1983 Honda 185s ATC

[Doc Staley]

:-D
Help me please ! I have a Honda 185s 3 wheeler that is extremely hard to start. When I first bought it it had no spark - I havesince fixed that by re-wiring and replacing the coil and CDI box. The carb has been cleaned and rebuilt to specification and seems to be fine.
The manual talks about a fat blue spark at the spark plug - my spark is yellow - good sparl though.

I can eventually get this thing started but I am almost to tired to ride it once it starts - valves have been checked - timing is on the money
I've about worn the manual out reading it - anybody got any idea's ?
:shock:

[ejc042]

Sounds like the spark is a little weak. If you also have the carb set a little rich it will compound the problem.(Lotta fuel, little spark).

[smokinp]

Try cleaing the petcock out because on my 200 it was clogged and before I checked It I thought it had weak spark.

[Doc Staley]

It is not the fuel petcock / new tank and filter !

The only thing that I can find wrong is the color of the spark - what would make it yellow instead of BLUE ? New spark plug - new wire on the used coil with a new spark plug connector - from Honda.

According to the ohm testing in the manual everything ( all components )
are within specifications. Great compression 160 lbs

I was concerned that the rocker arms did not move much when adjusting the valves - turning the engine over with the caps removed amounted to very little movement of the rocker arms - not sure about this either.

[ddtoby]

I have not had my 185s long, actually only ridden it twice now, but it seems that it floods very very easily. If it does not pop off by the third pull, I pull the plug and it is usually very wet. I usually end up drying the plug off and shutting off the gas until it starts and then she will run forever and start right up everytime until I put her away for the day. This is with a brand new carb. So next time, maybe check for a fouled, wet plug, and shut the gas off until it starts. This is assuming the bowl is full already.

[Howdy]

:-D
Help me please ! I have a Honda 185s 3 wheeler that is extremely hard to start. When I first bought it it had no spark - I havesince fixed that by re-wiring and replacing the coil and CDI box. The carb has been cleaned and rebuilt to specification and seems to be fine.
The manual talks about a fat blue spark at the spark plug - my spark is yellow - good sparl though.

I can eventually get this thing started but I am almost to tired to ride it once it starts - valves have been checked - timing is on the money
I've about worn the manual out reading it - anybody got any idea's ?
:shock:

Do you have good spark or weak spark? If you have weak spark the problem could be the exciter coil. They are known to go bad in this style Honda motors.
Howdy

[Jugernaut]

I had a ATC200 that did the same thing;there is two stators under the flywheel,one for the lights,and one for the ignition;sounds like the one for the ignition is hosed..

[Russell 350X]

You could try a hotter plug, or just a different one.