Start up...

[Stevo58]

Hi Guys,
so nearly there, just put the exhausts back on and heading towards first start up.
My question is, in your collective opinions, should I put some two stroke oil in the plug holes and let it sit for a while to lube the rings or just kick it over a good few times before I fire it up?

I have done a few four strokes, but they have their own oil system that kicks in immediatly, rather than the cci system which I am worried may take a bit longer to get thru....

Your wisdom on this would be appreciated...

Kind Regards

Steve

[Bobf]

It all depends on what you've done, or not done.
Have you had the 2-stroke oil pump apart, and if so have you bled it through? If the pump and pipes feeding the engine have not been bled, then this must be done before startup.
If the pump and pipes are primed and full of oil, there should be no need to do add oil anywhere else - Once started, pull the oil pump cable (or hold the lever) so that the pump is on "full" for a minute or so, and that should be it....

[Stevo58]

Thanks Bob,
No I havnt stripped the pump, so I will do as you say, I imagine it will smoke a bit when I pull the cable as suggested which will indicate the pump is operating as it should.

All the best, and thanks

Steve

[Stevo58]

Hi Guys,
Fired her up, much smoke (I so love that smell) but she was only initially running on two cylinders (Loose plug cap - skoolboy error!!)
Issues with the carbs flooding even though I have cleaned the float bowls and jests etc in a sonic cleaner. She has the original brass floats in that have "collapsed" a bit so I may see if I can get new plastic ones ( They probs arent pushing hard enough on the valves as they have effectively "gone down" in air volume...) - has anyone found decent plastic replacements?

Have since strted her up a few times since, but she is really hard to start - could this be because the air cleaner is not on yet?

as ever your collective wisdom would be welcome.

I should add that it is a GT550 L and has the carbs that open on a rail rather than cable ... not too sure of their model number

Have a good weekend and if your in the UK a nice weekend for a smoke around !!


Kind Regards

Steve

[badgereng]

I would suggest fixing your known problem - Carbs flooding - before doing any other real troubleshooting.

Checking basics such as spark quality, spark at correct time and compression can be done whilst waiting for your floats or whatever turns out to be the cause of the flooding.

Digging too deep into fixing an issue whilst you know you've got 'an issue' wouldn't be a step I'd personally take.

I don't think the lack of air cleaner would contribute to the starting issue if the carbs are flooding. The higher the fuel level in the float bowl, the more rich the mixture will be (as long as all the other parts of the carb are working as they should) and this should help to offset the air cleaner missing.

[Stevo58]

Thanks Badgereng,
yes, you are right - I have a tendency to jump from one thing to another....
Had a look on Ebay and someone is selling the original style brass floats for £7 each ..

Will post when I have sorted the flooding out.

Best Regards and thanks as ever

Steve

[badgereng]

Glad you found some at a reasonable price. Good luck.

[Stevo58]

Hi out there,
So flooding problem solved, the floats were "deflated" as in it looked like they had collapsed - so I drilled a tiny hole in each one and gave them a puff from my compressor to re inflate them and then soldered up the hole. Now they are exerting the proper pressure on the needle valves and the leaking has stopped.
She starts easier now, so I have put the airbox back on for a proper test this weekend (the neighbours will love me...)

However..
Minor drama yeterday afternoon, went in the workshop to find a puddle of oil under the bike -turned out the bung on the back of the kickstart shaft
(left of bike near the chain drive gear) had popped out (probs due to shrinking with age). Fowlers had them in stock, so have ordered a new one.
Oh and the electric start is not working....will sort over the weekend...

Have a great weekend

Steve

[badgereng]

Excellent

[Stevo58]

Hi out there,
Starter issue turned out to be gummed up starter button/switch. Sprayed with switch cleaner and some wd and it kind of works if you poke it several times, but would like to remove the tiny PCB and clean it, but the pcb seems stuck in by the button/spring assy. Probs one of those once assembled never comes apart, unless one of you guys has a hack to release it?

Kind Regards

Steve

[Stevo58]

Bodge Alert!!!
On closer inspection it appears......
A previous owner has poked a hot piece of wire thru the button from the outside that is fouling and preventing the pcb from coming out..

Wheres my blunt axe and hood.....

Steve.

[Stevo58]

Rusty nail removed, brass pin glued in, works fine, but will probs order new button anyway...

Steve