1 Can Anybody Explain? Mon Dec 12, 2016 1:40 pm
Kafflut
Silver member
I have a difficult to start problem I'm trying to figure out [K100, 1986 about 90 000km]
The engine will fire up on about the 3rd go and immediately stop again. On one occasion I accidentally held the starter switch down after that initial couple of revs and the engine kept running. I then released the starter and it continued, a bit rough but it ran.
I repeated this starter hold down on several occasions after that - it seems the only way to get the engine to run.
When the motor starts running and I release the starter switch the revs go lower and lower and it will stall, but if I press the starter the revs pick up and it runs again for a while. This increase in revs happens without throttle or fast idle adjustment, just press the starter switch and it runs faster.
At this stage I'm certain of one thing only - this holding down the starter and pressing it again when the motor is running is not recommended procedure.
I have an idea this has something to do with another issue I have; once the engine has warmed up it will idle okay but for an occasional miss. Maybe about 3 times a minute it misses - when that happens the instrument lights, the neutral light, ABS etc, all go off for that split second. I put a timing light on the spark plug lead and the timing light also misses. It's like turning the emergency switch off for millisecond and back on again - no electricity for a split second. Can't say it doesn't happen at higher revs; maybe it does but one would not be able to tell.
I have a feeling if I held down the starter all the time the occasional miss will be gone, but since I have no idea what damage I'm doing with this not-recommended action, I'm not going to try it.
Here's what I've eliminated so far: I cleaned battery terminals, cleaned earth connection points, checked coils, cleaned alternator connector, bypassed emergency switch and ignition switch, checked all fuses - I can't remember if I cleaned the fuse connections.
I cannot imagine it not being an electrical fault, but who knows?
I'm ready to try any suggestion - Just don't say 'take it to a dealer' I did and was told, very old bike nobody in the workshop with knowledge.
I'm hoping that to those with electrical knowledge this starter hold down may be a significant indicator of what's up.
The engine will fire up on about the 3rd go and immediately stop again. On one occasion I accidentally held the starter switch down after that initial couple of revs and the engine kept running. I then released the starter and it continued, a bit rough but it ran.
I repeated this starter hold down on several occasions after that - it seems the only way to get the engine to run.
When the motor starts running and I release the starter switch the revs go lower and lower and it will stall, but if I press the starter the revs pick up and it runs again for a while. This increase in revs happens without throttle or fast idle adjustment, just press the starter switch and it runs faster.
At this stage I'm certain of one thing only - this holding down the starter and pressing it again when the motor is running is not recommended procedure.
I have an idea this has something to do with another issue I have; once the engine has warmed up it will idle okay but for an occasional miss. Maybe about 3 times a minute it misses - when that happens the instrument lights, the neutral light, ABS etc, all go off for that split second. I put a timing light on the spark plug lead and the timing light also misses. It's like turning the emergency switch off for millisecond and back on again - no electricity for a split second. Can't say it doesn't happen at higher revs; maybe it does but one would not be able to tell.
I have a feeling if I held down the starter all the time the occasional miss will be gone, but since I have no idea what damage I'm doing with this not-recommended action, I'm not going to try it.
Here's what I've eliminated so far: I cleaned battery terminals, cleaned earth connection points, checked coils, cleaned alternator connector, bypassed emergency switch and ignition switch, checked all fuses - I can't remember if I cleaned the fuse connections.
I cannot imagine it not being an electrical fault, but who knows?
I'm ready to try any suggestion - Just don't say 'take it to a dealer' I did and was told, very old bike nobody in the workshop with knowledge.
I'm hoping that to those with electrical knowledge this starter hold down may be a significant indicator of what's up.