Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club
July 10, 2025, 04:28:04 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Ultimate Seats Link VRCC Store
Homepage : Photostash : JustPics : Shoptalk : Old Tech Archive : Classifieds : Contact Staff
News: If you're new to this message board, read THIS!
 
VRCC Calendar Ad
Pages: [1]   Go Down
Send this topic Print
Author Topic: won't fire  (Read 1311 times)
rocketray
Member
*****
Posts: 1024


« on: October 07, 2015, 11:33:48 AM »

I put a new fuel petcock in and it will not fire up.  I had a bit of trouble with some new chromed up engine hangers and the bolts going thru/aligning with what appears to be the distributor in the middle. The plugs were wet on inspection and drying them did nothing--there does appear to be at least a weak spark when a plug is pulled and the engine spun. The Dyna 3000 light comes on when the key is turned on but turns off after a second or two.....where is the main  wire for the distributor??it is tight as can be up under the tank.Thanx
Logged
Joe Hummer
Member
*****
Posts: 1645


VRCC #25677 VRCC Missouri State Representative

Arnold, MO


WWW
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2015, 12:45:39 PM »

How is your battery?  These bikes are VERY picky about having a pretty full battery in order to run. 

Joe
Logged

1999 Valkyrie Interstate
You pay for the whole bike, why not use it Jerry Motorman Palladino
Patrick
Member
*****
Posts: 15433


VRCC 4474

Largo Florida


« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2015, 12:56:28 PM »

From the statement that the sparklers were wet and the spark seemed weak, I suspect the battery.  These monsters need a well charged battery to fire.  Also depending on which Dyna you have, that could be the problem as the early ones had trouble. But, I'd charge the battery or use a jumper first. You might want to remove all the sparklers, spin the engine over to dry and clean the plugs. A fuel bridged sparkler will not fire.  You could also supply vacuum to the petcock and open some carb drains to make sure you're getting flow.
Logged
Bigwolf
Member
*****
Posts: 1502


Cookeville, TN


« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2015, 01:56:53 PM »

As others have said, I would suspect the battery.  If the Dyna light is going out, that means the ignition is dropping out.  It will drop if the voltage goes too low.  It might also drop if you are getting a poor signal from an ignition pickup but that is not as common as weak battery.  It is more common with a Dyna 3K than with the OEM units.  Still, I would be entirely sure that the voltage is not dropping below 12.5 while trying to start.  If it started well before messing with engine hangers, I would also check the battery cables and ground connections in particular.  Often times corrosion gets betweent cables and their mount and causes low voltage.

By the way, there is no distributor on these Valkyries.  They have a solid state electronic ignition (in your case, a Dyna 3K). 

Bigwolf
Logged
Paladin528
Member
*****
Posts: 722


Greater Toronto Area Ontario Canada


WWW
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2015, 09:55:03 AM »

I went to crank mine up yesterday after sitting for a few days.  She cranked over fine but no fire.  Hooked up the charger and waited a minute then hit the starter again and away it went.  I know I need a new battery but it shows that even a battery strong enough the crank the engine may not be strong enough to light it off.
I just want this battery to get me to the first snowfall then I will pull it ansd wait for spring to replace it.
Logged
gordonv
Member
*****
Posts: 5762


VRCC # 31419

Richmond BC


« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2015, 07:01:31 PM »

How about hitting it with a battery reconditioner? De-sulfication is another word. Might get the battery back enough, or enough to last the year.
Logged

1999 Black with custom paint IS

Momz
Member
*****
Posts: 5702


ABATE, AMA, & MRF rep.


« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2015, 07:13:21 AM »

........."I had a bit of trouble with some new chromed up engine hangers and the bolts going thru/aligning with what appears to be the distributor in the middle.".......

Yours has a distributer?
Logged


ALWAYS QUESTION AUTHORITY! 

97 Valk bobber, 98 Valk Rat Rod, 2K SuperValk, plus several other classic bikes
indybobm
Member
*****
Posts: 1601

Franklin, Indiana VRCC # 5258


« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2015, 11:16:14 AM »

Maybe he is looking at one of the coils,
Logged

So many roads, so little time
VRCC # 5258
rocketray
Member
*****
Posts: 1024


« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2015, 03:10:57 AM »

Still no luck..charged battery,changed plugs,gas is in carbs--I loosened a little screw on the bottom down there and gas flowed out--yes I guess those are coils up under the tank--maybe something is loose up there......I guess I will take the whole thing apart again....
Logged
Pappy!
Member
*****
Posts: 5710


Central Florida - Eustis


« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2015, 08:42:18 PM »

Shut the fuel off, pull the spark plugs and place them back in the wires. Lay them on the cylinder heads.
With no engine compression load on the battery see if the plugs are firing. This is an easy way to tell you if the battery is the culprit.
During starting the load on a not so great battery to turn the engine over may drop the available voltage to the ECU below the threshold voltage needed to turn on the ignition system. The check I outlined will tell you if that is what is happening.
Logged
Patrick
Member
*****
Posts: 15433


VRCC 4474

Largo Florida


« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2015, 03:38:40 AM »

Just charging the battery may not help. Since it didn't help, try a jumper.
Also I don't think I read anything about removing and cleaning the terminals, including the ground at the frame.
If all this doesn't do it, then, there have a couple instances of bad pulse generators.
Logged
rocketray
Member
*****
Posts: 1024


« Reply #11 on: October 20, 2015, 01:51:11 PM »

ok--so after putting on the new petcock since it was running out of  gas in a mile or 2 at 80 mph w/52k on it--it won't fire--initially I just turned the screw at the bottom of the carbs and some fuel came out so I thought that was OK---now I leave the carb  screws open and no gas comes out--i pull the big hose off the petcock and no gas comes out at all despite turning the fuel valve to all positions. So I got a bad new petcock right??
Logged
3W-lonerider
Member
*****
Posts: 1014

Shippensburg Pa


« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2015, 01:58:44 PM »

do you have the vacuum line hooked to the petcock. if not that's the reason for no fuel.
the vacuum line hooks to the nipple on the right side of the petcock. kinda had to see and get on once the fuel line is installed
.

Logged

Patrick
Member
*****
Posts: 15433


VRCC 4474

Largo Florida


« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2015, 02:43:22 PM »

As mentioned, vacuum has to be supplied to the petcock for it to operate.

It may take an outside supply if the carburetors are empty as it may run the battery down trying to fill them.
Logged
rocketray
Member
*****
Posts: 1024


« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2015, 12:49:08 PM »

thanx for the replies---so I see that smaller hose up higher on the petcock--how do I apply a vacuum to it?? Thanx again everyone
Logged
wingrider02
Member
*****
Posts: 245


Maple Lake, MN


« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2015, 02:59:20 PM »

Take that same little hose off of the #6 intake, and gently suck on it...not much vacuum is needed to get the petcock to let down some fuel.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
Send this topic Print
Jump to: