Please Help My Engine Wont Start

Airdg6 · Apr 18, 2018

Hey Everyone!
I am frustrated beyond belief right now. I have an 82 XS400. Short story, I replaced the valves because all four were bent from previous owner. I have it in TDC followed the manual on all assembly instructions and torque settings. Get every thing back together and i go to start the motor and the starter gets power for second but then everything dies. I lose lights, starter quits running, I let off the start button and the lights come back on. Like the title says Please Help!

Thanks,
Aaron

Elsayal · Apr 19, 2018

Battery dead?

BBS360 · Apr 19, 2018

Sounds like the starter motor could be shorted.

You didn't say which type of '82.
Do you have a kickstart?

Airdg6 · Apr 22, 2018

Elsayal said:
Battery dead?

Fresh battery

Airdg6 · Apr 22, 2018

BBS360 said:
Sounds like the starter motor could be shorted.

You didn't say which type of '82.
Do you have a kickstart?

I believe its a maxim, there is no kickstart

An update i have realized i didnt hook up the ground wire to the engine. Now the ign coil just clicks really fast but my lights dont go out now. So i think its an improvement but i am still a stumped.

Michielk · Apr 23, 2018

Battery strong enough? Cables to the ignition relay thick enough?
After a rebuild I always start it from a large car battery. In my experience little battery's run out pretty quickly.

Gramatron · Apr 23, 2018

+1 for the cables. It seems as though there's enough voltage for the initial kick over but the moment the starter hits resistance and asks for more, everything goes dry. Also you should rule out your battery (I know it's new) by trying to start off of a different one. A jumper pack could help here. Take out your headlight fuse during trouble shooting. Also, do the lights come right back on after you let off of the starter?

Airdg6 · Apr 23, 2018

Michielk said:
Battery strong enough? Cables to the ignition relay thick enough?
After a rebuild I always start it from a large car battery. In my experience little battery's run out pretty quickly.

i will look into this

Airdg6 · Apr 23, 2018

Gramatron said:
+1 for the cables. It seems as though there's enough voltage for the initial kick over but the moment the starter hits resistance and asks for more, everything goes dry. Also you should rule out your battery (I know it's new) by trying to start off of a different one. A jumper pack could help here. Take out your headlight fuse during trouble shooting. Also, do the lights come right back on after you let off of the starter?

yes, the lights come back after i let off the starter

Elsayal · May 5, 2018

Did you try to rule out the starter by using a thick screwdriver across the relay?

CableGuy · May 6, 2018

I got a new battery and had a problem very similiar to this . Turned out my charger was bad so my new battery didn't get to full voltage.

Please Help My Engine Wont Start

Airdg6

XS400 Member

Elsayal

XS400 Member

BBS360

XS400 Guru

Airdg6

XS400 Member

Airdg6

XS400 Member

Michielk

XS400 Enthusiast

Gramatron

Meat popsicle

Airdg6

XS400 Member

Airdg6

XS400 Member

Elsayal

XS400 Member

CableGuy

XS400 Member

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