Losing patience 185s

[dc]

Allright, I've had my 185s in the shop not running since last winter. With school farming and everything I hardly ever have time to work on it but that is no excuse. I can't get the thing running for the life of me! :evil:
The first problem was that it had no spark. So I got some parts for it and now it has spark. But it still wouldn't run. So then I ordered a carb kit from dennis kirk and totally went through the carb, let it soak, and put the new kit in. But it still won't run. When I pull the plug out it is wet. I have the carb adjusted to specs.

Ok, so I decided to check the compression. I don't have a compression gauge so I just put my thumb over the spark plug hole. It doesn't have enough power to blow my thumb off. This isn't good is it? :? Also, when I remove my thumb it has a film of black sooty gunk.

It has spark and it has air/fuel, maybe the timing is off. But I don't know how to check the timing without the engine running.

I need help!!

[hondaATCman]

To check the timing - Take the cover off of the cdi on the cam. Then, take the timing plug out on the pullstarter with a flathead screwdriver. Take the spark plug out and crank the engine over until a "T" mark can be seen through the cap you took off on the pullstart, then look at the cdi on the cam, there should be two lines that should be lined up. If they're not, the timing is off.

To check compression - with the spark plug in, crank the engine over with the pullstart very slowly. If the're are any sudden jerks or times where you have to use more strength to keep pulling, you should have enough compression.

They're may be something wrong with your valves too, maybe need to be readjusted or relapped.

Hope this explains everything good enough, I'm in the middle of class, and I'm not supposed to be on here. ;)

['86X]

You definately don't have enough compression. If it has a compression release, it may be stuck open. You could have a valve problem or bad piston ring to cylinder seal. The reason the plug keeps getting wet is bec. the engine is drawing fuel in but compression is low it can't light the mix. Try a squirt of oil, (not too much!) on the cylinder and pull it over a few times slowly with the plug out. Put a good plug in it and give it a shot of starting fluid in the carb with the throttle open. Give it a swift pull and try to get it running that way. See what happens there and let us know. Good luck ;)

[dc]

all right, first I'll check the timing and then I'll try the oil in the cylinder.

Here's the story of when it broke down.

I was driving it when all of the sudden it gave a loud pop and died. My brother said that he could see a blue flash through the exhaust when it gave the pop. I pushed it to the shop and discovered it had no spark anymore.

The compression release is not stuck open. I'm going to see if I can borrow someone's compression tester.

After that loud pop I noticed that my exhaust was pretty well shot and rusted through so I bought a cobra quiet series but I haven't been able to test it yet.

dc

[Howdy]

Here is a test I use to tell rings, valve, head gasket, or other problems.

I take a valve stem with the core removed. I put it on a blow gun ( for a air compressor ). I remove the spark plug.
I then removed the pullstarter and get the motor to TDC on the compression stroke. I then have a friend hold the motor so it won't turn. We normally use a long screw driver through the starter cage on the flywheel.


Then
Take the valve core / blow gun and insert it in the spark plug hole and blow air into the cylinder. One thing you really need to remember is when air is applied to the cylinder the motor will want to spin. If your motor is in real good shape it will really kick. Make 100% sure your friend is holding on for dear life.lol

What does this tell you?
If air comes out the exhaust then it's a exhaust valve problem.
If air comes out the carb then it's a Intake valve problem.
If massive amounts of air comes out of the crank case breather tube it's a piston / rings problem.
If air comes out from around the cylinder and head area it's a head gasket problem.

If air comes out all of the above your motor is FUBARED.
If none of the above happens then the mechanics of your motor is fine.
Note: It's not abnormal to get a little air through your breather tube. Rings will seap a little normally. Massive amounts isn't normal though. ;)


This test has never failed me yet. It's simple and only takes a few minutes to do.
Howdy

[dc]

Ha!

Howdy, that's great. I'll have to try that.

I don't have a valve stem, though. But I'll think of something.

[Howdy]

Ha!

Howdy, that's great. I'll have to try that.

I don't have a valve stem, though. But I'll think of something.

I originally used electrical tape. I just put enough rounds of tape on the blow gun until it made a tight seal in the plug hole. ;)
Howdy

[jenndnn3]

Cool test, I will be trying that, I would have never thought of something like this. I have oil on my spark on my little 70 and I am guessing it is my rings now you allowed me to verfy if that is true....Thx Jen

[Jeb]

...If air comes out all of the above your motor is FUBARED. ...


FUBARED .... :-D Always a classic descriptive! :D

[dc]

I finally got her running again! I can't believe it! :shock:

The problem was so simple too.

I went to check the timing on it, lined the rotor up on the T, and looked at the pulse rotor and it was way off. So there I was thinking to myself, "How am I going to move the pulse rotor to the right spot?" So I grab the pulse rotor and by golly IT MOVED!! So I thought to myself, "What the @#$%? That's not supposed to move." So I move it to the right spot, tighten it, reassemble everything and it fired right up after several pulls.

But here's another problem. It wouldn't idle. I decided to mess with the carb later. So I was driving it around for about 5 minutes after I got it started and I park it and take a look at my brand new Cobra quiet series exhaust and am surprised to see what shape it is in. From the head to 9 inches out the pipe has turned white, and there are 2 other spots where the paint is bubbling up really bad.

I know you guys say that cobra pipes will discolor and lose paint after a while but I never figured it would look this awful after just 5 minutes! Was I running incredibly rich those 5 minutes?

[yater]

no that's just cobra--a few months ago, I posted with the same concern. I put my big red back together with a brand new utility series pipe, rode around for about 5 min. and stopped to mess with the carb. The paint was bubbled all over the head pipe. Mine now has about 5 hrs on it and is beginning to melt the pipe (not the paint the PIPE) near the motor (has a small bubble coming through). AND I always run a little rich