TRF Forums

hi all

not sure if you guys can help my klx was stolen and then was found but minus the clocks and ignition barrel i am trying to get it running again but having no joy i am getting a good spark have cleaned the carb and changed the air filter also checked valve timing! The bike is firing but not running im wondering if it could be the cdi unit? Could it have been damaged by it being wired up without the ignition barrel?

Thanks for your help

richard

I have a KLX with a CV carb and that is real hard work when it has been standing for a while.
I have come to the conclusion that the carb somehow needs priming.
I open the drain valve on the bottom of the carb and let some fuel flow through and use jump leads off the car. It then starts fairly quickly (it is the jap import e start version). Once started it will start first time until it is left again.
Been standing 2 years so far so it will be a bit of a struggle next time.

sounds like the plugs breaking down under load dodgy plugs look ok out of the combustion chamber but struggle inside , other that that it might of been ragged to death give it a compression test ?

Thank you for your replies

i have changed the plug and made sure im getting fuel through i haven't done a compression test yet as it feels fine when kicking it over. The bike it self doesn't even look like its been riden which makes me wonder if they actually got it started which is why i asked about the cdi. The other funny thing i hav found is when the battery isn't connected it will fire but not run every time when i re connect the battery it won't fire at all its really baffled me!

After you've kicked it over, take the plug out and have a look. Is it wet? If its wet then you more than likely have an ignition problem, if its dry then its something with the inlet system, maybe carb, valves, compression etc.

You could try putting choke fully on then kick it over slowly with no ignition on to try and get some fuel sucked through to prime it. Then give it a good few kicks and see what happens.

Good luck

Is the battery good?

Before I start answering I don't know this particular bike so I could be wrong but try the following
If your getting a spark chances are its not the cdi itself more likely a part short i.e. plug lead in bad condition
if connecting the battery stops it working this points to a similar issue or a 'diode' issue if I remember correctly cdi units work AC if you connect a battery and the reverse polarity diode is blown it will short all the time (preventing any spark working, additionally this could be the stator/alternator partially shorting or breaking down you can test this with a voltmeter check your haynes manual for details of this check
maybe this will help:-
With the battery charged do the lights all work? if so most wiring ok no short on dc circuit!
if so do they work whilst kicking it over and ignition on
with battery connected? (yes main loom and stator OK - probably, No, intermittent - possible stator or diode, all off short somewhere)
with battery disconnected lights should glow at least a little otherwise short or stator issue
working all the time (unlikely to be a short except in main ignition circuit cdi to spark plug or cdi to chassis)

fuel test try
Kick the bike over with the ignition off and throttle fully open choke off (around 40 times) then smell the exhaust if it smells of fuel your carb is working (although it may be badly adjusted) go make a cup of tea as it will be flooded - then return to the bike and kick it with no or minimal throttle - My XR doesn't have a choke (removed as they have a habit of shattering) I kick it over 40 time with full throttle ignition off then go make a cup of tea - it will start first or second kick afterwards with half throttle.

Hope this helps

If its been standing more than 6 months its worth changing the fuel as most fuel will go off these days as its not 100% petrol like the old 4*

id be tempted to make sure the powers not going straight to earth , multi meter time

I have checked the plug after kicking it over and it is wet. Would the battery make a difference as its kick start? Does any one no what wires need to be connected? at the moment i have a white, brown,grey wire wound together and a black and yellow wire going to earth, i have tried just the white and brown connected and it still fires so might not have the right wires connected i hope it is that simple.

Thanks again for all your help