no start 1986

I have a 86 maxim x water cooled engine and I am unable to get it to start.
Prior to this when I turned the engine over it was normal I guess fighting the compression yet now it spins with relative ease like to easy actually and will not start.
I have been looking for a shop manual yet the two I have gotten are for the air cooled engine and not the water cooled engine.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Check the battery voltage when you hit the start button. If it's below 10 volts, or the resting voltage of the battery (no load) is blow 12.6 volts, you need a new battery.

 

My battery is reading 12.7 volts however I took the time to remove my coils and one is 1.7 and the other is 1.8 ohms.
I also grounded the sparkplugs outside of engine and the spark was orange, this was all plugs.
My manual is for the ycis bike where I have the other water cooled version.
I don't suppose you have the values for the coils?

 

Ok just to double check resting (no load 12.9v) when turning over the engine 10.9v.

 

OK. You said that the engine spins over in a manner that seems to be too easy.
I'm going to take a step back.
How long have you had the machine, and have you had it running before?

 

yes I have had this bike my first for five years now. Last march I had new rings and the jug honed. What the mechanic told me was that the number two cylinder was starting to get egg shaped. yet it is well within tolerances.
I just had ridden the bike a few weeks ago no problems at all. just parked it under the car port and was waiting for the rain to stop before riding again. I tried to start it two weeks ago and nothing and that is where I am at now.

 

I got this maxim as the third owner-47,000 and now it has 64,000.
It has never given me any problem until now.
I even kept a shop light underneath the engine to keep it warm and covered with a moving blanket

 

so the new rings and stuff where like 1000 miles or less

 

See if this link works, go almost to the bottom for electrical specs
http://www.maxim-x.com/specifications.html

 

Are the float bowls getting fuel?
Did you set the petcock to prime before attempting to start it?

 

Broken cam chain?

 

He'd likely hear that...one way or another.

 

No resistance while cranking does sound like a cam chain ,
Pull the valve cover off to investigate,
It may be possible the chain tensioner is incorrect in some way , chain so loose it's not meshing on the crankshaft sprocket ,
anyone else care to chime in .?
My guess is that if the chain broke it wouldn't crank over due to bunching up and interfering on the crank.
Although right now I'm only speculating.
Alan
If this is the case you could expect some bent valves , I don't know for sure but I would expect this to be an "interference engine"

 

Chains don't break while the bike is sitting under a tarp.

64,000 mi.... ever do a shim clearance check and adjustment?

 

If cam tensioner failed or is backed off could have slipped off gear. Try doing a compression check this will at least tell you if you have a problem internally , Agree with hogfiddles .... valve clearance should be checked . I believe the cams have to come out to change the shims as it is shim UNDER bucket .

 

Yes, on the X the shims are UNDER the buckets ......which are under the cams---- cams do need to be lifted in order to swap them.

 

I had as a last resort tried some starting fluid and nothing came of it. just a little buzz lol
I will check the valves for poops and giggles since I already have pulled the coils out. As before my coils are reading 1.7 and 1.9 yet the maxim x page says that they are supposed to be 2.7 ohms + or - .10%.
(2) Hitachi CM12-25, 12Volt, Dual Output, Wasted Spark
Primary Winding Resistance = 2.7 ± 10% at 20°C (68°F)
Secondary Winding Resistance = 12k ± 20% at 20°C (68°F)

 

So once again I checked the coils this time through the connecting wires and I get 2.7 and 2.8 ohms. which is what the maxim x website says it is supposed to be. the previous reading of 1.7 and 1.8 are with the coils being tested by the lugs on each end.

 

If you don't have a compression gauge Autozone rents them. Or pull the plugs out put your finger over one of the holes crank engine over it should push your finger away.If your getting spark then this rules out a spark problem , the only other thing in ignition is the TCI unit . I believe your bike has the fuses below the instrument
cluster and has blade type fuses , you might think about putting in new fuses for giggles . A bike that won't start is frustrating , just remember it needs air, spark , fuel
even if your carbs were totally gummed up it still should act like it will start .... unless as I mentioned you timing is off or you have internal damage of some sort .

 

Again spinning over with little resistance

 

What do you mean a little buzz?

 

I didn't think of that , boreing and changing pistons etc,
Most mechanics would likely have the head at least looked over as well ,valve grind guides etc. Then of course reshim would have to be done.
Alan

 

Most mechanics have no clue what to do with an Xj........

