- Apr 26, 2004
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I finished rebuilding my engine (crank, bearings/seals, piston/rings, timing chain, valves are new from late past summer) 2 weeks ago, the bike took a while to start but would run fine afterwards. I get back home, this past week end, and figure I'll start the bike just to be sure everything's fine before the season kicks off. The bike doesn't want to start. Choke, no choke, hot start w/ or w/o choke, no throttle, 1/4 throttle, 1/2 throttle, full throttle; NOTHING! What kept me kicking is that it seemed like it wanted to start everytime. Now I'm really angry because I've spent the last 3 or 4 week ends working on that bike. I get the thing back on the stand in the garage and start working my way to the check the valves. Lighting is not very good and it's dark outside so I'll figure it'll have to wait till tomorrow (Saturday morning). So, left intake valve is tight (0.07 instead of 0.12), right intake is dead on spec. Both exhaust valves are tight (0.20 instead of 0.28). I find this very weird since everything was in spec when I rebuilt the engine. I have only warmed up the bike a few times since, is that normal for them to come out of spec like that after a rebuild? I re-shim to the correct specifications and mount everything back up. I figure the bike'll start after two kicks, but no! Hell, everything turns over fine, there is compression, there is spark, there is gas, and the valves are dead on spec because I just checked them. So I tie the bike behind the car to pull start the thing. I totally hate to resort to this kind of technique because I know it can be really bad. The bike does start after a while. Everything runs good, it is very easy to start afterwards (once hot). I'm finally able to ride the first time this year, I'm happy! Bike runs strong, starts very well. I get back home after lots of riding and wash everything up, and do the normal maintenance after a day of riding. The next morning (Sunday), I'm kinda nervous to see if it will start. I kick a few times in the garage, nothing. I figure it's too cold in there so I bring it outside in the sun. After a few minutes, I get back on it. It wants to start, but doesn't. I finally get it with no choke on, 1/4 throttle, bingo! Afterwards, once hot, it's a piece of cake. I rode all day long, bike still runs good.
There's something I got to tell you, the spark plug isn't new. :bang: It's one of the only two I own since I got the bike. Could this be the reason why it is so hard to start when cold? I've got no more skin on a part of my right foot which is wrapped in a bandage and giving me a bad limp today. I'm really tired of hurting myself trying to start the bike so I really hope I get this issue resolved quickly. When I get back home next week-end, I'm going to open it up again and check if the valves are still within specs after two days of riding. I'm ordering a new plug this week.
So, can anyone tell me what's going on? Is it only the spark plug? Is it normal for valves to have a workout after a rebuild?
Thank you very much for any input and sorry for the long and boring narration, your help is appreciated.
There's something I got to tell you, the spark plug isn't new. :bang: It's one of the only two I own since I got the bike. Could this be the reason why it is so hard to start when cold? I've got no more skin on a part of my right foot which is wrapped in a bandage and giving me a bad limp today. I'm really tired of hurting myself trying to start the bike so I really hope I get this issue resolved quickly. When I get back home next week-end, I'm going to open it up again and check if the valves are still within specs after two days of riding. I'm ordering a new plug this week.
So, can anyone tell me what's going on? Is it only the spark plug? Is it normal for valves to have a workout after a rebuild?
Thank you very much for any input and sorry for the long and boring narration, your help is appreciated.
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