Bike won't start, electricals smoking?!

Hey everyone, lately I've been having loads of bike problems and one keeps leading to another as I'm completely knew to this kind of stuff.

First off, I bought a new set of blinkers and had to replace the relay for my bike... Which caused me to do my own little custom wiring and I ended up breaking off one of the fuses, so I just went fuseless.

I stored it for winter and brought it out while it was nice. I put the battery in (out door storage for the bike) and it took about 3 seconds before she was running. I let it run for awhile and then went back to school and put it in the garage. It sat for about a week and now needs to go back into storage, when I tried to start it it just wont go.

Tore out the plugs and 2 are barely sparking, and my compression is decent. It sounds like it want's to start but it just won't cut it. So I'm going to replace the 2 plugs and see how she does.

However, as my batteries dead, I've got it hooked up to a 12v Car Battery attached with speaker wire and it works fine. However while I was trying to start it, the starter ran for about 30 seconds and clouds of smoke were coming from the speaker wire going from battery to the battery mounts.

I was wondering if the smoking was due to my idiotic speaker wire job or if it would work either way; its my fuse or other alternation jobs. Or if it will smoke like that due to plug problems I dont know.

A guy I know was helping me with the starting issue and he got me to take the cam plate off and I'm suppose to adjust the valves or something and it sounds just too much for me right now. Was wondering what the odds of my bike running with the 2 new plugs would be. Was also wondering if it's natural for my speaker wire to smoke after running the starter for about a minute straight or if I need to pull out the diagram and get to work on the guts of wires?

Any help would be appreciated

 

Can I ask why you are doing everything the wrong way? To put a new fuse in is easy, even if you broke the mounts. Next point yes your speaker wire is the problem, it isnt made for that type of load on it.

 

Funniest post of the year!

 

Maybe if he had use "Monster Wire" with gold plated connectors........

 

Damn you guys, I just bought the bike and when my parents split my dad took all the tools so I'm like literally using my hands to work on this bike

lol.

 

It should still fire on 2 plugs, not well but it should run. You can find cheap jumper cables for <$10 - your gonna need them because as you found out smaller wires be come heat strips with too much current draw.

Check BigFitz's valve adjustment post with tons of pics. The valves are easy and you need a minimum of tools.

You need to look at the basics to see why it won't fire. Spark, gas and air. Since it was running Check your air filter and replace your plugs. I had 2 go bad this winter with my bike sitting a couple of weeks. No idea why but runs fine after replacement.

 

Sillydilly,

Update your profile with your hometown and maybe somebody will help you out in the tool department.

Having been on the other end of the divorce, I have to say that I too took most of my tools when I moved out. I did leave the basics though for the ex and kids.

mikeg

 

I was blessed, she left me my clothes, tools, guns, and a bed. Silly if you were close enough (no snow here in So Cal), I would be willing to lend a hand (as a few of our members can attest). Others have generously assisted those in need. You could be next!

 

Unfortunately I live in a very small town, and I really doubt anyone from this forum would be close enough to help. Beside I know a lot of people in real life who could help me, thanks though!!

Fortunately I bought 4 new plugs (Wrong fit though, I made them fit ) and she fired instantly. I took it out for a little spin and so far so good. Let's hop it stays that way!


Thanks for all your help guys!

 

Put your effort into finding your mum a new partner, one with a tool kit.

 

How exactly did you make the wrong plugs "fit"?

 

8O What? :!: :!:

Why, oh why would you carve up your cylinder head instead buying 11.00 worth of spark plugs?

 

Just enough knowledege to ???

Why not start with basic trouble shooting. Good Luck SillyDilly your going to need it.

 

One can only hope that the spark plugs were too long and he shimmed them with washers or something close to sane like that. *I* certainly wouldn't want my cylinder head to have to take a trip to the machine shop over spark plugs...

