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Should I set it on fire?

  • Thread starter Thread starter groundshock
  • Start date Start date
groundshock said:
Off to the store to pick up relay and wiring. Wish me luck.
Click to expand...

Did you test spark strength yet?

Pull a plug, put it back into the socket, and lay the plug on the side of the engine. Now spin the engine over and look for a spark - should be bright blue. Check each plug in order to make sure they all fire. The coil rely mod will help if the spark is there but weak - dull white instead of bright blue.

Also, when you rebuilt the carbs did you soak them in carb dip after unganging them? Pull out the pilot screws and pilot jets? Pilot jets have killer small holes though them so you need to hold the jets up to the light to make sure they are open.

Good luck and don't give up.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a crap spark for sure, but as well as the fact that it ALSO sounds like its time to adjust the valves. I didnt see that you did that in your original reading. Having come from the 16 variant of the GS, Im sure this is something you havent tackled yet. Set up is different from your 750 in a few ways, but its not hard, and hard starting is a screaming symptom of poor valve adjustment. Having said that, i think you are also on the right track with the ignition, as i said in your original post on this bike, that is the SECOND Martek ignition ive seen, and the other owner had a problem with it as well. Ditch it man, get a Dyna S or go back to points. That company doenst exist anymore, and getting any tech support on it will be a royal bitch.
 
Nessism said:
Did you test spark strength yet?

Pull a plug, put it back into the socket, and lay the plug on the side of the engine. Now spin the engine over and look for a spark - should be bright blue. Check each plug in order to make sure they all fire. The coil rely mod will help if the spark is there but weak - dull white instead of bright blue.

Also, when you rebuilt the carbs did you soak them in carb dip after unganging them? Pull out the pilot screws and pilot jets? Pilot jets have killer small holes though them so you need to hold the jets up to the light to make sure they are open.

Good luck and don't give up.
Click to expand...
I did check the spark last night, looked weak as balls. dull white and barely there. Kinda what led me to trying the coil relay.

If this doesnt work, the Martek is coming off and I'll have to find a new points set locally.

I didnt dip the carb bodies, only the bowls, as my carb rack has the rubber fuel joints (no o-rings) and i didnt want to take a chance messing them up. I did disassemble EVERYTHING possible, and with the combination of carb cleaner and compressed air, I'm pretty confident that theyre clean. every little tiny hole sprayed perfectly, all o-rings replaced.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Sounds like a crap spark for sure, but as well as the fact that it ALSO sounds like its time to adjust the valves. I didnt see that you did that in your original reading. Having come from the 16 variant of the GS, Im sure this is something you havent tackled yet. Set up is different from your 750 in a few ways, but its not hard, and hard starting is a screaming symptom of poor valve adjustment. Having said that, i think you are also on the right track with the ignition, as i said in your original post on this bike, that is the SECOND Martek ignition ive seen, and the other owner had a problem with it as well. Ditch it man, get a Dyna S or go back to points. That company doenst exist anymore, and getting any tech support on it will be a royal bitch.
Click to expand...
The PO said he had done it recently, and judging by the new valve cover, I have to beleive he's at least been IN there.

I'm going to throw the relay on it now and see what that does.

Will report back when it's on.
 
Hey groundshock, you need more voltage at the coils. My GS550ES was doing the same thing. I installed a relay and wired the coils directly to the battery for a healthy 12 volts at the coils and it cured my problem. Good Luck :-)
 
OOPS, disregard, I didn't see the post where you had already done the relay thing.
 
groundshock said:
I did check the spark last night, looked weak as balls. dull white and barely there. Kinda what led me to trying the coil relay.

If this doesnt work, the Martek is coming off and I'll have to find a new points set locally.

I didnt dip the carb bodies, only the bowls, as my carb rack has the rubber fuel joints (no o-rings) and i didnt want to take a chance messing them up. I did disassemble EVERYTHING possible, and with the combination of carb cleaner and compressed air, I'm pretty confident that theyre clean. every little tiny hole sprayed perfectly, all o-rings replaced.
Click to expand...

Did you take out the pilot jets and look though them to make sure they are open? Did you take out the pilot screws and shoot spray though the passage and watch it come out the port in the carb body? Sorry to question you but have to ask since so many people don't go far enough on their carb cleaning job.
 
I have what seems like this issue alot on my 1100ED.

I noticed that the airbox seems to have warped in the middle where the 2-3 cylinder boots are, thus everytime I put the carbs on I have to wrestle and pull the 2 inside boots on so it will get a good seal.

I hope your issue is something as easy.
 
Nessism said:
Did you take out the pilot jets and look though them to make sure they are open? Did you take out the pilot screws and shoot spray though the passage and watch it come out the port in the carb body? Sorry to question you but have to ask since so many people don't go far enough on their carb cleaning job.
Click to expand...
I did that for sure.

Tried it again today with the relay, no dice. Idles like crap, only at half choke, and when i try to bring up the revs, it suuuuuuuuucks air in and dies.
 
Walk away from the project to gain some peace, these things can be brutally frustrating.

Make sure your pilot AIR jets are clean.

Do the valve adjustment don't take the PO's word for anything

Do plug chops. This will tell you if you have a carb problem and wether the pilot jets are at fault.

Then test the ignition system from stem to stern. This will eliminate any electrical related problems.

Double check that the plugs are clean and gapped correctly.

Make sure the clamps are all tightened on the boots, sounds silly but i overlooked this on mine while tuning.

Hope it works out i know what you are going through.
 
Are you running the OEM coils? If so, the wires and caps could also be the culprit as well as bad coils but I'm leaning with TCK on the Martek having gone south on you.
 
Step back for a minute

Step back for a minute

I've read all of your posts and it really does sound like you need to step back on this and get some perspective. You're all over the map and it sounds like your just guessing at this point. For starters, do a thorough coil check. Ele4ctricity doesn't just go in to those things, it comes out too. Verify you voltage at the coils again and then get an ohmmeter and check the resistance of the coils and the pug wires. Check that you plugs are clean and that they are properly gapped. It probably is not your ignition system but at least you will know that it is right and you can officially rule it out. Is you battery fully charged? After all of that, then move to the carbs.

It may seem like a waste of time to bother with all of this stuff when you think you now what the problem is, but it's not. take your time. Do it right. One thing at a time.
 
For more info, take a look at these plugs.

These are brand new, just installed them when I put the carbs back on. 1-2-3-4 left to right. Nothing more than just running like aids on the centerstand.

2nqv8ty.jpg


I would've eliminated one possible issue last night by removing the Martek, but I went to put the points back on and realized that the cam on the advance unit or whatever it's called is gone. I have the plate and wiring with the points on it, and the little metal dingus with the swing out arms on it but apparently there is supposed to be a cam or eccentric of some sort on the shaft of it that is missing in action. So I had to put the Martek back on.
 
Stay away from the gas can and matches! I don't have the expertise to help, but NO FIRES!
You'll get it. It will run. We have the technology, we can rebuild him..er...it.
Where's Steve Austin when we need him?:p
 
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