Help! Bike cranks fine but won't start.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by DSmithjr

Well, someone also told me that spraying too much starter fluid into the motor can wash the cylinder clean as well and possibably have a negative effect on the rings.

Most starting "fluid" is ether.
It is supposed to go into the engine in GAS form, not liquid.
It should be sprayed into the air box, probably with the air cleaner still in place. That pretty much guarantees that the above won't happen.......and a little goes a LONG way. All it takes is a one or two second squirt.

I never thought about it before but I guess it would be possible to flood it with too much if you are spraying directly into the carb throat.

[DSmithjr]

Okay I finally got my compression gauge 12mm adapter. Here's the results...

I did several tests and on each one I got the exact same reading; it would top out and hold at 149psi (just over a 1000kpa). That places it toward the bottom of the standard range, but a good way above the minimum limit of 114psi.

So there we have it. Even though the bike is toward the bottom of the standard range, it's still within the standard range. The big question now is WHAT'S NEXT???

Should I consider getting a new ignitor? Could it be the timing? How can I make sure it's getting fuel (not counting starter fluid)? What should I do?

I know the battery is fine. Whenever I'm cranking it over, I hook the battery up to my charger so it's always putting out a strong charge.

I'm just baffled. It's nice to know that the engine compression is good, but now I'm back to square one. I'll try anything.

[patrick_777]

Originally Posted by patrick_777

Take a look at page 6-19 in the Service Manual. The Ignitor might actually be bad. There's a checklist there that includes voltage checking and other steps to take to verify that it's working correctly.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by DSmithjr

I'll try anything.

OK, so here's the deal:
This has gone far enough, I think.
You are, of course, free to waste as much of your time and money as you choose but it is by now obvious that "we" aren't doing you any good.

Several suggestions have been made that you didn't respond to.....like have you tried it again using the starting fluid correctly this time ?? Have you put in another new plug ??

You need somebody else to actually LOOK it over.

At this point, I think it would be WELL worth $50-$100 to get it to a dealer for a diagnosis and opinion........or just sell it.

I got nothing else to offer. Sorry.

[DSmithjr]

I'm trying to find my Tester. I want to have this ignitor checked tonight. The testing seems simple enough.

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Several suggestions have been made that you didn't respond to.....like have you tried it again using the starting fluid correctly this time ?? Have you put in another new plug ??

I've tried everything that's been suggested.

Yes, I have completely resembled the bike and just simply tried to start it using nothing but a few sprays of starter fluid into the airbox.

Yes, I have tried a couple of new plugs.

Yes, I have changed the oil.

Yes, I know the battery is putting out a strong charge.

And yes, I called a local bike shop two miles from my house and he told me he could figure out what's wrong with the bike in one hour or less and charge me $75. This is my last option because I don't like having to load the bike up in my truck and tie it down and what not.

But whatever. If no one's interested I'll quit posting. If I get it running, I'll just post what it took. Working on testing the ignitor tonight.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by DSmithjr

If no one's interested I'll quit posting. If I get it running, I'll just post what it took. Working on testing the ignitor tonight.

I didn't say nobody was interested.
We have tried and failed.
There comes a time when it is prudent to give up.
IMHO, "we" have arrived there because "we" can't see/feel/hear/smell what is really going on.
Please DO let us know how it turns out.

[Water Warrior 2]

I agree with Easy. So far we are stumped and really would like to know. Maybe the local shop can find the problem quickly and cheaply so your frustration and hair pulling can stop. I have been down that road and it just isn't worth it sometimes.

[DSmithjr]

Yeah, you guys are probably right. I just can't bring myself to take it to the shop. It makes me feel like less of a man. :biggrin:

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'm still going to test the ignitor. I'm glad the compression is fine. I really didn't want to have to break the motor open to do a mild overhaul. I had convinced myself that I just do it if the compression was bad, but I wasn't really looking forward to it.

As of now, I'm thinking it's spark related. I'm going to run every test in Chapter 6. If I still hit a deadend, I may have to take the walk of shame...

[bonehead]

Maybe PO tried to adjust the valves and did'nt have it on the right stroke. If you can do this yourself, this would be my last resort before taking it to a shop. Good luck, I know its frustrating(2 riding lawnmowers/same prob.)

[Water Warrior 2]

[quote="DSmithjr"]Yeah, you guys are probably right. I just can't bring myself to take it to the shop. It makes me feel like less of a man. :biggrin:

A lesser man would just give up and burn the bike for revenge. Nothing wrong with admitting defeat and going to a shop with hopefully more experience concerning your bike. The shop guys probably have to come to you for your line of expertise so it all works out wonderfully. Don't knock yourself out over this. A real man knows when to say " I'm stumped".