulled in i can still barely move the bike.

So here's my current situation:

I got the bike home via a friend's truck and began to dig in. I drained the oil, added new oil, replaced the spark plug (which looked pretty bad. It was pretty black) and removed the air filter and cleaned it. After doing all this I tried to start it again to no luck. It's turning over but not starting.

When the bike is in neutral, i can push it just fine, when it's in first gear I can not push it at all. With the bike in first gear and the clutch pulled in, i can just barrrrrely move it. It's like the clutch is only partially engaged or something. I tried adjusting the clutch cable, but nothing I did had any effect on the 'partially engaged' feeling.

I'm at a loss as to what to do next. I'm hardly a mechanic but I'm willing to give anything a shot.

[choylifutsoccer]

There are three clutch adjustments. The first two are pretty obvious, the cable adjustment near the engine and the fine adjustment near the left handlebar. For the third one, you have to unbolt the clutch cover (cover with the words Zongshen) and access the friction plates and all that good stuff. The adjustment screw is in the center, but I don't recommend messing with it unless you know for sure that is the problem.

[Myth]

Well if it won't start in Neutral then I wouldn't think the clutch adjustment would be the only problem, not saying it's not a problem though.  You should be able to push the bike with you clutch in the same as you would in Neutral.  But I'm sure you know that...  As far as adjusting the valves, it tell you a little about doing it in your manuals.  If you don't have a set of feeler gauges or access to a set, you can't do this on your own.  Now if you did run it out of oil, that would be a bad thing.  I'm not quite sure what all the repurcutions of this are... but I bet X knows.

[Myth]

What's up Sanction!  
I've got 2700+ miles on mine.  I, like you am new to riding.  This is my first bike and like X, I've had no real problems with mine.  I actually really like mine.  I've changed the oil, adjusted the valves, changed the spark plug...  most of the 500 miles maintenance.  In my opinion it's a great starter bike cause when you first start off, you might screw up and drop the bike or lay it down.  If the bike doesn't cost much, you're not out much.  After a while you will more than likely want a bigger bike, I do.  But after I get down with this bike I'm giving it to my wife so she can have one too.  Gas milage is about 55-60mpg and top speed is about 75-85mph.  You should get an operators manual and a maintenance manual with it and it's good to have them both.  I'm paying $2400 for mine when I get it paid off.  Paying more cause I'm financed.  Like X said, read what we've got here and see if you can live with everything we've got going on.  Some people have no problems and some people have hell...  But you'll also learn to wrench on your own bike, which will be good knowledge to have.

Welcome to the forum and safe riding on whatever bike you choose.

[Marc]

What if the engine seized up? I don't really know what that means, but I know it's not good. The bike is under warranty, so if I can somehow find out what parts I should order, I will do that.

[ILL CLICK ENT]

If the engine is turning over then its not seized. U should check for spark at the plug. Check that out and let us know.

[Marc]

I am getting a spark.

[ILL CLICK ENT]

Not 2 b a smart ass but i got to ask. Is the fuel valve turned in the correct position? Are u getting fuel to the carb? Try getting a can of starting fluid and remove the carb and spray it in intake while trying to start. I say again if you can turn engine it not locked so were at electrical or fuel. Then if it starts u can try to pin point the sound.

[drummerben]

Yeah-- It doesn't sound like a seized engine if it will turn over. You just have to narrow down the problem. Start with the easy stuff.
You have spark so now determine if it is sufficient spark (this is my problem). It needs to be a distinct blue spark. Also be sure you are getting fuel to the plug. If the plug is wet and fuel-smelling then you are probably getting fuel. If not, then you have to narrow the problem down to either a plugged carb or crimpped fuel line or plugged fuel filter, etc. The other factor is proper air/fuel mixture. Check air filter for trash or oil saturation (could be considering your problem). Next check compression. You can try an "on the field" test by putting your thumb on the plug hole (plug out, of course). Crank the engine...if your thumb shoots out with considerable force (considerable is relative here if you don't know the proper compression). You have to get a gauge or a mechanic otherwise.These factors have to be present for the bike to run/start. Narrow that down and you can go from there.

BTW...if you find that your spark is insufficient, then electrical is a whole other ballgame.

[ILL CLICK ENT]

Yeah-- It doesn't sound like a seized engine if it will turn over. You just have to narrow down the problem. Start with the easy stuff.
You have spark so now determine if it is sufficient spark (this is my problem). It needs to be a distinct blue spark. Also be sure you are getting fuel to the plug. If the plug is wet and fuel-smelling then you are probably getting fuel. If not, then you have to narrow the problem down to either a plugged carb or crimpped fuel line or plugged fuel filter, etc. The other factor is proper air/fuel mixture. Check air filter for trash or oil saturation (could be considering your problem). Next check compression. You can try an "on the field" test by putting your thumb on the plug hole (plug out, of course). Crank the engine...if your thumb shoots out with considerable force (considerable is relative here if you don't know the proper compression). You have to get a gauge or a mechanic otherwise.These factors have to be present for the bike to run/start. Narrow that down and you can go from there.

BTW...if you find that your spark is insufficient, then electrical is a whole other ballgame.

Yeah..., what he said... Good info Drum.