Topic: *formerly* stranded in pittsburgh

[Hush]

Two things spring to mind after reading this, one his gas cap vent could be blocked, water may have swollen the cork seal. Two he says putting his boot on the points cover made it run better, mayhap his earth wire is loose and the pressure of the boot on the cover increased the earthing ability!
After that I'd be looking at fuel supply and maybe coil earthing on the frame.

[c(b)hris]

Well, my battery voltage reads 11.75.  Would a dying battery kill it like that?  I had a headlight.  It wouldn't kick over either.

Maybe a combination of dying battery and wet pods.  I pulled the plugs and correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like I was running rich and then really really lean.  Except #4 which just looks crazy rich.  It almost looks like #2 isn't getting any fuel..

Plug #1:


Plug#2:



Plug#3:



Plug#4:



I cleaned them with a wire brush since I don't have any new ones right now and still no start.  Probably need a battery, huh?

[tlbranth]

Don't know if things changed much after the K0 but my 750 will run if there's anything at all in the battery.

[TwoTired]

I don't know if you need a new battery.  But for sure, yours needs to be charged.

The clean plugs could be the result of water ingestion.

Next time you can't get it to start.  Turn off the friggin' headlight.  It sucks 4-5 amps.  A weak battery will drop the voltage to zip and you then get no spark.  Won't matter how much you kick it.  And if the battery is flat, keep the RPM above 2500 to keep the alternator charging the battery.  Idling will just drain the battery again.

[dave500]

might need to check the charging rate aswell,if you have been running slow through town for a while with the headlight on that might have been the problem,and some water,and wet pods

[c(b)hris]

Charged the battery all night, so we'll see.
Ya, I just turned the headlight on to see how the battery was.  Turned it back off before starting.
Gonna get some new plugs and try again.  If that doesn't work then slowly through my wiring.

If the engine sucked in a bunch of water is there anything I should do to address that?

thx

[c(b)hris]

Well I checked my battery after it came off the charger and it was 13.something volts.  I got the bike to start, and let it idle for a little bit.  While idling the battery read 14.something volts.  After about five minutes....it died.  Just like it did on the road.  It acted like it does when it runs out of gas, but there is gas in it.  I didn't see what the voltage was when it died because I was trying to give it some gas.  By the time I got the voltmeter on there and the key off it was around 12.30.

 I'm going to do some searching and make sure my electric is all ok.  One question though..  When the bike was off, and the key turned to "on", headlight off, the battery's voltage was dropping about .03 volts per second.  Is that normal?  Is it possible that my battery is toast and it dies since the battery doesn't recharge at idle?  When I turn the key off again the voltage on the battery goes up at about .01 volt per second.  Then when it got to about 12.50 I was able to turn it over again.  How do you know when a battery is too weak?

clogged idle jets?  clogged petcock?  I'll check my fuel out after work.

thanks

[TwoTired]

The best way to test the battery is to load test it.  Apply "something" like 50-100 amp load to the battery and watch how long it takes for voltage to drop below 10V.

An alternative is to charge it fully, remove from charger, wait two hours and measure voltage.  A good battery will read between 12.6 and 12.8 V  If it reads, 12.something then you still don't have a clue.

Cheers,

[dave500]

these alternators dont charge at idle,over about 2500 rpm they start charging,this is why when you ride around town getting every stop light the battery can end up flat,i have a voltmeter on mine,around town at stop lights ill switch the headlight off.

[c(b)hris]

Do points often go in the rain?  This is the first problem I've had with them.

The point cover seal is usually cork, one time use only, yet most try to reuse them.  That's ok when dry.  When water slips past the cover seal, the engine heat turns it to steam where it then condenses on the points, shorting them out.  Spark becomes iffy.

I make a neoprene gasket (seals way better, is reusable) for all my SOHC4s to keep water splashes out of the points area.

[/quote]

Anyone know what kind of chains sell neoprene gasket material locally?  Napa and AdvanceAuto say they don't carry it.  I'm trying to buy less stuff online.

I was finally able to get the tappet covers off and do a tuneup.  All of my valve clearances were okay anyway, but I guess it's worth the peace of mind to know for sure.  I also cleaned out my tank, filled with vinegar for two days and rinsed thoroughly, baking soda, marvelMysteryOil, filled up.  Took the petcock apart.  Cleaned the carbs again.  Little bead of silicone behind points cover gasket.  Heat shrink on all exposed connections.  I'm riding it all over my neighborhood to try to get it to die again.  I think the neighbors think I'm lost.  There are a few stretches where I can get the rpms high enough to keep the battery charged.  But I can't seem to get it to die again.  After a few trips around my loop I'll stop and check the battery with my voltmeter - always about 12.33-12.37.  There are supposed to be thunderstorms today so I'll take it out in the rain and see if that kills it.  I had it out in the rain all day before it died though.

