I just went back out and took the carbs off again to re-adjust the pilot screws. I had originally backed them out 2 turns but I went out and backed them out another 5/8 of a turn and put the carbs back on. This did make a difference...the bike seemed much more willing to start. I will go back out and back them out another half turn or so later. Something weird happened too though. I had just sprayed starter fluid in the air box and I was trying to fire the engine up and my airbox actually caught on fire inside...I had to blow it out.....luckily there was no damage. I also noticed there is a tube hanging off of the bottom of the airbox almost all of the way to the ground. What is this tube? It seems like whatever is in the tube is solid and there is a plug on the end of it.
I think the spark plugs are fine though. My friend came over last night to look at the bike and the spark plugs were one of the first things he checked and he said they seemed fine....and they are brand new plugs. As far as spraying Starter fluid directly into the carbs goes...wouldn't this require me to take the airbox off? Thanks. Dustin. On Jan 11, 7:05 pm, James O'Gorman <[email protected]> wrote: > Hey Dustin, > > Like others have suggested, spraying starting fluid directly into the open > carbs (spray all four carbs, one at a time while opening the throttle and > pushing the plunger up) should allow the bike to start and run for about 1-2 > seconds. This will work whether you're getting gas or not; and pretty much > tell you that the timing and ignition are good (leaving the problem to reside > in fuel delivery). > > Have you checked the plug gaps? You may be getting spark, but it could be > weak. Try cleaning the spark plug contacts with light sandpaper (not really > recommended though) and re-gap them. You should have a nice, bright spark. > > It sounds like you backed the pilot screws out a few turns. I used (i think) > 3.5 turns out to get mine running. I would blip the throttle a little as I > cranked just in case the idle circuits were plugged. > > Try that out and see what happens > > - JO > p.s. If you're like me, you'll need a few of these before it is all said and > done:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nighthawk-Maxim-EX-Starter-repair-Rebu... > > On Jan 11, 2011, at 6:25 PM, Dustin Mcclure wrote: > > > > > > > > > I went to Auto Zone today and picked up 2 new hoses for the petcock. > > Unfortunately I bought the wrong size for the vacuum hose so I will > > have to go back tomorrow and get a new one. I came home tonight and > > checked the spark plug connection(everything was straight)...I stuck > > my gas tank back on the bike and hooked up the vacuum hose and fuel > > supply line and tried to fire it up. I took two videos of myself > > trying to fire up the bike and put them on my flickr page. In video 16 > > I try to fire it up at first without putting the choke on and then I > > put the choke on and turn it over some more....You can tell there is a > > big difference. In video 17 the choke is on the whole time. The > > results I got tonight were exponentially better than last night. Last > > night the engine only popped a few times...tonight it sounded like it > > was almost there. Also, in both videos the petcock is in the off > > position(there was gas in the carbs though. This was actually by > > accident...I didn't even realize until after I made the second video > > and by this time the battery was starting to die so I put it back on > > charge. I am going to go back out later tonight and make another video > > with the petcock in the on position and I will post that video. > > > Here is the link to my profile. > > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/sttlnb53/ -- 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.
