another non starting xj

1981 xj550rh
i just finished cleaning and rebuilding the carbs lining the tank
i bench synched the carbs and everything ran perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw6oX3gBrhE

for about a week...

now it will not start. it turns over and sounds like it will start on the first try and then nothing after.

i took the petcock apart to clean it and it's leakig now so i'll have to get the kit for it.

but i cranks great and i have a good spark

there is also fuel getting to the carbs and filling the bowls fine.

any help is greatly appreciated

 

Did you do a lot of idling while tuning then not ride? I have found the plugs seem to foul easily when doing so but you would not see good spark on them. It's a place to start if you are sure you are getting fuel.

 

i was doing alot of idle without riding to dial in the tuning

i will double check the plugs today.

it just seems strange that if i hit the starter in the morning it fires a few times and threatens to start and then nothing

 

Definitely check the carbs and let us know what you find.

Also, if they're not wet or fouled, try spraying a bit of starting fluid into each carb and see if she starts up then. If she does, then you pretty much know you have a fuel delivery problem.

 

yup i'll be trying the starter fluid and then go from there

i have a feeling it has to do with the petcock

i'll let you guys know

 

ok this has me baffled

i went out and tried to start her, and it fired right up like normal.

now i don't feel comfortable going out on it and getting stranded

 

Actually, I meant to say to check the plugs.

Now you kind of need to get into a non-starting situation again to see whether the plugs are wet (flooded), dry (no fuel), or fouled by something else.

Did you get a chance to look at them before starting it?

 

no i just went out and turned it on and pressed the button assuming nothing would happen.

to my surprise it just fired right up

my spidey senses are making me think the bad petcock is partly to blame.

and that i may have flooded it trying to start it in my frustration

 

I have had very similar issues with the plugs - sounds just like you are describing. I picked up a tip on here of heating them with a torch - worked great when I tried it a couple of weeks ago.

 

Yup mrkil, it sounds like a flooding issue to me. Has never left me stranded, but I have found that my old XJ needs a specific procedure otherwise it floods. What usually gets forgotten when I flood it is not placing the kill switch in the 'run' position and then cranking it over. If I forget the kill switch, at that point may as well go for a pee 'cause there ain't nothing starting that bike for 5 minutes. Then she'll fire up like there was never anything wrong.

 

Mine did just as you are describing. Drove me freakin' flippin' nuts. Just needed new spark plugs. The plugs that were in it were not only too hot of a plug and gapped wrong by the PO, but were fouled out beyond belief. New plugs and a battery charge and off he went. ( I think it was bill or rick who told me about four times each to change the plugs I swore it wasn't the plugs because the PO said.... )

 

btw all is well it was a couple things

plug wires, so i cut a bit off and they're good as new

and vacum line to the tank unhooked