Hey guys-
Need some help. Yesterday NoCal had a beautiful day. I spent a bit of the evening riding the twisties and just having a blast. This morning, I went to start the bike and it did turn over, but only after a couple tries. It idled very low and didn't shoot up as it usually does with full choke. I turned it off and tried again and it wouldn't fire up. Remembering a similar situation 7 months ago, I put my hand on each side ofthe engine. The left side was warm to the touch, the right side, dead cold. So, only the left side of the engine is firing up. I pulled the cable to the spark plug and reattached (that was the issue the last time, with the left side of the engine). No improvement. I pulled the plug, it was clean and dry (the spark plug is only 2 months old). I did not test it to see if it was sparking. So, I'm lookingfor suggesions on what went wrong and how to fix it.
It's kinda weird. Tonight was the second time we were going to take my girlfriend's roomie for a ride and the second time my bike died that very day.... Last time the freewheel and main crank disconnected. Hopefully this time won't involve a tow and a bit of professional labor.....
Start by checking to see if you have spark on the right side. If you don't, then swap the spark plugs to see if the one plug was just bad. Even new plugs go bad sometimes
Thanks!
How, exactly, does one check the spark? Keep it connected to the wire, then ground it against something as you press the start button? I didn't mention my bike is a fossil. It's an 89. Cable might be bad? Any other things like that to check? I doubt this is a serious problem but want to know the things to check. How hard is it to get a new wire to the spark plug?
Quote from: jbeaber on February 09, 2006, 11:02:22 AM
Thanks!
How, exactly, does one check the spark? Keep it connected to the wire, then ground it against something as you press the start button? I didn't mention my bike is a fossil. It's an 89. Cable might be bad? Any other things like that to check? I doubt this is a serious problem but want to know the things to check. How hard is it to get a new wire to the spark plug?
yes that is how you test for spark. You could have a bad coil. But just check for spark and let us know.
Yeah, keep the plug attached to the plug wire and ground it. The press the starter and watch for spark. Since the left plug obviously works, maybe you should try that one first to see what you are looking for. If your spark plugs seem to be in good condition, I would move back from there. Check all the connections and then the plug wire would be the next thing to check. I'm not that familiar with the ignition system, so I'm not sure what comes after that, but just keep working your way back. Like you said, its probably not a big deal, just check the simple things first :thumb:
On the bike, what qualifies as an acceptable ground? I'm thinking of grabbing some spark plugs on the way home tonight (so lucky I have a gf with an SV I can borrow whenever my bike goes down). Hopefully switching the one out will do the trick. Also, any ideas on where replacement wires can be gotten?
Touch the threads of the sparkplug to one of the fins of the head.
Garage your bike at night or cover it to reduce water condensation. A failed coil, loose wire, or simply wet electrics could cause your problem. Rubber gets stiff and cracks due to time and heat, which allows water places it shouldn't be.
It seems like I recall the SV650 guys using WD40 on their plug connections to combat the moisture problem. Don't quote me on that though as I may be wrong.
if you still havnt got spark after replacing the plug, the next likly thing is the lead, pull the one off the othe side on try it, if it then sparks get a new lead, you can use any auto motive lead with a bit of modding, so it shouldn't cost you much at all,
if its not the lead its probly the "coil" on cdi what ever you want to call it, they can get quite hot and breakdown under the temp, again try the other sides one,
i wouldnt imagine it'll be any thing other than those 3 things if not lets us know
ARGH! It was probably a bit of condensation. I went home and checked the spark and it was fine. I checked to see if there was gas in the carbs and it was fine. So, I put i all back together and the bike fired up after a few seconds. That little bit of condensation or whatever just made the bike put up a fight. Ran beautifully last night and this morning. I want a bike I can rely on!!!! <insert bellyaching smiley here since it seems to be missing from the list of options....>
Get some dielectric grease. A tube of permatex is like $3 at your local auto parts store. Use the dielectric grease on the ceramic part of the plug and the spark plug boots to help prevent moisture from entering and shorting out the spark plug wires. It also extends the life of your plugs and your wires by combatting corrosion.
i just took my battery back outside and put it on the bike and got nothing. Cant seem to figure out what it is....
Fuse? Positive/negative connections reversed?
i found the one 20a fuse but it was fine. the only light that works is my oil light. my guage lights are out also but i know that they needed changing as well as my headlight. my brake light also doesnt work, its on but doesnt go high when i hit the brake.
A V single ... not unless you yanked that motor sideways and bent a few of the motor mounts.
Cool.
Srinath.