Won't Start

Well. I finally got the bike back on the road.

I figured out why the battery was discharging. I had the negative wire connected to the positive on the battery. It fried the wire a little.. but now I have the r/r negative going to the bike.

It idles about 13 or so on the multimeter.

I had the carbs vaccum synced and the bike pulls pretty hard now when warm.

THANK YOU ALL so much for help with this bike. It has been 6 months, but it is finally on the road!

Now.. I am going to change out the handle grips, they are shot. Is it pretty much just a pull off and replace?

A multimeter is essential! The plus terminal on battery has a big red wire connecting to starter solenoid and a smaller red wire that connects to fuse box. The negative battery terminal has big black wire that bolts to top of crankcase (under carbs)- it also should have a smalller black that connects to something. This smaller black wire needs to be connected direct to R/R ground- do not rely on indirect connections thru battery box or anything. This is vital. What does your R/R look like- take a pic. Follow the stators tests thoroughly- posplayr has made it as simple as possible to determine faulty parts, so take advantage.
Yeah, it's possible your ignitor overheats and acts up after 1/2 hour, but it's more likely that the ignitor is not happy with a low voltage (i.e. poor charging) situation.

I will take a picture this afternoon. I don't recall any other wires on the negative side of the battery....

[tom203]

A multimeter is essential! The plus terminal on battery has a big red wire connecting to starter solenoid and a smaller red wire that connects to fuse box. The negative battery terminal has big black wire that bolts to top of crankcase (under carbs)- it also should have a smalller black that connects to something. This smaller black wire needs to be connected direct to R/R ground- do not rely on indirect connections thru battery box or anything. This is vital. What does your R/R look like- take a pic. Follow the stators tests thoroughly- posplayr has made it as simple as possible to determine faulty parts, so take advantage.
Yeah, it's possible your ignitor overheats and acts up after 1/2 hour, but it's more likely that the ignitor is not happy with a low voltage (i.e. poor charging) situation.

What and how many wires do you guys have running to your battery? I have two for the positive and one for the negative. I am not sure what the other one for the positive is for, maybe the starter...

I am wondering because I wanted to know if the r/r is supposed to be grounded to the negative? Because I only have one negative wire.

Also, do you think heat could be causing the coil to overheat and cause the bike to not start up after riding for half an hour? I no it is running lean as I have air leaks from the airbox...

I will get a multimeter tomorrow if possible and run through the stator papers.

[tom203]

Okay..weird.

I took the battery off the bike last night. Put it to charge overnight. I just got up, grabbed the battery and went to the bike. Luckily no one messed with it and no ticket!

I hooked the battery up, sat on bike, gave it some choke. BANG, fired right up! I then rode it home.

So what is going on with this bike???

Cemeteries are safe places to leave bike- not alot of night visitors. Competing with carb problems for #1 spot with these old bikes is.... you guessed/ experienced it , electrical gremlins. You need to get to the charging system tests asap, before you get treally stranded, like outside a Popeyes . You put lots of work into carbs, so correct the electrical stuff.

Okay..weird.

I took the battery off the bike last night. Put it to charge overnight. I just got up, grabbed the battery and went to the bike. Luckily no one messed with it and no ticket!

I hooked the battery up, sat on bike, gave it some choke. BANG, fired right up! I then rode it home.

So what is going on with this bike???

A starter solenoid makes distinct click when it's working right. A " loud humming noise" might be starter motor not spinning right, but motor is on left side (your typo?). weak battery ? have you checked charging stuff? Do neutral/oil lights come on- if yes, try bump starting, any inclines in this cemetery? Ignition / kill on, put in second gear, roll forward and pop clutch- but this will do nothing if your ignition circuit ain't working. You need to go over the electric system 100 %.

I am almost 100% sure it's a bad starter clutch. I am going to try and bump start it today and get it home.

[tom203]

A starter solenoid makes distinct click when it's working right. A " loud humming noise" might be starter motor not spinning right, but motor is on left side (your typo?). weak battery ? have you checked charging stuff? Do neutral/oil lights come on- if yes, try bump starting, any inclines in this cemetery? Ignition / kill on, put in second gear, roll forward and pop clutch- but this will do nothing if your ignition circuit ain't working. You need to go over the electric system 100 %.

You're learning alot and more to come! Electrical stuff is much easier than Carb stuff. Find your starter solenoid - should be near battery- little green/yellow wire is the trigger from starter button. By "jumping", we mean to supply + 12 volts to this terminal ( from battery positive ), this will cause solenoid to engage and starter motor to turn. Beware!!!! put bike on centerstand and in neutral for safety, cuz "jumping' doesn't need ignition or kill switch- it will do its thing. Once you figure this out, you can do in cemetery at next stall- if it cranks when bypassed like this, somethings wrong with ignition or kill switch.

I REALLY need your guys help now! The bike is stuck in the cemetery, it won't start at all. My GF came and picked me up.

When I push the stat button all I hear is a very loud humming noise coming from the right side of the bike near the battery/air element. I checked fuses there, they all seemed okay.

Any idea on what this is???? Please help, I need to get bike out of cemetery!!

P.S. I'm a dumbass lol

[tom203]

You're learning alot and more to come! Electrical stuff is much easier than Carb stuff. Find your starter solenoid - should be near battery- little green/yellow wire is the trigger from starter button. By "jumping", we mean to supply + 12 volts to this terminal ( from battery positive ), this will cause solenoid to engage and starter motor to turn. Beware!!!! put bike on centerstand and in neutral for safety, cuz "jumping' doesn't need ignition or kill switch- it will do its thing. Once you figure this out, you can do in cemetery at next stall- if it cranks when bypassed like this, somethings wrong with ignition or kill switch.

If it doesn't crank or stops cranking after 2 seconds, I blame the ignition switch or kill switch first- more so if this happens after brief ride. Either of these switches behaving badly would cut power to starter circuit and ignition circuit (maybe this is why it stalled at light). Do you know how to "jump" the starter solenoid ?- this would be a simple test the next time it ceased cranking normally, cuz it bypasses both switches.

Nope don't know How. I'm stuck in the cemetery as I write this I never learn do I lol.
I rode for 20 minutes then I wanted to run a test so I sped to 35 applied
The brakes shifted down from 3 to 1 and came to a complete stop and just as I suspected it died and now won't crank at all

[tom203]

Which electrical wires should I check ?

If it doesn't crank or stops cranking after 2 seconds, I blame the ignition switch or kill switch first- more so if this happens after brief ride. Either of these switches behaving badly would cut power to starter circuit and ignition circuit (maybe this is why it stalled at light). Do you know how to "jump" the starter solenoid ?- this would be a simple test the next time it ceased cranking normally, cuz it bypasses both switches.

So you mean it stopped cranking after 1 second? if so, you got some electrical issues to play with, so don't blame carbs! Check connections! .In 20 minutes in 70 degree heat, the bike is barely reaching operating temp - the ignitor internals are probably at their temp, BUT they wouldn't interfere with cranking.

Which electrical wires should I check ?

[tom203]

I rode it to the store...bad idea, it died at a stop light and did not start back up. It cranked for one second then nothing.. I finally got it back running after sitting for 20 minutes...

Must be the heat..

So you mean it stopped cranking after 1 second? if so, you got some electrical issues to play with, so don't blame carbs! Check connections! .In 20 minutes in 70 degree heat, the bike is barely reaching operating temp - the ignitor internals are probably at their temp, BUT they wouldn't interfere with cranking.

I rode it to the store...bad idea, it died at a stop light and did not start back up. It cranked for one second then nothing.. I finally got it back running after sitting for 20 minutes...

Must be the heat..