Author Topic: well. i dont think its the battery (Read 3730 times)

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **on:** November 10, 2005, 07:38:12 AM »

So i got a new battery from sears, and got it ready over night. And it's doing it's job. But the bike still isn't wanting to start. It'll fire up for a second or two, and then stop. So i thought'd i'd check the new plugs i'd put in, and they have wet oil on them. Not only that, but this i think its called the cylinder head has oil on it too

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2005, 07:41:07 AM »

oh yeah, so this all means im stuck, and don't know what to do.

TwoTired · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2005, 08:46:04 AM »

What year and model Harley do you have?

Do you have any tools? Can you do a compression check?

Do the plug deposits smell like gas or oil?

Using the kick start, what does each cylinder feel like in resistance?

Have you tried new spark plugs?

Have you checked you timing?

What does the repair shop say?

dusterdude · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2005, 09:08:09 AM »

tt,harley?

Jim Shea · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2005, 09:12:03 AM »

"What year and model Harley do you have?"

Is that what's known as sarcasm? or is TowTired a closet Harley man?

dusterdude · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2005, 09:12:57 AM »

yea well im not goin there

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2005, 11:18:50 AM »

Quote from: TwoTired on November 10, 2005, 08:46:04 AM

What year and model Harley do you have?

Do you have any tools? Can you do a compression check?

Do the plug deposits smell like gas or oil?

Using the kick start, what does each cylinder feel like in resistance?

Have you tried new spark plugs?

Have you checked you timing?

What does the repair shop say?

No Harley 1980 HONDLEY cb650

Have tools, nothing for a compression check.
didn't smell the plugs
it's missing the kickstarter....
Yes, the spark plugs were brand new, just put em in a couple days ago (the bike hasn't been running for a year)
No I haven't checked the timing (tool issue again)

TwoTired · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2005, 05:12:38 PM »

Sometimes I get a bit weary reading questions like "My bike's broke. How do I fix it?"
Then having to play 20 (or more) questions to drag enough information for a real clue to the issue at hand. My telepathy hasn't worked well since I left the womb.

Anyway, since Honda's are normally so reliable, and there was no statement about what vehicle he was trying to motorvate, I just naturally assumed he had one of those broke down Harleys. It was just a guess, really. I almost went with Vespa, or Benellii. But, I like the reactionary effect of raised eyebrows every once in a while. Did it work?

I guess I'll just shut up and wait for enough real information to formulate a response.

Cheers,

Buffo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2005, 06:17:20 PM »

somebody's cranky.

Buffo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2005, 06:24:00 PM »

pacman...2tired gave you a good place to start...you should buy a compression tester...and a induction strobe timing light...both are inexpensive...

compression checks are best done with the bike at operating temp but if it wont run that long do what you can...post the results and if the bike was hot or cold...

what plugs did you buy..numbers and all...

check your plugs again...keep notes on each cylinder...what the plugs look like and if it is gas or oil clean your plugs every time you remove them so you get a new reading every time

did you remove the airfilter to make sure that there was no nests in it?

report back with info...

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2005, 07:07:47 PM »

Thank you buffalo dude for a informative reply, i'll go and get those things in the morning and then report back.
Later
J

Lumbee · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2005, 07:36:44 PM »

...have u cleaned the carbs? Seems to be a right of passage on old hondas. If you havn't cleaned them u'd be well served to do so. Before u ask how to clean them...do you have u'r Clymer/Hanes manual for the bike? Another right of passage...

Buffo · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2005, 08:00:30 PM »

a shop manual is better but harder & more expencive to come buy ...but one in PDF might be floating around here somewhere...but at least get the Haynes/clymer book...

Good point about cleaning the carbs...You are not a Honda man/woman...till youve cleaned the carbs...

I know very little about 650's...2tired is rather knowledgable in most CB related questions...along with a few others...

