I'm about to throw my racebike into the river cause the damn thing will not run. Last year at my last trackday it ran fine, I low sided in the last session of the day, but I rode it to the pits and then around my neighborhood before I put it up for the winter. I put fuel stabilizer in it and then ran it for about 10 min. This year it started and ran really poorly. By poorly I mean it hesitated and was backfiring and sputtering and didn't seem to have much power. I put new plugs in it and it seems to foul them very quickly. One of my friends pulled the carbs and we cleaned them, checked the floats, jets etc. All ok. Changed the plugs, they are sparking, drained the gas and put in new, used a new battery and the stupid thing still won't run. I've checked the electrical system and it appears to be ok. The stator was supposed to be at like .55 ohms but it read .8 ohms. Is that the problem? I sure don't want to buy a new one and have it not be the problem. Keep in mind I really have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to working on the bike, my friend/mechanic can't figure it out either. We got gas in the cylinders, we got spark so what's the deal? I've checked the tech section here and the front plug is not wet and the tach has been disconnected. Please help me out here. I don't really want to drop that B**** in the river or use it for target practice. Thanks!
*cough*Buy a Honda*cough*
Thanks for the advice. It's still faster than your RC.
Quote*cough*Buy a Honda*cough*
You are sooo naughty...
Cabbage...
I don't know what to say. I know Paul could figure it out by looking at the bike - so - if you are in the MW. Come on out to BHF.
Hopefully one of the other SV people will have some ideas.
Dawn ;)
This may sound stupid, but do you have the fuel petc0ck set to "on"? It wouldn't be the first time something really small was over looked.
(i had to modify this 'cuz it put in "petthingy...sheeez!)
It's getting gas for sure. I can give tigerblade all the grief I want. We share the same mechanic, plus he's painting my side of his trailer pink. I was planning on going to the track day at MAM the same weekend as BHF. I'm in the MW, Missouri to be exact. Tell Paul I'll give him $100 to tell me what's wrong. Anyone want to sell me a Honda??? Anyone?
QuoteThis may sound stupid, but do you have the fuel petc0ck set to "on"? It wouldn't be the first time something really small was over looked.
We did try to find small stuff like that. No pinched lines either. We're going to check the timing tonight.
Quote(i had to modify this 'cuz it put in "petthingy...sheeez!)
Hee hee..."petthingy" sounds dirtier than petc0ck. ::)
Try pulling the carb apart and spray everything you see with carb cleaner. After that makes sure your air filters are in good condition. You may also want to check compression and make sure the two cylinders match. Lastly, have you warmed it up fully while checking it? If not make sure it's full warm before testing it. Other than that, make sure the choke isn't stuck in the on position. If I can think of anything else I will post it. Good luck...
As a side note, my Kawi did the same thing after a gentle lowside. Once everything was pulled apart I found that the fuel from the crabs ran out and into the ram air tubes. Once enough vacuum was created, it would get a huge amount of fuel and die. Once I drained them it ran fine.
Oh yeah, check for vacuum leaks or cracks in the carb boots...
I almost forgot, make sure the fuel filter isn't plugged up. You probably have a screen of some sort as part of the pet-thingy assembly. Just remove it from the tank and look it over. You may want to blow air through it backwards.
Quotethe crabs ran out and into the ram air tubes.
crabs.... the visual was just too funny!!!!!
Dawn ;D
Cabbage...
What does the 996 stand for?
Dawn :)
QuoteCabbage...
What does the 996 stand for?
Dawn :)
He also owns a Duc 996. And a Monster 750. Guess he's just not keen on reliable bikes...
QuoteHe also owns a Duc 996. And a Monster 750. Guess he's just not keen on reliable bikes...
Oh....
I thought so.
Dawn :)
Not sure this is the problem....
But, check your valves/compression.
If you stored the bike in a place that is subject to the elements, you might have a valve stuck open.
Lodgic is, one cylinder has an open valve, and causes the backifre due to the lack of compression (causes the power stoke to ignite past the open valve).
If you have one good cylinder your motor could run, but not well.
