I Need Help!!!

[Howard]

I need help!
Following on from changing the wax stat, air filter, plugs, adjusting the wax stat, FPR, fitting an O2 sensor eliminator and checking the coils and plugs with a multi meter I could still not get the Bird to idle.
Got so fed up with it that I stuck her on ebay (No big surprise) went out to try her again and she was only firing on 2 - 3 cylinders, took her apart again, checked coils, cleaned plugs (a bit wet) put her back together, she started on 4 cylinders, reved once, spluttered, then died, tried to start again and she coughs, farts, but wont start, I have now taken her apart and put her back together more times than I can honestly remember :cry: If I still smoked and had a lighter I would set her on fire!! Have taken her off ebay, told her she is a pile of shit and locked her in the garage!
Anyway, upon reflection I really would like to get her sorted. I am great at the cosmetic polishing a turd bit, but when it comes to mechanics I know far too little......So is there anyone nearby that would be able to have a look at her for me?........or should I buy a lighter? Not in the mood for smart arse replies, losing the will to live........:bang:

 

[Centaur]

Serious suggestion.

Put her on a trailer and take her to Taffy? Jaws would have been great but the "old fart" has retired early. :-0)

 

[Squag1]

Spose it's a dumb questions
But is battery 100%
I assume it's starting it.
Once battery was down I jumped it
But no way would it idle.

Also it could be a duff ht lead.
Not sure how you check that.
happened me on a car after doing timing chain.
After resetting timing several times no joy.
Can't remember how I figured leads.

Old method was to touch screwdriver to lead and cylinder head at same time. If engine died a bit then lead ok
If it didn't then that cylinder not working for whatever reason - lead or plug.
Got a great bang of it once as current went up one arm and down the other where I had my other hand on car body

 

[noobie]

I did wonder also the lead whether they are on the wrong plugs so out of order (but you've had enough birds to know which ones which) or a faulty lead

WE used to test them with the plug in the lead then moved it close to the engine block

just as an out there, you haven't connected the vacuum line up to the bottom of the fuel shut off valve?

 

[Q-Ball]

Could it be a dodgy injector. An old car I had would run fine some days and shit other days. I ended up replacing the whole ignition system,plugs,coils,leads,dizzy ect only to have the same issues,I then eventually traced the issue to a bad injector to which I replaced and then all was fine.

It seems odd that such a reliable model of bike is causing you such a huge pain in the ass,I'm sure there must be something so small causing you this big issue.
The thing is to find such a small issue can cost a lot in time and money.

 

[Howard]

Thanks for the replies so far.

She would not idle at cold from when I bought her, she also seemed to lack a bit of go and was a bit lumpy.

So far I have:
Changed the wax stat and adjusted it.
Fitted new plugs
Fitted a new Fuel Pressure Sensor
Fitted a new air filter
Fitted a o2 sensor eliminator
Checked the resistance (ohm)of the plugs, leads, caps, coils, all are to spec'
She only has one vacumn lead to the tank as its an injection bike

HT leads are correct, Coil on left goes to 2/3, coil on right goes to 1/4, The plugs are getting wet and when I take them out to dry and clean I have tested them and they all spark......not 100% sure how good the spark should be?

Just been outside to try again, she turns over, coughs, farts, but does not start.....

 

[andyBeaker]

Bit of a long shot - can you hear the fuel pump priming?

Also I have a vague recollection that there may be an obscure fuel filter lurking somewhere.......
:dunno:

Try firing some cold start into the air inlet and see if it runs like that. If it does it would suggest the electrics/ spark is good and there is a fuelling problem. If it doesn't suggests something non fuel related.

Anyone got a spare ecu to swap over.........

