380j Timing Issue's... I think?
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:57 pm
Hey hows it going all? This is my first post, so I'll be polite and introduce myself... My name is Jesse, I'm from southern Maine, And of course, I love working on motorcycles! I'm a huge fan motorcycle forums, and glad I can now be a part of this one.
The list of bikes as of now goes
1. 81 HD Wide-Glide STROKER!
2. 84 HD flhs stock and sexy
3. 73 AMF/HD TX-125 on/off rd.
4. 74 KAW H1
5. 89 RZ 350 flattrack'd
6. Last but not least, this little gem......My pops found this in some lady's mud room, sitting there covered in oil(which I am so thankful for!!!). We grabbed the truck and went back to the house it was at, and dragged it outta there. tires flat, and rear brake seized trying to fit it though this woman's front door every which way we could, at the same time trying not to let her 3 cats out, who were attempting to bolt every chance they could... one succeeded. We ending up dragging it through the house and out the back door, and into the truck it went. The lady was so happy to have it out of her house, she refused to except a dime... so I helped her chase down her cat that got away, and the deal was done.
All three piston's were seized, carbs a little dirty, but for the most part, it was all in pretty good shape considering the last time it was registered was 1983. I pulled the head, and put the mystery oil to the pistons for a few weeks, and occasionally stuck the torch to the jugs in hopes that it would allow the cylinders and pistons to move around, making way for the oil to seep in. An after a month, I managed to get the jugs off. I was hoping to get away with only having to hone them, but they were in need of a bore 0.05 over. which they got, and cleaned up nicely. Ordered a set of pistons/rings an a gasket kit. Then stuck it back together carefully following the torque specs. All 3 cylinders are now at 118-120 psi
I disassembled the carbs, and cleaned them up as best I could. The main, and pilot jets are free of debris, the bowls are clean, and the float valve is working fine, same with needle and slide. Is there anything i'm missing??? (would anyone happen to know the recommended/stock settings for these carbs?) I also scrapped the air box, and replaced it with pod filters.
The gas tank has a massive amount of rust sloshing around in it so i decide to take it off and deal with that later. For the time being I rig up a temporary fuel bottle with an inline filter, and all new fuel line. This setup does not have a vent...
So with the new top-end, new plugs, a new battery(fully charged), macgyver'd fuel tank and the cleaned/synced up carbs I attempt to fire it up. First I check the ignition-check, next I make sure there's fresh oil in the lines-check, measured proper piston/head clearance-check, pull out the manual and make sure that the points L, C, R, are all gaped correctly, and that the timing plate is not retarded nor is it advanced-check. then I check all three plugs to make sure there's a healthy spark-check, I wasn't sure about what had been living in the pipes, so I take them off, and blow them out with comp. air-check, last but not least I pour myself a tall ice cold beer and put it on standby. This last check is key! -check.
Finally! turn the key, pull the choke, twist the throttle a few and start kicking..... 3-4 kicks or so, and im just waiting for it to kick back and fire up, leaving my garage in a cloud of half-burnt oil...ahhhhhh that wonderful scent.. but nothing..... Shut the choke off, and give it a minute to make sure its not flooded and try again.. nothing....10 more kicks...nothing.......I drank the beer anyways...
It's as if there's no spark at all.. almost feels like there's not that much comp. either, but I've checked it again and its there. could it be the pod filters I put on it? maybe the intake is open too much, messing with the air/fuel ratio. I have not re-jet'd since the pods, but even if it was the jetting, it would at least fire and run lean, right?? there'd be some signs of fuel being ignited like a little puff of smoke. I got nothing. I've double checked most things, even triple checked. The one thing I am not certain about is the points/timing plate. The manual say's that it should be taken in to a dealer to get done, but it also notes that if you need to get done in a pinch and get it to ballpark setting, follow these instructions. Which i did. and it wasn't too far off to begin with. I'll search around here on the forums, and find specifics on eh timing issue, I have a feeling that it is...
