Check battery voltage
Valve adjustment
intake leak
junk in carb/fuel filter...
Valve adjustment
intake leak
junk in carb/fuel filter...
shovelhead wont stay running
to start this off, its a 79 shovel, 4 speed ratchet top, open belt
So yesterday my bike started 2nd kick cold and ran great, now today when I went to start the bike took 10 kicks for the motor to turn over And run for 2seconds before dying, after kickin for awhile the longest the bike ran was for 2 min. been fuckin with it all day, anybody have any tips on what I should be lookin for as why it ran yesterday and won't today?
Thanks
So yesterday my bike started 2nd kick cold and ran great, now today when I went to start the bike took 10 kicks for the motor to turn over And run for 2seconds before dying, after kickin for awhile the longest the bike ran was for 2 min. been fuckin with it all day, anybody have any tips on what I should be lookin for as why it ran yesterday and won't today?
Thanks
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
spark fuel compression and timing are what you need to run check the simple things first what kind of ignition you running
yes the gas was on, pushrods are all adjusted, getting spark, getting fuel,i dont have a tool to check compression but it feels the same as it always has
running points
i feel like its flooding itself, because it will barely start, but if i let sit for awhile it will run for the 2 min
running points
i feel like its flooding itself, because it will barely start, but if i let sit for awhile it will run for the 2 min
what do the plugs look like
Points...replace condenser?
This could be a number of things, but it could be really silly. My mate and I recently scratched out heads for a damn long time trying to figure out an Evo that would ride fine for 10 minutes, then die out and wouldnt start.
Turns out although there was enough fuel in the tank for it to start and run for a bit, when riding the fuel got sloshed around, causing air pockets in the fuel line. Once the motor was hot the fuel wouldnt flow through past the air pocket (between the cylinders)
Juiced up the tank and we were good!
Turns out although there was enough fuel in the tank for it to start and run for a bit, when riding the fuel got sloshed around, causing air pockets in the fuel line. Once the motor was hot the fuel wouldnt flow through past the air pocket (between the cylinders)
Juiced up the tank and we were good!
plugs are real dark brown-blackish so i know its running rich, the tank is full, filled it last night before i got home(the gas stations a block from me), ill try a new condensor might be a bit till i can get one though, closest shop to me is 70 miles, while im down at the shop, is there a chance it could be the coil? that was my first thought but not sure.
thanks again for the help
thanks again for the help
If you filled it and only ran a block home, then it wouldnt stay runnin today, I'd check the quality of the gas you filled it with. Could have a bunch of swill or water in it, or a bunch of shit that clogged your float needle up.
i thought about that(bad gas) and also forgot to mention this whole scenario happened a couple weeks ago. the day i was leaving bike wouldnt start with the same shit happening, went out of town came home and bike started fine again couple day later same problem, sorry forgot to mention this isnt the first day this has happened.
You can get points and condenser at any auto parts store look them up for a 60s chevy truck with a straight 6 but get the heavy duty ones I always keep an extra set with me
ok thanks, gonna try out new condenser and see what happens
Check the plug in for the alternator. If plug is loose or broken it will start run for a few moments then die before you get to second gear. Make sure its pushed all way in. Its on left front side of the motor.
^^^Check your ground connection,too.^^^
Why is it running rich? Weak spark, drained battery, wrong jets, wrong idle adjustment(too low), clogged filter, choke open, too much idling...plugs are real dark brown-blackish so i know its running rich, the tank is full, filled it last night before i got home(the gas stations a block from me), ill try a new condensor might be a bit till i can get one though, closest shop to me is 70 miles, while im down at the shop, is there a chance it could be the coil? that was my first thought but not sure.
thanks again for the help
Bad gas won't make your plugs soot up black.
Before I started throwing money at it I'd first check out your ing system. If ya don't already have one, make up a jumper wire, about 3' long with alagator clips on both ends. conect to pos on bat and to the terminal on points, spin it over and see if it fires. If it does, then ya got a problem between your points and bat (maybe ing switch). If it doesent, pull the plugs, put one back on the plug wire, grown and spin over and see if your getting a good blue spark. If it doesn't, start with the points and condencer, plugs and then the coil. if it does, it's not the ing system, put it back and check out your fuel system. If your plugs are sooted up, chang them anyway.
If ya think it's the fuel system, take off the air filter, and with the petcock off drain the fuel bowl, I do this into a white bowl so I can see any shit in it. If ya find shit in it, Take the fuel line off the carb and pull the flote bowl and clean out the jets and needel and seat. While you have the fuel line off, drain some gas out to see if ya are getting flow and any shit coming out of the tank. If ya are getting shit out or restricted flow, drain and flush.
Oh ya, tune the damn thing already will ya.
If ya think it's the fuel system, take off the air filter, and with the petcock off drain the fuel bowl, I do this into a white bowl so I can see any shit in it. If ya find shit in it, Take the fuel line off the carb and pull the flote bowl and clean out the jets and needel and seat. While you have the fuel line off, drain some gas out to see if ya are getting flow and any shit coming out of the tank. If ya are getting shit out or restricted flow, drain and flush.
Oh ya, tune the damn thing already will ya.
Dr. Benway was probably right the first time.
But he got the order wrong.
Intake leaks are by far the most common problem,
and the easiest to fix before you chase your tail, or worse yet,
throw money at it.
Eliminate that variable first.
....Cotten
But he got the order wrong.
Intake leaks are by far the most common problem,
and the easiest to fix before you chase your tail, or worse yet,
throw money at it.
Eliminate that variable first.
....Cotten
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
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