Running--now not

[oldfart]

see what happens

BOOM!!!

[jkgrubbs]

just a little one...

I tend to over analyze stuff.

I went complicated and dangerous, when i should have appiled Achem's Razor, all things being equal, the simplest explaination tends to be the answer.

Oh Well...

[roundogg]

Starting fluid--ok

I have a 80 special and have been a little afraid of using a starting fluid----[eat up rubber or something] I will give it a try and see what happens. Thanks for the input. Wish me luck. Hate not to ride, even in rain or cold---never could stand 'cages'. cio

[jkgrubbs]

Just have an extinguisher handy, do it in the open, in case it backfires through the box. Starting fluid is mainly ether, is quick to evaporate... and burn.

[Jerry]

Most aerosols are explosive. I switched to WD40 in place of starting fluid. Result is the same, but not quite as fast to evaporate and you might get some lubrication going as well. Starting fluid washes all oil off the cylinder walls.

Found WD works best if you are cranking the engine while spraying the WD into the carb throats.

[jkgrubbs]

Very good point, I'm gonna swap, if the need arises again.


Mucho Gracias

[MartyA]

Hi roundogg!
Got me curious. Did you drain the carbs? You got spark, engine turns over, could be fuel? I would suggest timing, I had this problem, but my bike finally quit after I went 30 degrees out. And it still chuffed and barked, even though it would not start.

You can take one of those cheap 8 oz. white gas bottles, turn it on its side, and carve the top off. Like a little dugout boat. Leave the lid on. This will slip under each carb and catch the fuel from the float chamber when you drain them.

[roundogg]

I have not drained the carbs, but may try to just to see if there is crap in'm. I did ride the thing into the yard about 15 mins. before it would not start again---kinda leads me to believe may have some alien stuff in carbs. Did I forget to mention that it had not run for almost ten years before I got it. Did have a cat rebuild carbs-all gas lines-octopus-wires-plugs new gas-battery and other little things that were rotted or just looked bad. I have put almost 1000 miles on it till it stuffed me. I believe I have something very small and I ahave just over looked it. I will do a better check when it stops raining. Hang in, it has not pissed me off yet! When I find the problem, I will be happy to let everyone know--just in case. cio

[uk1.1s]

Still won't go...

Hey rounddogg

So - it's been off the road for a while then. Maybe it is a fuel thing afterall then. Was it running a bit rough on the last ride? Could be that some corrosion or general gunge from the tank has got into the carbs and blocked things up.

If so my previous suggestion of putting a little gas directly into the cylinders through the spark plug holes may get the engine to 'chuff' a little. Could be a good beginning of the diagnosis before you go the whole hog and take out the carbs for a look and clean up.

If the carbs are completely blocked up the easy-start / WD40 solution won't work either as this won't make it into the engine through the blocked up jets either

If there is corrosion in the tank obviously you'll be best running the bike (after this problems fixed) with in-line fuel filters. There I go again... stating the obvious!!

I think you said that you do have a spark - so this is sounding like the best route to take to find out the problem.

Try not to fix it by the big hammer method - makes such a mess of the paintwork

Good luck

[roundogg]

UK , no kidding about the hammer and paint thing, and I have it paeked in the front room . I have put about 1000 miles on it since the double rebuild on the carbs. When I first got it up, the tank and carbs were full of hornets and mud dobbers, rust and general crud, hence the second rebuild. I think I will need to take a better look at the plugs, see what condition they are in and check for carbon build up. I am thinking I may have lost my ground also. Back to work--no hammer this time. Thanks for the input on the putt. cio