HELP!! XT600 86 Wont start
 

Long story very short, I am the proud owner of a very sexy XT600 (Kick Start), which about 8 weeks ago deided to pack up on me on the way home. Turns out there was damage to the head etc etc, so....... in my wisdom decided due to ££'s etc change from a kick start engine to an electic...... madness I know.
We have managed to get the engine to fit in the frame, sorted out the fact the chain wouldn't run straight (it does now), wired the bike back to the engine, all the really hard problem which we have been told can't be solved we have. The problem is iit just wont run!!!! we have the engine turning over with fuel spark etc, but it just wont fire!! I am at my wits end about it :confused1:, we have tried everything, running out of ideas fast :(.
Has anyone else had this problem with their Electric start engine???? Please HELP!!!!!!

Was the engine a runner before you got it? If your answer is 'I don't know', you have a problem! If the engine was running fine before, then:

• Check you have put everything back correctly (yes, I know you have, but check it again, just for me)
• Then re-check (don't ask me how I know this)
• Check compression.

If everything is in place, you have good compression, and there is fuel and a spark, it will go. So start looking for fuel problems (blocked jets, air leaks etc) or spark problems (ignition timing etc). If all those are OK, it has no choice. It must run. Perhaps not well, but it will run.

Perhaps come back with some more information - does it fire but fail to keep going, or is there no sign of life?

I doubt that the wiring loom is compatible between the two engines.
Its either electrical: wizardry to understand
or fuel: by all means this is all working.

If you unscrew the spark plug, and have it resting against the engine cover still plugged in, then try to start the bike, is there a spark? I suspect not, there should be

Good luck G

Oh and;
The correct answer is: dont bother calling David Lambeth, just take the bike there, and come pick it up a week or so later and lighter of pocket! Do a search on ebay for xt600 seat and he is one of the people selling the seats, not sure if he would appreciate having his phone number on the net, who knows.

Thank you both for you ideas & help,
When I brought the new engine we heard it running in its old frame B4 I paid any ££ for it.......
We have had the spark plug out and held it against the engine..... Good spark.
Fuel is getting to the carbs and into the engine, however the 2nd side of the carbs is getting more fuel than the 1st........
The wiring has been totally re-done for this conversion, as you say they wasn't compatable...... has all been checked and re checked and checked again and is in fully working order.
We did get it to turn over once, but it only ran for about 5 seconds then cut out again.
All the above is why I have run out of ideas!!:( Its a nightmare, the weather is nice, my bike is 99% there..... and just wont make the right noises.
Might sound like a silly question but how would I test the compression??

This could be the problem. The second carb (assuming this is the usual dual carb YDIS set-up) should be getting none at all with the throttle closed.

Borrow or buy a compression tester, and make sure you get one suitable for motorbikes (much smaller plug diameter than a car). Unscrew spark plug, screw tester into cylinder, ignition OFF, fuel OFF, throttle wide open, and kick the kicker like buggery until you get a steady reading from the gauge. This usually takes several turns of the engine.

The figure you are looking for will be 14.7 times your compression ratio, so if it's 8:1, you are looking at an ideal compression of 8 x 14.7 = 118 psi. Generally speaking, if your figure is within 10% of this, the bike will run OK, so anything over 105 should start and run fine. (On a multi-cylinder engine, the cylinders should also all be within 10% of each other.) Below 105 psi, your engine is looking very tired and will be either a pig to start, run badly, or lack power - or all three.

I'd have those carbs off again and see if the float valve on the big one is stuck open.

That all makes sence, I will have a go at the carbs 1st.... I have put the re-con ones off my 1st engine on, so will take apart and make sure nothing has blocked anywhere.......
Fingers crossed....... watch this space :D

Sorry for stupid suggestions

My bike went through various issues which I sorted all out, and then it was stolen! 1VJ model so kick and electric start

With a low (or ailing) battery the electric start was useless, turned it over but wouldnt start. So try hooking up through Jump leads.

Its pretty warm now, so I would imagine trying a warm start procedure: Turning it over with throttle closed and choke closed for a minute (three or five kicks) to get fuel out of system.
Allow to rest.
Establish compression stroke, then give a bundle of throttle, no choke and one mother of all kicks! or electric start with a full battery and jumper cable attachments.

If that doesnt work, then try throttle closed and choke full blast. these bikes are temperamental when it comes to the balance of throttle and choke usage But they do eventually teach you how to understand them.
Never be gentle with the kick start!
Have you got the decompression lever in the correct position?

Other ideas:

>Air intake blocked, it shouldnt be but some kind chap may have added a rag to the inlets to prevent dirt ingress.
>The Main fuse... has it tripped?
>For the sake of the exercise are you starting the bike with the side stand up?
I really believe that the problem is around the sidestand cut out.
Side stand cut out switch?... check thoroughly, Even try starting with the side stand up, clutch in, and in gear, as well as out of gear, it could be picking up a false neutral.
>Rectifier and Regulator cables all connected.

> On the choke front it is supposed to spurt out more fuel from the one choke than the other at low throttle openings
Then more in the previous lower one at full throttle.

If you have fuel and a spark there will be fire. If there is no fire then its electrical.
>I have no technical XT single cylinder intelligence behind this statement, so dont abuse me for the inaccuracies
Is the timing chain set correctly, you dont mention whether it was a complete engine and gearbox swap, or engine only swap, and have you retained the Kick start?

Cheers G