Find a real mechanic to clean your carb's. If your just spraying carb clean in the general direction it won't do. Checking your stator resistance which is for the charging of your battery or checking timing which is non-adjustable is a waste of time.
You should go about your search logically.
1. The bike ran fine last year.
2. The bike sat for 4 month's and it run's poorly.
So what has changed?
Well we were fooling with the timing light last night and it wouldn't even light up. We tried it on the 996 and it worked so I guess it's some kind of electrical problem. The spark appears to be weak or nonexistant. I do like non-reliable bikes. We'll see if tigerblade's RC starts up when he get's it put back together!
QuoteI do like non-reliable bikes. We'll see if tigerblade's RC starts up when he get's it put back together!
Cabbage....
Don't give up! Our experience with the SV and other's that we know - they have been very reliable in the stock form. If you superbike it... well, then that could be another story.
Perhaps it's the help you have *cough*Tigerblade*cough* ;D
Dawn :)
Well it's all stock except for the exhaust and other race stuff, no superbike stuff. Tigerblade doesn't really do anything, he just stands there and makes comments on how crappy suzuki's are. I figure if enough people look at the bike eventually someone will figure it out. I still have a couple of people to look at it, one races an sv so maybe he'll be able to help.
Gee, you ought to charge admission, or at least a reward for the genius who figures out the problem. Beer works real well. ;D
QuotePerhaps it's the help you have *cough*Tigerblade*cough* ;D
Dawn :)
I heard the SV was a two cylinders so I put some 2-cycle oil in the tank. Is that wrong?
I'll offer some $$$! It's a good thing we drained the gas, that 2 stroke oil couldn't have been good for it. You need to tell me when you are experimenting with my bike, blade.
QuoteI heard the SV was a two cylinders so I put some 2-cycle oil in the tank. Is that wrong?
Oh my goodness.... THAT was too funny.
Dawn ;D
Quote You need to tell me when you are experimenting with my bike, blade.
Now why would I want to do that and ruin all my fun? If you don't know the experiment is happening, I get more objective results.
It might be all the solvents talking, but that dancing guy is creeping me out!
QuoteIt might be all the solvents talking, but that dancing guy is creeping me out!
Better?
(http://members.fireblades.org/tigerblade/images/tattorogue.jpg)
Personally I thought it was the solvents that Alexa was having the problem with. ;D
Dawn
Tats are cool. Just don't get that needle near me. Even with all the solvents in my system. Ok...I have to go run errands now, everyone watch out! ;)
QuoteTats are cool. Just don't get that needle near me.
Do you know what movie it's from? ;)
I was trying to figure that out, but I couldn't get the picture clear enough to read the writing. Hint?
Dawn :)
OK, SV's are notorious for not liking it when you mount a tach and the tach shorts. It makes the bike run on one cylinder and troubleshooting becomes a pain. If you have a tach mounted disconnect it and see if that helps. The connectors can get corroded during the winter.
Does the bike run at all? Is it sputtering? If it runs, what happens when you take out the front sparkplug? Does it stall?
QuoteI was trying to figure that out, but I couldn't get the picture clear enough to read the writing. Hint?
Dawn :)
(http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rdavis7757/familyra_1.jpg)
QuoteOK, SV's are notorious for not liking it when you mount a tach and the tach shorts. It makes the bike run on one cylinder and troubleshooting becomes a pain. If you have a tach mounted disconnect it and see if that helps. The connectors can get corroded during the winter.
Does the bike run at all? Is it sputtering? If it runs, what happens when you take out the front sparkplug? Does it stall?
He did disconnect the tach. The evening before last, it acted like it was going to turn over, but it just wouldn't. Last night it wouldn't at all. It just cranks. It's getting gas; the carbs are very clean and the floats aren't stuck. It also seems to be getting spark, but may just not be strong enough?
You mention that it "seems" to be getting spark. Did you remove and ground the sparkplug and crank the bike over to see if the spark was there?
If you are sure that it's getting gas, so I assume that it must be getting air, so the only problem is the spark. Just for the hell of it try to use some starting fluid to see if it starts to sputter. If it does, it could be the carbs. Did you clean the little filter screen that is inside the carbs themselves? It's real easy to overlook it. SV's have a little screen in the carbs that needs to be cleaned regularly since it gets clogged with debris. It's right behind the float bowl valve seat.
