I cranked the motor over - it tried to start, at least on one or two cyl. Then I checked the plugs. They were dry on the tips and porcelain but a little wet on the rim of the plug. It didn't smell like gas however. I then tried to start the bike with my hand restricting the air flow at the air filter. It did start but died when I moved my 'hand choke' I probably could have gotten it started that way. So, it looks like the choke isn't working eh? Now what? Graham
On Feb 25, 2009, at 12:21 AM, Dennis Hammerl wrote: > Spraying it optimizes the conditions needed for starting. Which... > means the chokes aren't working. If it has a strong vacuum when > cranking if you hold your hand over any carb throat, the chokes > aren't passing any fuel. WHY ? The "gas chokes" are very simple > valve devices. If they have access to fuel from the float chamber > and they are open to the bores when activated, all should work. > With the throttle plates closed, the high vacuum (or , more > properly, low pressure) should draw fuel up through the choke > circuits and into the motor. It's as simple as a faucet. I don't > want to get into any abstract at this point. Are the plugs getting > wet when you crank the motor with the chioke operated ? Knowing > that is a must before proceding. If they are, we look elsewhere. If > not, we stay in the carbs. > > --- On Tue, 2/24/09, Graham Rogers <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Graham Rogers <[email protected]> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Nighthawk S starting problem > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 8:05 AM > > Tried starting the bike this morning and there doesn't seem to be > any improvement. It would 'bubble' along like it was trying to > catch (it acted like a weak spark) but again it took starting fluid > and the choke seemed not to play apart. Once it had 'caught', > restricting the air flow through the air filter with my hand > significantly increased the rpms. Maybe I should also check the > state of the battery huh? > Incidently I noticed the fuel gauge didn't work until I revved the > engine significantly and held the revs. That was a new one to me, > Graham > > On Feb 23, 2009, at 11:02 PM, Dennis Hammerl wrote: > >> Let us know how that works out. The neutral wiring is grounded and >> that's why it always shows N / green light. Let's get into that >> later. You have multiple issues. One at a time. >> >> --- On Mon, 2/23/09, kiwi <[email protected]> wrote: >> From: kiwi <[email protected]> >> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Nighthawk S starting problem >> To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" >> <[email protected]> >> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 1:16 PM >> >> Blasted those tiny holes that allow the gas through when using the >> choke with compressed air and >> spent 2 hours reinstalling the carbs. It >> still took starting fluid to get the bike started BUT, not very much >> and the choke worked a little. I'll see how it starts >> tomorrow when >> it is back to winter temperature. >> Second problem with this NH is the neutral/gear indicator. It >> reads N >> all the time and won't show what gear the bike is in. I found a >> little >> black box under the tail section that I think is part of the N/gear >> indicator system. Is there a way to check it? >> Third problem should be simple. The left front turn signal is >> 'bright' when ignition is on but will not blink when it should. The >> others work as they should. That left one shines a lot brighter than >> the right front when ignition is on. >> >> On Feb 22, 11:11 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: >> > I will assume your carb clean was a complete operation. Let's >> examine >> how the choke works. The cable opens valves that will >> permit raw fuel to be >> sucked into the motor during cranking. Now, lets say that works >> fine.Your plugs >> should be wet after cranking for a short while. Y-N ? The most common >> cause of >> the plugs being dry after cranking is the throttle plates being >> open too far and >> causing insufficient vacuum. Same as opening the throttle while >> trying to start. >> When the intake air flow is too low, no fuel will be drawn in from >> the choke >> circuit. If the plugs are wet, you're flooding the motor. >> > We start here. Additional checks of compression and a leak-down >> may be in >> order. >> > This may take time to resolve. Get at it. >> > >> > --- On Sun, 2/22/09, Graham Rogers <[email protected]> wrote: >> > From: Graham Rogers <[email protected]> >> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Nighthawk S starting problem >> > To: [email protected] >> > Date: Sunday, February 22, 2009, 6:18 PM >> > >> > I have a 1986 Nighthawk S. It ran before I got it but always took >> > starter fluid in the air filter to get it going. I pulled the >> carbs >> > and >> thoroughly cleaned them and used to compressed air in all the >> > holes. However the bike still will not start without stater fluid >> > and even then it takes along time with the fluid. I noticed that >> > using the choke seemed to make no difference at all so, thinking >> that >> > perhaps the choke isn't working at all I removed the carbs again >> > (they are terrible to remove) and did what I could toi ensure the >> > choke was working right. The mechanism moves as it should and I >> used >> > compressed air in the holes to the where I >> presume the choke opens. >> > Now, before I reinstall the carbs, any suggestions? Could the >> > problem have been the choke or is there something else that would >> > cause the same problem. By the way, once the bike was warmed >> up, it >> > ran fine - just when it's cold I have to use >> starting fluid, Graham >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. 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