back to no start :(

This is what I would do. Drain the float bowls dry, disconnect your fuel source. Make CERTAIN all 4 plugs are clean and dry, in fact, dry them and test them for spark at the same time. Put them back in, it wouldn't hurt to spray a small shot of carb cleaner down into the hole for good measure. Spray some carb cleaner into the airbox and fire it up. If there is spark, and there is a flammable vapor in the cylinder, it should at least TRY to start.
 
I didn't mean to just start throwing parts at it and what not. Just trying to eliminate things. Um, this is tough one.....
 
I have a supplemental manual for the 96 600, and i followed the wiring diagram to the tee. Will look into voltage reg, and also try pulling all plugs and making sure they are dry, but as I said earlier, these plugs are brand spankin new, they were BONE dry when they went in. Damnit, we need more members in VA to come help me!! ****, there would be beer and I make a damn fine NY strip in it for anyone able to come help me figure this bastard out!! I love this bike, I really do, the month or two I got to ride it were MAGIC! it got compliments, felt great, and i was absolutely in love with it. The stars aligned financially for me to be able to get it, and I just want to ride the damn thing! I am going to look into all the great suggestions I have been given so far on new years day, and see what i can find. I may even run down to autozone/advance auto and rent a compression tester, but i think that should be ok because it ran before. However, maybe because cold weather causes metal to contract, i have bad compression? maybe when its warm out, the rings are ok but when cold they shrink? I mean the bike DOES have 47k on it, with unknown service record. I can only imagine the worst. Best case scenario, rings have never been inspected or replaced. could that be it?
 
When was the last valve adjustment. Valves out of adjustment can cause hard start problems in warm weather and sometimes when its cold it is x2 !
 
paulfun said:
When was the last valve adjustment. Valves out of adjustment can cause hard start problems in warm weather and sometimes when its cold it is x2 !
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I just did an adjustment, about a month ago or so. Im sure I could have done something wrong, but from what I could tell everything was within spec, I measured all of em and only had to adjust about 2.
 
JR1337 said:
So to clarify, tank is off, no petcock on the equation either, I am running on an auxiliary tank I made.
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Do you have the vacuum line that normally goes to the petcock capped off?
 
Just a shout out...starters get HOT quick. So if your bike doesn't turn over in 5 secs....let it go...Don't need to burn anything up...When I had my 97 Zl600...it took maybe a couple seconds if that to turn over. Just wanted to make you aware that my bike was exactly like yours, and it took no time to turn it over and start. You'll get it figured out...and I promise...if you can't get your bike started by spring..I"ll make the trip. Your about 60 miles away from me, so it shouldn't be too hard. I can't take the cold...25 pounds of metal in your body....when that get's cold...OMG.
 
Well I hope to have it running by then, but if not and you wanna make the trip, there's plenty of beer and a nice steak in it for ya.
 
Re: back to no start :( UPDATE

Ok, update. After monkeying around with the bike today, it is showing signs of life! it wants to start, and a few times I got it to sputter to life for about 3-4 seconds, which is better than before. I popped of the pulse coil cover, and replaced the gasket, had one laying around I ordered by accident previously. Nothing looked amiss. I tried spraying some carb cleaner down the plug holes, and into the airbox. The plugs were dry and immaculate when they came out, didnt require cleaning or drying. The only thing I am unsure of at this point is where the plug wires connect to the coils i think? They are loose, and dont want to stay in. I assume there is some kind of threading mechanism inside like on the plug caps, when you put a wire in those, but I cant see down in there to know for sure. Also, I cant take them off because the screws that hold them down are stripped to hell from previous owner. I took a dremel tool to them, and cut across the head, but it still wont turn with a flat screwdriver, just tears the metal up. It came to life after I jammed the wires in there extra hard, so I have a feeling I am doing something wrong.
 
If they are like the 900/1k, there is a sharp point inside the coil that the wire stabs onto. The wire is tightened and help in place by plastic nuts on the wires. It's like a compression fitting on copper tubing.

If you have not done so, snip about 1/4" off the wires so there is a clean contact surface.
 
Sounds like your making progress, but if some carb cleaner gets it to fire, I'm now thinking it's a fuel delivery issue. Maybe you can try running an external fuel source and see if it runs? You'll have to block off your petcock vaccuum line, but other than that, it's a pretty straight forward process.
 
I feel your pain brother. My 900 is doing similar things too and I one frustrated and unhappy camper. Hope you get it sorted soon.
 
Now I am really worried, one of the vent lines coming off the carbs had yellowish tan fluid dripping, only a drop or two but still.. There is no way it is rust, I just cleaned those carbs...twice. That says oil to me... I did just oil the air filter, But I wouldn't think oil from that could make its way down there. Ideas?
 
JR1337 said:
Now I am really worried, one of the vent lines coming off the carbs had yellowish tan fluid dripping, only a drop or two but still.. There is no way it is rust, I just cleaned those carbs...twice. That says oil to me... I did just oil the air filter, But I wouldn't think oil from that could make its way down there. Ideas?
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What did it smell like? I think we need some pictures of your setup as it sits right now, maybe you have a line crossed, going to the wrong place or something.
 
Ok I will take some pictures when I get home tonight. What should I take them of? close up of carbs? what else would help?
 
JR1337 said:
Ok I will take some pictures when I get home tonight. What should I take them of? close up of carbs? what else would help?
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Yea, top of the carbs, both sides, hose routing, just everything you can and as high resolution as possible. :headbang:
 
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