Help! Stupid Newbie's simple Question or

[Slow]

Simple Newbies stupid question - take your pick

Being new to the mechanics of 4 cylinder bikes, never having to do more than do basic servicing on one before I assumed that the cylinder numbering went 1,2,3,4, from left to right from the view point of sitting in the saddle.

I'm now pretty sure I am wrong so could anyone enlighten me to which way they are numbered from sitting on the bikes perspective please?

Tried searching but can't find answer and my manual doesn't say. I am getting some horrible running problems which I think are related to setting everything up wrong because of the assumption I made!

Thanks very much in advance.

[steve murdoch]

You were right the first time.
Sitting on the bike, 1,2,3,4 counting from left to right.

[BassCliff]

I assumed that the cylinder numbering went 1,2,3,4, from left to right from the view point of sitting in the saddle.

Hi,

You are correct.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Steve]

OK, you were right about the numbering, now tell us what problems you are experiencing.

We might have the answer to that, too.

If you're lucky, it might even be a right answer.

.

[Slow]

Thanks for the response folks.

The reason I thought that the numbering may be different is that on reading various threads on here It seemed to me that one coil fired 1 and 3 and the other fired 2 and 4 or is that for the 8 valve version? or have I picked it up wrong?

One of my new symptoms is after 5 mins running no 4 cylinder exhaust gets very hot, number 2 gets fairly hot and 1 and 3 hardly heat at all in fact I think they may not even be firing and its just conducted heat.

My original problem was an idle that increased with running time, checked here. Ahah a lean mix/air leak so got O-ring + stainless screw kit, stripped and cleaned carbs and reset valves.

Put it back together

Didn't want to start. Backfired (exploded) a lot with much petrol in exhaust, wants to start on releasing the starter, starts and runs rough only as described above and does not want to run without choke.

All of which I have found various explanations for. My personal thought is that I am a cack handed idiot even though usually I do have successful mechanical skills.

Aahh well back to basics. My plan is Reset carbs again, reset valves again, check voltage at coils, check Ignitor and fit new plugs.

If anyone can think of anything I have missed please let me know.

Thanks again

[exbellicus]

If you are going to take apart your carbs again, get some chem dip this time around and let them each soak for 24 hours. Throw all your jets in there too. Carb cleaner isn't really enough. Keep in mind the chem dip will destroy any rubber, so be sure to remove all your o-rings and such.

[Steve]

If anyone can think of anything I have missed please let me know.

Don't forget to put the plug wires back on the correct plugs.

The left coil should go on 1&4, the right coil should go on 2&3. The nice thing about that is that it does not matter which way you number the cylinders. One coil goes to the outer plugs, the other coil goes to the inner plugs. Just remember that LEFT is under your clutch hand, RIGHT is under your throttle hand. Yes, the cylinders are numbered from left to right.

.

[Slow]

I live in N. Ireland, chem dip is not available in the UK (not that I can find and believe me I've looked) and they won't post it from the US, so I had to use 10 500ml tins of carb cleaner sprayed into a spotlessly clean gloss paint tin to dip them.

I appreciate that all the symptoms I have described have been discussed elsewhere in the forum and as a newbie I most definitely do not want to annoy the knowledgeable and helpful people of this forum by asking all the same questions again!

The original question about the numbering was for my information because I got a bit confused and was hoping it may have contributed to (or caused) my symptoms and I would not have to get into my carbs again. Guess I was clutching at straws.

I also was writing the description of my current symptoms at the same time as someone was advising me to do that but it IS very good advice and I hope you understand why I did not earlier.

So thanks all and if I have missed out anything in my list of stuff to do I will so still appreciate feedback.

[Slow]

Don't forget to put the plug wires back on the correct plugs.

The left coil should go on 1&4, the right coil should go on 2&3. The nice thing about that is that it does not matter which way you number the cylinders. One coil goes to the outer plugs, the other coil goes to the inner plugs. Just remember that LEFT is under your clutch hand, RIGHT is under your throttle hand. Yes, the cylinders are numbered from left to right.

.

This is the main reason I wished to know the cylinder order as my coils don't do this and I thought I may have put them back on wrong!!! Maybe I did - but the plug leads do not seem to be long enough to reach to 1 and 4 from the same coil or somebody's really messed it up.

i.e. me !!!!!!!

Thanks very much - I guess that I should have asked my original question a bit better.

Tomorrow this will be looked at first thing and I will see if I am that idiot or someone else is a mad genius getting it to run at all.

Thanks again.

[Steve]

Each coil will have one wire longer than the other.
For the left coil, the longer wire will have to reach all the way over to #4.
For the right coil, the longer wire will have to reach to #2.
Is it possible that you simply have those reversed?

.

[conrad]

hi Slow, gsr has *all* your answers.

regards to portrush portstewart, one of my fave places anywhere.

[Slow]

Each coil will have one wire longer than the other.
For the left coil, the longer wire will have to reach all the way over to #4.
For the right coil, the longer wire will have to reach to #2.
Is it possible that you simply have those reversed?

.

No I did better than that on the stupidity level, managed to put left coil on 1&2 and right coil on 3&4 after doing valves
The bike was still not starting after plug leads sorted but battery was flattened so I stuck it on charge over night to sort everything out today.
It snowed over night, the bike is now under 2 inches of snow and I have to work on it outside. I don't know if I'm brave enough

Once again thanks.

hi Slow, gsr has *all* your answers.

regards to portrush portstewart, one of my fave places anywhere.

Yup a nice part of the country especially in May - you can't beat 200+mph on public roads. It may not be a very big place but we've got some great roads, scenery and sport.