new guy- old bike

[natemoen]

Spark looks adequate but it seems like it should be sparking more often so I suggest you check your pickup coil wires and see if there are some breaks that are making the spark intermittent.

Then, now this really might be nothing BUT the long 120 degree boots are supposed to be on the inner 2 cylinders, and the short 90 degree boots on the outer 2. So you need to make sure you are getting spark to the right cylinders at the right time.

[78whiteorbs]

hmmm , will give that a try but there has been enough carb cleaner in there that a spark like that should go boom! I will get a can of starter fluid though today. Might pick up a extra set of coils off a parts bike this weekend and test them .

did pull th eenricher out all the way and still no joy . Also blocked the vacuum ports when the carbs were off.

[DGXSER]

Let me just say this again, cause it will be ALOT simpler than swapping coils. Try simply swapping the grey and orange wires at the coils. In essence, you are changing the timing. May not work, but it is very simple when the tank and seat are already off.

You may have a decent fuel source (carb cleaner) and a good spark, but if there is no compression when the spark hits the mix, then you get no boom. BTDT printed up the T-shirt myself, when I swapped coils on Steppenwolf's bike a few weeks back.

[78whiteorbs]

Excellent suggestion I will do that today!

Actually had three Rd350's that the wires were swapped wrong over 30 years ago by the date on the battery and when I got them I swapped them and bang- started right up- put on a good smoke show too!

I like this idea ,it is so simple it might just work !

timing.... we live and die by it

[78whiteorbs]

Nope , didnt work

did blow a fuse though, guess thats something...
My gut says this is an electrical/spark problem. Three of the four cylinders arent really sparking at all like the one in the video. Carbs are sucking gas fine, with my hand over the back of them while starting my hand gets moist with gas like it should and has on any other running bike I have encountered. I'd find it hard to believe that its a wire somewhere as the wring harness is so tidy and clean looking. Well tomorrow is volt meter time...

[sidecarKev]

I watched your whole 9 minute video. At about 5:30 you show some cut wires. I would pull the tape off and see what's up. That starter solenoid is not original also. I replaced it with a generic automotive type. there should be no issues with it though as it seems to be working. There is no headlight relay or anything for the sidecar. Taking off the sidecar should not have really caused any issues that I can think of. Have you tried new plugs?

[tarzan]

I just skimmed back over this thread and don't see where you tried installing new spark plugs. I have had this experience on a couple XS's. Even with newer plugs. Once they foul, I could not get good enough spark to fire the bike up. Replace with fresh plugs and they started right up.

[78whiteorbs]

Thanks for watching I will investigate- It appeared to me to be just a large piece of battery cable taped off. I thought it unusual like somehow you had originally had the battery "hardwired" in there for some reason. Wish I had some pics of a stock setup to compare it to .

as for the plugs, well I did ultrasonically clean them but sure I could drop a few new ones in why not.

[78whiteorbs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUKUe...ature=youtu.be

Well, fellas I learned something today. After some voltmeter readings I found I was losing almost a volt between the battery and the coils. After cleaning some contacts especially the ECU the bike fired right up -weirdest thrill. I have been looking for "that one" problem that was gonna fix it but it turns out to be many small ones that added up to enough that it was robbing my volts just enough to not start- Clean all your electric contacts, lesson learned.

thanks and case closed!

one question, what is the extra nipple on the end of the tank go? I just blocked it off for now.

[natemoen]

That nipple down on the back of the tank is the drain for the recessed gas cap area. Should be a hose running from that down to the swingarm area.

[78whiteorbs]

never would have guessed but thats quite unique-

[sidecarKev]

A sidecar rig must not have been your thing?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/3292125186.html

[natemoen]

A sidecar rig must not have been your thing?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/3292125186.html

That was quick!

[jwhughes3]

And same CL pics the PO used with nonexistent fairing.


I feel so used


John