So your HT bicycle engine won't start, well let's take a look

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Al.Fisherman

New Member
Sep 9, 2009
1,966
5
0
Calera, Alabama
Chinese HT engine won’t start? Well let's see what might be the cause of your problen.

Electrical
1. Improper wiring. Black magneto wire to black CDI wire, blue magneto wire to blue CDI wire. White…either remove or isolate.
2. Kill switch defective. Do not hook it up until you get the engine running. When hooking up the wires, don’t pay attention to colors. One wire connects to the blue magneto/CDI wires; the other wire connects to the black magneto/CDI wires.
3. Defective magneto..testing All readings are approximate.
Use Low Ohm-Meter Scale 200 Ohms
Check Ohms between BLACK wire and WHITE wire. 2 Ohms
Check ohms between BLUE wire and WHITE wire. 300-400 ohms.
4. Defective CDI..testing All readings are approximate.
Use Ohm Meter High Scale About 200-K
Positive lead on BLUE wire and Negative lead on BLACK wire
infinite (no activity)
Positive lead on BLACK wire and Negative lead on BLUE wire.
130-150 K ohms
Positive lead on Spark Plug wire and negative lead on BLUE wire.
135-155K ohms
Switch to Low Scale 20K
Measure between Spark Plug wire and Black lead. 2.5 - 2.7 K ohms
Magneto and CDI testing .. credit goes to 2Door
5. Replace Spark plug (I like NGK’s plugs, number depending on your engines condition) also replace the high voltage lead from the CDI. Use a wire core lead.
6. Check for proper timing. At TDC the cut outs in the magnet will be
in the 12:00, and 6:00 position. The key will be at the 1:00 position
7. Do away with the cheap connectors on the magneto.CDI. Replace with good ones, solder them and wrap with tape or better yet heat shrink as I do.
8. Re solder the blue magneto wire. Have seen cold solder joints from the factory. I change the wire to a better grade and to a 16 gauge.

Fuel
1. Clean fuel tank, and screen filter (in the tank) out. Tanks have been known to have trash in them.
2. Install an inline fuel filter. One might not be included in the kit.
3. Carburetor piston, check for proper instillation.
4. Carburetor to intake manifold leak. An “O” ring installed can help solve this problem. Check manifold gasket.
5. Ensure that the internal components in the carburetor are installed correctly and not loose. Later you might need to adjust the needle (attached to the carburetor piston…5 different positions)
6. Ensure the float operates correctly and the needle seals off the fuel flow through the seat.
7. Tighten bowl screws.
8. Screw on the NT carburetor only adjusts the idle.

Compression
1. Blown head gasket. Mill head replace gasket
2. Broken rings. Replace rings/piston
3. Leaking seals on the crankshaft. Replace
4. Spark plug not tight or threads stripped.

Vacuum Leaks
Shouldn’t cause a no start problem, but can cause a RPM issues.

If you don't have a Volt/ohms meter, I suggest you get one. Harbor gives them away quite often. I have gotten 4 of them. One in the house/garage/5th wheel and in my truck. ALL FREE


Looking for any other causes that will lead to a NO START problem. Please don't make this a sticky till its finished...
 
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2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

Allow me to elaborate on Al's check list, item #1.

The plug in connectors that come in the kit, the ones on the blue and black wires from the engine and the CDI, are notorious for bad electrical connections. I had one, on the blue wire from the magneto, that was crimped onto the insulation and not the conductor. One of the best things you can do when installing the engine on your bike is to cut off and discard those little push-together bullet connectors then solder the wires together and protect the connections with heat shrink tubing.

Item #1 under the fuel heading:
Every kit supplied tank I've seen, and I've seen a few, needed to be cleaned of rust and dirt as it came from the factory. Installing one without at least rinsing it with fresh gasoline is almost a sure way to quickly clog the in-tank filter/petcock. A clean fuel delivery system is essential to a good running engine.

Al, back to you.
Tom
 
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Andy101

New Member
Apr 25, 2012
1
0
0
Frankston
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

I am not getting a spark out of my plug, have been through this checklist and although the readings were a little high, still no spark. Its got a brand new plug and I tried a few different types. Everything seems to be setup right and its really starting to get to me. Is there any other reason its not sparking? It stopped working after about 2 mins of use the other morning and I have been over everything, I think.
 

Al.Fisherman

New Member
Sep 9, 2009
1,966
5
0
Calera, Alabama
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

I am not getting a spark out of my plug, have been through this checklist and although the readings were a little high, still no spark. Its got a brand new plug and I tried a few different types. Everything seems to be setup right and its really starting to get to me. Is there any other reason its not sparking? It stopped working after about 2 mins of use the other morning and I have been over everything, I think.
Go through this list.... it's a update. You must of missed something simple.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aBeJuoS--VQWwXysc07rpscTUbPzgc93xjiQBgsyFjc/edit?pli=1
 

JCG

New Member
Jun 3, 2012
11
0
0
washington
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

I can't start the bike. Seems electrical. I did the tests listed above on Al. Fishermans 11/09/11 post. Items 1 - 3 OK Item 4. Ohms between black and white mag. wires=2.9 ohms. Ohms between blue and white mag wires = 332 ohms. Item 5.CDI test.Positive blue to negative black = no activity. Positive black to neg. blue=varies from 38.6k to
41.9k ohms.Pos on spark wire to neg blue=varies from 41.9k to 50k ohms. Between spark plug wire and black=2.2k ohms. So.......I assume the CDI is bad? What would have caused that? When checking for spark, I took out the plug and grounded it on the head and cranked the engine. I saw a blue spark. Could this have damaged the CDI?
 