 

If the plugs werent direct replacements I would never even think about installing them. Even if they look identical chances are that they are not the correct heat range. And cold temps mean denser air. Which makes a completely stock well tuned bike run lean. Add plugs that are the wrong heat range to the equation and you are just asking for failure.


Sillydilly do your bike a favor and go buy the right plugs for the bike. Chances are that if you keep using the wrong plugs all you are going to get from this forum when you looking for a used engine is a big "I told you so". XJ motors dont really look so good after they are turned into a pile of melted aluminum.

 

This post is crap and responses to SillyDilly should cease. Go back and read this post again from the beginning. The initial post is ludicrous and rapidly deteriorates from there. Someone is pulling a fast one. When offered help with tools the response was I live in a small town and I doubt if anyone lives close? If this were real and the individual were sincere he/she would jump at the chance.

Let's assume for a moment that there is a slight possibility that the post might be sincere.(I doubt it) It might be best if from a personal and public safety perspective if this bike does not make it to the road.


Either that or it's all true and we should send money. Oops, we wouldn't know where to send money because we can't know the name of the small town where he/she lives!

 

The way they didn't fit it is because the threaded part on top had like a cover on it, I'm told it's removable but I just fitted an identical thread screw into it. I'll take a picture and show you guys lol.

And wizard, go f*** yourself.


[Edit] Wamaxim what is your problem?

The closest I bet anyone is to me is Calgary. Who's going to want to drive 2.5 hours south of Calgary to meet up with some kid he met on the internet to tell him that he should be using proper cables as opposed to speaker wire?

You think this whole thread is a joke? I'm sure when you seen got your first bike with no knowledge of what the hell is going on, you just pulled everything out of your ass because you're a bloody hero now aren't you?

 

SillyDilly Quote: And wizard, go (bleep) yourself.


Not a very nice to say that to anyone who could possibly help you. It sounds like a good way to get your name on the suspended users list also.

 

Anyone who could possibly help me? He's suggesting my mom 'get around' so I can use 'new daddies' tools... and that's not rude?

 

I know you have not been on here for very long. These Guys like to joke around abit. Lighten up alittle and start over with you problems and we will try to help the best we can. Besides Wizard is from down under and he might have a different sense of humor than you. Just blow it off before Snosheriff gets involved.

 

A little, but that is AFTER you turned down all offers of real help, and it also conveniently ignores the fact that you appear to be doing some things with your bike that are short-sighted at best, and dangerous at worst.

Post the pics of what you did with the spark plugs. I've never seen any engine that had any sort of cap over the plug holes, nor have I ever heard of a successful jury rig with plugs that didn't eventually end in disaster.

 

I understand, I also have a very strong sense of humor. but keep in mind that I'm very frustrated with my bike and when seeking help from you guys all I do is get laughed at with a "Funniest post of the year!" "Maybe your moms new bf will have tools!" and shit like that... doesn't really help nor improve my mood.

I apologize to everyone I may have been an ass too, I guess I don't take jokes when Im frustrated.

I did not turn down offers of help. Robert offered help, but obviously southern Cali is pretty far from Alberta. If I needed major motor rebuilding or something I'd more than likely be willing to have one of you guys help me out in real life, but right now it's all just little problems.

Coming right up.

 

Granted.

Robert is a little far away, but there are quite a few Canadians on this board, some of whom might be a bit closer. That's why he asked where you were.

Awesome!

EDIT: I'm a programmer, so it's really embarrassing when I get my slashes and backslashes mixed up...

 

Alright well I took pictures, and I think I figured it out haha.







I then realized that cap was able to screw-off lol. So basically it was a coupler to extend the threaded area giving me a useless extension XD



Sorry if I concerned you guys with altering my cylinder head but I'm not that stupid, although its arguable

 

Dilly, my "funniest post of the year" comment was in reference to Toreadorranger's intial response to you, about his tongue-in-cheeck question "Can I ask why you are doing everything the wrong way?", which, once you get the hang of this bike, when you go back and re-read your intial posting (let's say, 2-3 months from now, after you have a few more torque-wrench clicks under your belt), you'll probably agree with.....

