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Message started by Rion on 12/27/08 at 19:25:39

Title: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/27/08 at 19:25:39

Hi everyone, I am new to posting here but love reading all the advice everyone has, it has been a big help. I am a new rider but fairly mechanically inclined and any help would be great.

I bought the bike about 3 months ago and haven't had any problems but really haven't been able to ride too often due to title problems. So I usually just started it up a couple times a week to keep it fresh.

I don't know why my bike won't start. It cranks but won't turn over. I took it for a ride a couple days ago to run an errand and it seemed to drag (hesitate) during acceleration. It didn't hesitate at all with open throttle. I am assuming it probably has something to do with the fuel.

After riding around yesterday I ran out of gas pulling into the gas station (not used to the MPG yet :P). Tried using the reserve but it didn't work. So after filling up I used the prime to get gas into the carb. Rode around the block to my house and put the bike away.
It seems I forgot to turn the fuel back to the ON position :-[.

I went to go for a ride and saw a puddle of gas under the bike and it would start at all, even after letting it sit for about 5 hours.

If any has any tips or advice I would greatly appreciate it!

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by verslagen1 on 12/27/08 at 20:14:26

1)I don't know why my bike won't start. It cranks but won't turn over.
Probably not an issue here but just for your info... when the battery runs down it can have enough juice to turn over but not enough to start.
2)I took it for a ride a couple days ago to run an errand and it seemed to drag (hesitate) during acceleration.
How so? twist grip and later it goes or coughs or stumbles?
3)It didn't hesitate at all with open throttle.
Again how so?
4)After riding around yesterday I ran out of gas pulling into the gas station. Tried using the reserve but it didn't work. So after filling up I used the prime to get gas into the carb. It seems I forgot to turn the fuel back to the ON position.
When running out of gas you'll always need to put it on prime to refill the carb, then back to reserve
5)I went to go for a ride and saw a puddle of gas under the bike and it would start at all, even after letting it sit for about 5 hours.
Now for the important part
Your float valve leaks, time for a new one.
Or your float doesn't, it'd be a good time to clean the carb.
It flooded and wouldn't start which is a good thing.
check your oil for gas (is the level higher?)
If you haven't already, this would be a good time to change your oil.
And you might need to at least clean your sparkplug, but a new one would be good for easier starting at this point.
check the cylinder for gas too.

It's very bad to have gas in the oil, it thins it out and wrecks the bearings.

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/27/08 at 20:29:24

The hesitation happens during acceleration, it will start accelerating fine and then quickly(for about a second) decelerate and accelerate once more. this will happen until I open the throttle more(higher RPMs).
It also seems like it doesn't accelerate as quick as it used to.

Oil level is between the lines but seems a little dark, probably could use a change.

Is there an easy way to check the spark plug?

And how would I check the cylinder for gas?

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by verslagen1 on 12/27/08 at 21:45:35

No easy way other than pulling it and putting your eyeball on it.
gotto pull the tank, and seat to get at it.
while the plug is out, I'd turn it over a few times. If it's loaded with gas it'll spray out (stand back, don't smoke unless you want a new hairdoo)

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/27/08 at 22:23:15

thanks, I'll give that a shot tomorrow. Why would the bike be hesitating as stated before?

Just curious, when I take out the plug and try turning it over, does the gas spray out due to back pressure?

I didn't think it would turn over without the spark plug in.

Would draining the carb of gas do anything for the situation?

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by verslagen1 on 12/27/08 at 23:45:12

Most likely hesitating due to dirty carb, either plugged jet or dirty slide.

cylinder won't hold pressure while you're taking out the sparkplug and doubt that it would hold it for any length of time anyway.

it won't turn over, just spin working the piston up and down spitting out anything in there.

no, just make sure it's back to "on"

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/28/08 at 01:00:47

Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know tomorrow how it turns out. ;)

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by T Mack 1 on 12/28/08 at 14:30:00

On a flooded engine, taking the sparkplug out and turning the engine over just circulates air thru the cylinder and drys it out.

Standard Spark plugs are cheap ($2 or $3), replace it while it's out.

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/28/08 at 17:07:18

I just replaced the spark plug and the old one was fouled really bad(completely black :o).

I also went ahead and changed the oil in it (decided to do an oil change in my truck while i was at it too ;D)

Now since everything is already off I think I'm going to take the carb off and clean it too while I'm at it.

Any tips or suggestions for the carb?
I definitely will keep track of all the parts very carefully!
I bought some carb cleaner, is there anything else that could be useful in this task?

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/28/08 at 17:47:35

Well, I got the carb off the bike (it was extremely easy to do!! ;D)

But when I looked into the engine I noticed black sediment on (the valves?) the plunger looking things, sorry not exactly sure what they are called.

Will that go away or is there a way to clean them out?

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/29/08 at 01:24:17

Well I put it all back together and it rides great!!! ;D

The best way I personally found to take the carb out is to take out the battery and holder.
Just a few bolts but makes for a lot more space in order to pull the carb down and out.
Just wondering if the sediment on the valve stems will create a problem later down the road and if there is something to do about it?

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by bill67 on 12/29/08 at 04:40:12

You can put SeaFoam in the engine oil and it cleans it up.Then you put new oil in.

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/29/08 at 13:57:57

Today I started the bike and was letting it warm up and I saw some light colored smoke coming from the exhaust near the header. :(

Couldn't really tell what it smell like due to a stuffy nose.
What would cause this?

It's a nice day here and I REALLY want to go out for a ride!!

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 12/29/08 at 14:44:21

What color? If it was tinted blue, then you are burning oil. Cause, either bad rings, or bad valve seals.

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by verslagen1 on 12/29/08 at 14:55:28

caused by a bad seal or you need to retorque the header bolts, about 20 ft-lbs. Best to pull them out and put antiseize on the threads unless you want them permanently torqued down.

Just read what you posted today [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

in the future, a lot of what you need to do is in the tech section.

for instance... Island Wahine did a great write up on carb cleaning.

Check out the index stuck to the section at the top.

Title: Re: Trouble starting...just want to ride
Post by Rion on 12/29/08 at 15:02:08

Couldn't tell what color the smoke was but it did smell like oil.

I noticed some small drips of oil burning off hopefully it's just that.

The bike actually runs like new now but I think it might be running rich(due to the black spark plug I pulled out)

I was planning on putting a Jardine on it, would that lean it out enough to balance the air/fuel mixture or would I still have to upgrade the carb anyways?