Need some help! Engine won't turn over..

So I just got my first bike, an 82' XJ550. When I first got her a few weeks ago she ran perfect, only issue was a slow oil leak from the front left corner of the valve cover. So I went ahead on ordered a new gasket and doughnuts to fix her up and did a quick valve clearance check on replaced 2 tight shims. I let her sit for about a week while the shims were on order before I threw her back together, and when I finally got everything back together last night she won't turn over... I'm very new to working on bikes so this is scaring me a lot! I don't want my big (for a young part time working kid) investment to shit out on me before I even get a good chance to ride it! The started cranks but it just will not fire... As far as I know the only things I touched electrical wise were the 4 spark plug cables and the one relay under the gas tank. As far as I know its not the relay or the starter wouldn't even crank right? Please help me out guys! I need this puppy to get me to and from work this summer!

 

FULLY CHARGED BATTERY, fusebox, sidestand switch. Start there.

Meanwhile, PM me with your email address and I'll send you the starting circuit diag pages from the factory book.

Until the manual you have on order arrives.

For future reference: from what you're saying, the bike TURNS OVER but will not fire. Big difference.

It could just be a slightly flat battery.

 

+1 to what Fitz said.

The way the system is on the XJs, it doesn't take too much battery loss to lose good spark.

 

Thanks for your advice, so she turns over just wont fire then Is what I mean. I have the battery on the trickle right now, no blown fuses, what is the sidestand switch? Also how do I check the spark plugs for a good spark/bad plug? I doubt thats the problem but It would be could to know how to check!

Also am I correct in assuming that it is not the relay if the starter cranks?

 

The sidestand switch is part of the safety circuit, and another reason you need a manual.

These bikes employ a system of relays and switches that will not allow you to start the bike while it is in gear with the sidestand down; and with the stand up, will only allow it to start in gear if the clutch lever is pulled in.

There is a switch down on the sidestand, hanging out in the road spray. On the 550s, it has its OWN relay; then you have the neutral switch, the clutch switch and the safety relay itself.

Yes you can assume it's not the relay if it lets you spin the motor.

Start with a fully charged battery and a new set of properly gapped NGK D8EA plugs.

I vote flat battery 1st.

 

fuel, air, compression, and spark-check your plug wires to make sure they are back where they should be and not separating from the boot. Check your fuel make sure it's flowing to the carbs-if you don't have a clear fuel tube I would go to the parts store and get one (it's nice to see the flow). If you plan on not starting the bike for several days (or longer) for whatever reason, it's a good idea to charge your battery and put some kind of stabilizer in the gas-or an ethanol remedy to keep that gas from getting gummy in your carbs or developing any condensation.

Easiest way to check your plugs is to either use an extra plug or pull one and hold it close to the motor while you crank in relative dark-you should see a nice fat spark that will jump at least 3/4 inch to motor. Since it was fine before I wouldn't get too concerned, it's something simple and fixable.

 

I got my first XJ a while BEFORE I discovered XJBikes.

My first "rude surprise" was an intermittent sidestand switch; followed closely by spontaneously breaking fuse clips.

I had to figure those out on my own; little did I know how common both failures were.

I also discovered the "flat battery spinning the starter but not having enough "juice" left for firing the ignition" thing the hard way.

 

True. Thank God for this site! My PO gave me a free starter motor when I bought my XJ because he thought the installed one was going bad. Nope it was the battery-he had charged it but hadn't checked the fluid. He also suspected the bike wasn't charging properly for the same reason, but it was cranking 14.4v at 2000rpm-it was nice to get a NOS starter though.

If you own an XJ and don't use this site..well your just plain SOL.

 

Thanks for the help guys. Just tried with a freshly charged battery and she still wouldn't fire.. I got a mean backfire towards the end of the battery though. There were times when I heard a little rumble for the engine like she wanted to turn but just couldn't.. So I think I'm just gonna pull all the spark plugs and get a fresh set and see if that fixes it, but if it dosen't then I feel the last answer would be a flat battery? It's not the sidestand switch because I still have it on centerstand.

 

Just put a fresh set of plugs in... and she fired up instantly! I really want to say thank you to everyone who helped me through this, from replacing the valve cover gasket and adjusting the valves to getting her fired up again after words! With out the support of this community I'd be beyond lost, I hope to one day be able to give back that which was already generously given! Now that everything is sound on the engine its time to move on to the ever growing list of other minor things to be done. The first thing I want to do is replace the bulky "tube" fuse box with an up to date tab style one, could anyone point me to a thread that might help me with this?

 

TA-DAA!! The fully charged battery didn't hurt. Buy some extra plugs, I keep a box on hand (two 550s.) Here's the thing about spark plugs: if you flood the bike, the plugs can become saturated with gas and they WILL NOT fire; and you can't dry them out or clean them. It's also possible to do the same thing yourself using contact or brake cleaner on plugs; saturate the ceramic insulator and you just killed a plug until it dries out two weeks from now.

Get ahold of XJ4Ever, our resident parts source.

Click his logo/link in the site banner at upper right, PM member chacal or send an email to "info AT XJ4Ever DOT com" and Len will get you set up with what you need.

On the 550, you'll need to "notch" the tool tray slightly and mount the fusebox on top of the airbox or rebuild/replace the original (but then you're stuck with hard-to-source glass fuses.)

Now we need to talk BRAKES.

Oh, and that "giving back" thing is why I still put up with all the numbnutz' that WON'T take advice. Guys like you make it worth it. You're more than welcome.