Buddy of mine has this bike.
The bike will turnover but it won't fire up.
We checked the spark plugs...and they're fine.
We think it may be a starter issue b/c his bike has electrical problems.
Any other ideas that aren't too difficult to try? (we're resolved to take it to the dealer so that they can bring it back to life).
To my knowledge, he took out the carbs, and he put on a new Vance and Hines Exhaust. He did not rejet the carbs though.
So you checked the plugs and saw a nice blue spark when turned over and why did he remove the carbs did he clean them??
Fuel and Fire is really all it takes. If it ran before he did this and now it doesn't it sounds like something didn't get hooked back up quite right.
Quote from: roboto65 on May 06, 2009, 07:25:29 PM
So you checked the plugs and saw a nice blue spark when turned over and why did he remove the carbs did he clean them??
Will let you know once I get in touch with him.
To my knowledge,
The bike RAN before he installed the exhaust, and then it wouldn't run after he put on the Vance and Hines Exhaust system.
Sounds like common sense (maybe didn't put something on right?) but he thinks he put everything on correctly etc...
Well i will say that we have all had those I "think" I put everything back only to you guessed it LOL Oh I am the worse :lol: :lol: sounds like he did not get something back on right
Quote from: roboto65 on May 06, 2009, 08:47:52 PM
Well i will say that we have all had those I "think" I put everything back only to you guessed it LOL Oh I am the worse :lol: :lol: sounds like he did not get something back on right
The bike was not in good condition when he bought it. It had this weird "looping" sound when he rode it. The bike would literally move back and forth a little while riding. That was scary.
Not sure if i would blame the engine for that could be chain slack or the rubber dampers gone bad in the rear drive where the sprocket attaches. Keep us updated to what happens with the spark if you have that then it would be fuel next !!!
Hey Dan did you guys get it running !!!
I was going to say, is the fuel petcock switched off? If it's turning over it has to be an issue over fuel--or lack thereof.
I've been red-faced by that more than a couple of times... :lol:
If you pull a plug out right after trying to start it, is it wet? If so then it is getting fuel. Maybe too much. Dry, no fuel.
After that
If the spark is there good and strong and the plug comes out wet, I would think timing.
If there was just no way he messed with the timing then you need to refer to:
QuoteFuel and Fire is really all it takes. If it ran before he did this and now it doesn't it sounds like something didn't get hooked back up quite right.
Quote from: roboto65 on May 08, 2009, 10:50:18 PM
Hey Dan did you guys get it running !!!
Sorry. Roboto65. I'm still waiting for another good day to wrench with his bike. Give me 2 more weeks if you please. I have a huge final exam in my grad course next Tuesday. As much as I like wrenching, I'll be kicking myself if I spend too much time with his POS bike lol.
Quote from: Damn Yankee on May 09, 2009, 01:34:10 AM
I was going to say, is the fuel petcock switched off? If it's turning over it has to be an issue over fuel--or lack thereof.
I've been red-faced by that more than a couple of times... :lol:
Nope.
Best times in my life when I rode away with the gas off.
"OH sh$t...i'm losing power....what the? ....oh wait, turn gas on!...VROOOM"
Quote from: roboto65 on May 06, 2009, 07:25:29 PM
So you checked the plugs and saw a nice blue spark when turned over and why did he remove the carbs did he clean them??
He says it was more "white" than blue.
He removed the carbs, and he cleaned them.
Quote from: roboto65 on May 08, 2009, 10:50:18 PM
Hey Dan did you guys get it running !!!
Here is what he said:
He believes there is a SEVERE electrical problem.
"my negative terminal on the battery burns when you try to start it, it will melt w/ prolonged attempts".
In reference to DG's comment, he said:
"well w/ the plugs removed fuel would skirt alil through the plug hole, so yea.... i think the cylinders are getting fuel - both were wet..."
"i thought my carb might be improperly adjusted"
"but then there was the burning in the electrical..."
"it sounds like the starter is catching on something like something is blocking it - so it stops - which i guess could cause that electric backlash"
Any ideas appreciated on my friend's dilemma.
If we can't wrench it to good health, he'll be paying the shop big bucks...considering that our service rates around here are near $100/hour!
RIPOFF I know :shock:
Quotewell w/ the plugs removed fuel would skirt alil through the plug hole, so yea.... i think the cylinders are getting fuel - both were wet...
Quoteit sounds like the starter is catching on something like something is blocking it - so it stops - which i guess could cause that electric backlash
Sounds to me like he might be experiencing "hydrolock". This is a case that can happen when the float valves stick open and the cylinders flood with fuel. The engine can't push all the fuel out of the cylinder and it becomes a burden on the starter/electrical system. Eventually it will stop turning over. It can also damage engine parts like valves and connecting rods.
I have never, in my life seen so much gas in a cylinder it was "squirting out", that is scary amount of gas in there.
Smell the oil, smell like gas? If so I bet on a flooded cylinder(s), it seeps down past the rings and contaminates the oil.
Turn the petcock off and drain the fuel from the bottom of the carb bowls to empty them. Then let the bike sit, with all the plugs out, for a couple of days. DO NOT TURN FUEL BACK ON.
Turn engine over without plugs to see how freely it spins. Inspect to verify cylinders are dry as possible. Now spray some starter spray into the carbs, STILL DO NOT TURN THE FUEL BACK ON. Does it try to fire? If so, the carbs are your culprit. If not, then I would look at electrical connections, cleaning reconnecting. Maybe even a new battery.
Hope the finals going OK I would say that if he holding the starter button for a long time then yes he will melt the negitive side LOL Also I agree with the hydrolock problem I have done that once on a dirtbike and well it was not pretty LOL Lets just say Sparkplug wires still make a spark and will catch the gas on fire :shock: :shock: :shock: I did have a xstinguiser handy LOL
I would pull the carbs again and make sure the floats are floating or loose and the float valve moves with it check the float height also !!! We will get him running 8) 8)
Quote from: roboto65 on May 15, 2009, 01:47:16 PM
Hope the finals going OK I would say that if he holding the starter button for a long time then yes he will melt the negitive side LOL Also I agree with the hydrolock problem I have done that once on a dirtbike and well it was not pretty LOL Lets just say Sparkplug wires still make a spark and will catch the gas on fire :shock: :shock: :shock: I did have a xstinguiser handy LOL
I would pull the carbs again and make sure the floats are floating or loose and the float valve moves with it check the float height also !!! We will get him running 8) 8)
Thanks bud.
Yeah. The shop determined that his starter is bad. He's looking on ebay right now to see if he can find something cheap.
Will be in touch, we'll be trying to fix it soon :)