Triumphrat

oil-spitn-rat · 01-30-2008

I've been having a real bitch of a time getting this bike to start. I'll list the mods, K&N pods, BC pipes, jetting. Jetting can be seen in my dyno post or under the members album I think its a 152.5 jet shimmed .030

I've checked the coils-ok
New plugs
Clutch switch ok
Starting in neutral!

I've gotten it started about two weeks ago and it ran fine, and restarted no problem. Recently, it did start and run for about 10 seconds then stalled and wouldn't start. I keep cranking 5-10 seconds with full choke then let it sit (key off) and try again. I've tried this at half choke, same thing nothing, cranks and cranks until the battery dies. I'm wondering if the odessey battery might not be giving it enough CCA??? BUT it does seem like it is getting flooded as I can seem gas after it sits for a minute or two.

What do you guys with pod filters do regarding cold weather starts as far as the choke is concerned. How long should i be able to crank this sucker until the battery goes kaput?

I'm going crazy here. I need to get a ride on this baby soon as I'm leaving for Sinagpore for 6 weeks and need my thunder-fix. any advice? Thanks

jimmyj900 · 01-30-2008

Pull a spark plug and take a look. Black can be from not starting well, but black and crusty probably means the mixture screw is out too far and/or the pilot jets are too big.

Jim

oil-spitn-rat · 02-03-2008

Just looks at little blacker than what I used to pulling out of other machines. I'm hoping this isn't ignitor time...
I don't know off the top of my head if the ignitor canbe bench tested. anyone know?

tridentt150v · 02-03-2008

Hows the spark look? If your getting a nice big healthy spark then its induction or timing related. If you've got no spark, or very weak spark then its igniter/coil/electrical.

Personally I think its electrical - the induction mods [pods, pipes, jets] don't seem to bad.

Greaser · 02-04-2008

Did it start OK after the pods were installed?
Is this an ongoing problem or did it just pop up?

Afterburner · 02-05-2008

My '99 T-Bird is also a tough start in the cold, and it absolutely won't tolerate the choke. However, I have had success by simply warming the engine oil for an hour or two before cranking. I use an old halogen light...one of those typicall 500 Watt jobs...I mounted to a board that I slide under the engine, with the light shining on the bottom. Also need a fully topped up battery, which is easy since I keep on a tender. What I suspect is that this bike really likes good starting RPM and that there is some threshold below which it just won't start. And then there's the starter pulling the volts down below coil operating voltage too...thus the need for a worthy and charged battery. Hope this helps.

oil-spitn-rat · 02-06-2008

Well I cranked on her today, cranked and cranked, 10 seconds then left sit. 10 seconds left sit. I kept this up until the battery started to get fazed a bit and crank slower. I pulled #1 wire and dropped a plug on it and held it against the valve cover bolt, the spark seems a little dim to me. the I noticed it seemed as though it wasn't sparking consistantly, but in a different pattern. I probably didn't have it grounded well enough.

I pulled the battery after I ran it down a bit, took it to the battery shop and they tested it at 200+ CCA... I was rather suprised, they guy told me those batteries will regenerate a charge after being run on a bit.

Well I got home several hours later, popped it back in and cranked it a few times, don't you know the SOB started an ran!!! Go figure. It has been warmer out that has something to do with it but. ***?? I'm beginning to think I've got a flooding issue and or coils going bad. It does not run as well as it used to which lends me to think a coil is not firing properly all of the time. Funny but I did notice that the right pipe (primarily #1 cylinder did not push out as much watervapor like the right on... Strange indeed.

So how much choke do you guys with pods (and boxes too) use? 1/4, 1/2, full choke? I've always used just enough in the summer and mostly full on in the winter. I always cut the choke back quickly to prevent fouling and allow a good warm up prior to riding.

Btw, the bike is on a tender frequently and known of these mods have changed prior preformance, it always started well. a little coldblooded but NEVER like this.

Battery guy thinks my starter might be taking a dive and drawing too much juice thus cutting power from the ignition. sounds possible but... What do ya'll think?

GeneralPig · 02-07-2008

With a tired battery-full choke.

With a healthy battery-half choke.

jimmyj900 · 02-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by oil-spitn-rat

I was rather suprised, they guy told me those batteries will regenerate a charge after being run on a bit.

That's the 'deep' charge coming to the surface and why it takes so long to fully charge a dead battery because you have to put the deep charge back in.

Quote:

Well I got home several hours later, popped it back in and cranked it a few times, don't you know the SOB started an ran!!! Go figure. It has been warmer out that has something to do with it but. ***??

What weight of oil are you running?

Jim

oil-spitn-rat · 02-07-2008

factory spec. 15W 40 maybe, off the top of my head I can't recall.