Almost ready to give up on this bike (wont start 86 vt700c))

[DaJesus]

Hey all, Having some problems with my 86 vt700c
So I was having some charging issues last month due to a bad stator.

I ordered a new stator, but it shorted as soon as I turned on the engine. One coil was wound too big and hit the flywheel bolts. I started a thread when I had that problem LINK HERE.

That time was the last time I successfully started the bike. This was on the 21st. Since then, I received a replacement stator from the manufacturer. The stator is a new aftermarket Electrosport stator. After putting everything back together, I proceeded to start the bike. It cranked but did not fire. First thing I thought of was the battery might have been low since I was having charging problems. I take the battery back in and charge it up. Next morning, I put everything in, but no cigar, same thing. I then start checking all the connectors I disconnected by the battery, by the spark unit, and everywhere in between. Once all this failed again. The other thing that was replaced at the same time as the stator was a new Rick's R/R . But I have tried to run the bike with the old one as well with the same result. I have also checked every fuse on the bike but all are good and proper.

I started checking everything in the Sticky at the top of the forum and eliminated the usual suspects, kill switch, petock, gas in the tank. I had the battery tested under load and it checked out good. I've tried to jump the bike from a car battery but same result. I have good spark on both cylinders, I emptied the float bowls and clean gas comes out. I did test the fuel pump last night and it wasn't pumping anything up to the T junction by the carbs so I proceeded to replace it. After installing it. I test it and yes now gas is being delivered to the carbs. Around 3am I finally got everything back in place crossed my fingers and lo and behold. Same result.

At this point, I don't know what else it could be. The last time it ran was when the Stator shorted 2 weeks ago. Nothing else but the new stator has been changed I have no clue what else it could be or if anything has shorted out.

The new stator is still testing good. Resistance between leads is within spec and its not shorted to ground.


Any ideas? I'm at a complete loss here.

[93gc40]

Summarize.
1 battery is at 12v or better?
2. run/stop switch set to run? switches are cleaned and have dielectric grease?
3. you have fuel to the carbs?
4. you have spark while cranking, all 4 plugs?
5. Choke is ON?
6. Idle is NOT set too low?
7. In neutral?
8. kickstand and clutch switches functioning?
9. Carbs are clean?

[DaJesus]

Originally Posted by 93gc40

Summarize.
1 battery is at 12v or better?
2. run/stop switch set to run? switches are cleaned and have dielectric grease?
3. you have fuel to the carbs?
4. you have spark while cranking, all 4 plugs?
5. Choke is ON?
6. Idle is NOT set too low?
7. In neutral?
8. kickstand and clutch switches functioning?
9. Carbs are clean?

I guess I do get a little long winded.

1. Battery: yes around 12.7 volts
2. Run/Stop Switch is set to run. I haven't cleaned it. I was thinking about doing that tonight.
3. Yes Fuel is reaching the carbs.
4. Yes I am getting spark on all 4 plugs.
5. Tried both choke closed and open.
6. Idle screw: I tinkered with it but no improvement. Was set properly the last time it ran.
7. Yes bike is in neutral.
8. Bike doesn't have a kickstand switch, I haven't tested the clutch switch. BTW you are referring to the switch in the clutch lever right?
9. I just had a complete carb clean up at the end of December so i'm confident they are clean.

[ExTex]

If you are getting spark and the float bowls have fuel, the next to check is the air filter.

Perhaps some rats started a home in the air box.

If I had done as much as you and had air,fuel & spark, I'd be diappointed also. Then I would try starting ether.... not much and only 1 or 2 times.

Good luck

[mikeshole]

Whens the last time you changed your fuel filter? Any chance of water in your gas?

[cl65ame]

ok. bike ws running and the stator was replaced. new stator shorted out and now bike wont run.
my guess is something electrical. i don't know the specifics of the bike but i wuold look for anything that may have been affected by a short to ground. ignition module or the like. you may have spark but is it strong enough or at the correct timing?
troubleshootin 101 lok a anything that changed since the last successf run and only try on thing at a time.
are you getting raw fuel in the exhaust? could it be flooding? are the plugs wet afterattempting a start?
the bike will run without th R/R and stator o long as the battery is good try un plugging both.

[SteveSchu]

Does the engine spin? You could have fried or damaged the starter motor....if the engine turns with the starter you may have damaged the starter clutch with the stator mishap.

[shadow247]

A trick I always use to eliminate potential ignition problems is to use a bit of Starting Fluid -AKA Ether. If the bike fires up on ether then you have a fuel problem. If it won't start on Ether then you definitely have either an electrical (no spark/weak spark/wrong timing of spark) or compression problem. My money is on electrical. Get yourself a service manual and make sure you are getting good current to the CDI box. It is entirely possible that the stator shorting out may have fried it.

[93gc40]

If you you are cranking and have spark. That leaves fuel or air as the issue. You are not twisting the throttle, are you???? What are the pilot screws set at? Has bike run since the carbs were cleaned or last installed? What is voltage while cranking?

Try ether, if there is spark it should fire, might not run though. But first we got to get it to fire

[baddbudd_2000]

this may sound a lil stupid but when was the last time you replaced the spark plugs? they may look fine but are really junk. that happened with my air compressor. try that before tearing it all apart.