[starter motor/starter clutch problem??]

Hi guys me again!!

So after all my euphoria at finally getting mt TR1 to run, I turned her off, went back to my manual to see what checks i should do, oil pressure etc, went to start her again and got the strangest noise i ever heard, the starter didnt seem to be able to spin the engine, then would huff it over half a turn then make a whiny noise again!

I took off the left cover (i will drain the oil first next time!) and removed the starter, checked the brushes etc, and checked the starter gears and throw lever etc etc, all seemed in place and ok, re-fitted everything and nothing has changed except for now sometimes the starter just spins on its own, doesnt even engage.

I have checked various websites and this seems a common problem, but i'm not a technical man and some of the "fixes" seem pretty detailed.

Does anyone know, in simple terms what I need to do??

Thanks as always for your great help

Andy

[TR1 starting problems]

Hey come on, share the secret...What was wrong with the blowback problem?

As for starter, take it off and mahe sure the gear is free on the shaft (Thats if its anything like a car one)

Ah the mysterious blowback problem, well I would love to tell you that with all my technical knowledge and mechanical skills I fixed it, but the truth is I just did what you said, checked, and re-checked, I took the carbs off again and cleaned them, again, I cleaned every single bloody connector on the wiring loom I could find, I swapped the coils over, no difference, so it wasn't that one, and I re-set the cam timing, although it was fine anyway, so the truth is I don't know!!!

[More problems, more advice needed!!!]

Hi all,

First of all thanks to everyone who has helped, I finally got my TR1 started!! She fired eventually and idled great, no exhausts, flames shooting out!!!

When i stopped her and tried to re-start her, the starter motor (i think) was making a whiny noise, then chugged the bike over a little, then whiny noise again, like it was trying to spin it but couldnt!

Any ideas all you amazing guys??

Thanks in advance

Andy

ps, does the virago exhaust fit the TR1 the 535 or the 920 maybe? struggling to find an exhaust for her

[TR1 starting problems]

Hi all,

Finally got my TR1 to fire and run, for a little while, she was idling ok (no exhausts on so flames shooting out!!) i turned her off, but when i tried to re-start the starter motor didnt seem to turn the engine, just made a whiny noise, then turned a little, then whiny noise again!

Any ideas guys??

[TR1 starting problems]

Only a couple of things this could be -

Hi all thanks for your time!

OK have checked the wiring and thats fine, the coils are connected to the correct cylinders and the valves appear to be closing completely, valve clearances checked OK, have not checked whether the exhaust valve is the first to open after TDC will be checking that today

In the manual (Haynes) for setting this up it tells me to get the piston to TDC but doesnt specify this has to be on compression stroke, could that be my problem? that would make it 180 degrees out right?

Will be checking all this today and will let you all know

Again, thanks for all your help guys!

1. Either you have your timing out 180 degrees either by having the timing marks set up wrong or the ignition wired incorrectly.

2. You have blowback because the inlet valve is not closing completely on the compression stroke.

A leak down test will pinpoint exactly - but you probably don't have the equipment - but if you have a compression tester use that and see what the compressions are on these cylinders - they should be at least 100 psi.

You say you have 'got it back together' so I am assuming that you did a major rebuild - check everything you did when you reassembled - and check it again - make sure you put the cams back on in the right order, double check the ignition timing, check the valve clearances, check the wiring.

It has to be one of these, took me a couple of weeks to diagnose a blowback problem on my kwak to a shim problem - runs fine now.

Good luck.

[TR1 starting problems]

It is sparking fine, but not firing, and as it turns over it blows the carb off its mounting rubber!!! I cannot see any smoke, or smell anything, maybe a little petrol but thats all, I am using unleaded will that make a difference??

It's a v twin and its the rear cylinder thats blowing the carb off, twin carbs, one for each cylinder, I have checked and re-checked the valve timing and the rocker gaps, these seem fine!!

[TR1 starting problems]

What blows back through the carbs, is it smoke, is it firing, Have you checked is it sparking?

It is sparking fine, but not firing, and as it turns over it blows the carb off its mounting rubber!!! I cannot see any smoke, or smell anything, maybe a little petrol but thats all, I am using unleaded will that make a difference??

[HELP!!]

Hey all,

Thanks drewpy and yoda for your replies regarding my TR1 blowing back through the carbs, I have checked the ignition and the coils are the right way round, someone suggested it could be the TCI unit, electronic ignition i think? If this is the case then the bike is getting scrapped because I can't afford another one!!