Buffo The Magnificent

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2005, 08:47:33 PM »

I do have a clymer, but have not cleaned the carbs. The guy I bought it from cleaned them prolly six months before I bought it. I think he just got the spray stuff and then put em back in. Still doesn't run. He used to be able to get it started with starting fluid, but now it'll just fire up for a moment. If you all still think I should clean the carbs i'll do it, I got some of the fabled yamaha carb cleaner, but every since the battery thing, didn't know if it was the right thing to do. I'm still a bit concerned about the oil on the outside of the cylinder heads though. Can anybody shine some light on that for me?

dusterdude · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2005, 06:52:05 AM »

yea,prsman hasnt been baptized yet.

Lumbee · « **Reply #15 on:** November 11, 2005, 07:06:12 AM »

how much oil on the head are we talk'n about? Is it leaking on the ground? If its just on the head, probably a leaky gasket, I'd put that on the back burner for now...that won't stop it from starting. Your next step should be pulling the carbs. If u got spark (and we'll assume u have compression) the problem is no gas. Pull the carbs and either do a complete tear down, or just remvoe the bowls and jets and clean'm good. If the PO says he had to use starter to get it started, then the carbs ain't clean!

Heres the deal prs. You can keep trying a little of this and a little of that and it may take you 6 months to find the problem. Where as you can say, OK its a pain in the butt to pull and clean the carbs completely, but after its done, at least u know u'll have a clean set of carbs, and if it still doesn't start, well then you'll move on to trouble shooting something else.

Anytime you get a new bike you never know what condition its in, regardless of what the PO says he did or didn't do. Do the tough work up front and it will pay dividends down the road. Its a marathon not a sprint...

eldar · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2005, 07:53:01 AM »

One thing to try, drain all fuel from the carbs and shut off the gas. Clean your plugs and then try to start.
Of course you will not start but if you crank for a bit then pull the plugs and have oil on them, then you have some issues and the bike may not start and run at all this that is taken care of.

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2005, 08:18:52 PM »

Ok. I pulled and cleaned the carbs today, and just have one question. The two hoses on the outside carbs near the air box, where do they go??? Or are they just vent tubes.... I tried to start it with even less luck than before cleaning the carbs. It won't even fire up for a second. Is it because these tubes aren't hooked up?

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2005, 08:52:26 PM »

Pr, have you checked that fuel is getting to the carbs, pull the fuel line from the carbs, turn fuel on, see if it comes out of line.

Sam.

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #19 on:** November 14, 2005, 07:05:41 AM »

Yeah, Its getting fuel

ofreen · « **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2005, 09:49:55 AM »

Quote from: prsman23@hotmail.c on November 14, 2005, 07:05:41 AM

Yeah, Its getting fuel

Is it getting spark? You said there was oil on the plugs. Are you sure it isn't gas? That's why Lloyd asked what the plugs smelled like.

Greg
'75 CB750F

Buffo · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2005, 03:05:52 PM »

on my carbs the 2 holes in the mouth of each carb are for air...I forget whichone is which...one goes to the pilot jet and one is for the main...they must be clear for the carbs to flow properly...

prsman23@hotmail.c · « **Reply #22 on:** November 20, 2005, 06:57:21 PM »

It's definately getting spark, the plugs smell like oil to me, and everything in the carbs should be clean, I "boiled" them in the yamaha carb cleaner, and everything looked nice and clean. Still won't start.

Buffo · « **Reply #23 on:** November 20, 2005, 07:25:38 PM »

I said "my carbs oare clean this time" like 4 or 5 times...if they are really gunked up you need to dig around in some places...are you sure all of the little passages aore clean?

Buffo · « **Reply #24 on:** November 20, 2005, 07:27:52 PM »

did you diaassemble the carbs and clean the jets by hand or just dump the whole bloody mess in apot wih some cleaner?

if you did the latter odds are tht all the important stuff is just as dirty as it was when you started....

they must be disassembled.

News:

Author Topic: well. i dont think its the battery (Read 3730 times)

prsman23@hotmail.c

prsman23@hotmail.c

Jim Shea

prsman23@hotmail.c

Buffo

Buffo

prsman23@hotmail.c

Buffo

prsman23@hotmail.c

eldar

prsman23@hotmail.c

prsman23@hotmail.c

Buffo

prsman23@hotmail.c

Buffo

Buffo