Does anything change with a '75 550 after about an hour of running?  A lot of start and stop with some brief (2 mile) highway stretches?  All I can think of is it would get hotter.  The gas level will go down.  And I'll tax the battery.  Maybe my tuneup fixed the problem?  I'm still a little leery of taking it farther than I can push it home though.  I don't like it when problems just disappear.  Makes me think they're not really gone.

thx

[TwoTired]

Do points often go in the rain?  This is the first problem I've had with them.

The point cover seal is usually cork, one time use only, yet most try to reuse them.  That's ok when dry.  When water slips past the cover seal, the engine heat turns it to steam where it then condenses on the points, shorting them out.  Spark becomes iffy.

I make a neoprene gasket (seals way better, is reusable) for all my SOHC4s to keep water splashes out of the points area.

Anyone know what kind of chains sell neoprene gasket material locally?  Napa and AdvanceAuto say they don't carry it.  I'm trying to buy less stuff online.
[/quote]

I bought what you see below from the local hardware store (Orchard Supply Hardware).
I got tired of tripping to the store for another foot of it.  So, I bought the remaining roll.  I believe it is 3/32 thick fiber reinforced.  Avoid the foamed neoprene.

Cheers,

[c(b)hris]

I bought what you see below from the local hardware store (Orchard Supply Hardware).
I got tired of tripping to the store for another foot of it.  So, I bought the remaining roll.  I believe it is 3/32 thick fiber reinforced.  Avoid the foamed neoprene.

Cheers,

cool thanks.  picture is helpful.

[Hush]

If you have your tank off, I would check the mounts where the coils bolt onto the frame, if that is tight all good but if there is heaps of white crud around them it would pay to remove the coils and give that area a clean-up. I'm thinking since your battery took a good charge and held it that maybe you killed it with trying to start the bike again but the real problem is somewhere else like maybe the rain got down behind the coils and played merry Hell with your plugs firing, hence the strange array of different plug colours...just my theory.

[L.A. Nomad........]

Did you ever check to see if your getting spark? If you have spark, then remove the airfilter and spray starter fluid in the air box. This should get it to fire....  That means you have fuel deliver issues...

If you don't see spark off your plugs, this means you have electrical issues... You might even have lights and no spark on the plugs. This could mean a bad key ignition switch...

Eddie

[tlbranth]

"I bought what you see below from the local hardware store (Orchard Supply Hardware)."

Spent many happy hours at Orchard supply when I lived in San Jose. (Used to live in Milpitas too). We have a similar store here called McLendon's. Much better than the big chains.

[c(b)hris]

I think this had something to do with it:


That little piece in the right passage looks like it comes loose randomly and completely blocks the passage.
It's also become apparent that I have a very weak battery.

One thing at a time.  Thanks again for everybody's help.

[05c50]

OK Chris, I give up. What is that thing you're holding?

............Paul

[Retro Rocket]

If the engine sucked in a bunch of water is there anything I should do to address that?

Ask around here for a stock airbox......Even if you think your bike is running well with pods you will be surprised how much smoother it runs with the airbox......

[TwoTired]

OK Chris, I give up. What is that thing you're holding?

............Paul

It is the in tank filter/standpipe for the 75-76 fuel valve style.  You are looking where the fuel exits into the fuel valve.

[c(b)hris]

OK Chris, I give up. What is that thing you're holding?

............Paul

It is the in tank filter/standpipe for the 75-76 fuel valve style.  You are looking where the fuel exits into the fuel valve.

What he said

that sock part.

OK Chris, I give up. What is that thing you're holding?

That's what she said.

[Don R]

Where the standpipe goes into the petcock there is a D shaped gasket that is very thin. It has two D shaped holes in it. Mine flapped over into the reserve feed hole and caused problems. You can still get the stand pipe, filter sock and gasket assy new. I just did my 76F.

[c(b)hris]

Update:

Each thing I fixed seemed to make the bike run slightly better.  It's like I was trying to tune a guitar with a warped neck.

1. new battery
2. new petcock
3. cleaned/re-oiled pods
4. new points
5. bought gun for dynamic timing
6. borrowed rectifier from my 750

I did the rpm test and above 4k my voltage was only 13.78.  I switched out the rectifier and the voltage was 14.  Drove to work today and at stoplights it actually idled and I didn't have to rev the motor like a jackass  .

I've still got a lot of things to smooth out but now I feel like I can relax a little.
Thanks again for everybody's help.  This forum is priceless.