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Thruxton won't start.

2K views 18 replies 7 participants last post by  green78tiger 
#1 ·
2004 Thruxton, 69000 miles. I was riding yesterday running fine, and it just quit. I thought I might have heard/felt a pop, but that could have just been the sudden loss of engine running and the compression. The engine would turn over with the starter, but would not fire.

I got it home, tried an igniter that I know is good, still nothing. Checked the pick-up coil per the manual, it is ok. Checked the coil, per the manual it might be bad, so I swooped it out with one from my 2008 Bonneville. Still nothing, the starter will turn over the engine, but not fire. Just for the heck of it I put the coil from the 2004 in the 2008 and the 2008 runs.

Gas flows from the tank fine. There is gas in the float bowls as when I open the drains I get plenty coming out.

Turning the engine over, I feel compression from the exhaust by putting my hand over it.

With air filters off, I feel a lot of back pressure from the right carb with my hand over it, none from the left carb, this is with the engine turning over with the starter. Also too, no pressure out of the left spark plug hole, some from the right one, turning the engine over with the starter, this by just holding a finger over the plug holes.

Besides not good, any thoughts? I have my suspicions, but I am looking for other opinions before I go from here. Thanks for any help.
 
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#2 ·
Also too, no pressure out of the left spark plug hole, some from the right one, turning the engine over with the starter, this by just holding a finger over the plug holes.

Do that test again but with the throttle wide open. It should blow your finger right off the plug hole.


You want unimpeded air to enter the combustion chamber for compression tests, the only thing is that the test is usually performed with the enginehttp://i.viglink.com/?key=561e13bd0...Rat Motorcycle Forums&txt=<span>engine</span> at working temperature so your overall figure might be a little lower than normal.

Compression should be 150 - 180 psi, anything less than 120psi needs looking at. It should really be measured with a suitable compression tester gauge though.


If you still get no pressure it indicates either broken piston rings, a holed piston, valve clearances too tight holding the exhaust valve off its seat, or a stuck valve.
 
#3 ·
It seems as though it simply is not drawing in air/fuel into the engine. From what I am seeing it appears as though the valves are not working/working properly, i.e. exhaust valves closed on one cylinder and open on the other, same for the intake. I have never heard of the cam chains breaking on these, but anything is possible, I suppose. At any rate I will give your suggestion a try. I have to wait for another free day. Thank you for your reply.
 
#6 ·
So, pretty well dead. With the valve cover off, and spark plugs out, turning the rear wheel. No pressure from left cylinder, both pistons rise and fall, however, absolutely no movement of the cam chain.

That is intriguing. It's certainly the first time I've heard of a camchain breaking and I've been here for about 10 years...there's also the possibility of the crankshaft cam sprocket stripping its teeth, also unheard of, so far.
 
#8 ·
To be more specific, I can lift the cam chain a very small amount off the sprocket in the head. Looking down into the tunnel it looks as though the cam chain tensioner is still functioning as I can see that it is pushing against the chain, i.e. a bow in the chain. When I lift up on the cam chain as I turn the back wheel, I can feel it making contact with the sprocket on the crank. Also to, all the intake followers (lifters) are at their lowest points, none making contact with the cam lobes.

Sorry if the first post wasn't more specific, I'm kinda bummed. I have had this bike since it was new, and we have some history. Yes, I know, it is just a machine.
 
#14 ·
...all the intake followers (lifters) are at their lowest points, none making contact with the cam lobes.
That sounds suspiciously to me like you have eight bent valves - which is preventing them from being pulled up onto the seats and letting lobes work on the followers - which might mean further damage to the head and pistons. If your head & cams are ok a 904 kit with bigger (+2mm) valves is the way to go - but if the head is damaged in anyway a new engine might be more cost effective.

Either way, I'm fairly certain you've done all the diagnostics you can for now - I think you'll find you have to whip off the head next - easily do-able with basic tools in an afternoon with the help of a friend - you'll also need a (T27???) torx bit and a loooong breaker bar....

Tim

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
 
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#9 ·
You will need to shine a bright light down into the camchain tunnel and try to spot where it goes around the crankshaft.
You are looking for "sprocket" teeth on the crankshaft - they should actually look more like gear teeth.
Could be very hard to see without splitting the cases or at least getting the cams etc out the way.
 
#12 ·
#13 ·
I was looking at their engines. My only thought is spending $800-$1200 for an engine that could crap out tomorrow. I know it is alot more money, but why not build up a 904 motor? I am happy with the bike and kind of a matter of in for a penny, in for a pound. At any rate I am still tossing the different options around. Have you done business with Pinwall?
 
#18 ·
...can anybody recommend any good engine rebuilders...
Do you have a workshop/garage/front room to work on the bike? I'm being dead serious when I say you can strip the head off the bike - in an afternoon - with the help of a friend. With the head in your hands pretty much any decent motor repair shop can re-cut the valve seats if you go to +2mm valves. These bikes are incredibly easy to work on with basic tools. Be sure to invest in either the Haynes or the Triumph workshop manual!

Tim

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
 
#19 ·
I understand what you are saying, but here is the thing. The engine has 69,000 miles on it. Yes these engines are over-engineered, almost bullet-proof, on and on. Well, if I am going to put the money into a 904 kit, have the head re-worked, new cams, most likely flat slide carbs, I might as well have the entire engine re-build, in for a penny in for a pound. And if I am going to put that much money into it, I might as well make sure it is done by someone extremely knowledgeable about this specific engine. No I don't have money to throw around, but I truly like this bike, and if I put the money of a good used bike into the engine, what is the difference? Yes, I have rebuilt car engines, so I have some skill, but again, I want this done right the first time.
 
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