Triumphrat

WildBill

I had the mufflers off my 97 T-Bird to do a little detailing,got a wild hair and decided to see(hear)what it sounded like with just straight pipes.Hit the starter and it turned over ONCE,backfired and wouldn't turn over anymore.I don't know what is froze.Any ideas would be appreciated.I don't know if I should coast it down a hill,pop the clutch in 5th gear or what.

__________________
Those who danced,were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

idahotb

Wild Bill-
I don't qualify as an expert but if it doesn't even grunt when you hit the starter, does the headlight dim way down when you do? I know all of this is fairly obvious, but if something IS frozen and you are getting juice to the starter and it can't turn; that's a huge load and the headlight is go way dim.
If not I doubt that the engine is frozen. More likely to be electrical like a fuse, or one of the safety cut off switches (the kill switch next to the starter, the side-stand switch, or the clutch switch). Try lubing them and making sure that they are open. Probably also want to check the main fuse under the seat.
I also had a mis-start once when my thumb slipped off the starter before it caught, and it would NOT even try after that. Checked all of the switches, and the fuse, and they all looked fine. Still no go, so I went an got another fuse just because I had to do something. Still no go. Put the old fuse back in. Started right up. I guess the message here is if you haven't let it sit for 15-20 mins; give it another try.
Hang in there, don't panic, and let us know how it turns out!

__________________
Speed is good. It is way better to be shot out of a cannon, than squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made motorcyles.
My album

rigby

Wild Bill,

This may sound totally retarded but I have a question: were you holding the clutch lever in when you hit the starter? I ask because sometimes my bike will start without holding it in and sometimes it does absolutely nothing when I press the starter button - until I pull in the clutch lever.

Just a thought for you...

__________________
I only have two brain cells left...and they ain't speaking to each other.

WildBill

All is well!!!Went out 20 min ago,tried it again and it fired right up!!!Maybe the parking lot pixies snuck in and fixed it.I know you have had prior dealings with them Idahotb.By the way,did you recieve my e-mails?I sent one to you on this forum,and one to your work.Also thanx to you Rigby.I was a bit freaked, as it coming into riding season up here and always want both of my bikes ready to go.

__________________
Those who danced,were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

shortys

Sooooo........How'd you like the way it sounded? :wink:

idahotb

So now that the crisis is resolved does anyone have a clue as to what was happening? Is there some sort of fail over protection circuit or something? When it happened to me I checked all of the cut off switches; bumped it in gear to try to break anything loose; but nothing. Waiting 20 minutes seemed to fix it? What is that about? Parking lot pixies; a visitation from St. Bob of Regina?

Wild Bill - glad you are underway again, will pmail you.

__________________
Speed is good. It is way better to be shot out of a cannon, than squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made motorcyles.
My album

gaspasser

Starter clutch maybe ?

SWare

I hate to say it, but mine did the same thing once.
Not sure why it backfired but after-wards the motor seemed locked. Scared the crap out of me but after a while it was OK. Maybe a coincidence, but the sprag clutch went out completely a few months later.

stan

rigby

Really, how did you like the way it sounded?

I ran mine once without the mufflers. I took it around the neighborhood like that...I immediately got wood! It was crazy loud and very nasty sounding. Hopefully I irritated some neighbors and maintained my reputation. (Insert evil laugh here.)

I wonder what that did for my exhaust valves. I asked that question on another forum but got no response.

__________________
I only have two brain cells left...and they ain't speaking to each other.

rigby

Really, how did you like the way it sounded?

I ran mine once without the mufflers. I took it around the neighborhood like that...I immediately got wood! It was crazy loud and very nasty sounding. Hopefully I irritated some neighbors and maintained my reputation. (Insert evil laugh here.)

I wonder what that did for my exhaust valves. I asked that question on another forum but got no response.

__________________
I only have two brain cells left...and they ain't speaking to each other.