Okay,
So I go out to try and start my bike one morning...(pretty cold here too) but it would start and suddenly it didn't even have enough power to rotate the starter...
I R2 (remove and replace) the battery and it cranks right up. Two to three days of starting it each morning and letting it run for a few came and went. (really bad weather prevented riding)
I go out on about the fourth day and it just keeps turning but no light off. I smelled fuel pretty good and checked the ground and saw nothing...I assume it's getting fuel but not lighting off. I hooked up jumper cables from my mini-van (wife's not mine I promise) and try to start it that way thinking the cold was doing something to the battery and still nothing...just kept turning.
I pulled the left rear cylinder spark plug and connected back to the spark plug wire and connected it to a screwdriver and attempted to start and check for spark...I saw a spark but it was pretty small. Definitely not like that of a car spark plug.
My only other concern would be air? I mean as a jet engine mechanic and car mechanic I can troubleshoot...but this has got me a little perplexed.
Any ideas?
Also, I'd like to share pictures of my bike but I guess the pics are too big...anyone know how to shrink them down to post them?
Thanks,
Instructor50 :cry:
Here's my theory:
I read somewhere that the Magna does not charge the battery at idle. That doesn't happen until you reach 2 or 3,000 rpms. So it's possible that those days you ran the Magna for a few minutes the battery actually depleted. The Magna won't run well (or at all) when the battery is too low. So maybe it's possible that the idling without re-charging combined with the cold temperature has reduced the power of the battery to below what it needs to operate.
You might want to see if you can actually charge the battery and then give it a try.
Can't tell you about the spark. Don't really know about that one.
I agree with what Jesse said, however when you jumped it should have had plenty of juice then.
Does it hit at all? If it does try to start but wont I would think your slow speeds jets are clogged.
You have spark and usually a weak coil shows up under loads, but both coils at once wouldnt think so. Ignition spark box I would think would go all at once.
HMMM a head scratcher.
I hate to sound ignorant but in this case I can't hide it; where would an ignition spark box be and how much do they cost and would that be difficult to change?
I am changing the spark plugs tonight just to do the cheap stuff first.
Thanks to the two of you who replied back...I'm definitely going to get out and ride it to get that battery charged Jesse, once I get it running that is.
Thanks,
Brandon (Instructor50)
If I were you I will buy a battery Tender and keep it plug it to the bike when not riding. I live in Houston and do that with my bike whe not riding for more than 5 days. The B.T. wont overcharge the battery and will keep it 100% charge until you unplug the cable.
Hope this help you .
I RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH STARTING MY BIKE. IT CRANKED UP AND DIED. IT ONLY IDLED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I AM CHANGING THE PLUGS TONIGHT AND PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER. HOPEFULLY IT WORKS. WHAT A PAIN TO GET THOSE PLUGS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Use the stock bike tool kit, I have found them to be just as easy as anything to take plugs out. The front plugs are much easier to remove if you swing the radiator up.
Might not be your plugs, if you have let the bike sit for much longer than 2 weeks it will be more than likely the slow speed carb jets are clogged.
Best method is to remove and manually clean them, if you can get it started but feathering the throttle and choke ride it and put some Sea-foam fuel additive in it.
WELL, I CHANGED THE PLUGS OUT AND IT CRANKED UP LIKE A CHAMP.
IT IS TOO BAD THAT YOU HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE WHOLE BIKE TO GET TO THE PLUGS! OH WELL........IT RUNS!