Your thought's??? Anything i'm forgetting? yes the kill switch is set to on....
The list of bikes as of now goes
1. 81 HD Wide-Glide STROKER!
2. 84 HD flhs stock and sexy
3. 73 AMF/HD TX-125 on/off rd.
4. 74 KAW H1
5. 89 RZ 350 flattrack'd
6. Last but not least, this little gem......My pops found this in some lady's mud room, sitting there covered in oil(which I am so thankful for!!!). We grabbed the truck and went back to the house it was at, and dragged it outta there. tires flat, and rear brake seized trying to fit it though this woman's front door every which way we could, at the same time trying not to let her 3 cats out, who were attempting to bolt every chance they could... one succeeded. We ending up dragging it through the house and out the back door, and into the truck it went. The lady was so happy to have it out of her house, she refused to except a dime... so I helped her chase down her cat that got away, and the deal was done.
All three piston's were seized, carbs a little dirty, but for the most part, it was all in pretty good shape considering the last time it was registered was 1983. I pulled the head, and put the mystery oil to the pistons for a few weeks, and occasionally stuck the torch to the jugs in hopes that it would allow the cylinders and pistons to move around, making way for the oil to seep in. An after a month, I managed to get the jugs off. I was hoping to get away with only having to hone them, but they were in need of a bore 0.05 over. which they got, and cleaned up nicely. Ordered a set of pistons/rings an a gasket kit. Then stuck it back together carefully following the torque specs. All 3 cylinders are now at 118-120 psi
I disassembled the carbs, and cleaned them up as best I could. The main, and pilot jets are free of debris, the bowls are clean, and the float valve is working fine, same with needle and slide. Is there anything i'm missing??? (would anyone happen to know the recommended/stock settings for these carbs?) I also scrapped the air box, and replaced it with pod filters.
The gas tank has a massive amount of rust sloshing around in it so i decide to take it off and deal with that later. For the time being I rig up a temporary fuel bottle with an inline filter, and all new fuel line. This setup does not have a vent...
So with the new top-end, new plugs, a new battery(fully charged), macgyver'd fuel tank and the cleaned/synced up carbs I attempt to fire it up. First I check the ignition-check, next I make sure there's fresh oil in the lines-check, measured proper piston/head clearance-check, pull out the manual and make sure that the points L, C, R, are all gaped correctly, and that the timing plate is not retarded nor is it advanced-check. then I check all three plugs to make sure there's a healthy spark-check, I wasn't sure about what had been living in the pipes, so I take them off, and blow them out with comp. air-check, last but not least I pour myself a tall ice cold beer and put it on standby. This last check is key! -check.
Finally! turn the key, pull the choke, twist the throttle a few and start kicking..... 3-4 kicks or so, and im just waiting for it to kick back and fire up, leaving my garage in a cloud of half-burnt oil...ahhhhhh that wonderful scent.. but nothing..... Shut the choke off, and give it a minute to make sure its not flooded and try again.. nothing....10 more kicks...nothing.......I drank the beer anyways...
It's as if there's no spark at all.. almost feels like there's not that much comp. either, but I've checked it again and its there. could it be the pod filters I put on it? maybe the intake is open too much, messing with the air/fuel ratio. I have not re-jet'd since the pods, but even if it was the jetting, it would at least fire and run lean, right?? there'd be some signs of fuel being ignited like a little puff of smoke. I got nothing. I've double checked most things, even triple checked. The one thing I am not certain about is the points/timing plate. The manual say's that it should be taken in to a dealer to get done, but it also notes that if you need to get done in a pinch and get it to ballpark setting, follow these instructions. Which i did. and it wasn't too far off to begin with. I'll search around here on the forums, and find specifics on eh timing issue, I have a feeling that it is...
Your thought's??? Anything i'm forgetting? yes the kill switch is set to on....