Temperature problem solved (Long post)
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Iowa
Temperature problem solved (Long post)
I had a frustrating problem last week with my '82 Sporty. When cold, it would start and run fine for a few miles, but if I turned the bike off or it died on its own, it wouldn't restart. It would turn over well, but wouldn't start back up.
The first time it happened, I had no tools with me. But after sitting around for 30 minutes trying to get it running, it finally started back up and got me home. The next day, I loaded up some tools and went for another ride. I made a 20-mile circuit on some back roads and it ran fine. I got back into town and slowed for a stoplight, and it died on me and wouldn't restart.
First thing I did was pull a plug and check for spark, and I did have spark. In fact, the bike started running on just one cylinder. I shut it off, put the spark plug back in and tried to start it, but no joy. The service manual says "If it has spark, the ignition system is OK, look elsewhere".
So I pulled the air cleaner off and verified the accelerator pump was squirting gas into the carb when I twisted the throttle. It did, so I had gas in the float bowl. I got a ride home to get my truck so I could haul it home. Got back to the bike and tried to start it one more time, and of course, it started up and I made it the five miles home again with no problems.
I did some troubleshooting for a couple days, including tearing into the carb to make sure nothing was getting plugged up with grit or garbage in the float bowl (been there, done that before). All looked OK in the carb.
I finally determined that when cold, the spark would jump the full 3/16 of an inch that the manual said it should. When hot, I still had spark, but it would barely jump 1/16 of an inch. So I bought a new coil, and the problem was solved. I knew the instant I hit the starter button, as it started immediately on the first revolution of the engine, like it always has. And it's run fine since then.
So, what I learned from this little exercise, is: 1. Not all spark is "good enough" spark. 2. Pay attention to the details. If the manual says 3/16 of an inch, make sure it works at 3/16 of an inch. 3. Replacment coil from my local indie is $65. 4. Intermittent problems are always a pain in the rear end, but it feels good when you finally get them fixed.
Safe riding to you all.
Mitch
The first time it happened, I had no tools with me. But after sitting around for 30 minutes trying to get it running, it finally started back up and got me home. The next day, I loaded up some tools and went for another ride. I made a 20-mile circuit on some back roads and it ran fine. I got back into town and slowed for a stoplight, and it died on me and wouldn't restart.
First thing I did was pull a plug and check for spark, and I did have spark. In fact, the bike started running on just one cylinder. I shut it off, put the spark plug back in and tried to start it, but no joy. The service manual says "If it has spark, the ignition system is OK, look elsewhere".
So I pulled the air cleaner off and verified the accelerator pump was squirting gas into the carb when I twisted the throttle. It did, so I had gas in the float bowl. I got a ride home to get my truck so I could haul it home. Got back to the bike and tried to start it one more time, and of course, it started up and I made it the five miles home again with no problems.
I did some troubleshooting for a couple days, including tearing into the carb to make sure nothing was getting plugged up with grit or garbage in the float bowl (been there, done that before). All looked OK in the carb.
I finally determined that when cold, the spark would jump the full 3/16 of an inch that the manual said it should. When hot, I still had spark, but it would barely jump 1/16 of an inch. So I bought a new coil, and the problem was solved. I knew the instant I hit the starter button, as it started immediately on the first revolution of the engine, like it always has. And it's run fine since then.
So, what I learned from this little exercise, is: 1. Not all spark is "good enough" spark. 2. Pay attention to the details. If the manual says 3/16 of an inch, make sure it works at 3/16 of an inch. 3. Replacment coil from my local indie is $65. 4. Intermittent problems are always a pain in the rear end, but it feels good when you finally get them fixed.
Safe riding to you all.
Mitch
Last edited by yellowstone kelly; Aug 7, 2011 at 10:41 AM.
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