Hi All, Newbie with a 225 DX re-starting question

[czac]

I have searched for info on this but cant seem to find anything that covers this particular problem... Unless I missed it.
Anyways, I have a Yamaha 225 DX possibly an 85 or so, not sure.

Here's the issue, cold, it fires up maybe 1 or two pulls... idles great, I can gas it and it revs up, I get on it to ride and it goes a couple feet and dies. After that, it wont start again for hours... its like it just looses its will to live! lol

Its got a new carb which seems fine to me, I'm thinking its most likely more of an electrical issue.

Does anyone know if the CDI box could possibly heat up and fail?

Would riding as opposed to letting it sit at an idle, cause the CDI to push a bigger load there fore shorting it out until its cooled off again?

Could it be something else in the electrical system be overloading when its ridden? And by ridden I mean 2 or three feet...

I though maybe it was a short in a wire because since I have to sit on it to ride it, maybe a wire is moving and shorting out, but the whole, starting up the next morning thing is throwing me.. lol
Last night after it stalled, I pulled the plug, it had a spark but it seemed small and weak and I then put some ether in the carb and it wouldn't fire up, not even attempt to, I pulled the plug again and put ether directly into the cylinder and again, not even a pop... I bet when I get home it will fire right up though.
Anyone ever experience anything like this?
Also, Does anyone know of any aftermarket CDi boxes I can look into or if any other CDI box will work? there's slim Pickens on EBay and they go from $45.00 to $300.00 and I don't wanna buy another bad one or spend as much for a new one as I did for the whole trike... lol thanks!

[czac]

Anyone have any ideas yet?

[Ghostv2]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...arting-problem
Sounds very similar to this guys problem, try reading through all the posts and check some of the stuff they mentioned. If you are having as much trouble finding the problem as he is, it just comes down to trying and testing random stuff.

[barnett468]

look at the spark before starting

start bike as usual.

once bike dies look at the plug and see if it looks wet, if it is, clean it off then look at the spark again, if it is noticeably weaker it is an electrical problem, this would not be good obviously.

if the spark looks the same and the plug is wet then your carb might be too rich causing it to flood out.

check float level, if it is too high it can cause flooding.

if float level is correct then try smaller main jets.

yes any a cdi or coil can work fine when cold but fail once it is warmed up. might take 2 minutes might take 30.

there are some $5.00 chinese cdi units on ebay that many here have used on their hondas when the origs go bad. try a search using the sites search engine. look up cdi or kbonly.

hopefully KBONLY will see this and have ideas.

find a free online service manual below.

http://www.oscarmayer.net/atc/manuals/

[czac]

thanks Ghost.... I was looking at those cheapie CDi units on ebay last night, the thing with them is, they have a 4 wire plug and a 2 wire plug on them, my cdi has 2 four wire plugs.... so im not sure theyd work. Of course, I have very little clue as to what the wires do so i dont know if they are all needed or what...lol As for my problem, the spark after the trike stalls, is there but pretty weak. the plugs not wet so im gonna try another cdi i got used off ebay.. hopefully it works....lol if i can get one of those china cdis to work, ld buy a few to keep as spares...lol one of the other problems i will be looking into next is the electric start... pulling this thing is a chore!

[motox40]

If the plug isn't wet after pulling on it when it stalls out you have a carb issue. The petcock might be plugged and after sitting for awhile enough gas drains down in the carb enough to start it. 99.9% of the time when a cdi box goes its done.

[Baker1126]

Sounds weird but try leaving the gas cap loose. I have to do this on my atc 200es and ytm 225dx. I think some sort of venting issue is creating a vaccum. Let me know if it helps.

[joenovosel]

Mine did the same thing. Ended up being that I was missing an o ring in the carb and the petcock needed rebuilt. Mine would fire right up then I would ride it it would die and not start for a while. Then it would fire right up. I never did take the plug out to check it.

[czac]

awesome guys...i will check this out. it does have a brand new carb on it but hey, i guess even brand new is not a 100% guarantee that its gonna work. lol

[muthey]

I would do a thorough check on the fuel petcock, and there are chinese cdi's that have 2 four wire plugs, check this site out http://www.kazumapartsonline.com/chi...c-398_270.html Here is a manual for it can't remember if it goes throught the exact wires on the cdi and where they go but it should help. http://www.oscarmayer.net/atc/manuals/ also let it be known that the cdi on the 225 controls the spark timing unlike 80- 83 honda motors with a pulse generator I wish I could be of more help for you

[czac]

Thanks for the links. Ill have to see if I can find the CDI I need there. I downloaded the manual but its the one I already have... thanks anyhow. Atleast now Ill have a PDF copy i can look at while at work, if im looking for parts or something...lol



At any rate, i pulled the tank and when i took off the gas line i turned the PC on and it poured out gas... so I guess it workes. lol
I then went and looked at the extra frame my trike came with and there was a complete electrical system on it, minus the keyed ignition switch and run, headlight, start button switch. so i grabbed the cdi off it and hopefully it still works.

Anyone have a trick to bench testing a starter to know if its working or not? theres only one wire on it, how would i hook it up to see if the starter still spins?

[muthey]

you sit the mounting base of the starter to the negative terminal on a battery and the touch the wire to the positive terminal, make sure you are useing the aluminum base of the starter as it is better than the metal bracket that holds it into the motor

[czac]

Cool thanks! I was using a wire from the neg battery terminal to the body of the starter, and another
One from the positive terminal to the terminal on the starter and it sparked. I didnt wanna short the battery out so i just stopped. Lol

[czac]

Sounds weird but try leaving the gas cap loose. I have to do this on my atc 200es and ytm 225dx. I think some sort of venting issue is creating a vaccum. Let me know if it helps.

its not Weird at all, I have to do this with one of my Echo Weed whackers...lol I get gas all dripping down my leg with it... lol

[czac]

anyone know how to figure out the year of this 225? also, anyone have a part number for the lightbulb for the tail light? lol...