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help! 1983 gs450 left side COLD

  • Thread starter Thread starter dickidav
  • Start date Start date
D

dickidav

Guest
:mad:i just did the valves today and there is no compression on the left side. in fact if the plug is out the bike runs great. if i put the compression tester on it or put the plug in it dies and won't start. i'm confused. please help.
 
Check spark on the dead side by putting a plug in the socket and laying the plug against the engine. Sounds like you have a cylinder that is not firing either due to carb or spark problems and when you put the plug back in the extra compression is causing the engine to die.
 
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dickidav said:
i checked the plug laying on the fin and there is spark.
Click to expand...

Next is to remove the carb drain plug on the bottom of the float bowl (see if there is any gas inside). Also, as Tkent asked, did the bike run properly before the recent work was done?

One other question: what makes you think there is no compression on one side?
 
there is gas, ithe bike wouldn't run on the left before the valve check. i checked the valves with a feeler set and swapped out the ones to make it in spec. i used a compression guage and the right side was at 120 the left nothing. i checked the coil by switching them and no difference.
you can feel air comming out the plug hole but if you put anything in it it will stall
 
If you have zero compression, you must have a burnt valve, or a hole in the piston. Even very badly worn rings or valves would still have a little bit of compression. Could also be a chunk out of the headgasket.
Look in the spark plug hole with a flashlight, can you see any damage?
Do the valves seem to be opening and closing correctly?
 
just looked in hole don't see anything out of the ordinary.the only part of the valves i can see is the part where the shim is. they seem to be going up and down ok
 
Unless the cam timing is off you should have compression.
Put a little oil in the cylinder and see if you get compression. If the timing is right and the oil doesn't get any compression you either have a burnt, stuck or bent valve.
If you do get compression I'd say you have a broken ring.
 
i put oil in and still no compression. the timing is set on this bike.
 
You have to take off the valve cover and the ignition cover.
There are timing marks on the cams and crank trigger.
 
Under the ignition cover there are timing marks. Turn the motor till you find TDC 1 and line up the marks.
With the valve cover off look at the exhaust cam. The #1 mark should be pointing straight at the top of the head. #2 will be facing up and #3 on the intake cam will be 18 link pins between #2 and #3. This also includes the links directly over the arrows.
 
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Take out the cam chain tensioner. Don't forget to lock down the piston first.
Remove exhaust cam covers. Line up #1 arrow to head and pull chain over sprocket.
Count the pins on the chain from #2 to #3 on the intake cam.
Tighten down Exhaust cam caps making sure you don't disturb the timing.
To reinstall the cam chain tensioner you need to cock it first. Loosen the lock screw and push the piston in as far as you can. The knurly knob should turn while doing this. Tighten down the lock screw. Install the tensioner. Hold chain on the intake sprocket and release the tensioner a 1/4 turn. Lock down the lock bolt.
Turn the engine a few times and recheck the timing.
 
ACtually, the MANUAL tells you to count the link PINS. there should be 20 pins including the ones over the arrows from 2 to 3.
 
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