crying for help!

[hellhammered]

I took my bike for an extended cruise yesterday, put some serious miles on it. Then my regular chain popped off, I stopped to put it back on when to my utter dismay, the bike would not start again. When I release the clutch it doesn't create enough compression to pop start the engine. Is the clutch fried? Or is it more sinister like maybe I killed it? I don't see any leaking of fluid or gas on the engine other than excess leakage from leaving the petcock in the on position. I'm stumped and let me just add it sucks to pedal a 30+ pound bike with a 20 pound motor kit and a backpack that feels like an extra 40 pounds! HELP!!!!

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

Is the clutch slipping???
If so, does the clutch cable have a tiny amount of slack in it?
Also, if the clutch is slipping & the cables fine, you can tighten the flower nut under the side cover one or two clicks.

 

[hellhammered]

Thanks Venice, I'll give that a shot...

 

[hellhammered]

ok here is the skinny, tried tightening the flower nut, loosening it, I have tight clutch pull, still i can push the bike disengaged relatively easy. I'm afraid it may be toast, please tell me it aint so....

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

Maybe when the chain popped off, it sheared off a woodruff key in one of the engine gears??
Take off the side covers & roll the bike around & see if any of the gears are turning & the shaft isn't.

 

[hellhammered]

Maybe when the chain popped off, it sheared off a woodruff key in one of the engine gears??
Take off the side covers & roll the bike around & see if any of the gears are turning & the shaft isn't.

The regular bike chain fell off, not the motor chain, but inside the clutch cover there is that little gear that looks like you need a huge flathead screw driver to get it off, is there a shaft that may have sheered off inside there? I'm so bummed...

 

[diceman2004]

that just sounds wierd , are you sure it might not be something silly like a loose spark plug ?

 

[noco]

hey it sounds like the clutch is out of adjustment. hold the clutch lever in while you adjust the flower nut on the clutch...

 

[hiker472]

I'm not sure if this helps or not, but one time I stopped to take a leak on the side of the road, so I stopped, turned the motor off and did my thing. When I finished and tried to start the engine, it wouldn't start. I thought, "Bummer, I'm only 20 or so miles from home!"

I rolled it off the road and began to go over everything. For me, the problem was found in the spark plug wire. It had slipped out just enough where it wouldn't get spark. I used hose clamps and wire to keep it pulled into the cdi and it fired right up.

Another thing that will leave you on the side of the road is a clogged fuel filter.

I must carry about 10lbs of tools and other odds and ends with me everywhere I go, but it helps.

With these things, it could be just about anything that could go wrong, it seems, but they sure are fun!

 

[stuartracing]

I'm not sure if this helps or not, but one time I stopped to take a leak on the side of the road, so I stopped, turned the motor off and did my thing. When I finished and tried to start the engine, it wouldn't start. I thought, "Bummer, I'm only 20 or so miles from home!"

I rolled it off the road and began to go over everything. For me, the problem was found in the spark plug wire. It had slipped out just enough where it wouldn't get spark. I used hose clamps and wire to keep it pulled into the cdi and it fired right up.

Another thing that will leave you on the side of the road is a clogged fuel filter.

I must carry about 10lbs of tools and other odds and ends with me everywhere I go, but it helps.

With these things, it could be just about anything that could go wrong, it seems, but they sure are fun!

X2......Anything can do wrong.....

 

[Cabinfever1977]

The 3 times mine would'nt start are: 1. ran out of gas(180mpg i forgot to put gas in),
2. gas petcock off, 3. kill switch button stuck in(was wedge between handlebar and brake lever).

One time my bike shut off was a loose ground wire.
So check all the small stuff before tearing into the engine.
You said you went many more miles than usually and something probally vibrated loose.

 

[hellhammered]

I've done the small stuff, I may just have to tear it apart. I have to give it the adjustment with the clutch pulled in, if that doesn't work it'll be time to dismantle. Arrggghhh!

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

Did you adjust the flower nut a click or two in???

 

[hellhammered]

I've done it to tight too loose and every where in between

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

Here's another question... When you first take off from a dead stop, do you pedal to help the bike take off, or do you only use the clutch & no pedaling??

 

[stuartracing]

Pedal, pedal, pedal.....Then let the clutch out....

 

[hellhammered]

Here's another question... When you first take off from a dead stop, do you pedal to help the bike take off, or do you only use the clutch & no pedaling??

I pedal of course, but when I do that now there is no compression no matter how I adjust the clutch.
Spark plug is tight, clutch cable has resistance, still I can push the bike pretty easy with the clutch out...

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

When you say there's "no compression", does that mean the piston is going up & down & there's no compression in the cylinder??? Or the clutch is slipping & can't bite enough to spin the engine?

Did you take off the side covers & look at what the gears are doing?

 

[hellhammered]

I'm thinking compression no piston action.....

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

Yep, either clutch or one of the gears (or a woodruff key) is busted.