damn cruiser won't start

[climber8483]

So I have checked spark (number 1 cylinder only) and i have tried ether. I know that it is squirting fuel in the carb and I know its getting fuel from the gas tank. I even dumped fuel down the carb and still nothing. Tried choke on and off also with no luck. Any ideas? It's frustrating the hell out of me.

Thanks,
Brittain

 

[D'Animal]

Maybe it's flooded?

 

[fieldsken1]

new muffler bearings or left handed skyhook

 

[bsmith123]

start

you said you checked spark so I assume it is good?

what year/eng is your cruiser?

Generally speaking I look for spark, fuel,timing, then compression,

any poss vacuum leaks?

have you tried ether

what kind of shape are the plugs in

what color was the plug you pulled on the end? tan, black and sooty? oily? wet?

 

[Michael]

I am not a mechanic, but I had a no start experience once and it was the rotor button, installed a new one and Rice adjusted the timing and I was on my way.

 

[climber8483]

Engine is a 78.
It ran fine all day. Parked it for about 4 hours and then it wouldn't start tonight. Did not pull plug, just pulled plug wire and it arced 1/4" to 3/8".

I have tried ether.

I did all this over a period of an hour waiting 10 minutes or so between trys when it wouldn't start to help prevent flooding.


I will try and start it in the morning and see if that works.

 

[jbarnhill]

check the coil or take dizzle cap off and check for moisture

 

[steverb]

yup try the cap and rotor probably need a good sanding. or its cracked.

 

[Friendly Persuasion]

Here is how I would do it.

Engine is a 78.
It ran fine all day. Parked it for about 4 hours and then it wouldn't start tonight. Did not pull plug, just pulled plug wire and it arced 1/4" to 3/8".

I have tried ether.

I did all this over a period of an hour waiting 10 minutes or so between trys when it wouldn't start to help prevent flooding.


I will try and start it in the morning and see if that works.

If you are getting a nice clear spare at that distance then your ignitor is working, so is your cap and rotor as well as your distributor.
Here is what I would do.
1. Pull the plugs.
2. Crank it over with out pushing the accelorator pedal down. This will help clear the flood condition.
3. While you have the plugs out check there condition.
4. Connect a spark plug to the plug wire, touch the plug to the block to ground it out and have some one crank it over. BE CAREFULL NOT TO DO THIS CLOSE TO AN OPEN SPARK PLUG HOLE. the air fuel mixture leaving the cylinder may ignite. It is important to also note where the other plug wires are when doing this test so you do not get zapped.
5. Install the plugs and and wires and try to start. do not choke or touch the pedal.
6. If it does not start have some one crank it over while it is cranking spray WD40 down the top of the carb.
Since ether burns so hot I really do not like using it. I perfer to use WD40.
Good Luck.

 

[Dusty 66]

Check the fuel cut off wire at the carburetor ?

 

[climber8483]

It's got a weber so no fuel cut off wire.

Well, just went and tried to start it (Halloween was good to me) and she finally fired up. She sure was cranky though, took probably a minute of cranking but she fired up nice and strong after a few little catches. Maybe she just doesn't like the cold damp weather we had last night as it is the first of the winter season? She didn't give me these problems last year though after sitting out in the snow all night, who knows.

 

[D'Animal]

Thats great!















Now do everything in the above mentioned posts and find out whatt the heck the problem is.




You do not want to be stranded by having that happen again. This time it was your driveway. That is a warning.

 

[bsmith123]

spark

good sign you had spark but is it getting to all the plugs


if your are getting spark at all the plugs try replacing the plugs


if your pretty sure compression is okay then and you have tried ether already then check the choke for proper op and I think I already said timing


almost sounds like the plugs are fouled

 

[snailwagon]

How long has the carb been in operation without a rebuild? When I had similar problems it was carb related. Never figured out what it was, but a tear down and rebuild fixed it.

 

[climber8483]

I checked all the plugs for spark, plugs looked good and the spark was fine. Fuel filter was a bit dirty and I think it was just affecting the flow as it wasn't very strong at the carb, replaced fuel filter and the cruiser starts up like it's new. Still not sure why it wasn't lighting the starter fluid, should check to make sure the starter fluid is good.

Brittain

 

[bsmith123]

got it going anyway

well she is running again I missed that at first, good

wanted a day off after 30 years on the job!