Author Topic: grrr bog down then dies on highway SOLVED!  (Read 17211 times)

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Offline scottly

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #50 on: May 10, 2010, 06:36:29 PM »
The very first thing you need to do is buy a thin-wall socket so you can pull the 2 center spark plugs and see what they look like.
Yes, you still have coils with a Dyna, but not condensers. The 2 coils are under the gas tank, and have the spark plugs wires coming out of them. One coil (and one set of points/condenser, or in your case, magnetic pick-up) provides the spark to both cyl 1 & 4, and the other provides the spark to cyl 2 & 3. This is why you need to be able to check the inside plugs: they may indicate a problem with the coil that serves them...
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Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #51 on: May 10, 2010, 11:03:35 PM »
I'll check the center plugs tomorrow, but I tend to think they will be fine because the exhaust headers all feel equally hot. But I'll check
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Offline scottly

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #52 on: May 10, 2010, 11:07:46 PM »
Good. First rule of problem solving is to check/measure what you can, before making SWAGs (scientific wild-ass guesses) ;)
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Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #53 on: May 10, 2010, 11:38:38 PM »
ya I agree. Just am so lost on this one... ugh. Nothing more frustrating than putting a ton of work into what turns out to not be the problem and not know where to go next.
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Offline scottly

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #54 on: May 10, 2010, 11:46:51 PM »
Yeah, I know what it's like. Be patient. It's like putting a puzzle together; when you do get it fixed, you will get a fantastic sense of achievement, and will be so much wiser. And these lessons will apply to life in general, as well. 
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Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #55 on: May 10, 2010, 11:49:33 PM »
I look forward to that time haha. OK so just to recap where I am right now.

Gonna pull the center plugs. If they look good, where do I go from here?
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Offline scottly

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #56 on: May 10, 2010, 11:52:23 PM »
Lets see what they look like, first! ;)
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Offline Mdub

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #57 on: May 10, 2010, 11:53:48 PM »
Did you try riding with the choke partially on?
X= an unknown quantity
Spurt= a drip under pressure!

Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #58 on: May 11, 2010, 12:03:27 AM »
ya I did, made things worse.
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Offline Mdub

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #59 on: May 11, 2010, 12:11:35 AM »
Hmmmm, you mentioned letting it cool. Was it really hot?
You also mentioned it ran well before the side covers.
Have you tried running without them?
« Last Edit: May 11, 2010, 12:14:22 AM by Mdub »
X= an unknown quantity
Spurt= a drip under pressure!

Offline Hush

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #60 on: May 11, 2010, 12:20:05 AM »
Some of us 650 owners run without the cover on our airfilter, it helps with some bikes breathing, I personally believe it works because it has something to do with different altitudes that bikes run at.
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #61 on: May 11, 2010, 12:35:01 AM »
took the side covers off when pulling/installing the carbs and didnt put em back on for the latest test drive. no difference.
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Offline Mdub

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #62 on: May 11, 2010, 12:58:28 AM »
Did you check for spark when it died?
If you were to check for spark immediately after dying,
it would tell you something.
X= an unknown quantity
Spurt= a drip under pressure!

Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #63 on: May 11, 2010, 01:04:04 AM »
dont know if i could unscrew it that fast! haha ill try
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Offline Mdub

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #64 on: May 11, 2010, 01:11:34 AM »
Just take a spare plug that is known to be good with you.
When it dies, pull over put the 1 or 4 wire on the plug.
Hold it against the head and crank.
No burnt fingers!
X= an unknown quantity
Spurt= a drip under pressure!

Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #65 on: May 11, 2010, 01:15:18 AM »
ah ha! so smart of course!
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Offline Mdub

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #66 on: May 11, 2010, 01:22:18 AM »
Of course you may still get zapped! ;D
X= an unknown quantity
Spurt= a drip under pressure!

Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #67 on: May 11, 2010, 03:47:40 AM »
got zapped, it was fun! haha but i had spark...
1976 Honda CB550k

Offline Ayrity

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Re: grrr bog down then dies on highway
« Reply #68 on: May 11, 2010, 04:35:59 AM »
ok big big EDIT!!!!!!!!! I rode it around some more, till it really wasnt going at all, hard to restart. checked for spark... none! so now I am pretty sure I know my problem. What would cause all plugs to not fire once its heated up? could BOTH coils have gone bad at the same time??? maybe it is something to do with the ignition "cam"? people with aftermarket ignitions please help!
1976 Honda CB550k

Offline Spanner 1

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'Scuse me, but looking at your pic. of the 'points' plate on p.1, are those pick-up coil thingys way far from the cam???... aren't they supposed to be gapped like points would be?..... pic. not very clear.
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Offline manjisann

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I can't say for sure about his, but on my 650 the pickups are spaced between .012 to .016 in.

Brandon
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Offline Duke McDukiedook

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If that is a Dyna ignition, it is very old, the newer ones have rounded pickups. Yours may be dead or dying since it seems to fade on warmup of the engine.

Probably time to switch to points or buy a new CDI.
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Offline Ayrity

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so you guys suspect the magnetic triggers more than the coils at this point? how can I test it? is it ok to hook up a volt meter to and let it run

oh and also, it gets pretty close? to a tiny bump built into each pick up, but not close to the whole pick up itself. ugh I really wish one of you guys were here to walk me through this mess of wires, that plus this florida heat and the smell of gas all over me is starting to break down my "right attitude" here....  >:(
« Last Edit: May 11, 2010, 11:24:16 AM by Ayrity »
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Offline scottly

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I wouldn't expect both coils to go bad at the same time. You might want to do some research and try to figure out what ignition you have. If it has a control unit, that would affect both coils.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
Helmets save brains. Always wear one and ride like everyone is trying to kill you....

Offline Ayrity

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ill check, but there seems to be no brand name... but ill look harder. would the bike completely gurgle down and die if only one coil was working? I assume it would make noise and would slugishly rev but wouldnt give power.
1976 Honda CB550k