trouble starting

[Punjistick]

Okay so I'm trying to get ready for Penguin on Friday and I'm having trouble getting my EX 500 to start. I've ripped apart the carbs twice now and cleaned them out pretty well. I flushed out all the old fuel and put some new fuel in the tank. I even installed a fuel filter. Battery is fine and holding a charge. I had the bike running yesterday and it starts up fine once the engine is warm. It will start after I fool with the choke and throttle for about 20mins. I ordered some new spark plugs and will check those tomorrow. Any ideas on getting it to start?

[butcher bergs]

Carb balance

Plugs

Check air screw settings

Air filter

Fuel filter



Not highly likely but still possible:

Oil weight too heavy

Motor could be spent

[Ericthejet]

Double check the battery, make sure it's 100%.

[TheIglu]

Just get it up there for Friday. I'll give it a good lookie-loo if needs be, perhaps around lunchtime?

[reiobard]

do you have a hammer handy?



I hear that is the "Best" way to fix an EX

[TheIglu]

[reiobard]

Exactly, that one wouldn't start either....




























I actually have no idea what was wrong with it, Maybe a carb Adjustment, maybe changing the spark plugs... i am sure it was one of the more delicate jobs though since that is a pretty small hammer...

[Punjistick]

The carb probably still has junk in it. The bike has basically sat since VIR last April. You should have seen the color fuel I drained out of the tank. It was a nice caramel color. Sorta looked like watered-down pepsi.

Like I said, I took apart the carbs twice now, but I really have no idea what I'm doing in there once I have them apart.

[reiobard]

soak them in good gas? I have no idea either, but i would think that would loosen up any gunky gas that is in there.

[nt650hawk]

How are the jets. You know the little holes on the sides the hold the main an idle jets. You should be able to see light from the other side. I'll bet this is your prob.

[TheIglu]

Don't use gas. Buy a couple cans of the carb/choke cleaner. Take the bowls off and blast out the main jet (big one that sits lowest) and all the other pilot jets.

[stoinkythepig]

Check your valve lash. Some of those had really soft intake valves that would tulip rather quickly, espeically with high RPM use. If the lash is too tight, it'll do exactly as you described.

If you need new intake valves, I may have some you can have.

[Punjistick]

Well it's an ex-penguin school bike, it was formerly raced after it was retired by penguin, and I've been using it for track days. So uh, ya, you could say it's seen some high rpm use.

I don't really have time to check the valve lash unless it's really easy. I didn't try starting it yesterday 'cause I was helping my brother paint his bike, but I'm about to go out in the garage and fool around with it now. Maybe it will just work.

[stoinkythepig]

I don't really have time to check the valve lash unless it's really easy. I didn't try starting it yesterday 'cause I was helping my brother paint his bike, but I'm about to go out in the garage and fool around with it now. Maybe it will just work.

It's easy. Take the valve cover off, turn then engine over until the cam lobe for the valves under test faces up and measure the lash. They have forked rockers and screw and locknut adjusters. Simple stuff. Make sure you set both valves with exactly the same lash on each cam lobe, otherwise you can get pits in the cam surface from uneven loading.

[Punjistick]

Well don't I feel like an idiot. I think the problem all along might have been a kinked fuel line. I replaced a section of the hose with a longer piece and the bike fired right up.

Thanks all for the ideas and suggestions.

[Billy]

I hope you dont treat your GSXR like your EX's!!!!!!!!

[Punjistick]

I hope you dont treat your GSXR like your EX's!!!!!!!!

I don't need to mess with my GSXR; it starts every time.