Tri Z is a pain in the arse to start!

[yzboyx]

Okay, I thought I was just missing something simple, but no luck. I just rebuilt my Z a couple weeks ago, and ever since, it's been a pain to start when I first go riding. After the bike has been started and warmed up, it will fire right up with one or two kicks. But, after the bike sits overnight, it's back to 15 or 20 kicks. The gas is not leaking out of the bowl. I verified this by letting it sit overnight and then pulling the bowl off in the morning without kicking. I just rebuilt the fuel pump yesterday, working perfectly, but no help. I have had a small tear in one of the pump diaphrams cause it to be a pain in the butt to start. I've checked all hoses with no apparent leaks. Bike does leak a little bit of coolant out of the top head gasket, but very minimal.

The bike does absolutely nothing for the first 10 to 15 kicks, then all of a sudden, it just fires right up. It never takes more than that either. What the heck is going on? Bike always started 1 or 2 kicks before, no matter what temp.
Please, any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

[twgranger]

have you checked your reeds?

[yzboyx]

Yes, They are pretty new Boyseen power reeds. I flipped them over not too long ago. They still seemed to seal tightly. Thanks for the help.

[Darius1502]

Fuel pump is not working 100%.

Verify that its a fuel problem by putting a couple drops of gas and premix in the spark plug hole.

OR

Get a small bottle and create a gravity feed tank....trike should start right up if its a fuel pump issue.

Need to get a new fuel pump or rebuild.

[yzboyx]

Like I said, pump is working perfectly. I did rebuild it yesterday.

[Kintore]

Most Z guys on here turn there fuel off every time they are done riding. I started doing this just for cause I can. try that for while then get back to us.

Also check your reeds, I had a hell of time with mine, same description as your symptoms as well. Ill see if I can find the links.
Link 1 (http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=33304)

Lesson of the day- Check your reeds!
:welcome:

[Bryan Raffa]

I had a problem with the bowl on the fuel pump sucking air the little round black gaskit was bad from over tighening it, I found that a garden hose rubber o ring fits perfict and its thicker and you can crank it right down. probley not you problem but it a great fix to keep in mind!!

[yzboyx]

You might be on to something there. I did notice a little bit of gas dripping out of the little bowl. I'll replace tomorrow and let ya know.

Thanks again Bryan!

[b182tm]

sorry, i hate to kind of steal a thread, but what is a reed?

[Billy Golightly]

intake valve on a 2 stroke engine. Its a small thing piece of either carbon fiber, or spring steel thats like a small piece of paper or really thin card board. It flaps open and close and acts as a valve without using a cam rockers and all that other crap that the 4 strokes use.

[nouseforaname90]

Something on a 2-stroke that goes on the intake of the engine. It is a thin piece of material, and they open up to let in more air and fuel as you give it more throttle. Here is a pic of what they look like:
http://s2.supload.com/thumbs/default/100_0548-20060409224109.jpg (http://s2.supload.com/free/100_0548-20060409224109.jpg/view/)
http://s2.supload.com/thumbs/default/100_0547-20060409224115.jpg (http://s2.supload.com/free/100_0547-20060409224115.jpg/view/)


They are the thin white-ish things on the black thing.
You can do a search on reeds and find some better information.


EDIT: Mmm.. I see that Billy beat me to it. Oh well. He described it better, and I gave pics.. haha.

[b182tm]

Ok, cool. Thanks for clearing that up, sorry for jumping the thread.

[Dammit!]

I had this problem with my Z too. Figured it was a float adjustment since I was having other problems there anyway (float bowl never had enough gas in it causing irratic performance). Anyway, being the lazy person I am I just put a stock 250R carb on it instead of fixing the Mikuni. Worked like a charm and fixed both problems.

That said, if it's been sitting long enough for the gas in the carb to evaporate, I still have to kick it a good bit to fill up the float bowl again but NOTHING like the way it used to be. Prior to changing carbs I estimate it took a good 40-50 kicks to get that thing to fire. Now if the carb is completely empty it might take 10-15 but it takes a while for that to happen. If it just sits overnight it will start right up again the next day no problem.

[yzboyx]

The bottom base gasket was leaking a little bit. I mean very little. It finally blew out and I lost most of my compression. All new gaskets and back together, starts like a dream! I can't believe that small of a leak would cause it to be so hard to start. I just thought I would share the good news. Thanks again guys for all your help!

[Bryan Raffa]

glad to hear you figured it out!!!