Triumphrat

Msullivan · 04-30-2004, 11:14 PM

I need help. My 2000 Adventurer showed up today and went to pick it up. Got it home put 92 octane in the gas tank, and bike will not start. Called place where I got the bike and they said that they ran it for 10 min. (to run the gas out since it ws shipped). They said check the pluggs they might be fouled. So I checked and they were wet so we took them out and and cleaned them. Still will not start. Recharged the battery stll will not start. I need some help here . It seeem like there is no sparking going on, should I change the plugs? Any ideas would be helpful.

Sorry to be short just a little pissed right now.

Thanks

Mike

dhall10 · 04-30-2004, 11:18 PM

Make sure you've got a full charge on the battery and the plugs are not fouled. Mine wouldn't start this season at first because of this same reason. Also just as a stupidity check, make ure the petcock is open, ans kill switch is off... been there, done that.

Good Luck!

Msullivan · 04-30-2004, 11:26 PM

They were fouled. Would it be a good idea to get new plugs and battery? The battery is 4 years ols as the spark plugs but the bike only has 144 miles on it.

Mike

bobshields55 · 05-01-2004, 12:10 AM

No fun having trouble soon as you get it home is it? I had the same thing last year. Mine was stale fuel. Each carburettor has a screw on the bottom to drain fuel out. That is what I did, plus cleaned and dried the plugs, drained all the fuel out of the tank and refilled with fresh, and gave the battery a good charge.

Are your plugs fouled or just wet? I doubt if they are actually fouled with such low mileage. Clean them off with sandpaper, wire brush and either rubbing alcohol or lighter fluid. Use an air compressor or hairdryer to get them dry.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Bob

Jodel · 05-01-2004, 06:23 AM

I had some trouble starting my '95 T-bird when I first got it. Once you've eliminated all the obvious stuff, you may also want to check your 'starting technique'.

From cold, I've always used full choke and no throttle - the bike has always fired up immediately. When warm, I also found it better to leave the throttle completely closed and just crank the engine - again, it always fires up that way. I've had three T-birds and they have all been the same.

However, this may not work as well for you as the US models are set up to run pretty lean.

cafetbird · 05-01-2004, 07:34 AM

Nope, pretty much the same technique here in the States - except I usually use half choke and no throttle.

Scot Dail
Charlotte RAT
http://www.queensrats.cjb.net

Quote:

On 2004-05-01 04:23, Jodel wrote:
I had some trouble starting my '95 T-bird when I first got it. Once you've eliminated all the obvious stuff, you may also want to check your 'starting technique'.

From cold, I've always used full choke and no throttle - the bike has always fired up immediately. When warm, I also found it better to leave the throttle completely closed and just crank the engine - again, it always fires up that way. I've had three T-birds and they have all been the same.

However, this may not work as well for you as the US models are set up to run pretty lean.

jimmyj900 · 05-01-2004, 10:13 AM

This might be kind of obvious but be sure the bike is in neutral, squeeze the clutch and then try starting it. There's enough drag in the clutch/trans to pull down the battery voltage when starting. (If the start voltage gets too low, the ignition won't fire.)

The engine has to turn a minimum of one full revolution before the ignition knows when to fire the plugs, so don't expect the kind of instant start you get on other bikes.

Crank it for about 5 seconds at a time and then turn the ignition key off for 10 or 15 seconds to let the battery recover. That will help keep the battery voltage up.

If it still won't kick over, check the spark by hooking a plug to the plug wire and grounding the body of the plug to the bike with a booster/jumper cable. You should get a fat blue spark when you crank it. If the spark is weak and yellow check your battery terminals. Wire brush them until shiny, grease them (hi-temp wheel bearing grease is best), reassemble and try again.

If the spark is still yellow, I'd change the battery. Four years of sitting without a charge is not a good thing for batteries.

Choke setting on a stock 2K Adventurer is full on

If it still won't start, post again and we'll work on it...

Jim

05-01-2004, 10:47 AM

One other comment in the simple stupid file which you may already know, but just in case, The bike will not start in gear with the kickstand down on my 1998 even if the clutch is pulled. Make sure the nuetral light is on, heck, put it in gear and rock it a bit then put it back into nuetral and try again.

It sounds like you have plenty of gas but no spark, which could happen if the kickstand sensor is stuck or the kickstand is down while in gear.

Just a thought.

P.S. Let us know what you find out.

Msullivan · 05-01-2004, 05:24 PM

Thanks Guys. I FINALLY got it started. I went out an bought a new battery and new plugs and it started right up. Its a sweet bike!!! The 3rd cyclinder was real dirty but after awhile of running it seem to be better now. By the way that middle plug (#2) is a pain in the arse to get out.

Thanks again

Mike

Jodel · 05-01-2004, 05:44 PM

Mike,

Glad you got sorted out - agreed that the middle plug is a pain! You get better at it with practice