Honda Atc 200s Will Not Start

[DavidBulzan]

After spending around many hours of toil with my 3-wheeler, i realized i need some more professional help. A perfectly running atv now, does not work. I took it apart, put it back together, had it running for a few days with a spark plug filled with dried up gas, cleaning it daily- but thats no option. Here is what i've done so far to try to get it working.

adjusted the carbourator to the extent of my knowledge, i set the float level parallel to the main carb, making sure there is about 2-3mm to let gas into the bowl. The jets are turned all the way in a 1.5 turns out. Gas is running in a steady stream.

I tested the spark plug and it gives spark, quite constantly- everything is sealed, no air leaks in the intake, spark plug, etc.. Gas is there, spark is there, air is getting in... What else is there??

I appreciate any help, thank you!!

[trikes=fun]

Does it not start at all or idols then stops?

[MTS]

Do you have a manual? im guessing you set the floats to the wrong height......gota measure from the top of the float to the base of the carb, holding it sideways so the floats just bearly touch the needle..

[DeePa]

compression test would be my next step....and if you havent done it already, clean out or rebuild the carb

[DavidBulzan]

Answers:

It doesnt even start... i wish it did..

I do not have a manual

The carb is Clean, i thoroughly cleaned all the jets and everything with carb cleaner.

It used to run wonderfully before i was stupid enough to take it apart. When it does seem to have some life in it (because every once in a while, it will start for a sec or 2) it starts right away, and its not hard to pull the rope to pull start it.. It seems like something electrical, but its not- i'm sure of that.

[Jim mac]

what did you take apart?

[DavidBulzan]

Haha..

Everything i thought i wouldnt have a problem with. Took everything off down to the main chassis, but i DID NOT TAKE THE ENGINE APART. I took care of the tank, handlebar, cables, wheels, chain, sprockets, intake, exhaust, header, etc.. And after taking it apart- here were the symptoms. It would run badly in the beginning, but after warming it up, it ran wonderfully- UNTILL IT WOULD CUT OFF, then you couldnt start it back up, because the spark plug was all carbonated gas. Now there is a normal flow of gas getting to the engine, but it still wont start.

[trikes=fun]

Like what deepa said does it have any compression at all

[DavidBulzan]

Here are some pictures of the general project...

[DavidBulzan]

Wonderful Compression. Before taking it apart, it ran wonderfully- very strong. And since then, when i could start it, it ran with awesome power and great response. No slack at all.

[trikes=fun]

Do i spy black gas tank and forks oh and cant forget rims.............weeee

[DavidBulzan]

Thank you! Can i have some more advice on the problem PLEAAASE! I'm kind of going crazy because i need to fix this thing. I'm just killin time in front of the computer waiting for an answer.. :Bounce

[trikes=fun]

Have you checked the inside of the motor does it smoke when it runs if it does

[trikes=fun]

Have you checked and looked around the trikesylvania forum usally someone has had the same problem in the past

[DavidBulzan]

Never took the main engine block apart, but it ran wonderfully before- NEVER SMOKED.

[trikes=fun]

does the engine roll over when you trie to start it

[trikes=fun]

Have you tried what my trike sucks said and then go from there

[trikes=fun]

Maybe the fuel is to rich adjust the fuel richness and trie to start her up.that might be the problem.

[DavidBulzan]

Yes. I set it up right along side the bowl and i made sure the carb, will allow gas into the carb, not flooding or starving it. I read though the other forums and i'm wondering if it could be some valve? I doubt it, all of a sudden... I also took into consideration: maybe the problem is too little air going into the airbox. i will try taking some tubes off in the morning and starting it like that. The engine does turn over every time- when it doesnt want to start though, the rope has alot of resistance- making it very hard to pull. There is gas on the spark plug, i've tried the spark many times, its not perfect but, its good. I'm thinking air?

[trikes=fun]

Is it working yet

[Rm250RF900R]

The spark should be a nice healthy blue spark. I would check the compression. Go out and buy a compression gauge. If it doesn't have good compression then its not going to start by pulling the rope. The only way it will start is by towing it behind another trike or a truck or something of that nature. If it has good compression and a nice healthy BLUE spark, then I would go to the carb next. You might be better off just buying a carb rebuild kit. And a manual for sure so you can get the proper float settings. These things are getting old, a good rebuild may be all it needs.

