Markocuts Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Hi There, Sorry that this is only my second post here and I am already asking for help. I will try and return a few favours based on my limited knowledge where I can. I have recently purchased an XVS125 Dragstar and am having problems starting it. It is ridden every day and when I go to it first thing in a morning I have to turn the engine over for maybe 30 seconds or more before it fires up (this is with full choke on too) - when it eventually does it doesn't roar to life immidiately, but splutters as though only a tiny mount of fuel is getting through. It helps if I hold the throttle in the full on position too. It is like the fuel has gone back down the pipe and away from the carb and I have to pull it back through. If I turn the bike off and then leave it for an hour or so it starts up fine. Sometimes while the bike is idling the engine dips and has, on occasion, cut out. This can be rectified by applying throttle. If I am travelling at speed the engine is beautifully smooth but may lack power - I am not sure as the bike has always had this problem while I have owned it. I have inspected the engine and can't see anything that is loose or free and have tried the fuel valve in all three positions with it making no difference at all. To me the most obvious thing would be a break in the fuel line but nothing leaps out. Am I missing something blatantly obvious? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulwhite Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 turn ur idle screw up its the one that connects to the round bit of the throttle (on the carb) well it stops the round bit from turning all the way. (soz but i dunno if you know whats what ) then check/clean ur air filter. when uv done that see if its helped... (should do the trick) it could just be the idle is set too low for the bike to catch, or that ur air filter is blocked......best check the simple things 1st. the only other thing i can think of with the symptoms uv described is the fuel pump(or carb) might either have a leak or needs a good clean.....but i can go through how to check/ do that if we get to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markocuts Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 Thanks very much for the reply. The idle is on a little black knob on a control cable between the cylinders on my bike so it is really easy to alter. Even with it up very high the bike still has problems starting. It doesn't cut out but that is probably because it is not really idling. I have also checked the air filter and that looks pretty new and clean. I will take it off again and have a proper look to see if I have missed something. Other than that is there anything else I need to check? Thanks again! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulwhite Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Thanks very much for the reply. The idle is on a little black knob on a control cable between the cylinders on my bike so it is really easy to alter. i know m8 iv got quite a bit of experience on these engines and the black knob connects to the throttle stop via a black covered wire. but yeah so you have tried the basics. next step would be to check the spark plugs, have they got a good spark on them? and also what voltage is ur battery pumping out? also what colour are the plugs? im going through the checks starting with the simplest....if ur plugs and battery are working fine then next step would be to clean the carb.....but that means taking the tank off and disconnecting the hoses ect. i think if everything is workin properly then its the pilot line in the carb (its the bit in the carb that sorts out fueling for starting the bike and the 1st 1/4 throttle) but if you strip the carb down and give it a clean then if the problem is still there you can rule out the carb which narrows it down loads. if its not the carb then its either the tank itself (il go into more detail if i need to) or the fuel pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markocuts Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Thanks! I wasn't having a go over the black knob, just wanted to make sure we were talking about the same thing and I wasn't messing with something I shouldn't. I am currently away from home but will be heading back this weekend so I will check the plugs, leads and battery when I am there and see if they could be the problem. Thanks once again for all the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markocuts Posted March 31, 2011 Author Share Posted March 31, 2011 I found out what was wrong in the end - the ignition coil was on the blink. I actually found out on the way home when it went completely and the bike would no longer go. Anyway, all fixed now! Thank you for all the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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