Obligatory new user starting issues...

[watafu]

Hi, so as you might now, recently got a 1992 nc30 and after running it around for a bit, it was fine but lacking in power and not idling too well. So I had the carbs off, replaced all the fuel tubes as they were rotten and split and serviced the carbs. Now I have put it all back together I cannot get it to start for the life of me. Ran the battery flat 3 times in a row. Initially though it was a fuel issue but opening up the floats indicated that wasn't the issue.
I have checked all of the carb operation and jets, floats to no avail as its all working well.

So onto electrical issues...Got all the spark plugs out as I thought that might be the issue, they all seemed in good condition and as the bike was running just a couple of days ago, its unlikely they would all have failed in this time. Next I checked the caps and sure enough there was no spark when the battery was fully charged. So checked all of the fuses and everything is fine. The engine is turning over, kill switch is operating fine, fuel tap is working fine and wiring seems to be intact.

Its worth noting there was no fuel on the spark plugs when I took them out. When I am trying to start the bike, the fuel tap is on, plenty of fuel in there, kill switch set to run and choke wide open with no throttle at all. Engine turns over, zero spark...

Any further recommendations for what to check without spending a ton of money on this?

Cheers,

Ian

[NGneer]

Have you reconnected the vacuum pipe from the fuel tap to the front right cylinder? This is required to suck on a diaphragm and allow the fuel through even when the fuel tap is turned on.

Is it just one of the plugs not sparking or all of them?

[watafu]

Yea the vacuum pipe is connected, does that help draw the fuel through the carbs or literally allow it to pass from the tank into the float bowls? Either way the carbs have fuel in them so that all seems ok.
Annoyingly the battery started running low just before I got around to testing the other plugs as I was trying to figure out what would cause that one not to. I'll get the battery charged and have a look at the other tomorrow. Its worth noting though that there is no current coming from the caps, I did test the rear 2 (obviously they run off the same coil) caps with no luck =/
Will be having another go tomorrow after work, need to get to the bottom of this asap.

[Cammo]

It's very odd that you have a spark issue after just taking the carbs off. The spark can be very difficult to see, when checking you'll need to put a screwdriver up the spark plug lead and ground the resulting spark to metal (bike frame etc).

Try winding the idle adjustor in a bit when starting - if this was disturbed when the carbs were off the throttle butterflies may not be open far enough.

Also make sure you use full choke an no throttle when starting, though your dry plugs don't indicate flooding issues.

[Neosophist]

As cammo and others have said sparks can be hard to see.

Screw the adjuser in and full choke / no throttle. crank it for 3-5 seconds and allow a minutes rest to give fuel time to fill the floats up and try again.

You have the vaccum pipe on the right nipple on the tap? If you put it on the wrong place it wont allow fuel.

The vaccum tap works like this.

If you switch the fuel tap to on or reserve you wont get any fuel without the engine turning over to create suction, this suction pulls open a rubber diaphram in the tap which opens the fuel flow (think vaccum on / off switch)

Its a secondary safety feature to cut fuel flow in the case of a break in the fuel line.

[Goulime]

Exactly the same issue on mine....
If you find any solution, please advise

I've to rebuild my nc29 for the next track session, nc30 will be next....

[watafu]

Ok I'll try that. Deffo got the vacuum pipe on the right place. I did read somewhere else that using something as a starter fluid to get the bike to initially fire would help to get the fuel running properly. Can't remember why but I'll have a look and see what I can do. First though, need to sort this spark issue out, I'm pretty certain it was just down to a low battery but I'll find out either way tomorrow.
Goulime, when I figure it out I'll let you know asap, this is really irritating me now. Friend also has a really similar issue on another bike thats been sat for a little while. Will get to this bottom of this one way or another.

[Neosophist]

Ok I'll try that. Deffo got the vacuum pipe on the right place. I did read somewhere else that using something as a starter fluid to get the bike to initially fire would help to get the fuel running properly. Can't remember why but I'll have a look and see what I can do. First though, need to sort this spark issue out, I'm pretty certain it was just down to a low battery but I'll find out either way tomorrow.
Goulime, when I figure it out I'll let you know asap, this is really irritating me now. Friend also has a really similar issue on another bike thats been sat for a little while. Will get to this bottom of this one way or another.

Dont use any kind of easy start, its not needed and only masking other problems.

Biesk need a full battery to spark and good earth.

obey the starting method above and it will work fine if nothings wrong and battery is good.

[NGneer]

obey the starting method above and it will work fine if nothings wrong and battery is good.

Full choke and don't touch the throttle....its just the way they are

[watafu]

Haha ok thats cool, havn't got around to properly working on the vfr today like planned as my other bike broke down on the way to work...joy, new head gasket and such... But I think I have discovered where my issues lie. Tested all my spark plugs on my other bike and they all run great, I know petrol is in the cylinder so that really only leaves my battery...Its supposedly a new one according the PO but either way, I think I need to replace it. If I get a chance I'll try my cbr battery in my vfr and see if I get a spark.
Determined to get this bike on the road.