[Solid Snake]

Yes. I set it up right along side the bowl and i made sure the carb, will allow gas into the carb, not flooding or starving it. I read though the other forums and i'm wondering if it could be some valve? I doubt it, all of a sudden... I also took into consideration: maybe the problem is too little air going into the airbox. i will try taking some tubes off in the morning and starting it like that. The engine does turn over every time- when it doesnt want to start though, the rope has alot of resistance- making it very hard to pull. There is gas on the spark plug, i've tried the spark many times, its not perfect but, its good. I'm thinking air?

Sounds like it's flooding, and I'm guessing that it's because your float level like others were saying, look in the manual at how to set the float level, you have to hold the carb at an angle while upside down to the point where the float is just barely resting on the float needle, then measure the float height in accordance with your manual. I would really check this because if you didn't take the motor apart during the rebuild then I doubt it has anything to do with the valves or compression if it ran fine before. You did say you fiddled with the float though and that's another reason I really do think that's your problem. Plus if the spark plug is carbonizing quickly when it finally does run for a little then that means the float was adjusted incorrectly in a way that makes the entire carb range run rich, thus causing the tension you explained in the rope and carbonizing of the spark plug. Just thought I'd give my thoughts.

Edit: By the tension in the rope I mean from flooding from the rich carb letting too much fuel in the combustion chamber.

Edit: My bad with the color, originally when I highlighted that one part in red my whole text came out red so I changed it to white which you can see with the default forum color (the dark blue background).

[DeePa]

Sounds like it's flooding, and I'm guessing that it's because your float level like others were saying, look in the manual at how to set the float level, you have to hold the carb at an angle while upside down to the point where the float is just barely resting on the float needle, then measure the float height in accordance with your manual. I would really check this because if you didn't take the motor apart during the rebuild then I doubt it has anything to do with the valves or compression if it ran fine before. You did say you fiddled with the float though and that's another reason I really do think that's your problem. Plus if the spark plug is carbonizing quickly when it finally does run for a little then that means the float was adjusted incorrectly in a way that makes the entire carb range run rich, thus causing the tension you explained in the rope and carbonizing of the spark plug. Just thought I'd give my thoughts.

Edit: By the tension in the rope I mean from flooding from the rich carb letting too much fuel in the combustion chamber.
__________________


this is what solid said in white font on a white background hahaha

[jrb71]

try another spark plug. had one years ago in a xr 100 that would not spark un der compression. new plug fixed problem

[trikes=fun]

Flooding never really thought of that but i talked to him he has no manual .It was working then he cleaned the carb then it wasnt maybe he didnt put it back together right so i showed him a schematic of the whole carb and never really heard from him yet .he also said the spark plug sparks not as strong as new but still sparks .He said he had a buddy gonnna come and help him with it so hope they solved the problem.:Bounce :Bounce :Bounce :Bounce :idea:

[MTS]

I hope you havent just been pissing around cleaning old plugs, BUY A NEW ONE, honda's are finiky about there plugs, belive me iv had enough of the 200's to know, if the spark is not strong enough or if the plug is gapped to wide it will flutter under compression and the spark will go out basicly....AND FOR CHRIST SAKES PEOPLE, EDIT YOUR POST'S no need for 10 Consecutive posts....

[trikes4life]

OK check two things the magneto plugs and the cdi plugs, make shure they are tight as hell.

[96YUKON]

Try the spark plug. I have a 185s I couldn't start and pulled on that thing until I got a nasty blister. I checked the plug and it looked good so I tried and checked everthing else. I then read the post about how sensative these machines are to the spark plug and changed my plug. Started first pull. I couldn't believe how simple the fix was.

[DavidBulzan]

Hey everyone!

I am so sorry to have been absent from this page for a while, here is where my thoughts have lead me.

A night ago i got angry with the thing, since my rope from the starter got stuck out, and it didnt have enough juice to pull it back in, i took the whole starter off, the, i guess its called, "coil" popped out and i havent managed to put it in yet, but even this mistake brought light to this problem. With the starter off, i got some help pushing it and after a few seconds, on the first push, it started and had awesome compression and accidentally popped a wheelie, not thinking it really had power. a few seconds later, it died out. I'm not sure if it was me that let it die (since it was late at night) or the trike itself doing the stopping. i had 2 of these encounters, the other was about a minute, untill i ran it up a hill, and then it cut off all of a sudden- i dont know if this says anything, probably more than i undertstand!