 

myself from the ether

 

Now, if YOU haven't done a clearance check/adjustment, and you don't know if the mechanic did......then you ASSUME that it wasn't done.if you don't KNOW that the previous owner did it AND you don't have a record of what is in there, then you ASSUME it has NEVER BEEN done. Now, since you're almost 65,000mi down the road....you're about 50,000mi overdue for your first check........and 3 or 4 missed checks after that------ GET IT DONE

DaveF

 

removed valve cover- removed side timing plate-pulled plugs to make it easier to turn over-rotated crank bolt towards the front of the bike-placed zip ties in cylinders' to verify movement-turned over engine until timing marks lined up-cam lobs are horizontal to engine-I believe that this to mean they are closed intake and exhaust. Number one and number four cylinder are at the top of there stroke and 2 and 3 are at the bottom. timing chain and sprockets are tight or at least the tensioner is working properly.
I need a proper book!
the engine number is 1NW001742

 

Yes I primed the carbs.

 

Checked fuses all good.
60 psi for number one cylinder
65 psi number 2
90 psi number 3
60 psi for number 4

 

Ok got the valve cover off I just tried to use tappet feeler gauge and can't even get them under the cam lobes. Is there some kind of trick to this?

 

You need to use a narrow, angled gauge set. You also need to turn the crankshaft so that the heel (widest part) of the cam you are checking is directly above the shim (nose pointing away from the shim). If the thinnest feler gauge you have won't fit, then you'll need a thin shim to swap around to get the clearance measurements.
The compression numbers, and your comment about the feeler gauges, point to the valves not opening enough to pass much air.

 

When you did check did you have throttle wide open ?this can effect your reading

 

here is a video on checking valves for the maxim x. The only one I found

 

Check your inbox......

That video doesn't really tell you much useful information.

 

ummmm... I think it points more toward valves that are staying open a bit and allowing air to continually pass.

But

-yes, you need the correct feeler gauges......regular ones are too wide.
-each lobe must be perpendicular to the surface of the bucket when you measure the clearance
-Do not use zipties for the X. You lift the buckets off to get to the shim.

 

Also, what instructions did you get....... Sounds like you're trying to follow 700N instructions. That is an air-cooled engine, and your's is a liquid-cooled engine. The shim clearance procedure is vastly different

 

Yep. Brainfart on my part.

 

maxim-x liquid cooled valve adjusment with pics.

 

throttle closed just plugged in the and cranked it over a few times to get the highest reading.

 

Also took pods off and flicked the gold thing up and down one went clunk while the others made a suction noise. removed cover realigned rubber boot and reassembled. sounds just like the others now.
It was the number two carb which also has the vacuum for the fuel tank. bit late to try to start it again neighbors and all.

 

Wonder two things, too--

1..if the rings had dried and stuck a bit, then compression would be down

2..where is your compression gauge from? Wouldn't be the first time that a gauge was the problem, not the bike........

 

Bought the compression gauge from auto zone-
rings should be good though I am more concerned with the valves.
looking for feeler gauges that fit in such a tight area. auto feelers are to wide.

 

just checked that the carb bowls where full of fuel. Yes they are.
Although last night I took the pods off and when I got home from work there was fuel sitting in a pool where the pods go. Flooded?

 

Probably. Pull the oil cap have have a sniff.

 

Rings can stick after sitting for a long while. Running will usually unstick them, though somtimes a penetrant is needed if they have sat for a long time.

Chacal sells a set of thin feeler gauges that are perfect for the X. His shipping is fast. Otherwise you probably will have to special order them from an auto parts store unless you have a large NAPA store in town.

 

probably work better tomorrow since I just cracked the carb drain plugs to make sure I had fuel in them. LOL
I will check tomorrow. I believe there are three here in Medford Oregon. I will check on Tuesday.
Thanks for giving your thoughts on this.

 

I never looked at where you are. I'm pretty sure you're right about Medford having three Napa stores. If they don't have the feelers in stock they can have them the next day.
How's the snow this year?

 

right now it is snowing pretty good, actually sticking.
We are in a valley so having snow on the valley floor is very interesting. Supposed to drop to 18 degrees this evening. With the amount of moisture I think there may be a bit of ice on the road. Luckily I don't have to drive to work until 1000 am.

 

I have looked at the maxim.com website and there is a lot of good information there. Still it lists the 86 xj700 and the xj750 with the same setting for the valves 21 intake 23 exhaust. Is this correct for both bike engines?

 

maxim.com??