Trying to put my bike back together. Starting issues.

unleashedlive

unleashedlive

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So I feel like I'm missing something really obvious but I'm having issues here.

Year: '79

Bike ran fine prior to tear down (1.5yrs ago) Both electric and kickstart worked great.
I took the whole bike apart but never opened up the engine, left it as is, but did swap the airbox for the tapered air filters.

Now my plan is to remove the electric start and go kickstart only, but I have not actually removed the starter yet.

I tore out all the wiring and started from scratch, I've got everything within the WHITE box hooked up (no ignition or kill switch, just a direct connection for now). This is the only wiring the bike has right now.
W42oV
http://imgur.com/a/W42oV


When I pull in the clutch and go to kickstart I get nothing, no resistance, to back pressure, nothing. With the clutch engage I can feel the back pressure.

What am I missing here?
 

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Hi Unleashed, When you pull the clutch in, it disengages, ALL of the gearbox functions, including the kickstart! That is why the kickstart, isn't showing any compression, while you have the clutch pulled in!
As for your starting problem's, I can't help there, as I'm suffering from none starting problems myself!

Merlin
 
Put the bike in neutral to start. Don't pull in the clutch or you will not be able to kick over the motor.
 
So the bike is in neutral (well the sprocket spins freely). I am getting a spark on the plugs although they are quite black. When I kick it over I hear what maybe sounds like the starter motor spinning too? It's like a high pitch sound. Not getting it to turn over on its own though.
 
When you try the electric starter, do you hear the solenoid, clicking? Have you connected the starter cable, properly? Can you hear the starter motor spinning, when you press the starter button?

Merlin
 
This will be more complex issue, so I cannot help you now, but I would start the easier way - reverse engineering is always the better way to solve problems.

- connect electric starter
- put back stock airbox and filters

try to start with electric starter, if it works, you are lucky. then step by step eliminate stuff that you do not need, avoid mistakes. Electric parts are not easy on motorcycles.
If it does not start, find why. Do you have good spark? do you have fuel/air mixture? do you have good compression? this is what you need to run the engine.
 
Anyone know how to add the electric starter in to the diagram I posted? I don't have a starter switch, I'm fine with just putting two wires together for now to test.
 
Puffs back through the carbs... I'd look into the timing.
Might not be as simple but my XS360 consistently did the same thing until I realized I'd put the contact breaker cam in 180° around from where it should have been.
 
Probably not that much. Double check that the ignition coils are connected properly. Easy to swap left/right primary wires accidentally.
Easy to check by temporarily swapping the spark plug wires.

That's the extent of my hunch.

Otherwise it's back to square one troubleshooting for a non-starting bike.
Make sure you have air, fuel, and spark.
Have the carbs been cleaned in the 1.5 years since it last ran?
Can confirm spark easily enough by pulling one plug, putting the wire back on if, holding it against the case with your boot, and hitting the starter. Don't hold it with your hand, high voltages involved. :)
 
Swapped the spark plug wires and boom! Thank you BBS360 for the help! Man it feels good to hear it running again.
 

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