You'll be way ahead of the game if you get yourself a service manual or AHaynes workshop manual and then resist the temptation to "improvise" things such as jumper cable made from speaker wire. Although all of us have, from time-to-time, had to "make-do" with whatever is at hand, that's always a recipie for failure or disaster (especially when playing with amperages or combustibles).

Now, if you had stranded together about 12-15 lengths of speaker wire for each jumper cable, we would have been somewhat impressed.....

 

Ok silly Does your bike try to start like random firing or does it just crank?

 

(plugs) That makes WAY more sense. *whew!*

Can also see from those pics that you repainted your carb hats. All shiny now?

 

Good eyes Rhys! When I looked at the pictures my first thought was boot prints but now I see the light.

 

I am glad you used the right plugs and just didnt know about the caps. I understand your problem with the response concerning your mother but please keep comments like that to pm's. That is an easy way to get banned. Having said that, good luck with your bike. Make sure you post pics of your ride. Keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up!

 

Just remove the plug caps and toss them - no need to add the post as you did - although that will work too.

 

I see the departing parent didn't quite take all the tools, he left the important one hanging on the wall.

 

Slowly rebuilding our tool collection

Nah, the 2 center ones were rusty and ugly, I tried painting them with that cheap chrome paint and it scratched right off so I sanded the rust off, yes, with wood sand paper.

Understood, also, if you look closely in the pictures, you may recognize one of your instruction manuals

Not to sure what you mean, but it starts perfectly.

Ya ya I'm well aware of forum rules etc.

Done and done!

 

Also, new plugs are kind of black already, which Im assuming is too much fuel. How do I fix this?

 

How to bench sync the carbs:
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=6366/

How to tune your carbs:
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... html#88874

NOTE: There is no point in tuning the carbs if you haven't done a valve adjustment. I don't know of a good thread on that, though.

 

Not to sure what you mean, but it starts perfectly.


Ok I was just going back to the first post you put on here. You Said It Just Won't Go. So if it starts perfectly whats wrong then????

 

Jeeze guys! I just read up on all the fun I missed!
Looked like you all fired Silly right up!
Glad the ruffled feathers are smoothed over, I was laughing (sorry Dilly, I really was) at the photos of the plugs. I have never seen those extensions. Every box with a BP7ES I get out here has those useless (for my Yamahas anyway) thread-on caps, I toss them in the back of my tool box (my VW uses them). Those adapters are unique in my experience. What part number are you getting on the box they come in and what source are you getting them from?
I'm glad you got the plug issue ironed out, lets all hope someone is near enough to you to lend a hand. I'll be watching this thread...

 

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1 ... valve.html

I found that thread to me extremely informative in doing valve adjustments, however I don't think I'll be getting to either of those for the time being.

It was a plug problem. Progressively throughout this thread I put in new plugs and it fired right up

Haha yeah, obviously new to spark plugs aren't I :x . Part number is BP7ES, NGK spark plugs I picked up from the Honda shop in Lethbridge, Alberta.

 

Late to this thread glad you're still around silly, it was kind of harsh on the new guy.
I noticed in your pick the plug with out the "extension" is a resistor plug.
The pic with the manual shows BP7ES which should be correct for your ride.
If you've put the resistor plugs in this could cause you issues also.
So if you have the BP7ES plugs in great, if you got the BP7RES ones take 'em out and get the right ones.
Don't be afraid to come on back when you need a hand.

Chacal the year is young. :wink:

 

Yes black rich, white lean.
Like I said make sure the plugs are the right ones for your bike.
If your bike is stock, do a search for plug chop, this is a relatively easy thing you can do with a plug wrench and a screw driver.
Without giving you a step by step guide.
Basically there are small screws on the top/side of each carb that can be adjusted to lean or richen the idle circiut.
By pulling the plugs and checking the color of the insulator, not the electrode, you tell if your motor is running rich or lean and make adjustments to correct it.
When you start this process remember you are turning the screw a minuscule amount to get change.
Do a search you'll be fine.
CHeers

 

And remember, "miniscule" means "a couple of degrees" (out of 360). LESS than 1/16 of a turn. Teeny tiny adjustments.

