Topic: 76 550 doesn't like to start for a bit..?

[messeduptriple]

Yea so I pulled the bike out from the winter.  I've been riding it now few times.
I placed a new battery in it.
Had no issues last year at all.
My issue is....
It will start... ill ride for a while . Get some gas and it starts back up on a dime... but when I let it  sit for more then 5- 10 mins it doesn't want to start. Its just trys to start ... but just lacking that punch.  Eventually ..ill let it sit for  a bit then it will fire. Anyone know what may be the issue? ? How can I check  ?? Thanks for any help
- cristian

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[Duanob]

Did you try using the choke when it has a hard time starting? See if that makes a difference.

[messeduptriple]

Yes.. I use that to start all the time.  I know the bike and I only need to flip that few times usually.  Now it just doesn't  want to start sometimes. 

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[messeduptriple]

Anyone? ?

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[becken]

Try a complete 3000 mile service?

[iron_worker]

You have a pretty poor description of your running problem.

Do you mean the starter motor doesn't turn it over very quickly? If so, this is very likely an undercharged battery problem usually caused by a problem in the charging system.

What is the voltage of your battery with the key off?

IW

[messeduptriple]

You have a pretty poor description of your running problem.

Do you mean the starter motor doesn't turn it over very quickly? If so, this is very likely an undercharged battery problem usually caused by a problem in the charging system.

What is the voltage of your battery with the key off?

IW

I haven't checked that.
The place I ordered the battery from ..I thought gave me the right one. Crazy story was  it was wrong and the battery was a different year... so when i went to just quick toss It in and hook up I totally didn't pay any attention of the plus negative.  The battery was opposite.  So when I stuck the positive on it smoked like a #$%*hhh. I then looked and noticed it was the wrong battery.  Well he gave me the new battery and right one.
I used my old battery I had on trickle and it started up on a dime.
Now that battery isn't working so I'm using the new battery

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[messeduptriple]

Can that smoking ..whatever it was did some odd starter damage?
Where should I look and what should I do now?
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[Tews19]

I wouldn't worry about starter damage. I've done what you did prior and had the battery fizzle on me.

You check the spark on each cylinder? Do you leave the petcock on when you are not riding? Maybe no fuel in the bowls? Not sure. Once a bike is in running order it should actually start up right away if recently ridden

[messeduptriple]

I wouldn't worry about starter damage. I've done what you did prior and had the battery fizzle on me.

You check the spark on each cylinder? Do you leave the petcock on when you are not riding? Maybe no fuel in the bowls? Not sure. Once a bike is in running order it should actually start up right away if recently ridden

I do leave the petcock on.. is that bad?

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[messeduptriple]

I wouldn't worry about starter damage. I've done what you did prior and had the battery fizzle on me.

You check the spark on each cylinder? Do you leave the petcock on when you are not riding? Maybe no fuel in the bowls? Not sure. Once a bike is in running order it should actually start up right away if recently ridden

no..I don't know how to check that

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[iron_worker]

If you hooked up your battery backwards then your rectifier is likely burnt out. Therefore, your battery is not recharging as you ride. Thus when you go to restart your bike the battery is and may not start.

Start diagnosing your charging system but I would look closely at the rectifier.

IW

[Bankerdanny]

Do you have a spare plug laying around? You can test spark by pulling the boot off one cylinder at a time, attach it to the spare plug then touch the plug to the cylinder and turn the bike over with the starter. If the plug is sparking you will see it.

If you don't have a spare plug, remove one from the engine then use it to test all 4 wires.

In general leaving the petcock on won't cause a problem, but if a float sticks fuel will keep flowing to the carb and leak out the overflow. I typically turn mine off if I am going to be parked for more than a few minutes, it's just a good safety habit to get into.

If the battery is weak that will definitely make it harder to start. Do you have a multimeter so you can test the battery voltage when the bike is off and then over a range of RPM's while running to see if you are charging properly?

Finally, you shouldn't need choke unless the bike is completely cold. I know my '77 didn't need choke at all in the summer.

[messeduptriple]

Well now it won't even start.
Its just trying to turn over but no start.
I looked at the fuses to find the rectifier. . Which one is it?
Some of the wires look amost melted.
Not good.


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[bollingball]

If you hooked up your battery backwards then your rectifier is likely burnt out. Therefore, your battery is not recharging as you ride. Thus when you go to restart your bike the battery is and may not start.

Start diagnosing your charging system but I would look closely at the rectifier.

IW

+1 some of your diodes are fried. I can not tell from the picture where yours is. Look at those 3 white plugs to the right of the bottom one looks like that is it.
Ken

[Fritz]

Have a look at the diagram below:

If hooked up correctly, the positive pole of the battery is connected to the negative poles of the diodes. In this direction, the diodes block current from the battery positive pole to the alternator/ground.
If you reverse the poles, the negative end of the battery connects to the negative poles of the diodes, letting all the battery juice flow through the rectifier. Most of the current will flow through the ground connection of your rectifier back to the battery. This amount of current is far too much for the rectifier diodes. They will die fast.
So the most likely damage is: Burnt wires from battery plus to rectifier and from rectifier ground to battery minus and a fried rectifier.

The alternator should not take any damage, since it does not have a direct ground connection so no current will flow through it with a wrong battery setup.

Also, if you are lucky, the rectifier's ground connection has been in a bad condition (corroded, dirty, etc.) which would limit the damage somewhat...

However, get yourself a multimeter with a diode tester and measure your rectifier's diodes as described in the Honda CB500/550 Workshop Manual...

The rectifier's plug has three yellow wires and one red and green.

[messeduptriple]

Have a look at the diagram below:

If hooked up correctly, the positive pole of the battery is connected to the negative poles of the diodes. In this direction, the diodes block current from the battery positive pole to the alternator/ground.
If you reverse the poles, the negative end of the battery connects to the negative poles of the diodes, letting all the battery juice flow through the rectifier. Most of the current will flow through the ground connection of your rectifier back to the battery. This amount of current is far too much for the rectifier diodes. They will die fast.
So the most likely damage is: Burnt wires from battery plus to rectifier and from rectifier ground to battery minus and a fried rectifier.

The alternator should not take any damage, since it does not have a direct ground connection so no current will flow through it with a wrong battery setup.

Also, if you are lucky, the rectifier's ground connection has been in a bad condition (corroded, dirty, etc.) which would limit the damage somewhat...

However, get yourself a multimeter with a diode tester and measure your rectifier's diodes as described in the Honda CB500/550 Workshop Manual...

The rectifier's plug has three yellow wires and one red and green.

I really need to try and understand this better.
I just get confused and wjen it comes to wiring diagrams I should try and find someone to show me hands on and explain the ouroosesband reasonin behind it all.


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