on centerstands

[KLR Rider - Scott Adams]

I am no mechanic and I can't seem to find a shade tree to save my life but it seems to me that there is enough spark to "see" when you test the plug against the side but not really strong enough to ignite anything. Check the electricals better. BTW - standard way of checking spark is to hold the spark plug up against the head and turn it over. Great until vapors come up through the head and ignite causing a fire and burning up the vehicle. Don't laugh - as a firefighter I have seen it just about all INCLUDING the above! Be careful out there. -Scott

----- Original Message ----- From: "monahanwb" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 8:40 AM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: 3 hours and still can't get it started???????????????? > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Devon wrote: > > >The bike run just fine for a long time until it sputtered and died > > >yesterday, but has not fired since. > > > > > > > > Have you swapped out the CDI? > > > > Devon > > Nope, haven't done that....though it's on the list of possibilities. > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

[Edmund Ho]

carb diaphragm?

On 08/06/2004, at 3:53 PM, Keith Saltzer wrote: > So Bill and I worked on his KLR for quite a while today and we are > stumped, stupified and sick of racking our brains. We need the help > of the almighty KLR list! > > SYMPTOMS > > He was riding along at a moderate city speed and it just stumbled > twice and quit. That's it. It hasn't started since. He hasn't had > any work done on it lately and he rides it just about every single > day problem free and has never had the thing NOT start. > > > What we have done. > > > Checked the fuel tank. Half full. > Checked that the petcock was operating correctly by hooking up > another vacuum and fuel line and I sucked on the vacuum hose. Fuel > came out immediately. > Checked that there was fuel in the float bowl by opening up the drain > screw. Alot of fuel came out. > Checked that the fuel was flowing through the clear fuel filter as we > were cranking on the starter. > Checked for spark with the plug out many many times. > Checked the plug wire connections at the coil and spark plug boot. > Checked the plug wire. > Checked the choke cable. > Checked the oil level. That was very low, below the bottom of the > window. Bill was surprised at that. > Checked the filter. It was dirty but not clogged solid. > We cranked the motor till his old battery pretty much died so we then > threw in a brand new one out of another bike that was there. It > would just crank and crank and crank. We heard occasional soft > backfires on some of the cranking sprees. We could smell fuel coming > out of the muffler. > We plugged in another rectifier that was there too, just cause we > could. Nothing. We pulled the valve cover off and checked the cam > chain, timing of the cams, and checked the valves too. Only the left > intake was on the tight side just out of spec. Twice, we poured a > little fuel in the spark plug hole and put the plug and tank back on > and cranked it. Nothing. We scratched our heads and made concerning > faces. THAT didn't help. We checked for loose wires. > > The lights all work, we have spark, we have fuel in the carb, and the > thing cranks like an old chrysler with vapor lock on a hot day. We > are going nuts. Any ideas?? > > The only thing that I can think of now is that something is clogged > in the carb. But I can't believe that something could get in there > while riding and just shut the whole thing down right now and not let > it start again. I'm really determined to figure this thing out and > need your help guys! > > MrMoose and Bill > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

[Darryll "DrDoolittle" Blount]

Try checking spark with a adjustable spark tester ....you can find them at any parts store ........ sometimes a plug will spark when its out of the combustion chamber but not while its installed .......you might try a new plug just for the hell of it ....... --- Keith Saltzer wrote:

> So Bill and I worked on his KLR for quite a while > today and we are > stumped, stupified and sick of racking our brains. > We need the help > of the almighty KLR list! > > SYMPTOMS > > He was riding along at a moderate city speed and it > just stumbled > twice and quit. That's it. It hasn't started > since. He hasn't had > any work done on it lately and he rides it just > about every single > day problem free and has never had the thing NOT > start. > > > What we have done. > > > Checked the fuel tank. Half full. > Checked that the petcock was operating correctly by > hooking up > another vacuum and fuel line and I sucked on the > vacuum hose. Fuel > came out immediately. > Checked that there was fuel in the float bowl by > opening up the drain > screw. Alot of fuel came out. > Checked that the fuel was flowing through the clear > fuel filter as we > were cranking on the starter. > Checked for spark with the plug out many many times. > Checked the plug wire connections at the coil and > spark plug boot. > Checked the plug wire. > Checked the choke cable. > Checked the oil level. That was very low, below the > bottom of the > window. Bill was surprised at that. > Checked the filter. It was dirty but not clogged > solid. > We cranked the motor till his old battery pretty > much died so we then > threw in a brand new one out of another bike that > was there. It > would just crank and crank and crank. We heard > occasional soft > backfires on some of the cranking sprees. We could > smell fuel coming > out of the muffler. > We plugged in another rectifier that was there too, > just cause we > could. Nothing. We pulled the valve cover off and > checked the cam > chain, timing of the cams, and checked the valves > too. Only the left > intake was on the tight side just out of spec. > Twice, we poured a > little fuel in the spark plug hole and put the plug > and tank back on > and cranked it. Nothing. We scratched our heads > and made concerning > faces. THAT didn't help. We checked for loose > wires. > > The lights all work, we have spark, we have fuel in > the carb, and the > thing cranks like an old chrysler with vapor lock on > a hot day. We > are going nuts. Any ideas?? > > The only thing that I can think of now is that > something is clogged > in the carb. But I can't believe that something > could get in there > while riding and just shut the whole thing down > right now and not let > it start again. I'm really determined to figure > this thing out and > need your help guys! > > MrMoose and Bill > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at > www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris > Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > >

