I can remember fighting this same problem on my dirtbike as a kid. After finding the solution I bought a sticker for the bike that read "Turn the gas on dummy!". Not to say you're a dummy, but the problem does sound like a lack of fuel somewhere along the line.
-Kyle On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 5:46 PM, Graham Rogers <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
