Bike won't start :-(

[seestheday]

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I've posted much about my bike.  Just thought I'd swing by and give an update.

I went out to start my bike from winter storage.  I found out that my battery didn't fare too well over the extra cold and long winter we had, even with it being on a tender.  Live and learn, I'll store it inside going forward.  I was able to jump it using my car battery (car wasn't running).  It started up no problem the first time.  Ran like a champ.  I let it run for about 5 minutes before shutting it down.  I wanted to check on the source of a pesky oil leak I had late last season.  I found that the source was around the oil filter.  When I took the filter off and replaced it with a new one I noticed that the new one was noticeably thicket (strange, but it made sense why it was leaking).

I changed the oil, and like an idiot didn't use my torque wrench when I put the oil filter cover on.  Ya, oil everywhere when I started it up.  So I cleaned up that big mess and called it a day (leaving kitty litter on the floor to soak up the spilled oil).

I shut it off pretty much right away, but there were a few seconds where it was likely running without oil pressure.  I can't see that making a huge difference.

I went out the next day and it now it won't start.  I tried warming the engine up with a heater because it is colder today, but that didn't help.  Does seem to be firing on cylinder 1, but none of the others.  The #1 header does get warm, all the others are cold.

I'll start with the easy stuff, making sure I have spark, gas and compression.  Any other suggestions?

Oh, I've also bought myself a very rough 1983 yamaha 400xs.  I've wanted a smaller project bike for a long time and I've been looking for a cb350, but they are super rare where I am.  All of the ones that come up are thousands of dollars and I just can't justify that much.

[eric moon]

Hi Sees.
In view of the fact that you did get it started, it would suggest that you may need new gas. Failing that it may be that some crud has got into the carbs after it sitting so long. It is unlikely that the electrics are at fault.

[Re-run]

When you stored it, was there gas in it? If so, did you use stabilizer and if so, what brand?
Gas these days doesn't last long, especially if there is ethanol in it. So storing gas requires a stabilizer nowadays. I use seafoam and it has worked well for me. I tried sta-bil in the past and all that did was junk up my carbs.

[seestheday]

Tank was full to the brim with 93 octane "no ethanol" gas that I added seafoam to.

I'm no stranger to cleaning these carbs, so if I have to do it then I have to do it.  I was really hoping to not have to do it this year (I think I've cleaned them 5 times in the 3 years I've owned them).

Oh, and I run a fuel filter.  That is another thing to check, I have to make sure it's not plugged.  Ditto for the petcock if it is a fuel problem.  I'll know more when I get a chance to dig into this weekend.

[Re-run]

The seafoam has worked well for me, but I think you are on track with a fuel issue. Before yanking the carbs, I would make sure flow is good through the filter. Maybe hook tubing up to the drain nipples and check the fuel level, make sure things are filling up. Do you have a vacuum operated petcock? Can you turn it to prime and see how it flows?

[seestheday]

Figured it out. It was just some fouled spark plugs. I cleaned them up with a steel brush, gapped them, and now it runs great.
I'm obviously running rich though, so i need to get some new jets. I had suspected that the 75 mains i had were too big and this confirms it. I still have the 68 stock ones but I found those too lean. I'll get something between to dial this in.

[Re-run]

Huh, i never had things that lean, enough to backfire a bit but never to foul the plugs like that.