Al.Fisherman

New Member
Sep 9, 2009
1,966
5
0
Calera, Alabama
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

I can't start the bike. Seems electrical. I did the tests listed above on Al. Fishermans 11/09/11 post. Items 1 - 3 OK Item 4. Ohms between black and white mag. wires=2.9 ohms. Ohms between blue and white mag wires = 332 ohms. Item 5.CDI test.Positive blue to negative black = no activity. Positive black to neg. blue=varies from 38.6k to
41.9k ohms.Pos on spark wire to neg blue=varies from 41.9k to 50k ohms. Between spark plug wire and black=2.2k ohms. So.......I assume the CDI is bad? What would have caused that? When checking for spark, I took out the plug and grounded it on the head and cranked the engine. I saw a blue spark. Could this have damaged the CDI?
Checking for spark while grounding the spark plug, will NOT cause the CDI to go out. These electrical parts are built with no or limited quality control. I had 1 coil go out within 3 days for no reason at all.
 
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JCG

New Member
Jun 3, 2012
11
0
0
washington
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

Is there an up-graded CDI I should buy, or just the stock ones for $10- $20.
 

BikeBerryKelci

New Member
Oct 25, 2012
37
0
0
brea
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

Allow me to elaborate on Al's check list, item #1.

The plug in connectors that come in the kit, the ones on the blue and black wires from the engine and the CDI, are notorious for bad electrical connections. I had one, on the blue wire from the magneto, that was crimped onto the insulation and not the conductor. One of the best things you can do when installing the engine on your bike is to cut off and discard those little push-together bullet connectors then solder the wires together and protect the connections with heat shrink tubing.

Item #1 under the fuel heading:
Every kit supplied tank I've seen, and I've seen a few, needed to be cleaned of rust and dirt as it came from the factory. Installing one without at least rinsing it with fresh gasoline is almost a sure way to quickly clog the in-tank filter/petcock. A clean fuel delivery system is essential to a good running engine.

Al, back to you.
Tom
Great advice!!!cvlt1
 

dontellmymom

New Member
Dec 4, 2012
9
0
0
Houston
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

I can't start the bike. Seems electrical. I did the tests listed above on Al. Fishermans 11/09/11 post. Items 1 - 3 OK Item 4. Ohms between black and white mag. wires=2.9 ohms. Ohms between blue and white mag wires = 332 ohms. Item 5.CDI test.Positive blue to negative black = no activity. Positive black to neg. blue=varies from 38.6k to
41.9k ohms.Pos on spark wire to neg blue=varies from 41.9k to 50k ohms. Between spark plug wire and black=2.2k ohms. So.......I assume the CDI is bad? What would have caused that? When checking for spark, I took out the plug and grounded it on the head and cranked the engine. I saw a blue spark. Could this have damaged the CDI?
Hey JCG,

Did you ever get the bike running? Was it the CDI? haanh?

Thanks for the info.

Be Safe.
 

AzRigidRider

New Member
Apr 27, 2013
9
0
0
Mesa,Az
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

Hey everyone I'm Alex, I know this isn't the introduction page but I've peeked around a little and finally registered. The info and atmosphere here is on point! I've been scootin around on my 66cc motorized bicycle for a couple months now without any MAJOR problems however about a week or so ago I was on my way home from work and my motor seized, obviously compromising piston and cylinder but without and further damage... I believe. Crank still rotates smooth as can be so I ordered a jakes jug and cut on piston from jakebike.com and installed accordingly but WILL NOT start whatsoever! That being said I have looked everything over top to bottom and it all seems to be in order. I am stuuuumped! If anyone has an idea I'd greatly appreciate any input! :-||
 

Tyler6357

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2012
1,293
294
83
Santa Barbara, CA
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

Hey everyone I'm Alex, I know this isn't the introduction page but I've peeked around a little and finally registered. The info and atmosphere here is on point! I've been scootin around on my 66cc motorized bicycle for a couple months now without any MAJOR problems however about a week or so ago I was on my way home from work and my motor seized, obviously compromising piston and cylinder but without and further damage... I believe. Crank still rotates smooth as can be so I ordered a jakes jug and cut on piston from jakebike.com and installed accordingly but WILL NOT start whatsoever! That being said I have looked everything over top to bottom and it all seems to be in order. I am stuuuumped! If anyone has an idea I'd greatly appreciate any input! :-||
I would replace the head gasket if you installed a new piston and jug. You might want to check gasket at the cylinder/bottom end seal as well. Also, make certain that you are getting a spark and that the carb is clean and flowing gas.
 

crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
4,032
158
63
USA
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

these days there are diff pistons & barrels out there to fit the diff rod lengths - first step would be to compare your old one to the new one to see that all measurements are the same
 

AzRigidRider

New Member
Apr 27, 2013
9
0
0
Mesa,Az
Re: So your HT won't start, well let's take a look

I would replace the head gasket if you installed a new piston and jug. You might want to check gasket at the cylinder/bottom end seal as well. Also, make certain that you are getting a spark and that the carb is clean and flowing gas.
Hmm good call Tyler, I haven't replaced head gasket but did get a bottom gasket along with jug and piston with upper needle bearing and wrist pin. As far as spark haven't been about to confirm sparking I will have to take an ohm reader to magnito and ignition. I've got a NGK bp7hs that isn't even a month old with minimal carbon build up but guess there's a chance of it being foul if ohms check out. And for carb, is there any specific methods for checking good flow?