1996 Troubleshooting...any ideas?

Howdy-
Recently bought a 1996 (a.k.a. my dream bike), and having a little trouble with it. Was starting hard/not at all, so I drained and cleaned the tank, replaced the fuel filter, drained the carbs, and charged the battery. Started up no problem, however, the regulator/rectifyer got real hot, and even got a little smoke from it. Even so, I waited a few minutes just to make sure it would start again, and it started right up. This was yesterday...today she won't start...have plenty of fresh gas, drained the carb bowls again, and she still won't start. The starter sounds good. Couple backfires from the exhaust, but other than that, zippo. Anybody have any ideas???
cheers-
jake

 

Damn hate to hear this plus damn I need to be there to see and feel whats going on. I'd first, I know pain in the ass. Pull all plugs check em out for spark. if thats seems to be okay, next is to jump on the fuel lines tank etc.. from there I'd also check ther RR , thou if she spins she should start. never heard of a RR keeping it from running, if she spins good, so in my first guess, I'd be checking fuel pump and the filter. what's ya think guys?

 

Sounds like an electrical problem to me. Have the dealer test the r/r and the battery. Get a manual and test the rest of the charging system.

 

When I was having starting/running issues, I changed my battery first, wasn't it, as my Rectifier/Regulator killed the battery. So, I changed, the R/R, and installed a new battery, and haven't had any problems with it since, and that was 2003, or 2004, I can't remember, but it was in the middle of the summer.

 

Curious for those who know. Will the bike turn over just fine with a dead RR? As I'm thinking if the battery is still good like charged and it turns over just fine and you have spark it should start up and run fine till the voltage drops to a point where there isn't enough to fire off the coils so??? but of course I can see this if the first thing was a dead battery no turn over, then I'd be all over the RR.

 

The bike will DEFINITELY turn over and run with a bad R/R....that's why it often strands the rider, rather than just disappointing them by not starting one morning. You are correct re: running off the battery.
My buddy just picked up an '89 CB-1 and it had a bad R/R. It would run for a few days on just the battery, esp. if it the weather was warm and the battery didnt have to work too hard to crank the starter.
Here is a great explanation of the R/R: http://www.electrosport.com/electrosport_tech_charging.html

Mike

 

Any idea how long it sat up before you got the pleasure
of being in her care? When you cleaned out the tank what
did you find did you happen to catch it and look to see if
any rust, or other matter was in it. Also, when you drained
the carbs did you find anything? Sounds like fuel issue to me
but you guys know about the big bikes more than I. Mine
was doing this same thing and ended up being carb funk.

If you know any past history of the bike that may help
everyone help you.

Also, as I am unsure about that bike does the R/R have
a heat sink or is it just flat?

 

Thanks for the responses guys...keep 'em coming...I really appreciate it. The bike probably sat for a month and a half or so with little use...fired up relatively quickly when I test-rode it...checked the tank with a flashlight both before I bought it, and in the last few days when trying to get her started. Tank looks clean, no rust. When I went to pick it up, it didn't start, but I chalked this up to old gas and a cold day. What perplexes me is that by replacing the fuel filter and draining the tank and carbs, and then adding fresh gas, it started right up. Then the next day, zippo. Could the reg/rec really keep it from starting, or is it still a fuel problem?

flyonwall, the R/R is just flat, no heat sink.

 

When my R/R was going south, it would exhibit this same behaviuor, also, sometimes when I would get it running, it would run for 10, maybe 15 minutes, before dying. After I replaced both the R/R, and the battery, the symptoms went away. A bad R/R can kill a battery, don't really know the electrical theory behind it, just know that it can. Like I stated prior, I installed a new battery, and the bike ran fine for a few days. I had followed the charging procedures of the battery to the "T", could have been a bad battery from the vendor, but after I swapped out both the new battery, and the R/R, haven't had any problems. I also had the flat, no heat sink R/R, ordered a new one from Dynamo Humm, came with the cooling fins, and seemed a little better designed, at least from the exterior.

 

the other question is, why would the R/R overheat now, especially within a couple minutes of running? Bad luck or bad battery I guess?

 

I have a great solution... buy Leg's 95!:hat:

 

I think even the Honda R/R has heat sinks on them,
Honda knows of them running hot.