I'm now at the point where i think its the spark plug. I tested it, holding it in a set of needle-nose to the side of the engine, while trying to push the thing across the street. I later got some help from someone and confirmed the spark plug had NO NO NO spark. It was not dirty either- wasnt perfect, but wasnt dirty. Plenty of spark was getting TO IT, my hands were numb because the plyers werent too great, so my next step would be to go get a spark p, then see about adjusting the carbourator. :Bounce

To explain what i did to have it start the 2nd time, i took the spark plug and cleaned it miticulously with toothpicks, cleaning inside of it thoroughly, turning the idle screw WAAAAY down, and pushing it up a long hill. It started once, lasted a little while, and then cut off on the way up the hill. All other attepts to start it were void. :cry:

What are your thoughts?? :rolleyes:

Wait.. I am now looking back and i realize i'm contradicting myself. "No spark- good spark".... Let me clarify. It had spark, then my dear friend who is helping me, started playing with the tip on the spark plug. At the time it gave a nice blue spark, and now it gives no spark, because i've pushed it back and forth trying to make something of it. Sorry about any confusion.

[Somekindofjerk]

A carb rebuild is like 30 dollars i would say to hell with it and buy one, or have your timing checked. if you played with the pulser rotor you really could have messed up your timing.

[trikes=fun]

Well before going out and spending money you dont need go buy a new spark plug they cost like $2.00 or $3.00 if the one is acting up. Then go from there if it doesnt start.:Bounce

[Somekindofjerk]

Exactly, sorry if i came across to mean buy the carb kit first, lol. my bad. anyway good luck!

[DavidBulzan]

Thanks! Dont worry, never hate such advice!

:w00t:

[Howdy]

To me the spark and then no spark problem sounds like a loose wire connection somewhere. The next time you don't have spark do a check on the stator to be sure it's good. I have seen where the exciter coil has been replaced and they didn't do a good solder job.
Howdy

[trikes=fun]

And to check that you take the cdi cover off right havent had do do that.........

[Howdy]

And to check that you take the cdi cover off right havent had do do that.........

Actually you don't need to do anything but unplug the stator wires and check the Black with red striped wire coming from behind the flywheel ( stator ) with a ohm meter.
Howdy

[Somekindofjerk]

If you want something to do tonight quickly, go out and take of your pulser coil cover(says C.D.I) on it off, allso take out the timing check plug located next to your recoil. get the engine top dead center on compression lining the "T" up on the timing check opening. now look at your pulser coil the line on the rotor should be level with the one on the coil. if it isnt move the coil(lossen the two screws) and adjust as neccesary. i found that playing with it a bit can give you more power or take power away.

Good luck

[slothminx]

Ok make a check lists of things to look at

1)Have you got a bright blue spark?

2)Have you got compression? If you feel the engine harder to pull over at regularly in pulling it over you should be ok to run(need a compression tester really)

3) Have you got fuel? turn the engine over a couple of times and take the plug out, sniff it does it smell of petrol? if not put a couple of drops on the cylinder and try starting, if you do this and it runs for a while you found your problem, If the plug smells of fuel on the other hand you need to drain the carb bowl of fuel (screw on the bowl) with the fuel turned off, give it full throttle and try to start it.

To me this intermittant running sounds like an electrical problem.

Will

[teamtigre]

i have had the same problem with my 185, it is a weak coil, apears good, but crap, i would try changing the coil and go from there. then a new plug( if not already) and the the carb.

[DavidBulzan]

Out of all the things it could have been... I worked myself up and and bought a new spark plug- started fist pull, never cut off from then!!! It goes so much faster than before- jets are clean, it runs, smooth, powerfull, and everything NICE!!! NOW, TO GET MY BROTHERS 185s RUNNIN! I'l see you all in a bit!

[atctim]

I hope you havent just been pissing around cleaning old plugs, BUY A NEW ONE, honda's are finiky about there plugs, belive me iv had enough of the 200's to know, if the spark is not strong enough or if the plug is gapped to wide it will flutter under compression and the spark will go out basicly.....

Good advise in retrospect. 200 engines are very particular about plugs. I know this too. We should all make a mental note of this thread for furture reference. All that screwing around with the carb and checking timing. After you check to see that the gas petcock is turned on, and the ignition switch is in the o position, this should be #3 on the troubleshooting list.