Newbie with a slight prob :(

[sypher]

Hi Everyone , great forum you have here keep up the good work .

I have a slight problem with my XL 600 paris dakar D reg ( I know its not an Alp but very close ) and i wonder if anyone can shed some light on this for me please .

Some times when starting the bike on the button she'll fire up but as soon as I release the start button she dies !! If i keep my thumb on the button she keeps running ( burn the starter out I know ) , it doesnt do this all the time just now and then and starting to bug me .

If anyone can lead me in the right direction Ill be Very greatfull .

Heres a pic of her btw .

[xrv_jim]

Hi Sypher and welcome to the forum. Sorry I can't offer any first-hand knowledgable help with the problem but I must say your bike looks great. I'm certain a few people will be along in a while with a number of conflicting opinions and solutions to the problem!

[Dilbert]

Sweet bike Sypher, sorry can't put my finger right on this one, I had similar starting problems on my XRV650 only worse, just wouldn't start early in the morning (a bit like me i'm afraid), turned out to be a duff battery, make sure you've got a good charge and everything electrical has a good contact and is well tightened (don't forget the frame/ engine earth and the starter solenoid connections), if that doesn't sort it then my only other suggestion would be to check out the fueling, especially the choke you could be over fuelling and effectively smothering the spark?

p.s. your lawn needs levelling and rolling then re-turf, especially where the stepping stones have sunk

[sypher]

Cheers guys . Ill check out my earths today . Battary shoud be fine as its only a couple of months old + even though she's and old dog she's only done 17000 km from new ( italian inport ) .

Any other ideas chaps ? CDI unit playing up maybe ? ....

Dilbert - the stones have sunk due to me being a fat B*****D . but im going to dig it all up at some point anyway as I dont like it myself .

Or where you offering your gardening/landscaping skills ??? LOL :P

[sypher]

Checked all my earths and there fine ..... any ideas ??

[djadams]

Engine problems are usually ignition not fuelling, so I'd stick with the ignition system for the moment. How new is the spark plug? Worn plugs (that have lost the sharp edges of the electrodes even if the gap is still correct) will not start as well as new ones with sharp edges. They'll not be up to scratch when running either, but it's less noticeable.

Failing that, then I'd start looking at the carb but difficult to know if it's too lean or too rich. I guess if the problem gets better when you take out the air filter and push the button it's too rich so you need to back off the mixture, but it'll be trial and error...

[Dilbert]

Yeah check your plugs like DJ says, check the colour, black sooty too rich, white and electrode damage too lean, nut brown just right, black oily not firing/ oiled up.
You will have to run it on tickover (once you got it started) to check this as the mixture only controls the fuelling at low revs, prime candidate if it's at all black/ sooty has got to be the choke, usually sticky cable, this is a real pain on AT's as the connection onto the carbs is a very delicate plastic nut and tube!
Check also the HT leads and caps, before worrying about the CDI.

[sypher]

Plug is not that old at all Id say 15hrs max running with it ! looks ok .

Had it running the other day when checking it over was ticking over sweet like she usualy does ( not an single sign of any smoke just clean exhaust , not smelling rich or weak , just right by my nose ) . reved her a few times no probs , back to tick over for a few mins then she cut out and wouldnt restart . ( engine was hot , from running for sometime )
Had a spark there but coughed and slight backfire through the carbs ! . went to get a beer . came back pressed the start button and up she fired like nothing wrong !!!! , ragged her up and down the street no probs . had to stop then coz the missess wanted to go out . havent been back in the garage to look since . slowly doing my nut in as ive only been out on her twice this yr as I dont want to break down deep in the woods and push the heavy beast back home .

[FatFergie]

How does it go on the kickstart or bumping?

[sypher]

good point that ... havent tryed ! but what could it be if it does start by doing that and not on the bytton