Hey all, I’m just about wrapped up with an engine swap on my bike and last night I fired it up for the first time with new engine. (New to my bike has 9K miles on it) It started up first crank and was running perfect outside of the idle being a bit high. I only let it run for about 5 seconds because I didn’t fill with coolant in case I needed to pull something back apart. Added coolant and fired it back up. Was running great, started turning idle down gave it a little rev, went to turn the idle down a little more and it died. Haven’t been able to get it started since. It has spark, I opened the drain on carb and it’s getting gas. I can’t seem to figure this one out. Any help would be appreciated because I’m stumped.

 

A few more details. When was the last time the engine was running? Status of the carbs? Any strong odor of fuel, from the exhaust and from the crank case. Enrichment control components in proper condition?

 

Well, I bought this engine along with an entire 99 VTR that had a salvage title about 6 months ago not knowing that here in GA where I live it’s very hard to get the title switched over into my name and get it registered with a salvage title. So I ended up tearing it down and just use the parts as needed for my 98. It ran beautifully when I test rode it and before I took everything apart. It has just under 20K miles on it. It started right up first try after putting it in my 98 and ran perfectly for about 30 seconds and died when I started adjusting the idle. I of course turned the idle screw back to original setting and tried adjusting back to get it started again and no luck. No gas smell but I loosened the screw on the carburetor bowl and there’s gas getting to the carbs. I checked for spark and it’s a nice strong spark. I’m stumped still.

 

Did you look at the plugs after it wouldn't start? Were they wet with fuel?
I'm assuming that the engine doesn't have any indication of firing, just cranks over with the starter?
Try turning the fuel off at the bottom of the tank, drain the carbs (again), pull the air box lid and air filter and shoot a blast of starter fluid into the carbs and try to start. If it firers up then dies, it's fuel delivery related. Keep your face away from the open carbs when doing this.
Double check everything. A lot of times it's something simple that was disturbed during work performed. Though I'm a bit baffled as to what it can be. It is strange that it started fine and now won't.

 

That’s a good idea with the starting fluid. I’m going to give that a try.