Is there any way to re-wire the bike without electronic ignition? Or a simpler way that may remove the TCI unit, or a cheap replacement for it??

I need all the help I can get as this has been holding me up for months now and I'm starting to lose the will to finish it, would be a shame to scrap it now but getting to the end of my patience and bank balance!

As usual thanks for any help you guys can give me

Andy

[TR1 won't start!]

Hi all,

I have finally got my 1981 TR1 back together (almost) the wiring loom is on the floor but connected(!) when i try and start the bike it spits back through the rear cylinder carb hard enough to knock it out of its rubber socket!! I have checked the cam timing and the valve clearances, and these are fine, the carbs have been cleaned and appear to be fine (i'm no expert!) but it wont fire, I have spark, and have checked the HT leads are wired up correctly. Also the bike turns over quite slowly although the battery is the correct one, and new.

Any help anyone could give me would be really appreciated!!

Thanks in advance

Andy.

PS Thanks drewpy for your advice, but still a non runner mate!!

[TR1 starting problems]

Hi all,

I have finally got my 1981 TR1 back together (almost) the wiring loom is on the floor but connected(!) when i try and start the bike it spits back through the rear cylinder carb hard enough to knock it out of its rubber socket!! I have checked the cam timing and the valve clearances, and these are fine, the carbs have been cleaned and appear to be fine (i'm no expert!) but it wont fire, I have spark, and have checked the HT leads are wired up correctly. Also the bike turns over quite slowly although the battery is the correct one, and new.

Any help anyone could give me would be really appreciated!!

Thanks in advance

Andy.

[TR1 starting problems]

Hi all,

finally got my TR1 back together but it wont start, turns over and blows back through the carbs, these have been taken apart and cleaned etc and look fine, any ideas??

Thanks in advance for any help.

Andy

[pistons]

Hi,

Need a little (more) help with my TR1, the piston rings are firmly welded into the pistons, and pistons in a poor state.

Does anyone know where i can buy replacement pistons and rings? will xv1000 pistons fit, mine are 95.0 mm according to the haynes manual

Thanks for any help you can give me

Andy

[Brakes]

Hi all,

just wondering if anyone knows the law on this, I have a TR1 (in bits) and when rebuilt did not plan on having a rear brake, is this legal?

Thanks in advance for any help

[help!]

never throw anything away, 6 months later and you will want it. I can tell you from experience on that one

to turn the engine over, just use the fat black lead from the starter motor (or whatever that colour is) and ground another heavy duty lead from the negative on the battery. Take out the spark plugs first as it will be easier to do this with less compression. Also squirt a little oil down the bores to help lube the engine.

I assume that you still have engine oil in the engine and that you are checking it over to make sure its not seized? dont leave the starter on for more than a few secs as it will burn out!

I would put the engine on the floor, that way if it jumps, it won't fall off and crush you toes, or what ever is sticking out at the time!!!

Hi mate, thanks for reply, been working overtime so sorry for delay. Engine is on floor, that is my bench \yep still has oil and yep checking not seized, any ideas where i can get a gasket set? I agree about the throwing away, i meant not use it but it will stay in my garage along with the other bits not used, thanks again for your help you are truly a genius!!!

[help!]

Hi all, just me again hassling you all, gonna post some pics of my wreck soon but need some more advice, my TR1 has a control unit for the wiring, can i junk this? i have a wiring diagram from the internet for a 1986 virago that a guy posted and looks good, but first i just want to turn the engine over, how can i do this? the engine is complete but on the bench as the bike was a wreck when i bought it i couldn't turn it over, can i do this with a fresh battery and a few wires?

\i know i must sound like a nob but this is my first project and its from the ground up so i need all the help i can get!!!

Thanks guys.

[TR1]

hi drewpy,

yeah i had thought of that but not sure if i would have to get them machined to fit or shaped etc, but will be sure to try thanks for the advice mate, i suppose it depends on the wheel i get also, will keep you updated, thanks again

[TR1]

space out the front sprocket?.

You can get laser alignment tool from MandP to check!

[TR1]

Hi all,

I have a TR1 in bits at the moment, looking to fit a wider rear wheel, but obviously this would mean the gearbox sprocket and rear wheel sprocket will not line up, any ideas or help on overcoming this????

thanks in advance guys