Just rejetted and installed new pingel petcock. I installed brand new spark plugs and am getting fuel to the carbs, but the motor won't start. The starting motor is working and the battery is good. The carbs were clean when they were put back in. I checked all hoses and they are secure. What should I be checking next? Thanks. :dunno:
Does the engine fire at all? Did you disconnect any electrical wires doing the swap? Or, some could have been pulled loose. How about the battery? :dunno:
Didn't disconnect any electrical, just battery. Battery is giving good power to starter and has been on trickle charge while bike was disassembled. Starter works, but engine does not turn over at all.
Well, you DID disconnect the spark plug wires.
If the bike ran well before, I would try putting the old plugs back in, just to establish a baseline. If the bike ran before but not very well (maybe that's why you replaced the plugs?) I would make sure the spark plug wires are pushed all the way on.
Oh, and you said you're getting fuel to the carbs, but I gotta ask anyway. Did you turn the Pingel petcock to whatever the ON position is?
Can you think of any more clues?
Replaced spark plugs as part of tune-up. Bike ran well before rejetting, except for common low end stutter. With my limited knowledge of motorcycles, the best explanation that I can give is that everything seems to be working properly except that the fuel is not being ignited. Does it sound like I'm going to have to disassemble/reassemble carbs again just to be sure? Pingel petcock is currently on RES position.
I wouldn't disassemble / reassemble the carbs just yet. I'm curious to know the results of a non-invasive float height check (http://www.bbburma.net/FloatHeight.htm), and also how readily fuel flows from each float bowl drain spout when you open the drain screws.
Next step, spark check. First on one side and then the other:
1) Pull the spark plug.
2) Push the spark plug wire back onto the plug.
3) Set the "business end" of the plug against the engine block.
4) Hit the Start button.
5) Look for a healthy
blue spark.[/list:u]Let us know what you find. If there's no spark then we can try some other things.
EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net
Ok. Peformed spark test on both plugs and getting good spark from both. During float height check, fuel flowed easily from drain to plastic tubing. Float height does not seem to reach the seam separating the top and bottom halves of the carbs. Instead, it seems to be stop in the upper 1/2 of the bottom half of the carb.
Could the idle adjustment screw have been moved? I forget how a lower float level affects the engine. Also many people have said that no choke was needed after rejet so maybe the engine is flooding? just a couple shots in the dark :dunno:
Just went over the carbs again, and nothing seems to be wrong there. After reattaching carbs and tank, still gettting fuel flow to carbs. Spark plugs are giving spark upon testing. Float level seems to be a little low, but that seems to change if I increase/decrease the amount of fluid in the testing tube. I can't think of what else to do at this point. Any suggestions? :x
Have you tried putting the old plugs back in yet? You never know....
Even "the mighty Srinath" was stumped for several days once, by what turned out to be one (or both?) bad plug(s).
Update - I was ready to call it quits for the day, but I decided to try one more time to see if the engine would turn over. :? The whole time I had been trying, the bike was on the centerstand. I took it off centerstand and sloshed all the liquids around a little by rolling the bike back and forth. Of course, the bike then started. :o Should the bike have started while on its centerstand or is this a safety measure that I didn't know about? :dunno: Anyways, I took it out for a spin and everything seems to be ok. I'll know for sure once I take it in for VA inspection this week. Thanks to everyone, especially Kerry, for all your ideas and suggestions. I learned so about my motorcycle. I will post pics once I get it back from inspection. Thanks! :mrgreen:
Quote from: EightmarkyShould the bike have started while on its centerstand or is this a safety measure that I didn't know about? :dunno:
Nope, no safety measure there. Interesting....
Quote from: EightmarkyAnyways, I took it out for a spin and everything seems to be ok.
Cool! Glad to hear it. :mrgreen: