I hope someone can help I'm at my wits end. I've got 1998 Thunderbird sport that just won't start. New fully charged battery Carbs stripped and cleaned Plugs new, gapped and checked for spark Clutch switch checked and working sidestand switch cleaned But nothing at all. Air filter box is currently off because I can't see the point of fitting it until at least coughs
Again how many miles on the bike how long has it sat around. Has it got any service history. Regards Joe.
Any history prior to your problem? Did you ride it recently and then parked and the next day it didn’t fire up. Is there another thread of yours about this problem on the forum mate ? BTW welcome in !
Hi Gypsy, and welcome in If you've already started a thread in the Tech help then hopefully you'll get all the help you need, good luck
Starting System Symptoms: Weak battery symptoms: -- Slow cranking. -- Stops cranking suddenly on compression stroke with button pressed. -- Starts when starter button is released at end of cranking. Repair: -- Charge/Test/Replace battery. Failure Modes: -- Loss of capacity. Appears to charge, voltage good but no reserve for starting. -- Won't hold a charge. -- Low voltage/cell failure. Preventative Maintenance: -- Check fluid levels regularly -- Maintain full charge: Regular riding, trickle charger. Ignition Coil failure symptoms: -- Hard starting/misfiring during cranking. -- Rough idle that can't be tuned out with carb adjustments and carb cleaning. -- Idle misfire clears with new sparkplugs, returns in a few hundred miles Repair: -- Replace: Preferably with Nology for higher reliability than stock Gill coils. Failure Mode: -- Shorted turns in secondary resulting in weak spark. Preventative Maintenance: -- None Testing: Pickup Coil failure symptoms: -- No spark at all -- Spark quits with engine hot, returns when engine cool. -- Note: Pickup coil failure is total. There is no random misfire spark loss. Repair: -- Replace pickup coil Failure mode: -- Thermal intermittant with long (15-30 minute) period. Preventative Maintenance: -- None. Get a spare. Testing: -- Ohms checks hot and cold. Worn starter symptoms: -- Sometimes won't crank until the bike is rocked in gear. -- Excessively noisy cranking with a grinding sound. -- Click from under seat but no cranking. Failure Mode: -- Brush wear progressing to commutator damage. -- Bearing failure related to brush wear. Repair: -- Rebuild or replace. Preventative Maintenance: -- Maintain battery in peak condition. -- Follow proper starting procedures. Neutral, clutch in. -- Crank 5-10 seconds at a time max., switch off for twice as long before cranking again. Worn sprag clutch symptoms: -- Very loud rattling when cranking -- Starter spins but engine doesn't turn Falure Mode: -- Breakage Repair: -- Replace sprag clutch Preventative Maintenance: -- Maintain battery in peak condition. -- Follow proper starting procedures. Neutral, clutch in. Worn starter solenoid: -- Click from under seat but no cranking. -- Won't crank after rocking bike. -- Starter continues to run after bike starts and won't stop until the battery is disconnected. Failure mode: -- Internal contact damage resulting in non-conduction. -- Internal contact damage resulting in contacts welding shut. -- Internal damage/wear prevents solenoid core movement. Preventative Maintenance: -- None. Repair: -- Replace starter solenoid. Testing: -- For no cranking, short across solenoid high-power terminals. Normal operation denotes failed solenoid contacts.
it started playing up last year. Would try and start it to go to work about 6.30 am and nothing, come back to it at 17.00 and it would start. Stripped the carbs etc as per the list have done now and it started. Started it a fortnight ago let it warm up and it started spitting as if running out of fuel and it hasn't started since
I will get this thing started if it's the last thing I do. Only want it running so I can borrow it to a mate whose bike isn't finished
GypsySOHMC. Have you tried all the connections and hoses. Sounds like a air leak or blockage there somewhere. When you try in the morning it draws some fuel which works it way to the combustion chamber over a period of time then it will fire. Check the pump and do check the tank over flow pipe and cap for blockages. Try starting with the filler cap of see if it helps. Regards Joe.
18,000 miles Oil, filter, plugs changed every 1000 miles since I've owned it. Having said that it's only done 5000 miles since I've owned it because it won't start reliably enough for it to be usable on a day to day basis.
No blockages, fuel filter fitted ,carbs have been cleaned 4 or 5 times. Plugs were wet when I took them out to check them do fuel is getting through Brilliant spark on all 3 plugs. Just not even attempting to fire
I'm just hoping someone thinks of something I've missed. But up to now it's everything I've already done, checked or replaced.
Have you physically cleaned or replaced the primary jets? Have you confused the leads order? The starting issue could be the same as before or a different one
If it has fuel and a adequate spark and the ignition timing is correct then have you compression tested it? is it possible that it needs re-shimming (tight) or valve timing is out? broken valve spring? the fact that it has started seems to say otherwise, could it be down to non continues fuel supply IE vacuum tap fault? just throwing i few thoughts around.