1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

No fire on #4

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by buzz81mach, Jun 22, 2017.

  1. buzz81mach

    buzz81mach Member

    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Crawfordsville, IN
    Okay, so this is really weird. Yesterday, I was riding with no issue. Parked it in my garage overnight. Went to start this morning and it just wasn't running smooth. The only cylinder that is not firing is #4. The bike dies in about 15 seconds of starting up. Does anyone have any suggestions? XJ700 air
     
    buzz81mach, Jun 22, 2017
    #1
  2. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    13,199
    Likes Received:
    3,861
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Great North Woods
    trim back the spark plug wire about 3/8 inch to remove corrosion.
    could be spark plug cap failed measure the resistance of the cap.
    replace the spark plug or move it to another cylinder see if the problem follows the plug.

    Dies with choke on or off?
     
    XJ550H, Jun 22, 2017
    #2
    Jetfixer likes this.
  3. buzz81mach

    buzz81mach Member

    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Crawfordsville, IN
    Before I cut it, I will go ahead and move the plug and see if it follows.

    Dies with Choke both off and on. Usually, I need it to start the bike and after about 1 minute, the rpms race. Then I turn it down and it goes back to normal. It never raced today, which caused me to start looking at what was going on.

    It's just weird how it happened overnight.
     
    buzz81mach, Jun 22, 2017
    #3
  4. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    13,199
    Likes Received:
    3,861
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Great North Woods
    clean and regap plugs. while out
    if it does not follow look at cap and wire

    not really over night but it is a slow process that goes unnoticed until it eventualy fails
     
    XJ550H, Jun 22, 2017
    #4
  5. buzz81mach

    buzz81mach Member

    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Crawfordsville, IN
    Ok. Will do. I will respond after I get that done and check it. Thanks.
     
    buzz81mach, Jun 22, 2017
    #5
  6. buzz81mach

    buzz81mach Member

    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Crawfordsville, IN
    I got the plugs regapped and cleaned. They all fire, or at least some of the time. All four exhaust pipes are really hot.

    Unfortunately, the bike will not stay running. Dies with Choke. Dies off Choke. There has got to be something going on.

    Now, will the bike do this if the battery is not good? The bike starts. I know the battery is old, but it still works. Will the battery cause the bike not to run well, or does the alternator run the bike on its own? The bike runs for about 10 seconds and dies suddenly.
     
    buzz81mach, Jun 22, 2017
    #6
  7. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,657
    Likes Received:
    6,762
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    If the battery were bad the bike would not start. Once started the altenator runs everything (but the battey still needs to be in place).
     
    k-moe, Jun 22, 2017
    #7
  8. buzz81mach

    buzz81mach Member

    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Crawfordsville, IN
    Well, went to the store and bought some new plugs. Advance Auto had some in stock. Gapped them and installed them. The bike started right up and stayed on for a nice small ride. Thank you for your help.

    One more question. How long are spark plugs suppose to last? I am hoping I do not have any underlying problem because these plugs are only about a year old. I will be contacting Chacal about a colortune because I am running rich and I stink with reading plugs. The plugs I took off were as black as could be.
     
    buzz81mach, Jun 22, 2017
    #8
  9. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,657
    Likes Received:
    6,762
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    I have sparkplugs from 1964 that are still in regular use (one is anyway). I have others that were bad right out of the box.
    So the answer is; they last as long as they last.
     
    k-moe, Jun 22, 2017
    #9

Share This Page