Hi everyone, I hope there is someone out there that can help me with this problem I am having. I purchased this bike from a friend of mine because he had got fed up trying to get it running. He said it ran great and then after one winter it wouldn't start. I looked it over and was pretty sure the carbs needed taken apart and cleaned and that would be it. Anyway I can't get it running. I am not getting any gas to the spark plugs. I have take the carbs off 3 times and have check and cleaned perfectly. There seems to be no problem with them. Its got the 2 carb set-up. I can crank it over and over and when I pull a spark plug out ther is no gas on them. Yesteday I did a compression test, 160 psi on both, remove the top of the motor to check for a stuck valve, etc....
I have check gas in float bowl which seems to be correct. For some reason the fuel isn't going to the spark plugs. I have a yamaha OEM repair manual but it really doesn't help on this. I'm hoping some one out there can help me solve this. Thanks gamiller
XS 400 starting/fuel problem
Ahh... I see you DID start a post... hahaha
Lets run this down....
You cleaned the carbs.... check (might still want to clean them again)
You checked compression... check
You checked for stuck valve... check
Did you check for spark? Take out a plug, put the wire back on it and ground it to the case. Then hit the starter and make sure you see spark. Check both sides
Are you using the choke?
You may also want to get a can of starting fluid and spray some of that into the air box or carbs and see if it will start.
You could also try taking out the plugs and putting a little fuel directly into the cylinders (very little, like 2 or 3 drops) or carb cleaner burns well. Just go easy with this stuff.
try that and let us know.
Lets run this down....
You cleaned the carbs.... check (might still want to clean them again)
You checked compression... check
You checked for stuck valve... check
Did you check for spark? Take out a plug, put the wire back on it and ground it to the case. Then hit the starter and make sure you see spark. Check both sides
Are you using the choke?
You may also want to get a can of starting fluid and spray some of that into the air box or carbs and see if it will start.
You could also try taking out the plugs and putting a little fuel directly into the cylinders (very little, like 2 or 3 drops) or carb cleaner burns well. Just go easy with this stuff.
try that and let us know.
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1976 Golding GL1000 Bagger
1976 Golding GL1000 Bagger
MrShake, Thanks for the ideas, I spent a lot of time on this bike today and I think the spark is to weak. I checked both coils and they both seem to be ok as far as the primary and secondary resistance according to the manual.
When I turn the key on each coil has 12 volts as they should. This bike has the electronic igniton with the pick-up coil and the CDI unit. I always figured that these electronic units either work or fail completley. I went and talked to the fella that had this bike and he told me it ran good in the fall and then sit all winter and then wouldn't run. I going to spend more time on trying to get a better spark. I don't like the way the wires go into the coils. I think this could be part of the problem. the wires are not long enough to redo the ends. The way I look at it is there are coils, spark plug wires, pick-up coil, and the ignition control box. Am I missing something that has to do with a good spark? Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed some ideas! gamiller
When I turn the key on each coil has 12 volts as they should. This bike has the electronic igniton with the pick-up coil and the CDI unit. I always figured that these electronic units either work or fail completley. I went and talked to the fella that had this bike and he told me it ran good in the fall and then sit all winter and then wouldn't run. I going to spend more time on trying to get a better spark. I don't like the way the wires go into the coils. I think this could be part of the problem. the wires are not long enough to redo the ends. The way I look at it is there are coils, spark plug wires, pick-up coil, and the ignition control box. Am I missing something that has to do with a good spark? Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed some ideas! gamiller
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storysunfolding
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Spray some starter fluid in the airbox, wait a second and try to start it. If she catches the problem is with your carbs (my guess).
Are you getting gas into the carbs? If so I bet you're cleaning them wrong. You need to clean out all the nooks and crannies. Also, make sure that nothing is blocking the jets. You should be able to see light through them. If not, take a long thin piece of wire or nylon brissle and GENTLY, push it through the jet, then floss it. AFter you've done that , put it back together, put an inline fuel filter between teh carbs and the tank and give her another go.
Are you getting gas into the carbs? If so I bet you're cleaning them wrong. You need to clean out all the nooks and crannies. Also, make sure that nothing is blocking the jets. You should be able to see light through them. If not, take a long thin piece of wire or nylon brissle and GENTLY, push it through the jet, then floss it. AFter you've done that , put it back together, put an inline fuel filter between teh carbs and the tank and give her another go.
I wouldn't spend a ton of time trying to "improve" your spark. A quick test would be to take an old sparkplug (or plug your willing to trash) and bend the electrode out straight. Then put it back in the plug cap, ground it to the engine and hit the starter. If you still get a spark, then don't worry about it for now. I'm with story in that its probably your carbs.
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1976 Golding GL1000 Bagger
1976 Golding GL1000 Bagger