White Corrosion in Exhaust Port,also Starter issue

Hey everyone,

I recently picked up a 1981 KZ550 LTD, and have done some work to it, and got it running great. Well, it was missing a few pieces, so I was able to track down a second 1981 KZ550 LTD, that I was planning on using for parts only(It even had a Vance and Hines 4-1 on it!)

Anyway, I figured, the 2nd bike is pretty complete and it has a clean title, it just needs a lot of love. So I might as well try to get it running too, and if I can, maybe make it my winter project, and tear it all the way down.

So, before I took anything off of it, I hooked up my battery from my running bike, and wanted to see if it would fire. Well, after pushing the starter button, I only hear one click, like the starter is seized or something, and also the positive side battery cable got super hot. So perhaps a bad ground? Just looking for ideas on where to start.

After that, I went to pull the V&H exhaust off, to put on my good bike(since the previous owner had chopped off the stock mufflers), and this is what I found. Again this is on my "parts" bike, that I hope to get running also. This huge amount of white corrosion around the exhaust port, and even down on the valves it looks like, on all 4 cylinders. Do you think the motor is shot?




Just looking for a few ideas on where to start with the starter issue, and if I should even waste my time on this motor. Thanks everyone!

-Brenton

Lots of water got in there. Pull the head and see what you got.
Steve

Agree, looks like water in the engine. You may want to try turning the engine over with a wrench on the RH end of the crank (rotate clockwise as viewing from the RH side)

BTW, most likely the starter is fine but the engine is seized.