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Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:15 pm
by 400_Fan
Hi guys,

My bike has been acting up and now packed up, I haven't bothered ripping it apart yet, here's what's been happening.....

The bike will start 1st time in the morning, ride to work no hassles. In the afternoon start it up walk it across the yard to beside our building to let it warm up, sometimes randomnly will cut out, but will start up.... or not randomn... This happened on and off for a couple of weeks until one evening I was riding home and the bike felt like it was missing and lurching, was due a fill up within 5-10 miles so I rode to a petrol garage, seemed to cure it.

Next morning bike is warming in garage, noticed headlights flicker as quick as a blink did this on and off for about a minute, then it cut out. Like a wally I though f**k it it'll sort itself, how wrong was I, after about 5 miles it dropped to 2 cylinders then back up to 4 then 2 then 4..... You get the idea untill finally it would only run on 2 until it lost all power and cut out, I did about 3-4 miles while it was doing this on and off. Now it won't start without a boost even then it's pot luck, one thing I noticed when it dropped to two the rev counter wouldn't work??? And now attempting to start it doesn't register at all, where normally as you know it'll show around 1,000rpm on the starter button.

Any ideas at all?? I have looked around the site, so far seen maybe ignition switch, coils, ECU....... Just hoping the issue with the rev counter may be specific to one thing so I know where to start first.....


Many thanks in advance, Anthony

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:06 pm
by cargo
My first thought is flat battery. Caused either by the battery being knackered or something wrong with the charging circuit. Or both

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:28 pm
by masterofinsanity
yep i'd go with cargo on the battery theory, this cold weather eats em for breakfast!

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:37 pm
by 400_Fan
Hmmm, the battery has enough juice on it's own to turn the motor over but it just won't start, only reason I mention the booster was when the AA came out to recover me they tried that to see if it helped and it wouldn't go from that? Has the rev counter not registering got anything to do with the issue as this would only happened when it dropped to two cylinders? And
now that it won't start at all it doesn't register at all, I hope that makes sense?

Thanks for your ideas every little helps!!

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:11 pm
by masterofinsanity
usual culprit for the rev counter to play up is the battery.Have you checked all earthing points to make sure they aren't corroded?

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:09 pm
by 400_Fan
Thanks Baz gives me something to start with, looks as I thought and didn't want to do, I'll be having the bike apart over Christmas then!!

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:14 am
by 400_Fan
Evening guys, thought I'd update, not done much with the bike until this weekend, and, well I've not had much joy so far!!

This is what I've done: Removed all parts to get to Coils, fitted brand new plugs, tested coils for spark, I have spark on coil for leads 2+3 but none on 1+4, it's not the coil as I swapped for a known good one and while there plugged wires from 2+3 into 1+4 coil and had spark. While laid up I've had the battery on an Optimate charger, so there is plenty of life in that. So what I know is that I have no spark for 1+4 and no movement on the rev counter.... Where does the rev counter connect to to pick up what revs the bike is doing? Maybe I need to see if that is damaged?

All help much appreciated, my brother wants his scooter back and I'm missing my bike!!!!


Thanks,

Anthony

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:22 am
by zimm
there is a black wire from the ignition box that carries the signal to the fuel pump relay, 1 and 4 coil, and rev counter. Id start by studying the wiring diagram in the manual then checking the loom over for any broken wires.


as you are losing the rev counter when it loses spark, i'd guess the break is "upstream" of those components... fuel pump relay, ignition unit, under seat in the middle of a mess of wires type place..

HTH

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:57 pm
by MillaMeter
Hi,

This happend to me once, found out that my CDI was packing up along with 1 of the ignition coils. If all else fails, you could always try and get hold of another CDI maybe?

Also it may be worth checking the reg\rectifier?

Regards

Rich

Re: Bike ran on two then four then two then died.....

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:03 pm
by 400_Fan
Zimm and Millameter thank you I will give these a go, I have done a CDI swap, I currently have a UK spec one fitted, so I tried my original Jap one out with no joy. This black wire sounds good, my mission for this weekend!!

Thanks again smiler