Grrrrrr.

[jetblack]

bike wont bloody start. again. Cheesed off.

That is all.

[jetblack]

I've run out of ideas.

I've had the plugs out (they're only a couple of miles old and have been running fine) popped them in the oven at 60 degrees for 30 mins to thoroughly dry them out.

I've left the bike to 'air' for most of the afternoon incase its flooded.

Battery is fully charged and also only a few miles old. Vacuum hose is new and the bike has been running with it previously.

I'm getting a spark from each lead.

Choke mechanism is working, fuel is on,Kill switch is set to run, not going anywhere near the throttle.

It's trying to start- getting the odd puff of smoke every now and again but it just will not catch.

What can i do? Was desperate to get the bike back on the road this weekend.

[oldgreyandslow]

You say you're getting a spark from each lead, sorry if its an obvious question but are you getting a spark from each plug? Remove one at a time, if at all possible stick an old plug in place of the one you're testting so no fuel gets spat out near where you're holding a sparking plug (BOOM!) and hold the one your testing against the engine so the threads touch it and check its giving a nice spark.

I assume fuel is getting out of the tank? Kill switch OFF, spare bit of fuel hose, 8mm bore, on tap outlet, make sure vacuum tube is connected, route the spare tube to bottle or similar, crank engine and fuel should come out in a nice steady stream?

If you have sparking plugs and fuel into the carbs at least you'll be heading in the direction of the fault

Then I guess its carbs off and check them, clean jets, float heights etc

I'm sure someone far more knowledgable than me will take it up from here and you've probably done all the above anyway

Good luck

[jetblack]

Yep, checked each plug- all fine, checked fuel flow, carbs have been off, serviced, rejetted and refitted last month and the bike has been running on them fine so they are in good order.

[reverse cylinder jim]

From personal experience once a plug is wet it will never be right again. The spark tracts different on the plug when wet and no amount of cleaning/drying will get them back to normal. I'd try a fresh set of plugs.

[lizard821000]

but plugs are designed to get wet. its only once they get hot enough they burn clean.

[reverse cylinder jim]

but plugs are designed to get wet. its only once they get hot enough they burn clean.

Yes plugs are designed to get slightly wet but when they get flooded the ark seems to divert to a prefered point. Once this path is chosen they never seem to return back and never seem to run right again.

[jetblack]

How wet is too wet? Left the bike over night hoping it would dry out and let me try again this morning.

have just taken the plugs out to take a look at them before i try to start it and they're all very slightly wet, like a single drop of fuel spread across the thread/electrode. Is this enough to stop them from sparking?

[jetblack]

Right got the ol' girl running regapped the plugs and she fired after a few goes. SO relieved.

However, she feels/sounds like she's 'missing' if ridden at between 4-5k rpm. i.e when riding at about 30-40 mph in traffic. Can anyone suggest a cause? pilot screw? Float height?

Runs fine when you open the taps but at constant low speed it's not right.

I just feel like i daren't go more than a mile from home as it feels like its going to break down on me- lost all confidence.

[Neosophist]

Right got the ol' girl running regapped the plugs and she fired after a few goes. SO relieved.

However, she feels/sounds like she's 'missing' if ridden at between 4-5k rpm. i.e when riding at about 30-40 mph in traffic. Can anyone suggest a cause? pilot screw? Float height?

Runs fine when you open the taps but at constant low speed it's not right.

I just feel like i daren't go more than a mile from home as it feels like its going to break down on me- lost all confidence.

You said the carbs had been 'serviced' recently.. by whom? Was everything done right? How did it run before the carbs were messed with?