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Starting a long dormant engine.

  • Thread starter Thread starter spyug
  • Start date Start date
When you verified the cam timing did you make sure the notches in the cams were pointing inward, facing each other while the 1-4 T mark was aligned?
 
I fancy Ed's idea with the coils being reversed. You may have spark but are they sparking at the right time.
 
Take a picture of the cam timing (at TDC) and the timing on the crank trigger.
 
Well I stopped off at my pro-wrench and picked up some new plugs. Although I had cleaned up the ones that came with it and they seemed to spark, he felt they may not be putting out enough or the electrodes may be worn or breaking down causing an intermittent spark. Oddly enough, he could be right as I noticed one yesterday that sparked once then not again but did spark again later when I tapped it against the head.

I also looked at the float bowl gaskets and they are fine with no obstruction of holes.

I couldn't locate an adapter for my compression guage so the compression test is still pending. Again in my experience it is not likely to have all cylinders show low compression and even if a couple were it should still fire on two.

The coils and wires came marked 1,2,3 &4 and I attached them reading from left to right. Referring back to my old sportscar days, having a plug on a wrong cylinder usually results in firing but one ( or more )cylinders may "Kick back" when fired out of sequence. There is always an indication of some combustion unlike what I'm currently seeing.

I'm going to drop in the new plugs and try it all again after supper. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Cheers,
spyug
 
Fingers crossed.... Left to right as you are sitting on it right??

Are they stock wires? Make sure there are no splits in the insulation & it's not shorting out to the head somewhere... (good way to test that is to try to start it in the dark & look for fireworks!)
It could be the wire is only "open" when stressed in the particular way that it is when attached to the plug so would work fine when holding against the head.
I've also had a short at the top end - coil to the frame - another one that's easiest to spot in the dark probably!

Dan :)
 
Good luck

Good luck

we are all pulling for you now that you have our full attention. Do keep us updated and let us know what the problem was.
Once you get it to run, you can have a good night's sleep. I can relate to waking up during the night and trying to figure out what could solve a problem. Better nights are ahead.
 
You might try about a tablespoon of gas in each cylinder before you put the new plugs in. Should be enought to hear an attempt at starting.
If you were working on a trusty ole V8 I would tell you to pull the #1 plug, put your finger over the plug hole, have a buddy bump the starter until you feel it building compression in #1, then rotate by hand until you reach the timing mark on the balancer. Then check the distributor to ensure it is pointing at the #1 tower. Not sure how to check the signal generator to see if it's firing the correct coil though. Anyone???
 
Many thanks guys for the kind thoughts and ideas. I'm anxious to give this another go but its -11c in the garage so I'll have to wait an hour or two until the heater takes off the chill. I have halogen lamps and ceramic heater on the block to hopefully bring up the oil temps so it can flow. It must be like molasses right now :rolleyes:.

I'll report back as soon as I get a bang.....or two.

Cheers all,
Spyug
 
Well sad to report but still no go.

Freshly charged battery and new plugs. Nothing. However, I think I'm starting to see the problem..... despite my previous findings...no gas getting to the cylinders. I don't know why yet. The carbs are freshly cleaned and rebuilt and I even tried a set that had worked on the GS but the plugs come out dry with both sets. There definitely is spark at all plugs.

I am gravity feeding the fuel from an IV bottle that I've used on my previous bikes. The bowls all fill but the level doesn't seem to drop past that so juice is not getting through.

Now if it were just one set that did this I would say they weren't cleaned properly but both sets.:-k

I took great pains cleaning and rebuilding this set even having the bodies, bowls and jets sit in the dip for almost a week. Fresh orings...the works. Air screws are set about 2.5 turns out.

As per S.O.P. I've been cranking with choke full on and throttle closed.

Man this gets weirder and weirder.

Thoughts now guys?

Cheers,
Spyug
 
I thought you tried with starter fluid. That should of got you something.
 
Did you install the airbox yet? If not, tape off about half the carb throats to create some resistance or just install the box. Another thing to try is blowing air into one of the carb vent tubes while plugging the other with your finger. Hope you figure it out soon.
 
You do have the vacuum port on the carbs blocked don't you?? That makes it horribly lean and then no box as well....
 
Yup did try explosion in a can but nothing either and that I really don't understand.

I haven't got the new airbox boots yet and the originals are rock hard so I might not have any luck getting that on but I'll try that or as you suggest blocking the mouths off abit. I tried blowing into the vent tubes and ended up shooting gas out the mouth of the carb no improvement. I wondered about blocking the vacuum tube but didn't think it would matter. I'll plug that off.

This is just too strange.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Spyug
 
spyug said:
Yup did try explosion in a can but nothing either and that I really don't understand.

I haven't got the new airbox boots yet and the originals are rock hard so I might not have any luck getting that on but I'll try that or as you suggest blocking the mouths off abit. I tried blowing into the vent tubes and ended up shooting gas out the mouth of the carb no improvement. I wondered about blocking the vacuum tube but didn't think it would matter. I'll plug that off.

This is just too strange.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Spyug
Click to expand...

If restricting the intake flow and ether doesn't work I'd go back to the basics and triple check the cam timing. Something basic is wrong. The ether should cause the bike to light off but only run for a few seconds. No fire at all indicates some other problem.
 
I haven't heard that term in ages. All the Brits will get it but for everyone else just call them Vice-grips.:D

Well I agree that its got to be something simple.....and likely stupid on my part.

I have quadriple checked the valve timing and it appears spot on. I'm going to double check the valve clearances today and I'm going to pick up a new compression tester too.

I reread my manual on the carbs last night and I can't see any reason why they wouldn't shoot a little juice at least with or without the airbox.

Well I'm getting tired of these sleepless nights so I have to get it to fire or.....find a new hobby.

I'll see what today turns up.

cheers,
Spyug
 
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