Still hard starting

[zr2highrider]

I just got my banshee back together about a week ago. It runs like a champ and I think I have it tuned about right. The only problem is that it still takes about 20 kicks to get it started. Top end doesnt have 2 hours on it yet. I followed everything by the book. Once its warm it starts in 1 kick. Here is what I think could be wrong:

A: Bad reeds - I have Vforce 2's. How do you check to see if they are bad? Hold them up to light and see if you can see light between the pedals and the cage? I can see a little but not much. (can get pics if needed)

B: Port job - Apparently the guy who bored my cylinders said that they were ported "within an inch of their life." I have to agree with him on this one... the porting does look a little outragous. But would this cause hard starting? (can get pics if needed)

C: Timing possibly? I'm pretty sure its not timing. I dont have an adjustable timing plate but im not ruling it out quite yet.

 

Any ideas of what could be wrong would be a great help.

Running Lucas 2 stroke oil 32:1 on 87 octane.

My mods: New .40 over wiseco's, T5's, VF 2 reeds, ported cylinders, K&N pods.

Edited April 22, 2010 by zr2highrider

[pondtunes]

Pull your stator cover and check the gap between the little bumps on the flywheel and the pickup, should be no more than the thickness of a matchbook cover. I just recently adjusted mine and I don't even have to kick it very hard i couldn't believe the difference it made. I can crank her sitting down with no problem at all just a gentle push on the kickstarter and shee fires right up!

[zr2highrider]

Im pretty sure my pickup gap is good. I just used an old credit card to check it. Long story short, the pickup gas is the reason I rebuilt my engine. One of the screws that holds the pickup on came out when running and wedged itself between the flywheel and pickup....thought I seized a crank bearing. Needless to say I made sure those screws had locktight on them.

 

Probably get new plugs tommorrow and do a plug chop to check the jetting. Thanks for the input!

[firebanshee]

Im pretty sure my pickup gap is good. I just used an old credit card to check it. Long story short, the pickup gas is the reason I rebuilt my engine. One of the screws that holds the pickup on came out when running and wedged itself between the flywheel and pickup....thought I seized a crank bearing. Needless to say I made sure those screws had locktight on them.

 

Probably get new plugs tommorrow and do a plug chop to check the jetting. Thanks for the input!

What size pilot jet do you have?

[zr2highrider]

27.5 pilots, 310 mains. choke jet is stock

[zr2highrider]

Got a extra set of plugs today and was about to go do a plug chop. I have one main question though...from what i read, a plug chop is only going to tell me if my mains are off, correct? I though that starting issues were mainly with the pilot jet if your jetting is off. Correct me if im wrong.

I threw in new plugs after the rebuild. I only have about 2 hours or so on them. They look neither lean nor rich. (not oil soaked or super clean...just an overall darker brown)

[papa_smurf49319]

you are correct, a plug chop isnt going to do shit for you. Are you using the choke when you try and start it, have you ruled out possible airleaks? Specs on motor please!

 

 

 

 

Cody

[ratt468]

if it has been ported to with a inch of its life,then that could cause hard starting.(too high exhaust port) does it have any bottom end (off idle)? or does it rev like crazy ?

unfortunatly if it has to high exhaust ports there isn't a fix for that! other than new cylinders!

 

 

thanks pete!

[midlifecrisis]

if it has been ported to with a inch of its life,then that could cause hard starting.(too high exhaust port) does it have any bottom end (off idle)? or does it rev like crazy ?

unfortunatly if it has to high exhaust ports there isn't a fix for that! other than new cylinders!

 

 

thanks pete!

First Pete, what does it mean if it revs up without throttle?

 

Secondly, Highrider, did I see that you are running 87 octane? I think thats too low, change that before you need a new set of pistons!

[ratt468]

First Pete, what does it mean if it revs up without throttle?sorry thats not what i ment. just trying to help with the problem of hard starting.if the exhaust is to high it can cause it to be tough to start,and it will have very little power off idle,but will rev high once it is rolling,say 30ish in second gear hope this helps!

 

 

pete

[zr2highrider]

Here are the specs on my motor:

New .40 over wiseco's. Stock head (no milling done to it). Stock bottom end and tranny. T5 pipes and silencers. K&N pods. VF2 reeds w/ carbon reed pedals. Ported cyylinders. 27.5 Pilots with 310 mains. Stock carbs. Thats bout it as far as I know.

 

Running Lucas 2 stroke oil @ 32:1

 

It runs great when started. I dont use the choke because it about 70* here in Kansas.

Starting method: Turn on gas, turn on ignition switch and start kicking. Around 20 kicks then it starts to sputter like it wants to start. Have to give it a good brap to keep it going. Once it warms up it idles just fine. It has some bottom end and doesnt bog or anything once im rolling. Starting from a dead stop is a little hard when its still a little cold but its not terrible.

 

Im going out to ride some more today. I will start runnin 91 octane on it asap.

A friend of mine (who happens to be a mechanic) said that more than likely it was my port job thats keeping it from starting. As for air leaks, im pretty sure i got all of those worked out. I will check tonight when im riding though. Thanks for all the input guys and I can get pics of the port job tommorrow.

 

 

 

[firebanshee]

Here are the specs on my motor:

New .40 over wiseco's. Stock head (no milling done to it). Stock bottom end and tranny. T5 pipes and silencers. K&N pods. VF2 reeds w/ carbon reed pedals. Ported cyylinders. 27.5 Pilots with 310 mains. Stock carbs. Thats bout it as far as I know.

 

Running Lucas 2 stroke oil @ 32:1

 

It runs great when started. I dont use the choke because it about 70* here in Kansas.

Starting method: Turn on gas, turn on ignition switch and start kicking. Around 20 kicks then it starts to sputter like it wants to start. Have to give it a good brap to keep it going. Once it warms up it idles just fine. It has some bottom end and doesnt bog or anything once im rolling. Starting from a dead stop is a little hard when its still a little cold but its not terrible.

 

Im going out to ride some more today. I will start runnin 91 octane on it asap.

A friend of mine (who happens to be a mechanic) said that more than likely it was my port job thats keeping it from starting. As for air leaks, im pretty sure i got all of those worked out. I will check tonight when im riding though. Thanks for all the input guys and I can get pics of the port job tommorrow.

 

Have you tried using the choke to see if that helps ?

[zr2highrider]

ya i tried that too

[zr2highrider]

Here are some pics of the port job. Not great pics but the best my phone could do.

 

 

[zr2highrider]

Here is the exhaust. You cant tell by the pic but someone has been in there with a dremel or something.

 

 

Like I said the pics arent the best.

Also, what gas should I be running? Is 91 going to be ok or should I run something a little stronger?