1 Help - bike won't rev! Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:08 pm
Colin Howe
active member
I was on a run with my wife on our lovely K100 when there was a shudder from the engine and then the ignition cut out leaving us stranded on the hard shoulder of the motorway.
Checked the plugs - indicating a bit rich (which I already knew) but all plugs sparked when earthed against cylinder head (not fat, blue spark though). All lights, indicators and horn working fine.
Started engine after cleaning plugs and it immediately fired up - hooray! But it wouldn't rev, only tickover. As soon as I touched the twist grip the engine cut out. I tried to crawl off the motorway at tickover revs - nope. When 1st gear engaged and load applied the engine cut out.
The whole time it was ticking over, the battery warning lamp was lit which seems to point towards alternator problems?. After half an hour tinkering I had to admit defeat and call a breakdown vehicle for tow home.
Got back and tested the Odyssey battery - not fully charged but not discharged either. Checked brushes on alternator - a little worn but within permitted tolerances. I removed the regulator and brushes as a starting point because the complete item is relatively inexpensive to replace. Damn cold in my shed so given up for time being. Thinking about coils, ignition pick-up, the 'black box' behind the steering head or (heaven forbid!) the ignition control unit.
Suggestions anyone?
Checked the plugs - indicating a bit rich (which I already knew) but all plugs sparked when earthed against cylinder head (not fat, blue spark though). All lights, indicators and horn working fine.
Started engine after cleaning plugs and it immediately fired up - hooray! But it wouldn't rev, only tickover. As soon as I touched the twist grip the engine cut out. I tried to crawl off the motorway at tickover revs - nope. When 1st gear engaged and load applied the engine cut out.
The whole time it was ticking over, the battery warning lamp was lit which seems to point towards alternator problems?. After half an hour tinkering I had to admit defeat and call a breakdown vehicle for tow home.
Got back and tested the Odyssey battery - not fully charged but not discharged either. Checked brushes on alternator - a little worn but within permitted tolerances. I removed the regulator and brushes as a starting point because the complete item is relatively inexpensive to replace. Damn cold in my shed so given up for time being. Thinking about coils, ignition pick-up, the 'black box' behind the steering head or (heaven forbid!) the ignition control unit.
Suggestions anyone?