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Won't start, has spark - driving me nuts Won't start, has spark - driving me nuts
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
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Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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Won't start, has spark - driving me nuts
I've pretty much run out of things to try so I'm hoping for some ideas please. The bike ('89 3AJ) had been getting very reluctant to start so I sent the carbs away to be cleaned and reset to factory settings. When they came back I fitted them and now it won't start.

I checked for spark and after tracking down a bad connection in the key ignition barrel I now have spark. This was tested by taking the plug out and firing it resting it on the engine fins.

I drained the fuel and put fresh fuel in.

Exhaust pipe smells of fuel after cranking it for a bit.

It was working before so it shouldn't be anything major but I've run out of things to try:-( Ideas anyone?
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  #2  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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A few possibles
I would maybe replace the sparkplug, and check the valve clearances. Always worth doing a compression check too....

You have vapour reaching the exhaust, but that does not mean you have enough to ignite. Have you check to see how good the fuel flow is from the tap to the float bowl?

Then it might be worth checking to see if the main and pilot jets are unblocked. WHo knows.

It could even just be a case of a flooded engine if you were used to starting it up with a bit more gas, perhaps you don't need to anymore.
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  #3  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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Testing
Alex,

If it's not the plug i'd suspect something has gone wrong with the carb rebuild.

You're welcome to use anything from my bike to test if it helps.
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  #4  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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Air filter? Will it run on choke?
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  #5  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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I've been trying to get an engine I bought recently to start, checked everything still no joy, I was getting a spark, fuel was getting through but was backfiring, yesterday decided to remove the generator to check the woodruff key which was found to be broken, this causes the ignition timing to go out, i've replaced this and it started first time

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  #6  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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keep 'em coming
Thanks for the suggestions folks.

Warthog:
I'm getting a good spark from the plug that's in there, I might swap it out to check though. With the drain screw open it lets plenty of fuel through and doesn't stop. I've been using the car to jump it so I've tried lots of combinations of choke, no choke, throttle and no throttle. I wait too to let it clear in case it is flooding.

I could try the clearances and a compression check but I can't see these changing since it was running a few weeks ago.

Roamer: Might take you up on that, it would be hard to prove the carb was poorly set up otherwise.

KTMmartin
It won't run at all now, choke or not, it used to like me using the choke. Air filter looks ok, but I haven't soaked it or anything.
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  #7  
Old 29 Mar 2009
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Coils?

Where was the bike when it had the inlet manifold open?
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