Quote(http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rdavis7757/familyra_1.jpg)
Raising Arizona?
QuoteYou mention that it "seems" to be getting spark. Did you remove and ground the sparkplug and crank the bike over to see if the spark was there?
If you are sure that it's getting gas, so I assume that it must be getting air, so the only problem is the spark. Just for the hell of it try to use some starting fluid to see if it starts to sputter. If it does, it could be the carbs. Did you clean the little filter screen that is inside the carbs themselves? It's real easy to overlook it. SV's have a little screen in the carbs that needs to be cleaned regularly since it gets clogged with debris. It's right behind the float bowl valve seat.
Yep, we removed the plugs and grounded them. They do spark. I think the screens were checked, but keep the ideas flowing. Thanks!
Oh yeah, forgot it's not my bike. Who cares if it runs?! Bwah haa haa! ;D
QuoteRaising Arizona?
Yep. The tattoo was on the mercenary biker guy. It says "Mama Didn't Love Me". ;D
OK, I went back and re-read and it seems like you guys think it's a weak spark that is causing this. Test the ignition coil peak voltage. Should be higher than 150. This will let you know if your spark is OK.
The coils are getting over 150 volts. We checked it last night. I've got a mechanic from the local shop looking at it now too. He was pretty baffled too. THe spark looked good last night, but it still wouldn't start. He thinks it's timing or something. There is a sensor by the stator that appears to control timing, maybe that's screwed up. The fuel filter is clean, the filter in the carbs are clean too.
Did you do anything with the Ignitor box? It determines the timing based on the sensor from the crankshaft/generator area. I dunno if theree are any tests for it in the manual. If not, maybe you should find someone with a known good one and switch them? Also, make sure that your plug that determines neutral and 2-3 gears is connected. (Under the tank, on the left of the airbox, 4 wire connector.
All of your fuses OK?
Check ALL the connectors you can, esp the ones around the right side of the subframe.
I'm pretty sure that all the connectors are snug, but I'll check the gear switch one. I've not done anything to the ignitor, i did turn it on it's side, but that can't be causing this could it? Fuses are ok. There are tests for the ignitor and the sensor in the manual, I don't really have the equipment to do them though and some of them require the bike to be running at 5000 rpm and that's not gonna be possible! One of them mechanics at a shop in town is working on the case now too and he's got the tools and testers, I've got a lot of people on the job now so they should be able to figure it out eventually! Thanks for the sugggestions everyone.
Probably the best tool you could use on it at this point is the AR-15. ;D
QuoteProbably the best tool you could use on it at this point is the AR-15.
I would lean towards using the Dillon Gatling Gun Jesse used on Monster Garage Monday Night ;D
well if you can find the gatling gun, i'll use it. anyone have any c4? I'd be funny to drop it on a bunker in Iraq or something.
Quote It'd be funny to drop it on a bunker in Iraq or something.
I've seen it dropped on asphalt and it help up pretty well. It would probably be okay on concrete too.
So, any progress? I'm curious to see what the problem is.
It's alive! The mechanic from the local shop came over to look at it and did every test in the book. Finally he took some new plugs and put them it and it fired right up! I put new plugs in when I got it out last month and it wouldn't fire up. He thinks that the gas was bad and maybe fouled the new plugs. We changed the gas when we were messing with it last week and drained the carbs, but didn't change the plugs cause they appeared to be pretty clean still. He thinks maybe the bad gas screwed them up somehow. Either that or tigerblade did something to them to try to keep me from lapping him at the track like normal. Thanks for all the help.
The only way that SV is gonna lap the RC is if we switch rides.
QuoteThe only way that SV is gonna lap the RC is if we switch rides.
Well at least we know my bike will actually be in running order huh?
It'll run as soon as somebody gives me my battery back...
How about something really easy. Try a different battery. Maybe from one of those ducklings. If this works, load-test the battery. It may read 12V, but be negitivly discharging. Or you can just go to autozone, K-mart, Aldi, or where every you buy your bike parts for your "SO FAST" SV (Sick Vehicle).