Any Ideas?????

[SCARFEY]

If anyone is chopping up a frame I would like to fix my original one which has matching numbers.

The numbkin I bought it of chopped about 6 inches out of the horizontal rails in front of the top, shock mount above the battery.

So all I need is some of that tube to effect an as close to original repair.

[excess.11]

Well done Eddy.......the voltmeter don t lie.

[XSIIE]

Folks,

After much colourful language and head scratching elimination the problem was the battery 

It had enough jibbers in it to start a loose well worn engine, but 3131 has been completely rebuilt and the engine is tight

I put the battery from #1 bike in (kept on trickle and in good condition) after a bit of coaxing she cranked.

Thanks for all the suggestions and offers for help.  The collective brainpower here led me to the solution.

Hoping to ride this one to the rally.

Eddy

78E #1 bike
81RH get to work bike
78E twin DJP next major rebuild
81H 3131 not so farked after all
81RH still thinking of a plan

[beemeerr11]

Eddie,
I had the carbs leaking on my bike and actually drained 7 litres out of the motor in an oil change.
To eliminate compression lockup or anything associated with that pull out your plugs and hit the starter and see what happens(VOLTAGE WISE I DON"T LIKE THAT 2 VOLT BIT) ? If it kicks over O.K. put your plugs back in and disconnect the fuel lines, kick the bike over and use Aero start or something similar in the intakes, if things are good then GREAT, otherwise you have an electrical issue sukking you out.

If you need some help with the electrical side to eliminate/borrow parts, let me know?

Cheers

Lou

[beemeerr11]

Not sure if my first reply worked, I'll see now?

[excess.11]

Do you have a spare starter and solenoid you can try ?
It sounds like your starter motor is faulty.
Maybe a new set of brushes might help.

[XSIIE]

Cleaned all the contacts between the frame/engine and earth straps.

Checked the battery with a multimeter. 12.97v

pushed the start button. dropped immediately to 2 volts.

Checked the RH 12.4 v

pushed the start button. 11.7 v and then started.

hand cranked the timing plate (clockwise of course) it felt normal (some resistance) and moved freely without any binding.

This same battery starts the outfit without any trouble.

Starter was pulled and ran smoothly in the air.

 

[XSIIE]

OK.  Schoolboy error #1.

The fuel taps definately work.  they're brand new.  They work really well in the prime position.  That is what I left them on when I parked the bike and then subsequently moved (I am living proof that you don't need webbed feet and feathers to be a goose .  The fuel tank had about 5 litres of fuel. when parked.  Before I attempted to start it was bone dry,  assumpion was that the fuel had just evaporated.

It found its way into the engine via # 1 cylinder. After draining the bowls #1 had heaps of shit in the fuel, the others were clean and free of debris.

By-passing the solenoid has the same effect as if I go through the push button starter.  Under load (with plugs in) it appears like a flat battery.  This is the same when I use the jumper leads from the car.

My next thing will be to see how a "working" starter behaves in the bike.

This will keep me going for tonight.

Thanks for all the replies

Eddy

[excess.11]

Good call Tim...shorting the solenoid will bypass the start cct and get down to the biz if the starter and battery are in good order. However it doesn t test the quality of the contacts and coil operation on the solenoid or give any voltage drop results that can help track down the culprit/s.
A bad starter solenoid or bad grounding and or continuity from the start button to the frame / battery ground will certainly give erratic starting results of which you are experiencing. Also check all your push fit connections in the loom that are involved with the start cct.

[Tim]

just a thought   have you tried to turn it over  by shorting the solenoid ?

[SCARFEY]

When I built the CBX I was so excited to take it for a ride that I forgot to put fuel in it. You guessed it I went where there was no phone service and it stopped dead. 

[excess.11]

Try a new set of plugs for starters....(you may have a dead plug).......lol.......get it?....for "Starters".
Ohhhh sometimes I jus cracks me up.
Mmmmmmmm...also due to a recent oversight on an earlier post from Lumox re starting problems .......check there s fuel in the tank........and while your at it............air in the tyres . There that's the stupid ones out of the way.
There appears to be something pulling the battery voltage down (shorting) or you may have brush trouble with your starter motor and your fuel taps are not closing off fuel flow if they have allowed, (along with floats),fuel to freely pass into the cylinder head and seep past the rings into the crank oil.
Put a voltmeter across the battery as your cranking and see what voltage your getting.

[XSIIE]

More like a peach.  Which kinda annoys me more than anything coz every thing on this project is new.  right down to the battery tray.

Fresh fuel.  Check...

[AussiXS11G]

Geez mate......sounds like a lemon to me..... I'll give you $100 for it and rid you of the problem,,,,,,
Seriously tho... mine has been sitting without a battrey for some months too.....Here's hoping 
Fresh fuel?

[XSIIE]

Hi Folks.

Just rolled 3131 out of the garage after not being touched for about 8 months.

Went to start her.

No go.

Put a fresh battery in and there seemed to be no power to the starter. (it appeared like a flat battery - only just turning over)

Connected up the car.  still the same.

went back to basics.

Checked for spark.  Check.

Checked for fuel. Check.

Pulled out the spark plugs and the engine turned over fine.

Put the plugs in and she started.  blew a wad of black smoke for about 10 seconds and then stalled.

Looked at the puddle of what I thought was fuel on the floor.

After closer inspection it was very thin oil ..WTF???

looked at the oil inspection window and it was full.

looked into the crankcase and it was full???

Drained the oil.  It was very thin and smelled like fuel.  WTF?

So....

Bike turns over fine with no spark plugs in.

Bike wont turn over with plugs in.

Oil appeared contaminated with fuel  but now fixed with fresh oil.

Still wont start.

Any ideas?

Thanks folks/

78E  working
81RH working
another 78RH working
78E twin DJP working
81H 3131 Farked