| Author |
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Evilbetty
| | Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 09:48 pm: | 
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My battery has the 00 JAN tabs popped out, and it looks brand new otherwise.
Before you spend money on a battery... charge it up and take it to a parts store for a free load test.
On that note... mine is due for replacement. I'm not spending $120 for an HD battery. Has anyone used an AGM battery from a local parts store? Just as good? |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 10:57 am: |
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It most definately is your front ground - if as you say that was the last thing you did for the gasket swap - dis-assemble, clean everything, then re-assemble.
EZ |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 12:32 pm: |
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I charged the battery last night and brought it with me to work to take down to Advance after work for load testing. Guess we'll see how that goes.
Wish I wasn't working today - I'm going to be thinking about that ground strap for the rest of the day. If I worked on that darn thing for something like 9 hours total trying to get it to fire just to have the cause be a little grime under a ground point, I'm going to be soooo pissed at myself. I missed out on 4 beautiful days this week.
I hope you're right, EZ}
(Message edited by BzBuell on October 17, 2008) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 03:26 pm: |
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Tell me - my bike was down for 2 weeks once to get to this point - after replacing an Isolator - redid it with new bolts and washers and scuffing up the ground strap contact area so the copper showed clean - re-assembled and she started up first try - talk about a dolt! experience.
EZ |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 01:54 pm: |
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I'm about ready to part this SOB out. Still cranks, but no boom.
Battery tested by Advance - no issues. Fully charged it last night.
Removed ground strap and sanded all contacts & sprayed electrical cleaner on all surfaces & reassembled.
Removed the spark plug and it had some build-up between the contacts (presumably from the starter fluid & carb cleaner). Sprayed it with electrical contact cleaner & tested it by plugging the wire back on it and resting it against the block and hitting the starter - sparks fine.
[Tip to those who haven't tested a spark plug this way before: Keep your hand well back on the spark plug wire boot and don't let the spark plug come off the block while using the starter. You'll get knocked on your ass. The "friend" who suggested this test to me failed to mention that part.]
New fuel line from tank to carb. Fuel is in carb bowl. Jets are clean. Fuel is new & clean. Air/fuel screw is at 2.5 turns out. Carb boot is solid and fastened to both the intake manifold and carb securely. |
Swampy
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 03:13 pm: |
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Try squirting a little gas through the carb to start it....
When was the last time it ran?
You JUST replaced the rocker cover gasket....right? |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 03:58 pm: |
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I pulled the spark plug, and it was wet with gas so fuel delivery isn't the issue. Also put my hand over the carb and cranked it and there is suction and fuel squirted on my hand. I tried shutting off the petcock in case it was flooding, but that didn't help. While I had the spark plug out, I put my thumb over the hole and cranked it and did get suction, so I guess compression shouldn't be the issue.
Last time it ran was about 2 weeks ago.
Right, just replaced the gaskets last Saturday.
I'm thinking about just buying another spark plug and battery to eliminate those as possibilities completely. I don't know what else to try. |
Reuel
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 06:03 pm: |
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I'm at a loss. When you finally find the problem, it'll be something simple.
Didn't like that 40,000 volt jolt, huh? I've done that to myself more than once! If you hold it close to metal and not yourself, does the spark jump up to 1 inch and is it nice and bright? |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 07:41 pm: |
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Check the plugged on 49 states vacuum line leaving from the carbs left side - make sure plug is still good and make sure that front vacuum hole is unrestricted as well.
EZ |
Swampy
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 09:15 pm: |
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Yeah, good one, make sure the vacuum port is open...
Check all you wiring make sure everything is plugged in correctly.
This is really simple, it ran before, now retrace your steps. |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 07:39 pm: |
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The 49-state vacuum line with the plug appears to be solid & secure. No obstructions are seen in the front vacuum hole, and I sprayed carb cleaner through it just in case. All wires & plugs look good.
I ran by Advance to pick up another spark plug right after work, but realized when I got home that they sold me the wrong one. They didn't have the right battery on-hand, so I ordered one to arrive tomorrow. I'll be trying the new spark plug & battery in the next day or two.
