How many times have you and I read this? "My engine won't start"?
Look at my post count and join date. In other words, This ain't my first rodeo. I've seen that message countless times. So many times in fact that my eyes sort of glaze over when I see it because I know it is something obvious and all it takes is to analyze the situation and find out if the engine has the three critical components, air fuel and ignition, to run. I don't usually even reply anymore because the answers will be provided by the members to get the newbie on the road. They're so obvious.
Nevertheless, late this afternoon I was going to go for a short ride while dinner was cooking and jumped on my newest bike, it has about 100 miles on it, and took off. This is a Chinese 2 stroke that has some mods but nothing exotic. The engine started before I reached the end of the driveway, as usual, and ran great for about a half mile from home, naturally, all downhill. I came to an intersection, slowed and as I pulled in the clutch, the engine died. Never did that before. It was as if I'd punched the kill switch. It never ran again. Not even a pop. I had to pedal and finally get off and walk that sucker uphill for a half mile to home.
I was pooped and disgusted but came out after dinner and started troubleshooting to find out what the problem is.
Fuel? Yes. Disconnected the fuel line from the carburetor and had good flow from the tank. This is not a new batch of fuel. I've been burning it for over a week. Pulled the float bowl off and the carburetor is getting fuel. The bowl was full.
Ignition? Pulled the plug and laid it against the head and spun the engine. Great spark! Even so I disconnected the kill switch, just to be sure I wasn't seeing an intermittent problem.
Air? Yes, the choke is wide open and nothing blocking the carb throat. Air filter is clean.
Compression? This puppy has a lot. I'm running a new experimental slant plug head from one of our sponsors and it will easily lock up the rear wheel if my speed isn't up before popping the clutch.
It just won't run!
Frustrated I replaced the CDI with a known good one and the magneto coil with a new one. The plug wire and boot are copper core wire with an automotive boot that I know is not the problem. I even put a new NGK plug in just to assure myself that I wasn't seeing a defective plug. I still get good spark, same as before the parts change.
Still, nothing. It will not run!
It is violating all the laws of physics and natural progression.
It has fuel, air, ignition and compression but this little SOB will not start.
I'm tired and don't want to screw with it anymore tonight but tomorrow I WILL find out what's happening, or not happening, and let you know.
This gives me a whole new perspective on the poor guy with little to no mechaincal experience and trying to get his engine to run. I'll be much more tolerant of them in the future; I can assure you.
Tom
Look at my post count and join date. In other words, This ain't my first rodeo. I've seen that message countless times. So many times in fact that my eyes sort of glaze over when I see it because I know it is something obvious and all it takes is to analyze the situation and find out if the engine has the three critical components, air fuel and ignition, to run. I don't usually even reply anymore because the answers will be provided by the members to get the newbie on the road. They're so obvious.
Nevertheless, late this afternoon I was going to go for a short ride while dinner was cooking and jumped on my newest bike, it has about 100 miles on it, and took off. This is a Chinese 2 stroke that has some mods but nothing exotic. The engine started before I reached the end of the driveway, as usual, and ran great for about a half mile from home, naturally, all downhill. I came to an intersection, slowed and as I pulled in the clutch, the engine died. Never did that before. It was as if I'd punched the kill switch. It never ran again. Not even a pop. I had to pedal and finally get off and walk that sucker uphill for a half mile to home.
I was pooped and disgusted but came out after dinner and started troubleshooting to find out what the problem is.
Fuel? Yes. Disconnected the fuel line from the carburetor and had good flow from the tank. This is not a new batch of fuel. I've been burning it for over a week. Pulled the float bowl off and the carburetor is getting fuel. The bowl was full.
Ignition? Pulled the plug and laid it against the head and spun the engine. Great spark! Even so I disconnected the kill switch, just to be sure I wasn't seeing an intermittent problem.
Air? Yes, the choke is wide open and nothing blocking the carb throat. Air filter is clean.
Compression? This puppy has a lot. I'm running a new experimental slant plug head from one of our sponsors and it will easily lock up the rear wheel if my speed isn't up before popping the clutch.
It just won't run!
Frustrated I replaced the CDI with a known good one and the magneto coil with a new one. The plug wire and boot are copper core wire with an automotive boot that I know is not the problem. I even put a new NGK plug in just to assure myself that I wasn't seeing a defective plug. I still get good spark, same as before the parts change.
Still, nothing. It will not run!
It is violating all the laws of physics and natural progression.
It has fuel, air, ignition and compression but this little SOB will not start.
I'm tired and don't want to screw with it anymore tonight but tomorrow I WILL find out what's happening, or not happening, and let you know.
This gives me a whole new perspective on the poor guy with little to no mechaincal experience and trying to get his engine to run. I'll be much more tolerant of them in the future; I can assure you.
Tom
if it is sell it on ebay for a mint!
