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rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:44 am
by markkaren96
Okay situation for you to ponder. I changed my timing chain and shimmed valves so Cams were out. Bike is back together but will not start. I get power, junction box clicks but not starter rely. check battery voltage it is at 11.8, Car is parked next to bike so I try car battery bypassing rely and hooking cables straight to the starter. Starter cranks Motor (good sign means nothing is seized.) next I pull starter rely do test in service manual, it works as advertised. next clean all connection between battery, ground, and starter relay. try again same result junction box clicks and nothing else Battery voltage stillm good.

Next thought use Car battery again (more cranking amps) connect battery to positive terminal on bike battery and ground the negative. This idea works bike will crank :) but still does not start :( I disconnect fuel line to carbs verifying Fuel is being pumped in, it is, I pull Spark plug wires one buy one and throw on a spare plug to verify spark, all four cylinders are getting spark. Bike will not fire. with Chock set i get a very slight sputter with chock off or retarded nothing but cranking, with chock on and cranking getting slight sputter but a slight twist of the grip and sputter stops and just cranking again so I'm sure of spark and gas. since with no gas i get nothing and with more gas i get nothing but with chock i get a little of something.

So now I'm a my wits end why won't she fire! When i installed Cams i checked and rechecked my alignment verifying 1 and 4 where TDC and alignment marks pointed away from eachother to the outside as te Manual shows. i even placed A rod in #4 spark plug well and watched rise and fall to ensure #4 was right on the money TDC. Any ideas? :smt017

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:21 pm
by extonyg
first problem.....the battery should have atleast 12.5v in it so you need to charge the battery before you try and start it again.
i no you say you have the timing right but if you have it 180 out the coils will be firing at the wrong time with the cams causing it not to start.im pretty sure ive heard you can swap the leads over to illuminate this might be worth a try.

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:26 pm
by markkaren96
I agree about the battery i think its shot, I'm putting a full charge on it now and will load test it but i think its time for a new one. it is over three years old. as for the coils leads I'll try that out and let you know/post results. any suggestion are welcome at this point as I'm almost at a complete loss. i plan to also check compression.

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:07 pm
by markkaren96
Okay I checked compression today and all four cylinders are within limits. but engine still will not fire vsad :smt017

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:33 am
by Fatspanner #44
Do you have the right leads going to each coil (the input leads)? I know from experience that this causes similar issues to what you have described! You still get a spark, however 2&3 spark when it should be 1&4 and vice versa.

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:58 pm
by masterofinsanity
as said above your battery needs to be at least 12.6v for it to produce a strong enough spark to fire the bike up, so i would get a new battery and set of plugs before doing anything else.Drain the float bowls while you're there too to make sure its not flooded, oh and get a can of easy start :-)

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:59 pm
by Fatspanner #44
masterofinsanity wrote:as said above your battery needs to be at least 12.6v for it to produce a strong enough spark to fire the bike up, so i would get a new battery and set of plugs before doing anything else.Drain the float bowls while you're there too to make sure its not flooded, oh and get a can of easy start :-)
Would not make any difference whilst the car battery was hooked up. (As long as the car battery was charged!!)

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:46 pm
by zxr400rider
as said try swapping wires on the coils i had same symptoms as you did that and it fired first time

Re: rebuild, starting problem

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:36 pm
by RedexRobB
are you actually getting a spark?