bralkan

Looks really good. How did you clean up the rims?

Well well well.... I hooked the bike up to my yard tractor and pulled it about 300 feet before it started. Since then it has been kicking on - With the way it sounded I am almost thinking a jet may have been gummed up and forcing it with the tow unblocked it? I dunno! But its running....for now :blink:

Is the pinion being engaged?

On my '80 there needs to be a solid battery - without voltage the charging system won't supply the right amount of voltage.

I haven't bumped it recently, but it did start once (for about 3-5 seconds) right before I transported it (and the kick start was not working as is now). My friend was borrowing it and he said he just went on a ride and parked it. The next day the kickstart wouldn't work. I don't think he'd lie but then again, he is a newbie (even more than myself). He did manage to drop his 750 twice going over a curb (pulling in and out!). Silly guy - he's about 5'3" so the bike is waaay bigger than he is....but I digress.

I havn't gotten anywhere on my bike yet. I havn't had time to look at it. Make sure the worm gear (that the clutch cable hooks into) is in the right position. If your kick lever just moves freely you probably have to much pressure on that pushrod the wormgear sits on. Try moving the gear to a different position or loosening your clutch cable (to diagnose). I do have a bit more information - 1st kick and I get no feedback from the engine (no sound of pistons moving). The 2nd kick I hear the pistons move with the 'putt putts' of air moving through the muffler. The third kick gives me no feedback. Fourth kick gives me feedback, and so on. ??

Voltage Regulator. Do you have 14.5 volts across the battery at 3k rpms? Could be field coil or stator (there is no true alternator) but its 90% the voltage regulator.

Yea, 90% on the voltage reg.

Hard to say. From what I have seen on the forum rubber that had oil on it tends to be ok. But, if you plan on taking something a part it may not be a bad idea to go ahead and replace it anyway. Valve seals aren't real bad to replace if you have a valve compressor. The cam seal tends to go bad on some bikes. Electronics tend to be dicey as well.

There should be a top line and a bottom line. You want it in between those.

where is the oil coming from?

Well the only time I have been able to dick around with it, I was able to bump it once. Now the battery is dead from leaving it on while messing around (of course, just moved and can not find my charger. bleh)

the little worm gear? I have been thinking about checking it.

both cylinders having combustion? Both plugs look good?

hmmm.... maybe its time to buy that started off ebay. the one time I had a good bump it did start for a second...so, I dunno.

Well, it wasn't the plugs. That leaves fuel system I guess. It may be flooding?? Carb or petcock problem I guess. May end up taking it to a shop for lack of time.

Well, third kick off the truck and I got a few ignitions. It has gas, and it is flowing through the filter. I need to check the plugs once I find what box my tools are in. It still wouldn't start, though. The dummy lights look good, but if I can find my trickle charger I will charge the battery. Let you know how it goes. It kicks and just feels like its "pumping" but there is no spark, and then the next kick it sounds like it trys. So battery and/plugs plugs it may be. Just hoping it isn't something with the clutch or kickstart mechanism. I know more and am more comfortable with the electrical system.

Well, I have been out of town and I let a bud borrow the bike. He had a few rides while I was gone but then it stopped starting. Maybe 1 of a 100 kicks gets a few combustions. I did pop the clutch down my short but steep driveway and had it on for a second. I am moving and so I had to just put it on the truck for later. Historically, I have had the clutch "slip" into neutral while up shifting (no indicator). Letting go of the clutch and shifting again would put it in the right gear. Messing with it for a few minutes, adjusting the tension on the clutch cable did get differing feed back on the kickstart (my electric motor is still broken, if it would matter). So any ideas before I take it to a shop? I am traveling M-F now so it makes it hard to tinker. Thanks, as always.

on ebay they are cheap. even online parts dealers are not to bad. should be a good bit cheaper than a dealership.

heh. What did you do?

any oil recommendations? cap says 20w40....

Check your fuses. If the battery is good, you should have instrument lights whether or not the stator / field coil / voltage regulator / voltage rectifier are good.

When I got my bike I could get on it for a bit of a ways and then it would die. I let it sit, it would crank back up to rinse and repeat. It was a charging problem - replaced the voltage regulator and it was fine. Like I said, check for ~14.5volts across the terminals. With yours, your regulator will be mechanical and you may be able to adjust it.

any bike shop should have them. they are about $3 USD. I prefer the clear filters, pancake style. It should keep the rust in the tank out of the carbs.

Get an in-line fuel filter. It sounds like there may be some debris in you float bowls or the jets are gummed a bit. Do you have any gas going into your air filters? If you get fuel going into your air filters, try tapping the float bowls and seeing how it does. How do the plugs look? Is it charging? Lights stay bright, etc? If you have a multimeter, make sure you have ~14.5 volts across the terminals at about 3k RPMS.