 

[Centaur]

If the plugs are wet......

then it is an ignition problem. What about the "whatsitsname" sensor than controls the ignition timing? Crankshaft timing sensor is it? Am I talking bollox as usual? :dunno:

 

[Howard]

Cheers Andy,
ECU has been tested by Mr Taffy on 2 of his bikes and is fine.
Pump makes its usual noise.
Bike smells of petrol and plugs are getting wet, so think fuel is being delivered, maybe too much? :dunno:
I am wondering if the plugs have got wet, even though I have dried them and tried them out of the bike, that the spark is still too weak and as soon as they get even a slight amount of fuel on them they are flooding ......again? :dunno:

May have to speak to Taffy and ask him nicely if he will have a look, if I trailer the bike down to him and if need be leave it with him for a while.

 

[robsbird]

put a set of jump leads on it from the car and see if it starts and runs

as it could be the case its not making power at low RPM and this in turn will make it run like this could be the reg rec going down.

@tu*

 

[Centaur]

put a set of jump leads on it from the car and see if it starts and runs

as it could be the case its not making power at low RPM and this in turn will make it run like this could be the reg rec going down.

@tu*

May be worth trying, Rob, but if the battery is OK ie 12.4V ish then it will run the engine for some time without charging as Andybird has proved. :-0)

 

[Vinterceptor]

May seem a basic question, could the fuel be contaminated:dunno:

 

[Quiney]

Thanks for the replies so far.

She would not idle at cold from when I bought her, she also seemed to lack a bit of go and was a bit lumpy.

So far I have:
Changed the wax stat and adjusted it.
Fitted new plugs
Fitted a new Fuel Pressure Sensoru
Fitted a new air filter
Fitted a o2 sensor eliminator
Checked the resistance (ohm)of the plugs, leads, caps, coils, all are to spec'
She only has one vacumn lead to the tank as its an injection bike

HT leads are correct, Coil on left goes to 2/3, coil on right goes to 1/4, The plugs are getting wet and when I take them out to dry and clean I have tested them and they all spark......not 100% sure how good the spark should be?

Just been outside to try again, she turns over, coughs, farts, but does not start.....

Although you've checked the ht leads and appear OK I have had them 'breakdown' under load giving little or no spark. :dunno:

 

[Jaws]

Either ignition or over fueling
Personally I would, as a starter, refit the old FPR

I would also pull off each of the plugs on the injectors, give em a squirt with ACF and plug/unplug each a few times
I would then do the same with the plugs in the plastic boot located behind the engine under the injectors/air filter

 

[andyBeaker]

Either ignition or over fueling
Personally I would, as a starter, refit the old FPR

I would also pull off each of the plugs on the injectors, give em a squirt with ACF and plug/unplug each a few times
I would then do the same with the plugs in the plastic boot located behind the engine under the injectors/air filter

Ah, it smells of fuel.................a stuck open injector maybe - wouldn't be the first one on a Bird............ let's hope so as this is an easy fix??

 

[Dickiebird]

Having seen your earlier posts,Howard, I thought it was just cold starting you were having trouble with, until it warmed up , and then it was o.k., same as I am. Coincidentally, I was giving it some (more ) thought today, and was wondering whether the starter valves could be out of sync, which would affect the cold start, but according to the Haynes " Rough Guide "they have to be set using vac gauges which I don't possess. :bang: So thats me snookered ! Best of luck, mate.@tu* P.S. Does anyone know if there is another way of setting up the starters ?:dunno:

 

[bluebirdphil]

I cant see how to send a PM so if you know how, fire us your mobile and I'll give you a call. Dont get too excited though as i'm no factory mechanic!

 

[noobie]

Pm's are a sponsor thing Phil. If anyone ever puts their number up then it's normally safer to take it down once both parties agree they have it.

 

[57grant]

Hi, I have a spare set of known good coils and leads that you can borrow to eliminate that possibility for free, if it does not fix just post them back, if it works I can sell them to you at modest costs

Don't think a fuel starvation is likely as this will probably be evident at high revs not idle, but just in case check that the small air vent in the filler cap is not blocked, it can cause all sorts of strange running probs.

Good luck

Grant

07876251906 mobile

 

[bladebird]

hi when i had idle problems like yours the throtle bodies were out of sync