........Shee won't start

[I_Ride]

I was riding my banshee one day and after riding for about 5 minutes I was giving it hell like always and it just cut slap off for no apparent reason, it was running perfectly before it immediately died. I haven't had it running since that time.

 

I first thought I'd just try new spark plugs, that didn't help. So then I started digging into the machine and cheking things out. I checked fuel, checked the spark, checked the ingnition coil on the stator and I have checked a few parts of the wiring harness for resistance but all seems fine. Then for fun I checked my air filter which was a little bit clogged but not very bad, just needed a little cleaning and I don't think it was my problem since the bike cut off so quickly.

 

I did notice however that the foam seal around the air filter was coming apart. It was like it was rotting or something, it looked decent till I tried to rub a bit of dirt off of it and it just fell apart. It was pretty oily so I know it didn't dry rot, but it needs replacing. Then I got to thinking worse case scenario is that a piece of it "could have" came off and went into the engine. I think this is highly unlikely but, what would happen if that did occur? Would the bike shut off immediatly? Probably so.... If this did happen which I don't think it did how would I check for it?

 

Where can I get that piece of foam or what would be something to make my own out of that would do the job just as good if not better?

 

 

A bit of background on my banshee.

I bought the mod and installed them myself but I couldn't ever get the banshee running perfectly, I would have to pull it off to get it going every time it was cold. So I got tired of that and sent ti to the local shop to a guy who builds banshees and drags them so I think he knew what he was doing. I let him play the bike and I got it back running great. I would start on the first or second kick for a pretty good while. Then gradually it got harder and harder to start. Sometime I would kick it 50+ time before it would start. Then this happened........

 

Thanks everyone for your replies!

[Driggs]

I'd check compression. I'm not sure about it cutting off but I couldn't get mine to start without pulling it and after taking the jugs off, I could take the pistons with the rings on it and just drop them thru the sleeves. Had it bored and rebuilt the top end now she screams!!!

[first shee]

hmm with it cutting out so quickly I would geuss something electrical. You said you checked spark right? maybe you have spark but its just not strong enough

[I_Ride]

I hope it's not compression and I have to do all that work on it......... we will see, I'll have to check that.

 

Not a strong enough spark? Well Driggs, whever I was checking for a spark I really only saw it maybe two or three times out of the thirty or more tries that I "kicked" it with my hand (which was a pain in the @$$ by myself. So I really didn't get a good test of it because I was never sure if I was "kicking" it hard enough or if I was jerking my body to much and missing the spark.

 

How can I go about checking that better? What would be the problem be if my spark was not strong enough?

[White97Banshee]

That is strange that it just suddenly cut off like that. I think the only reason for that would be something electrical.Though it can never hurt to pull the top end off and inspect the rings & cylinder walls.

[I_Ride]

I was leaning towards it being an electrical problem also. But I am not exactly sure how to go about checking it thoroughly. I have a Ohm meter and I have check a few components that I listed earlier.

 

I found some good information at dfn.com with about 24 pages of electical trouble shooting that I have printed out. I have the banshee sitting in the barn with the plastics off ready to get to work but I am a woodworker and not a mechanic so it a bit of a struggle......

 

I guess I may need a second hand testing a few wires and such and also a second mind to think.

 

Maybe it could be the spark though, I really didn't see it spark very many times when I checked it?

[I_Ride]

Bump...

 

If my spark is weak, how can I improve it? What should I check or maybe even replace?

 

Also, the seal on my air filter (between the white plastic air filter snap on piece and the side of the air box) has started breaking down and coming apart. What should I replace it with? Something around the house that I could cut to fit?

[dajogejr]

Do a compression check.

If there was an air leak at the filter, it could very well have sucked dirt/sand etc and done a number on the motor.

Take a picture of the spark plugs you pulled out....I'd like to see them.

 

Were they black, brown, aluminium colored??

 

Remove the Spark plugs, hold one against the head and push the kick starter down with your foot. Look for a fat blue spark.

If it sparks, put it back in the bike, spray a teeny bit of starting fluid in the motor through the carbs...kick it, see if it fires.

 

A motor only needs fuel, spark and compression to run.

[I_Ride]

Ok, I have a some photos of the sparkplug for you.

 

 

It seems to be pretty black. I have cleaned this one multiple times and usually after I do shee fires up pretty good. I have a new set of plugs in now that have never been ran, I have been trying everything on the new ones.

 

I got my girlfreind out to kcik the bike while I was watching for spark. On the right plug I would get a spark maybe once every ten kicks. Tried the left plug and I wasn't able to get any spark from it.

 

I then took the ignition coil off and tested it with an Ohmmeter*. I put on lead on the negative and tried the left plug wire, nothing (seemed logical since the left spark plug wasn't sparking). Tried the right plug wire and still nothing, even though it was sparking on the right plug. So I am not sure whats going on...... Pretty sure I'm testing it correctly. One lead on the negative and another on a spakr plug wire end?

 

So I figured that could have been my problem and I didn't do a compression check even though I went out and bought a new compression gauge. (not sure why I didn't check it anyways)

 

So whats the problem now? Ignition Coil?

[I_Ride]

Ok guys, just did a compression check.

 

Both cylinders read about 115 which from what I have read is fine, correct?

[TNTS355]

I know you checked the ohms on the stator but did you check to make sure the stator was tight and in the right position? Also check your pickup coil to make sure it did not get loose. You do have an electrical problem from what I am reading. Problem is finding it.

[I_Ride]

TNT,

 

Ok, electrical problem good.

 

Check my stator to make sure it is tight and in the right position?

I'm not sure how to do this... I am guessing remove the stator cover and remove the flywheel? Then check that the stator is tight and not loose? Then the pickup coil. Is it the small black box mounted to the stator plate?

 

Back to the coil.....

 

I removed the coil once I couldn't get a ohms reading from the plug wire ends to the (-) terminal on the coil. From what I was reading I was told to remove the spark plug cap and test directly to the wire. Well I couldn't figure out how to remove the spark plug cap so I ended up pulling it apart which pulled the screw out of the hose that goes from the spark plug cap to the coil. I can't see but a few small wires and I tried to test them without any results and I stopped there figuring that I broke the cable and decided to wait until I asked for further assistance on here.

 

What's next for the coil?

[I_Ride]

Since I'm not sure what to do about the stator, I started playing with the coil a bit more. I read up on it and decided to diconnect the plug wires from the coil. Well, that little clip that holds both of the wires to the coil is broken into 4 pieces and I still can't get the F'ing wires out of the coil. I think it might be time to just buy a new coil..............

[I_Ride]

Bump.....

 

Still not sure about the coil. I did by a Clymers Manual and maybe that will help me out, still looking for some input though.

[fastbanshee8]

Is the little black TORS box underneath the left side of the gas tank still plugged in? If it is, unplug it, and throw it as far as you can.