Will Not Start

[Moki of Rancho]

So I finally got the pieces of my 850 back together, battery hooked up and charged, fuel in the tank. Went to crank it and it turns over but that's it. I went through my clymer manual troubleshooting section.. stuck at the ignition part. I'm pretty sure the coils/wires are original (30 years old) so those are suspect, as are the plugs. Might be fuel, also. I'm really clueless here. Any suggestions?

[Big T]

Well, it needs gas, air and spark

So, do the plugs spark?

Are the plugs wet with gas?

[Steve]

Did you prime the carbs?

.

[posplayr]

Well, it needs gas, air and spark

So, do the plugs spark?

Are the plugs wet with gas?

Earth Fire and Wind?

or is it

Fuel, Air and Fire?

[Moki of Rancho]

Did you prime the carbs?

.

Nope! I have not a clue how to do such a thing.

Also: I couldn't figure out the part where you're supposed to pull the plug out and see if it sparks. Was I supposed to do anything special?

[Steve]

Did you prime the carbs?

Nope! I have not a clue how to do such a thing.

Unfortunately, you have the dreaded 1980 petcock. Most of us who have had one feel that whoever designed it should be strung up by some sensitive body parts.

To prime the carbs, turn the slot in the petcock so it is vertical ( | ). This petcock needs a bit of vacuum to turn the PRIme on, so bump the starter to crank the engine a couple of revolutions, then turn the key off and wait about a minute. Try starting the engine again. When it starts (or you give up for the day), be sure to turn the petcock horizontal ( -- ) to turn off the PRIme.

You should only have to do this once, when you are trying to fill the carbs after they have been drained. You should not have to do this every time you start the bike.

.

[sefu]

Qwik Fix

Nope! I have not a clue how to do such a thing.

Also: I couldn't figure out the part where you're supposed to pull the plug out and see if it sparks. Was I supposed to do anything special?

When I don't have a clue, I take it to those that have a clue and pay them.

[Moki of Rancho]

When I don't have a clue, I take it to those that have a clue and pay them.

I don't have a trailer for my bike so as to drag it to a shop, and unfortunately I am also the most mechanically inclined person in my immediate family.

Plugs are sparking, gonna start (RE: attempt) priming the carbs!

[Moki of Rancho]

So it looks like I've got no fuel coming through the petcock. Dang thing is brand new... could this be a vacuum problem?

[Steve]

So it looks like I've got no fuel coming through the petcock. ...

You have a 1980 petcock. They work just a little differently. Go back and look at what I posted a bit ago:

Unfortunately, you have the dreaded 1980 petcock. Most of us who have had one feel that whoever designed it should be strung up by some sensitive body parts.

To prime the carbs, turn the slot in the petcock so it is vertical ( | ). This petcock needs a bit of vacuum to turn the PRIme on, so bump the starter to crank the engine a couple of revolutions, then turn the key off and wait about a minute. Try starting the engine again. When it starts (or you give up for the day), be sure to turn the petcock horizontal ( -- ) to turn off the PRIme.

You can test this by using a vacuum hose on the petcock instead of connecting it to the bike. Make sure the petcock is set to PRI, then suck on the vacuum hose, gas should flow. It will flow until you turn the petcock to RUN.

All other petocks beside the '80 models will flow in PRI without the vacuum. Why somebody changed that, we'll never know.

.

[Moki of Rancho]

You have a 1980 petcock. They work just a little differently. Go back and look at what I posted a bit ago:


You can test this by using a vacuum hose on the petcock instead of connecting it to the bike. Make sure the petcock is set to PRI, then suck on the vacuum hose, gas should flow. It will flow until you turn the petcock to RUN.

All other petocks beside the '80 models will flow in PRI without the vacuum. Why somebody changed that, we'll never know.

.

You know, this actually worked perfect once I put more fuel in the tank. Of course, then I had to tighten everything up when said fuel started to go everywhere. And yet, after so many failed starting attempts my battery is dead again. Guess I'll give it another shot tomorrow.