|
Post by holmesboy on Jan 24, 2007 18:34:58 GMT -5
I am seriously thinking of offloading the SR....it has just been a nightmare. After the first week of owning the thing I put my back out trying to get it started and have spent about $500 on chiropractors since. Today I managed to get it started without too much fuss but then after letting it warm up for a while and turning the choke off, it konked out. I have now spent the best part of 30 minutes running it up and down the street trying to get the f*%8king thing started. It is a humid as a nun you know what today and I am now a lather of sweat. If this is going to be any indication of what I will be in for then I think I would be better off selling the thing on ebay and cutting my loses. I have spent $1500 at Vanem on parts that I havent even had a chance to get on the bike yet and apart from the hard starting, she runs well once she gets going. If only there was an electric start option on these things.... What can I do...are there any mods that make these things easier to start?
|
|
|
Post by pablosrfivehundred on Jan 24, 2007 19:19:37 GMT -5
thumperstuff.com has a electric start option so they say. but seriously it would just kill the spirit of the bike installing that. have you checked everything? plug? coil? battery? electrical connections? sprayed carb cleaner in the carb? fuel tap? clean gas? loose exhaust manifold? etc.
|
|
|
Post by holmesboy on Jan 24, 2007 19:25:04 GMT -5
Think the battery might be a bit on the dodgy side, either that or the electrics...sometimes the neutral light comes on, other times it doesnt....when I turned the ignition over to on this morning, the lights wouldnt work, and then they did again a bit later. If you can get battery less kits for these things then it would matter if the battery was on its last legs anyway would it?
|
|
|
Post by hopwheels on Jan 24, 2007 20:08:07 GMT -5
Real sorry to hear about your starting issues. I found this thread on hard startin' sr500forum.proboards38.com/index.cgi?board=Engine&action=display&thread=1161594898There's also this read... sr500forum.proboards38.com/index.cgi?board=Electrical&action=display&thread=1156930142Not sure if you've read through that one or not. These old bikes definitely have their quarks. And I've gotten my fair share of aerobic workouts getting mine started You could also try a spark exciter. I noticed a great increase in spark when I installed mine. On a whole other subject... Today, I took a look under my '78 and there was a drop of oil on the garage floor, below the oil strainer cover drain plug. I've been keepin' my eye on it since I rebuilt the top end for leaks, so it caught my eye. Felt around and confirmed it was coming from the drain plug. Grabbed a 17mm wrench, gave 'er a turn to tighten, and a funny thing happened... more oil started dripping. So, I backed the plug off a little, and bam...a chunk of the strainer cover part casting broke off and then the oil really started to flow. After grabbing a bucket, backing the drain plug all the way out and letting 'er drain, I found the chunk of the part. Must have just stressed over time, or perhaps I torqued it too much when I rebuilt the motor... Anyways... my point? Nothin'. Just ventin. Gary Hopwheels
|
|
|
Post by holmesboy on Jan 24, 2007 20:20:08 GMT -5
[ You could also try a spark exciter. I noticed a great increase in spark when I installed mine. [/quote]
Could be worth a try...where do I find myself one of these little babies?
Sorry to hear about your issues...sounds like we are all having a hard day of it today.
|
|
|
Post by hopwheels on Jan 24, 2007 20:25:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by holmesboy on Jan 24, 2007 20:38:35 GMT -5
Anything is worth a try....my order has been placed..
|
|
|
Post by StewRoss on Jan 25, 2007 0:00:06 GMT -5
Hi mate, Have you sorted the starting yet? If not then if in doubt defer to the kick indicator for a while 'till you get the hang of it... They can be frustrating until you sort it out. let me know how it's going... SR
|
|
|
Post by wotavidone on Jan 25, 2007 0:55:11 GMT -5
I don't understand it. My bike, for all its little foibles and faults, weird noises, rattles, etc, is a piece of pie to start. It seldom needs more than two kicks, hot or cold. But, I will say this, on the rare occasions that it fails to start on the first or second kick, I need to clean the spark plug to get it fired up. If I don't catch it on the first couple of kicks, the plug will be wet with fuel when I take it out. I would always clean the plug before busting a gut push starting it. Mick
|
|
|
Post by StewRoss on Jan 25, 2007 1:16:48 GMT -5
Hi, Something that just occurred to me...change the plug cap for a new NGK one and try again...see what happens... SR
|
|
|
Post by holmesboy on Jan 25, 2007 1:27:01 GMT -5
the bike was only services not long before I took ownership of it and the plug is new I believe....will check it next time. It seemed to start fine on the first attempt then was a pregnant dog after it konked out when the choke was let off. I will sort it out...I think a new carbie is needed... Check my other post with regards to PWK carbs...can you use these on an SR.... Changing from the standard carb and losing the air box should help shouldnt it?
|
|
|
Post by davedunsboro on Jan 25, 2007 6:42:09 GMT -5
There is lots of things that it could be . & so the process of elimination begins . Mine ended up being a dodgy + connection under the seat inside the harness . It was like a 3 way crimped join gone mouldy & green (wires were making intermittently & battery was going flat every now n then) cleaned & used solder as all good leckys should & presto . That actually took me 2 weeks to nut out . the moral of the story is " its good to have a spare bike " Dont give up
|
|
|
Post by mildmitch on Jan 25, 2007 23:10:35 GMT -5
The Stock carb isn't a bad deal. Actually a very good set up with a K&N filter in the stock Air box. It has anaccelorater pump and should be good if in good shape. Mitch
|
|
staffy
Junior Member
Posts: 92
|
Post by staffy on Jan 28, 2007 2:01:49 GMT -5
Holmesboy. You mentioned the neutral light sometimes worked and sometimes not. Is this when you first turn the ignition on? If that light's off do your headlights and indicators not work too? Occasionally the electrics on my bike would come on with the ignition, sometimes not. I found that a wire near the fuse holder was exposed and was shorting (i think) but when i took the fuse holder apart the wire leading to it disconnected from the lot. It was cactus. $6.50 and a new later, no dramas.
|
|
|
Post by StewRoss on Jan 28, 2007 2:31:50 GMT -5
Hi, Try changing the plug cap not just the plug...the resistance can sometimes be a problem on old ones...causes havoc on starting. SR
|
|