hippiedreads
XS650 Enthusiast
Some background. Bike is a 74 XS650 that hasn't ran in probably 10 or more years. I've got the bike mostly back together and am trying to start the bike for the first time. Previous owner said it started with starter fluid before tearing it apart and but who knows if that's true or not. Bikes does has good compression and I have done my own shorthand wiring to be minimalistic following some of the many diagrams found in this forum. Recently installed a pamco electronic ignition and pma charging system.
I have a good solid spark when kicking the motor over, I also have a good spark when using the starter motor (although I need to address the starter motor gear because it occasionally grinds it does still spark). I've cleaned the carbs really well twice and after kicking the bike a few times and pulling the plugs I can smell gas in the cylinders so fuel isn't the issue (clean fresh fuel supplied to the carbs).
Now I can kick and kick and kick with no avail. I can use the starter motor until the battery is drained and still no avail. Ive even hooked up a timing light to make sure the sparkplugs were sparking while everything connected.
But now the weird part, when I turn the key off inbetween these tries I'll get a backfire. Under more investigation I've noticed that if I cycle the key on and off it will spark the plugs. I've only done it a couple of times just to make sure that that's what actually was happening. This surge of voltage can not be good for the pamco and I'm wondering if it might be causing my no start situation. If anyone has had a similar problem or any suggestions I am open ears.
I have a good solid spark when kicking the motor over, I also have a good spark when using the starter motor (although I need to address the starter motor gear because it occasionally grinds it does still spark). I've cleaned the carbs really well twice and after kicking the bike a few times and pulling the plugs I can smell gas in the cylinders so fuel isn't the issue (clean fresh fuel supplied to the carbs).
Now I can kick and kick and kick with no avail. I can use the starter motor until the battery is drained and still no avail. Ive even hooked up a timing light to make sure the sparkplugs were sparking while everything connected.
But now the weird part, when I turn the key off inbetween these tries I'll get a backfire. Under more investigation I've noticed that if I cycle the key on and off it will spark the plugs. I've only done it a couple of times just to make sure that that's what actually was happening. This surge of voltage can not be good for the pamco and I'm wondering if it might be causing my no start situation. If anyone has had a similar problem or any suggestions I am open ears.