Topic: First time starting new engine, 2 & 3 not as hot

[jakec]

Based on facebook page suggestion I am going to check my valves again.

[Alan F.]

I’d also re-check my valve clearances...

Facebook huh.

[jakec]

Yeah there is a really active facebook page for the 400.

[scottly]

Based on facebook page suggestion I am going to check my valves again.

Have you done a compression test that shows low values?

[Alan F.]

I’d also re-check my valve clearances and do a compression test.

More of the quote I quoted earlier.

[Deltarider]

Have a close look at the O-rings around the main jets. They are often overlooked...

[jakec]

Yeah I have checked the O rings and they appear to be ok but I have thought about replacing. Also No I do not have a compression tester.

[Alan F.]

https://m.shop.harborfreight.com/storelocator/location/map?
utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.harborfreight.com%2Fstorelocator

https://www.harborfreight.com/Compression-Test-Kit-8-Pc-62638.html

We don't have a harbor freight here, it's a blessing and a curse!

[jakec]

How do you know where I live!!! Really though those are all over 30 minutes away. But I have ordered the O rings as of this morning!

[Bankerdanny]

I don't have any extra coils, and the leads aren't long enough to swap the 2.3 into the 1.4 position. Although that would be a great idea.

Is it possible that a bad coil can fire some of the time?

Since you know the 1-4 side of the ignition is working you don't need to swap the coils to test the 2-3. Unplug the yellow and blue wires at the coils. Plug the blue wire from the harness to the yellow one to the coil. Pull the 2 or 3 ignition wire and insert a spare plug. Turn on the ignition, touch the plug to the valve cover or a barrel fin and hit the starter button. If the coil is the issue then you still won't have spark. If you do see a spark then the problem is likely not the coil and is somewhere else in your system.

[jakec]

Have a friend visiting now so harder to work on the bike. But I have replaced main jet O rings, check float level with clear tube, and checked valves. Adjusted #2 exhaust a little bit. Now waiting for coils and stuff to come tomorrow, and I will install and try to start again.

[scottly]

So it's fixed now? What was wrong?

[jakec]

It's hard to tell what the real problem was since I replaced coils, ignition, and re-checked the carbs (added new main jet O rings) all at the same time.

I should have swapped in just coils first to see if I could forego the new ignition, but you have to take the carbs off to access the wires to install the ignition. And the Dyna looked pretty so I said screw it and installed it. I'm leaning toward the problem being coils since that seems to line up with the inconsistent lean/rich condition on each set of paired cylinders.