spark, clean carbs, good compression. SHE WONT START.

[snmavridis]

So I've been working on my bike quite a bit lately. I've changed the points, condensers, and spark plugs, set the timing, got the carbs cleaned PROPERLY, and the compression checked out. But when I give her a few (read:15) kicks, she wont get going. I can hear it putter while I'm kicking it, but it just won't catch. What am I missing here? Did I rewire the points backwards? Would improperly set carbs prevent the engine from firing? Do I need to find a goose that lays golden eggs? Included are pictures of my points plate for reference.

Bonus: after a few kicks, the kickstart gets a little resistance from the compression (I assume). Is that normal?

 

[Heavies]

Points gapped ok? Spring ok?

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Was it running before you changed points and condensers? If your points are gapped correctly you could try switching out your new points and condensers for the old to see if it fires. You should also be able to tell if you switched over your wires to the coils by the color of the wires, which are the same at the condensers as they are on the coils -- and the cylinder numbers are marked both at the timing plate and at the coils (or at the coils it should be obvious which is 1-4 and which is 2-3). But could also be a carb issue -- are they getting fuel? When you say you got the carbs cleaned properly -- who did it? Did you check the mixture and idle screws? Did you turn the gas on? A lot possibly going on here.

 

[snmavridis]

Points are tapped properly, yes. As for when it last ran, 2 years ago. I realised the first cylinder wasn't firing and I went from there starting to overhaul it mechanically. The carbs were done by a friend of mine who has been working on vintage Japanese bikes for 15 years or so. He took a lot of before and after pictures of the process. They were in very bad shape. Now they're sparkly clean. The carbs are definitely getting fuel because after a few kicks, they start dripping through the bleeder hoses under the bowls. No I haven't checked the mixture and idle screws. I'll take a look at those on Friday, my next day off. Any other suggestions?

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[Mr_Dunev]

Points are tapped properly, yes. As for when it last ran, 2 years ago. I realised the first cylinder wasn't firing and I went from there starting to overhaul it mechanically. The carbs were done by a friend of mine who has been working on vintage Japanese bikes for 15 years or so. He took a lot of before and after pictures of the process. They were in very bad shape. Now they're sparkly clean. The carbs are definitely getting fuel because after a few kicks, they start dripping through the bleeder hoses under the bowls. No I haven't checked the mixture and idle screws. I'll take a look at those on Friday, my next day off. Any other suggestions?

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After you kick it over, check the plugs, are they wet or dry? Smell like gas? Are you using new plugs?

The trick is to narrow it down. It's going to be a spark problem, gas problem, or compression problem.

It's Process of elimination.

Is your spark bright? What is the compression in each cylinder, etc.?

 

[crazypj]

You should be able to turn it over with a 21 or 22mm socket and watch for a tiny spark at points. Should occur at 1.4 and 2.3
You do have the plug caps on the correct plugs? 1 and 4 are on one coil, 2&3 the other coil

 

[snmavridis]

After you kick it over, check the plugs, are they wet or dry? Smell like gas? Are you using new plugs?

The trick is to narrow it down. It's going to be a spark problem, gas problem, or compression problem.

It's Process of elimination.

Is your spark bright? What is the compression in each cylinder, etc.?

Plugs do get wet and smell like gas.

The spark is a pretty thick blue spark.

Compression is between 110 and 120 per cylinder.

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[snmavridis]

You should be able to turn it over with a 21 or 22mm socket and watch for a tiny spark at points. Should occur at 1.4 and 2.3
You do have the plug caps on the correct plugs? 1 and 4 are on one coil, 2&3 the other coil

Plug caps are on the right spark plugs. I'll check for the spark between the points on Friday.

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[carnivorous chicken]

If gas is dripping from the bottom of your carbs, your float height is either off or you've got stuck float valves. That should be corrected, but unless is it's really coming out and/or flooding your cylinders you should still be able to fire up your bike.

Check to make sure the wires to your points are on the right set and correspond to the coils for the same cylinder.

 

[Heavies]

Plugs do get wet and smell like gas.

The spark is a pretty thick blue spark.

Compression is between 110 and 120 per cylinder.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

If gas is dripping from the bottom of your carbs, your float height is either off or you've got stuck float valves. That should be corrected, but unless is it's really coming out and/or flooding your cylinders you should still be able to fire up your bike.

Check to make sure the wires to your points are on the right set and correspond to the coils for the same cylinder.

Sounds like the spark is there, but not at the right time....

 

[snmavridis]

If gas is dripping from the bottom of your carbs, your float height is either off or you've got stuck float valves. That should be corrected, but unless is it's really coming out and/or flooding your cylinders you should still be able to fire up your bike.

Check to make sure the wires to your points are on the right set and correspond to the coils for the same cylinder.

Honestly I think it's due to me kicking it and it not starting. I.e. flooding the carbs.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Honestly I think it's due to me kicking it and it not starting. I.e. flooding the carbs.

With the petcock on, the float valve shuts off fuel to the carb at the proper height. You shouldn't have fuel leaking out of your carbs. Kicking over your bike doesn't have anything to do with it, unless you're violently shaking it back and forth at the same time.

 

[snmavridis]

With the petcock on, the float valve shuts off fuel to the carb at the proper height. You shouldn't have fuel leaking out of your carbs. Kicking over your bike doesn't have anything to do with it, unless you're violently shaking it back and forth at the same time.

So what am I looking to adjust in the carbs? Float height? check the Float valve?

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Could be either. You've got a SOHC 4, right? Can be a pain in the ass to take the carbs off and on with the stock airbox, but you can drop the float bowls without removing the carb rack to check the float valves. If they are working (shutting off the supply of gas when the float reaches height and the tang presses on the float valve), then it's float height, which needs to be set with the carbs off, unfortunately.

 

[snmavridis]

It is an sohc 4 engine. Taking the carbs off is no problem at all for me. I'll check out the float height tomorrow then.

 

[snmavridis]

My follow up to this question is: would float height prevent my bike from even starting? Through all the research I've done on SOHC4 and such, they say that float height is mostly a "fine tuning procedure". I'm not doubting the wisdom of you wonderful people, just trying to clear the air.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

If gas is dripping from the bottom of your carbs, your float height is either off or you've got stuck float valves. That should be corrected, but unless is it's really coming out and/or flooding your cylinders you should still be able to fire up your bike.

Like I said, your bike should still fire and run unless it's really bad, but you'll wanna get it dialed in at some point, might as well eliminate it as a cause.

 

[DrJ]

My follow up to this question is: would float height prevent my bike from even starting?

Yes, if it's set so that the float valve closes before enough fuel fills the bowl. But the plugs are wet so doesn't seem to be the issue.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Yes, if it's set so that the float valve closes before enough fuel fills the bowl. But the plugs are wet so doesn't seem to be the issue.

And the carbs are overflowing.

 

[coldfinger]

Seems to me if your plugs are wet and your getting a spark at the plugs the timing must be wrong but you would get some sort of splutter or backfire. Your leads must be in the wrong sequence