Triumphrat

Saint

Some help and advice if possible. I have a daytona 1200 1996 that has a problem that needs diagnosing.

I think it's a coil but I don't know how to test it. It started last week and its getting worse. The symptoms are as follows.
Last week I started the bike and after a minute or so of stationary it just stopped. I tried to start it again and it was difficult but it did start with choke. When I put it into gear it wants to die so I have to keep it going with choke (Even though it had warmed up). After about 20 minutes of riding like that it was ok and drove and started normally. The next morning the same problems all over again but this time the problems last a little longer each time. Over the last few days it has got steadily worse whereby I have to put the choke on full when I start to move and take the choke off when stopped at lights etc. If I don't put the choke on when I move off the thing just dies on me. On the other hand if I try and start it now with the choke on the smallest amount, it now floods immediately. I have had a new pick up coil replaced 2 months ago but since then I have lost my job and have to diagnose and try to fix this myself.

One more thing today I heard and felt a small clunk about twice. I would expect this (I think) if a coil was not doing its job. This happened if I didn't pull of with the choke quickly enough. At first last week the bike when warmed up lost the problem but the gap from starting, to acting normally is getting wider so something is failing. The bike has been well looked after with oil changes every 2k. I'm fairly sure it's electrical but at first you would be forgiven if you thought it was a fuel problem with the "Kangarooing" down the street. I's a pain being skint because in the past I would buy a set of coils and try them out or if really flush take it to the dealer, unfortunately those days are gone so any help will be much appreciated. This is my only transport hence the reason I have been trying to diagnose myself and riding. I know the basics but that's about it. Cheers everyone,

Mossy21

Hello, Try draining all four carb bowls. You might have some dirt build up.
Go for the simplest fix first.... Hope this helps.

__________________
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Saint

Thanks Mossy, I will try that when I come home tomorrow and post how I got on. Thank You again, CHEERS!

triday12

Hi

Sounds very carb related, a sticking float in one or more carb ?

Dave

Saint

Thank You all, Heres my update. Its taken me forever , (mostly because of the weather) but it took me all day yesterday just getting the carbs back. I had to take them out because as you know in the 1200 here is no room whatsoever to drain those bowls and clean the carbs. I have not dismantled the carbs just drained them and sprayed carb clean in the vents. I collected a quarter of a small coffee jar of fuel (which apart for some bits seemed quite clean) but when the fuel settled a quarter of that looks like water but I'm not sure. I've cleaned and re-oiled the air filter (which was filthy on one side but immaculate on the other) Then the heavens opened (Again), I have no garage or shelter and have to work outside in the yard. My bike is always covered though. Anyways today I am going to put back the tank after I've sorted out the tube and breather positions and refitted the throttle at the handle end and I will come back and let you know the results. Once again thank you all. (I would have come back sooner but I'm pretty slow at this)

Saint

to addA shame its acting the same but at least I'm learning something as I go along. When I rev it it wants to die when I reach 3000 revs and the needle drops. If I continue with the revs it dies out, if I release in time it picks up again. Do you think its worth taking the cabs apart (Which I feel I could do) or do you think it could be a coil. If it is a coil I need to learn how to find out. I've got a multimeter I would just need to know what to set it on..Is there any way of finding if its a coil by swapping or something. The funny thing is though it dies when I hit he gas at 3k as If it wants to flood???? Anyways I'm very grateful for the help. It does sound sweeter though once I cleaned the carbs unless it's my imagination

bradtx

Saint, Did this problem start after gassing up? While it reads like a fueling problem, it reads more like a typical problem when fuel is left in the carbs and the bike has sat for a length of time.

There should be no debris of any kind, is there a fuel filter? Either debris blocking carb orifices or water will cause the engine to run lean and require a richer mixture, provided by the choke.

I'd dump what's in the tank and use some fresh gas.

Brad

Saint

No, but on saying that I've just taken it out again and it's definately getting much better. Without choke it revs ok but when I put it into gear it wont pull away but just a little choke and it starts to behave much better than before. (before I had to pull away on full choke and then take the choke of when slowing down, pretty dangerous, especially when cornering) But I'm glad I looked at this from the forums point of view (mossy) said look at the carbs and all along I thought it was a coil, (I've had so many problems in the past with pick ups coils regs etc and it felt similar)

The gas is fresh, no there is no fuel filter(I don't think anyway) not between the air filter and the carbs. After that last ride it feels a massive difference now than before (although its not right) so It must be the fuel area. I've done everything else now,except strip the carbs, I've done the air filter, the spark plugs, (they were new anyway) cleaned the carbs with carb cleaner(but only through the vents) and just now its made a marked difference so I will strip them in the next couple of days. The manual says get a carb rebuild kit so I will do that.

I have not much to give back but I will give a tip, you probably do it yourselves but in case you don't.

Because I have the fairing off and on often, especially with this bike. I always used to get the fixings and studs mixed up when putting them in a box or tin. So what I have done over the last couple of years or so is,
Get a large piece of card or open up a cerial box. Draw two views of the bike (Kerb side and Rd side). Then where the studs and fasteners go make small holes on your drawing. As you take the fasters or bolts off, push them into your card, you can fasten them as normal on the back. I've never lost or mixed up one bolt since, it's great and dead easy when you put the bike back together.

So I will strip and clean the carbs and see what happens. Will keep you posted. Thank You.

bradtx

Saint, Even good practice for the experianced, just clean one carb at a time. This allows a model to view should there be any question.

Brad

Saint

Will do Bradtx, Thank you.