No start

[barnfind]

O.k. So this is my problem, the bikes turns over no problem pops and farts but won't start, the fuel bowls are full and I have good spark. The carbs were cleaned. Any suggestions !!!.

Thank you.

[shultz_1978]

After trying to start it are the plugs wet with fuel?

[barnfind]

Yes it over fuels but I think I figured it out the air filters I have on are restrickting the air  intake and I think it's starving for air, that make since right.

[shinyribs]

You'll have to choke these bikes on a cold start. Even if it's 90 degrees outside. It's just nature of the beast. The reason I say that,I doubt any air filter would be more restrictive than choking the bike when you start it.

Popping and farting sounds like timing. First thing I'd check is if the plug wires are running from the correct coil to the correct cylinder. Sounds like they may be mixed up.

[TOOLS1]

Ditto what shiny said.
TOOLS

[barnfind]

The firing order is 1 2 4 3 from left to right sitting on the bike right?

[TOOLS1]

DO NOT get hung up on the firing order. It DOES NOT matter. The two long wires on the left coil go to 1-4, and the two short wires on the right coil go to 2-3. If the wires are correct it will either be in time, or 180* out. This would be caused by the wires that go from the coils to the points being reversed, You will know if they are by the popping, and backfiring. If this happens, just reverse the wires at the plug in connectors.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

I thought that the reason the order doesn't really matter is that there is an exhaust/wasted spark?

[TOOLS1]

Well that is part of it. The main reason is because it does not use a centrifugal distributor like a multi-cylinder automobile engine.
TOOLS

[barnfind]

So let me get this straight, from left to right sitting on the bike I hook up coil one to spark plug one two to two and so on and don't worry about coil #3 going to spark plug #4 just hook it to #3 and 4 to 4. And the wires on the back of the coil switch the two wires around because the outside wires are grounds to the coils and this will change the timing 180 degrees!
Is that what you mean?

Thanks
Ray

[shinyribs]

What year is your bike? SOHC or DOHC? I know the following is true for the SOHC bikes,not sure about the DOHC.


You are correct on the cylinder numbering. Sitting on the bike the far left cylinder is #1 then it counts in order (2,3,4) to the right.

1 & 4 share one coil. 2 & 3 share the other. Which coil doesn't matter.

One coil is triggered by the yellow wire coming from the points,the other is triggered by the blue wire.

Yellow is for cylinders 2 & 3.
Blue is for cylinders 1 & 4.

2 & 3 can interchange and 1 & 4 can interchange (since they are on a shared coil) but you have to have the correct coil going to the correct pair.

[barnfind]

The bike is a 1969 built into a cafe racer SOHC.

[barnfind]

O.k. So from left to right one set of coils is 1and4 and the other set is 2&3 so need to hook up in that order right?

[shinyribs]

The coil for 1-4 (far left and far right) is connected to the blue wire.

The coil for 2-4 (center cylinders) is connected to the yellow wire.

[seestheday]

A 69?

Are any of the covers and engine case bits rough as opposed to all smooth?

If you're sitting on a sandcast you might be sitting on a very rare and sought after bike....

[barnfind]

That's perfect, thanks a lot for all the help guys.
It's great having people helping people on this kinda of stuff.

Thanks again.
Ray

[barnfind]

Not sure what you mean about rough covers, the clutch, stator are chrome and the timing is a normal cover.

Thanks

[seestheday]

Actually, the easiest way to tell is to just look at the VIN.

Vin numbers 1000001 to 1007414 on the motor were the "Sandcast" runs.  Check yours.

[motogrady]

last month there was a sandcast, it was a real nice unmolested bike, on ebay, went for $36,000.

[barnfind]

Mine is a 101.