Won't start (but intermittent)

[froche]

OK My XS is being non cooperative.

Seems that it starts sometimes and not others. Since it is my daily commuter to
work, I want to fix it. Symptoms and attempted remedies follow:

Cranks but doesn't start
OK on Gas
Petcocks are manual and fuel flowed
Spark test got me shocked but I suspect the spark is intermittent
Have and tried known working Black Box to no avail
Replaced Kill switch
Removed tipover switch
All fuses good, fuse box is a Jameson
Leave it alone for a while and sometimes it will start.

The initial time it failed I removed the wires from the Kill Switch and
connected them, that got it running and got me home. Replaced the switch and
reconnected the wires and viola fixed (for a week)

Please someone come up with some good ideas to check and try. On a side note I
am gonna go look at an 88 Concours as a potential commuter cycle...

As they say in Jersey
Tanks
Frank
1979 XS1100

[Jerry]

Frank:

There is a ballast resistor located in the wiring under the gas tank. Sounds like it may be cracked or shorting out on an intermittent basis. Has happened to other riders...

There have been a few threads on this. Do search on 'ballast resistor' or 'ignition problems' and see if you can find more information. Search tab should be at the top right-hand side of your screen

[Ken Talbot]

... pick-up coil wires....

[froche]

Intermittent starting

So far I have gotten advice as follows (I summarize)
Fuel - I do have fuel cause I can get it to pop sometmes, and can smell it if I crank too much
PickUp Wires - Haven't checked yet but will. My question is that even if broken wouldnt the bike start and run although perhaps miserably?
Ballest Resistor - Haven't checked but did bypass and therefore allowed all 12 volts all the time... didn't start.


I do have an 81 parter that I can snag coils off of to try... but SWMBO has told me to just buy a new (well lightly used) bike!!

I found:
2000 Bandit 1200S with 6400 miles but the dealer wants 5K for it
01 Vulcan 1500 with 6800 on it dealer wants 7K but seems willing to move
and
a Honda Shadow 750 that reminds me of my old sporty... 7000 on the clock and 5.4k for it....

Hmmm
Maybe buy this weekend and fix next weekend!!!

[Redbaron]

Intermittent Starting

Had a similar problem turned out to be the four wire plug at the CDI. Loose, when cleaned and tightened my problem went away. was also experiencing some sputtering around 5500 RPM, which disappeared. HTH