I took out my friend's DS650 so I would have a cruiser quad to take on light rides. I changed the oil, oil filter, and battery prior to the trip making sure that the oil light did not come on and all the other precautions. I rode for 3 solid days and on the last day the red light came on and the engine seized. I tried to pull start and it is definitely badly seized. Checked the oil and coolant which were all good. Any idea why this bike would seize. It is bone stock with only about 30 hours on the engine. Coming from the 2 stroke world I am surprised that this 4 stroker seized since everyone says they are so reliable. I am planning on taking to a shop soon but wanted to run it by a few of you first. Thanks.

PJN

 

there is a filter that can clog in the bottom of the oil tank

 

Was it running hot - fan running alot ?
Did you change the filter when you changed the oil ? - did you bleed the oil system ?

 

I did change the filter when I did the oil change but I did not bleed the oil system as the instructions just said to start the engine and make sure the red light does not come on. The fan came on only when we stopped but it was about 95F out. If it was air in the system why did it go for 3 days without issue and just decide to seize after several hours of riding? Seems very tempermental imho.

 

The engine seized from lack of lubrication..... I wish I had wiser council than that, but I have heard of these big boys seizing up after being rolled or flopped. could just real extreme angles cause the oil to do that also?

question, are you sure the red light worked before?

 

The red light definitely worked a couple seconds before it seized because it was on. That is the thing with dummy lights, especially when the light can mean both over heating and lack of oil pressure.

 

I would check the oil strainer at the bottom of the oil tank and see if it is plugged up. other than that you must have had a oil pump problem. that is all I can think of. These bikes are usually VERY reliable.

 

I would first check the in-line oil screen located inside the fitting at the bottom of the oil tank. If it has never been cleaned out in the first 30hrs it is probably your cause of oil starvation. During break-in this thing gets clogged up pretty quick with a lot of little metal shavings.

If the DS only has 30hrs I assume it is a late model? Only first year DS's required you to bleed the oil circuit when changing the oil. That combined with the fact you rode for 3 days without problem indicates this is not the cause of your issue

You said it was bone stock. Has anything been changed on the exhaust, intake, or jetting that would cause it to run lean? What do the plugs look like?

 

DSengineer,

It is truly bone stock, it even has the stupid foot protectors on it still [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]. My friend bought it from Alba straight from the showroom floor. It is a 2006 Baja X. Obviously he has not riden it much.

 

Guys,
this is the second time I've seen some members refer to "oil strainer screen" in the bottom of the tank.

I have an 07' and after pulling the hose off this fitting, I cannot seem to find ANY screen. I even stuck a screw dirver in through the bottom of the fitting and was able to touch the inside in the tank. No strainer or screen was blocking the head of the screw driver. Am I looking in the wrong place for this screen?

Thanks.