Need some engine Diagnosis pointers.... Experts Help!

**Darius1502** · 03-30-2005, 04:07 PM

Ok...

My Tri Z does not start. Here is what I know:

1) I will start if I pull-start it.

2) It runs rough in the low end...but clean in the mid and top

3) It will continue to run and won't stall as long as I give it gas

4) Sometimes it will idle but sometimes it will stall if I try to get it to idle.

5) It smokes alot

I checked the float bowl, I did tinker with the pilot jet and the idle screw. I have not found the correct setting because the engine is running so rough.

I did put in a new base gasket. I am thinking it may one of the reeds.

The trike was running fine until I put Blue Marble in it. I don't think the Blue Marble caused this but I think it can coincidentally made all this come about.

I also have not had time to really run through a couple of tanks of gas. I hear that this is required when using blue marble.

I did switch back to Bel Ray and the Z still exhibited the same behavior.

Thanks guys!!

**70binder** · 03-30-2005, 04:20 PM

2-stroke? make sure you didn't mix it too rich on the oil, that'll make nice smoke and soften the topend out, i dont know if you have that. same thing with too much fuel. try turning any mixture needles for the lowend in 1/4 a turn at a time in (Holley says 1/4 turn on theirs, so i'm just saying, you may have a sensitive needle, 1/8 of a turn may work also) rough lowend usually is too much fuel, if it was excess oil, it would run rough like the choke is on in the topend. Your timing may have retarded, makes for one heck of a bish to start but runs fine when revved up (you don't have timing advance i assume) i'd say, if it were my tri-z, take your lowend needle in 1/2 a turn to rough it in, try starting it, let it run for a minute to make sure the fuel system has had time to adjust to the new setting. if better, try turning it in again, and repeat the run for min/tune carb process until you lean out too much. Hope this helps, as this is what i used to do with my old nitro car after a new pipe, and then after i ported for 60% more power, it gave too much fuel then. Maybe thats your prob?

**4cylinders** · 03-30-2005, 05:12 PM

hey, before you do to much, do a compression test, first dry, then wet- ashot of fuel in the cylinder. post your results for more info.

**bigredhead** · 03-30-2005, 05:19 PM

What would a broken or damaged Ring do ?

**70binder** · 03-30-2005, 08:44 PM

this is what a broken ring does.

ring shashed horribly, there is 2 layers of one ring there

when the ring decides it's gonna breakdance

and what happens when mr. ring meets mrs. valve, they have little rings and valve shavings

**03 ORANGE SHEE** · 03-30-2005, 09:16 PM

im just wondering if your cdi,coil, or stator is getting ready to take a crap, mine did the same thing a month ago, damn coil, i run a 98 600 grizzly coil now, much hotter spark than a stock z coil and for $38 new!

**TimSr** · 03-30-2005, 11:39 PM

Difficult starting, rough idling, but clean once you start to open the throttle up sounds like a clogged pilot jet to me. I would remove the pilot jet, and also remove the air screw. Then blow some carb cleaner with that red straw through the hole the pilot jet came out of, and make sure it exits. Then, of course make sure the pilot jet is clear before putting it back in. All it takes is one grain of sand to give you endless headaches, and the pilot clogs very easily. Its a much tinier orifice than a main.

**Derrick Adams** · 03-30-2005, 11:46 PM

I'm actually having this exact same issue with my Z right now! Last time I went to ride it, it wouldn't start. It ended up having so weak of spark that you couldn't even see it, just hear it. Then I went out the other day to work on it, and it had great spark..?WTF!
Anyhow, I had previously swapped on a 39mm keihin and am trying to get it to idle. This thing refuses to idle! I changed the choke and have been dropping the pilot jet. Right now I have a 048 pilot jet in it (stock is 055)with the needle all the way down and the idle screw almost all the way in to get it to idle! Still spewing bellows of smoke, like it's rich.
(Another issue) My bike also wouldn't start unless I kicked it 20 times. Turns out my reeds were bad. Changed those today and it started 2nd kick! Still don't idle but it starts.
So, time to start a post on symptoms of coils going out!

**Darius1502** · 03-31-2005, 01:03 AM

Well....godang...I am sick of this thing. I checked the reeds...perfect. I checked blew air and carb cleaner into the pilot jet hole and the air screw hole. In fact all the jets.

I give up...time to go to the gym. I would rather spend time on myself then this rattle trap!

Until next week!

**Dammit!** · 03-31-2005, 01:41 AM

I bet your R will start.

**wolfspider** · 03-31-2005, 04:36 AM

try a new plug if you haven`t already, its so cheap its worth a shot!!!!!

**Derrick Adams** · 03-31-2005, 09:19 AM

, do you ever have anything constructive to say?

Darius, What's the deal? You've been working on your bike for over a month and have gotten nowhere. Time to take it to a professional! Seriously, if you keep tinkering with it, and not fixing it, your just going to get pissed off at it and never enjoy the bike. It seems you don't know exactly what your doing when it comes to carbs(please don't take offense to that) Find someone who does. You have a very nice trike and when you get on the board and talk down about it, that's just not right.

If your local dealer won't work on it, go to the next town and check there. Sooner or later, someone will take a look at it. And when you do get it all sorted out, Don't store it setting up on the grab bar!

**Curtis-Tecate3** · 03-31-2005, 10:26 AM

I have the same opinion as Tim on this one. Clogged pilot jet. I would completely disassemble the carb and make sure you don't have any junk in the float bowl. Remove all jets and make sure you clean them well and can see "daylight" through them particularly the little pilot jet. Don't just give everyting a squirt of carb cleaner and think that you are done. You need to thoroughly clean that carb.

Curtis.

**Dammit!** · 03-31-2005, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Derrick Adams

, do you ever have anything constructive to say?

I think he knows I'm just messing with him. It's an R thing.

**Darius1502** · 03-31-2005, 11:34 AM

Dude the R starts on the first kick...just like my Z did before BM...ha ha!!

Its ok....I love that Z and I am just giving it a hard time...since well its giving me a hard time.

I may take the trike to a shop. I appreciate the help that everyone has given me here.

Its pretty strange that the Z just started acting up. I need to take some time and pull start her and then run her for a while. It will start like that. I still think there is crud somewhere that needs to be burned off.

I'll let everyone know...if it does not start in 1 week though...I am parting it out on ebay...

Just kidding!!

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Need some engine Diagnosis pointers.... Experts Help!

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