It was suggested that I back the idle adjust screw all the way out, in case it was opening the butterfly too much. That had no effect.
Question: Even if the float bowl is misadjusted, I should be getting at least a pop or two since there's gas on the spark plug, right? |
Swampy
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:19 pm: |
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Make sure what ever battery you get that it is not a "flooded" battery, or one you have to put acid in or contains liquid acid. You need to get an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery. Try Batterys Plus, or Odessey, or Workhorse but do not use a battery that has liquid acid in it.
Get a pop? Is your LED on your ignition module blinking when you crank it? Are you getting a spark at your spark plug when you crank it? |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 09:33 am: |
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Yeah, it's an AGM - double-checked before I had them order it from the warehouse.
No pop/cough/backfire at all. LED is blinking, and the plug is sparking.
I hope the new battery will fix it. I contacted the previous owner and he said he never bought a new one, so it may be the 2000-model original. |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 07:08 pm: |
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New battery + new spark plug = no better.
I went back through everything tonight. I even poured some of the gas out of the carb bowl and lit it to make sure it was ignitable. I checked the plug by laying it against the block again - looks like a strong spark.
Only difference tonight is that the clutch doesn't seem to be releasing fully. When I put it in first & pull the clutch & hit the starter, it tries to lurch forward at each pulse. Whether it's in 1st or neutral I'm getting no fire/cough, though.
I'm just going to have to figure out a way to get it to a local bike mechanic. Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. At least I learned more about the inner workings of my bike by going through this, I guess. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 - 11:26 am: |
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I suspect a ground issue - front or rear.
EZ |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2008 - 01:11 am: |
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"Only difference tonight is that the clutch doesn't seem to be releasing fully. When I put it in first & pull the clutch & hit the starter, it tries to lurch forward at each pulse." Normal. You'll have a tough time starting any stock Blast that way.
" I put my thumb over the hole and cranked it and did get suction, "Should also try and blow your finger off the hole!
"This is really simple, it ran before, now retrace your steps."Unfortunately its sounds as if you've just been replacing anything and everything to get it to run again. From what I understand is it ran before you replaced the gaskets and didnt run after you replaced the gaskets. That usually means you fowled something up (coincidences do happen though, like when you take your car in for brakes and the alternator goes). You've got spark and fuel, compression I'm doubting (which I wouldnt if you actually used a compression tester). It is conceivable that somehow you've stuck a valve open (or closed) when you did the rocker cover gasket (which was mentioned).
My other guess would be the carb was reassembled incorrectly (or parts missing).
I'm assuming you didnt adjust the timing.
I realize I'm a bit late to this and by now you're looking for a mechanic. I hope I havent complicated things or insulted.
PS For any kind of extended cranking or problem starting disconnect the headlight, if you havent already done so. The headlight can also rob from the ignition what little voltage you may have to run the headlight instead. |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2008 - 09:05 am: |
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Yup, suction then pressure on the spark plug hole, just as expected.
Can you say ... desperation?!? Yeah, I've resorted to looking at everything EXCEPT going back to removing the rocker box cover. I just couldn't think of a reason why anything I did under there could be causing the problem I'm having. I figured if I did something wrong, it should be making a clattering or something?
I think I'm good on the carb, but I could be wrong. I've paid close attention to everything about it as I disassembled/reassembled since I know they're finicky.
Did not adjust the timing at all.
I haven't taken it to the mechanic yet because I've had schedule conflicts - have to rely on a friend who has a truck to transport the bike.
Yeah, disconnected that headlight first-thing. |
Bzbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 03:00 pm: |
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So I resorted to taking the Blast to a shop who indicates it's a bad "electric choke". That's the same as the auto-enricher, right? I'd prefer to order the parts myself to save some $$ - anyone know what part numbers to order (I guess from bikerbobshd.com?) |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 03:51 pm: |
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I pm'ed you. I still suspect the front ground though because the carb would still work even without the enrichner, just by feathering the throttle while it is cold.
EZ
(Message edited by ezblast on November 11, 2008) |
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