 

Figurd so. I was probably going to do 1/8 of a complete rotation. Thanks guys.


Right now, I'm having another problem. I went riding in the beautiful weather the other day and when I parked I noticed almost like an oil leak. But it isn't think like oil... It seems to be coming from above my bleeder tube and air box... I also WAS riding in wet/slushy conditions, so it could just be water but the stains stained my garage. I'll post some pictures tomorrow of where it came from and how the stains look... It could just be built up water dripping or it could be something serious.

Pics coming!

 

Oh my, looks like oil in the airbox.
You already know the breather from the crankcase goes to the airbox.
Probably were this oil came from.
From the looks of the kickstand this didn't just start.

Is the oil level correct, too full could cause it to blow out the breather?
You could pull the breather at the crankcase and add a filter right there but, I would try and find out the cause and fix it right.

 

Check your oil level. Also if you left the bike on "prm", it would leak gas into your engine. All ways leave it on " On". Prm is only to prime and just for a minute.

 

I had my bike on prime for awhile, even when it wasn't running. When I had the plugs problem I had it on prime to try and start, but I didn't leave it on once it started. Could that be the problem?

 

Could be. When the petcock is set to PRI, it's basically gravity-fed instead of vacuum-fed. If it's on PRI and you have problems in your carbs, you get gasoline leaking through the carbs into the cylinders and down into the crankcase, where it mixes with the engine oil.

So basically, your oil level goes up until it's overfull, and the excess starts blowing out the breather. This was the subject of another thread recently.

Put your bike on its center stand. If there's no bubble AT ALL in the sight glass, it's likely that the engine is overfull. Whether there's gas in it or not only changes whether you drain out a little oil or all of it.

Test: Drain a little of the oil (via the drain plug) into a pan and light it. If it lights, there's gasoline in it and you need to drain out the rest. If it doesn't light, it's possible that you just had too much oil in there.

Of course, the safe route is to just drain it all anyway and change the oil. If you haven't changed the oil this season yet, it's a good excuse to do so.

What would be very interesting - and possibly an indicator of a more serious problem - is if you put the bike on the center stand and there IS a bubble in the sight glass. Of course, that might mean that oil WAS coming out and now it's all done.

If it were ME, I'd clean off all that spilled oil THOROUGHLY, wash and re-oil the air filter, change the engine oil and filter (leaving a teeny bubble in the sight glass) and go ride.

If you see oil in the airbox after that, you know you have another problem.

And leave the petcock set to ON.

 

Or just open up your oil-fill thumb-screw plug (on top of the clutch cover) and take a long, deep, refreshing breath.......and if you smell FUEL instead of just OIL, well, then Houston, you've got a problem..........

 

Looks like classic gas flooded crankcase to me. Drain and change your oil. You'll have to get those carbs off and dress up the needles and seats. Recheck the float levels. If it were me I would also pull that boot off where the u-jonit is and clean that out to make sure there is no oil and gas in there too. Mine did that and the boot swelled up and the rubber went bad. Don't get bummed out about this problem, it happens more than you hear about. Take your time and follow the carb adjusment threads on float levels and such.

 

Well right now my bike is back in winter storage and probably won't see light for a few months before spring hits. so so far when I get it out Im gunna do a thorough cleansing and an oil change. If further adjustments are required I will make it a spring project to adjust carbs and clean etc.

 

Hopefully you just left it on prime too long and had a float needle stuck. Best case scenario, oil change, tap on the back of the carb bowls with a screwdriver handle or the like, and hopefully all is well. If the needle's still stuck you got some carb work ahead of you. I guess the up side of that at least is that our carbs are relatively simple and there is several VERY detailed walk-throughs on this site.