only runs with the start button pressed?

[Akastus]

Hey everyone!

Im helping out my buddy on his 76 GL1000, and we are at a weird crossroads. It starts and runs ONLY when the starter button is pressed. Once you let go of the starter button, it stops.

Couple sticking points:

We are jumping the bike from a separate battery, since the one in it is beyond dead.

While its "running" if i give it gas, it dies, then very suddenly revs when the throttle is backed off

Also, prior to the throttle issue, there's a strong smell of fuel


Any thoughts?

 

[SONICJK]

It seems like its not running so much as just turning over.
Do the pipes get hot?

Check:
Timing is good
Valve clearance is good
Air/Fuel setting is good
Check those first

 

[Akastus]

Its definitely running with the starter button depressed, not just turning over. You can rev it and everything

 

[cafematty]

Sounds almost as if the coils we're hooked up to the starter solenoid wire...

Have you messed with the wiring at all? Or is it unmolested?

 

[Akastus]

the coils were trashed when he bought it. The PO spliced in automotive sparkplug wires, so we ditched them, and got some used coils that seem to be working. However, the wiring is definitely messed with from the PO.

Quick research suggests that its a bad ground from the coils. Does this sound right?

 

[Tim]

So does the starter button also engage the starter motor? I'm guessing not as it would be all sorts of fun revving the engine with the starter motor also spinning. Not sure what would happen!

Sounds like the wiring for the kill switch and starter button is all messed up. I'd disconnect that whole end of things (guessing the starter button and kill switch are on the same switch pod with the throttle) and reconnect one at a time as it makes sense.

 

[cafematty]

Sounds like the wiring for the kill switch and starter button is all messed up.

This was going to be my next suggestion...

 

[SONICJK]

Yep what they said,
Sounds like the starter button is giving power to the coils somehow.

Take the spark plug out and ground it to the block and turn it over with the starter button pushed and then without it pushed, if its sparking when pushed and not when not, then your wiring is supremely screwy.

 

[cafematty]

Yep what they said,
Sounds like the starter button is giving power to the coils somehow.

Take the spark plug out and ground it to the block and turn it over with the starter button pushed and then without it pushed, if its sparking when pushed and not when not, then your wiring is supremely screwy.

You could further test this by jumping one of the coils to the positive lead on the battery and doing the spark plug test to see if it continues to spark after releasing. Just don't jump the wire coming in from the ponts to the battery.

Actually.. just don't do this.. it's some screwy wiring.. take it all apart and redo. That is all.

 

[Akastus]

Ok, looks like theres some stuff to be done.

Thanks everyone!