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[dirtrooster2003]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "KLR Rider - Scott Adams" wrote:

> > BTW - standard way of checking spark is to hold the spark plug up

against

> the head and turn it over. Great until vapors come up through the

head and

> > >

last time I did this was on my PE400 suzuki early 80's. Had my girlfriend at time kick it over while i held onto plug wire. I thought it broke my arm at the elbow. I cussed raised hell threw stuff and swore id never do that again.

[klr6501995]

IMHO I'd put the suspect cdi into a running bike. Don't want to risk putting a good cdi into a bad bike and fry it. Back in 87 my 86 klr250 ran great, sputtered and died. it was the pickup. repaired under warranty.

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "monahanwb" wrote: > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Devon wrote: > > >The bike run just fine for a long time until it sputtered and died > > >yesterday, but has not fired since. > > > > > > > > Have you swapped out the CDI? > > > > Devon > > Nope, haven't done that....though it's on the list of possibilities.

[Norm Keller]

A compression test is in order. If you have washed the oil off the piston rings and cylinder walls there will be insufficient compression for the engine to start. If compression is low due to flooding, take the plug out, ground the spark plug wire to the frame or engine (important as just allowing the spark to jump from an open plug wire may cause ignition voltage to rise high enough to burn through the plug wire or coil. It may also blow the ignition module on some systems!) Crank the engine with wide open throttle to blow as much fuel from the cytlinder as possible. Squirt about 10 drops of engine oil into the spark plug hole and crank the engine a few turns. Install a known good, dry (spark) plug and it should fire up if flooding was the issue. Supper's on the table, gotta go. Norm --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jerry Pommer]

You can get an indication of the heartiness of the ignition system by simulating the increased difficulty of creating a spark when under compression. Bend the electrode of the spark plug out straight (note: do not attempt to reuse the plug afterwards!) and repeat your visible spark test. If the system is able to overcome that kind of gap and make a spark jump to the outer threads, chances are it's fine. You might want to try this with a new plug, as your old one may be gas fouled at this point. --- monahanwb wrote:

> --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Devon > wrote: > > >The bike run just fine for a long time until it > sputtered and died > > >yesterday, but has not fired since. > > > > > > > > Have you swapped out the CDI? > > > > Devon > > Nope, haven't done that....though it's on the list > of possibilities. > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at > www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris > Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > >

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[Guy B. Young II]

As I'd mentioned earlier, I have the Afrika centerstand installed on my A16. While the stand works as advertised, they pose a real PITA to actually get the bike up on it without some assistance. At home, I roll the rear wheel up on a 2x4 layed 90 deg. to the rear wheel. When I put the bike up on the stand, the wheel spits out the 2x4. But there's a problem with this and the present Continental TKC80 presently on the bike; the rear wheel still hits the ground (no probelme with an IRC510). I alternatly rock each pad of the c'stand up and place a 1x under the pads. This elevates the tire off the ground for lubing the chain, rear wheel removal, etc. For the road, I carry two short sections of 1x6 (with the corners rounded off) in the bottom of each tank pannier. These fit perfectly and give the panniers a little more support in the bottom for stuff I am carrying. Modern day 1x's are more like 3/4" thick, so they really don't take up that much room. To get the bike up, I stack the two on top of each other and roll the rear wheel up on them, then put the bike up on the centerstand. Again, the rear wheel spits them out. I then put one of those under the pad of the centerstand to give me added rear wheel height. This also provides a good surface for the pads to sit on when the bike is in the dirt. My story, and I'm stickin' to it. Guy A16 Richmond, VA

[Darryll "DrDoolittle" Blount]

You can buy a adjustable spark tester at any parts store i recommend the thextron unit they are about 6 to 10 $ they simulate a sprk plug and give you an idication of the amount of spark by allowing spark to jump across a adjustable gap ....or you can try a new plug .....i would also run a compression test ...... just assuming compression does not mean there is compression........ --- Jerry Pommer wrote:

> You can get an indication of the heartiness of the > ignition system by simulating the increased > difficulty > of creating a spark when under compression. Bend the > electrode of the spark plug out straight (note: do > not > attempt to reuse the plug afterwards!) and repeat > your > visible spark test. If the system is able to > overcome > that kind of gap and make a spark jump to the outer > threads, chances are it's fine. > You might want to try this with a new plug, as your > old one may be gas fouled at this point. > > --- monahanwb wrote: > > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Devon > > wrote: > > > >The bike run just fine for a long time until it > > sputtered and died > > > >yesterday, but has not fired since. > > > > > > > > > > > Have you swapped out the CDI? > > > > > > Devon > > > > Nope, haven't done that....though it's on the list > > of possibilities. > > > > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at > > www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris > > Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. > http://messenger.yahoo.com/ > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at > www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris > Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > >

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