Wilsons Sandbox

On Tue, 29 May 2012 03:14:20 -0000 "ken" writes:

> Hi Guys, > > My 2005 KLR was giving me some problems before leaving for a trip to > Death Valley. I checked all wiring connectors using contact cleaner > and then putting dielectric grease before re-connecting them. I > thought I had the problem fixed, but the night before leaving, the > bike wouldn't start.....no spark. > > I trucked the bike to a shop where the mechanic said there was spark > and the gas was bad. He dumped the gas and refilled the tank. The > bike ran fine all the way to DV, but would occasionally buck. The > problem got worse on the way home, but the bike got me here. Now > the bike won't start and guess what... there is no spark. > > I checked for spark by grounding the removed plug to the head. > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks! > > Ken

<><><><><><> <><><><><><> Ken, How many miles on your 2005 and when were the valves last adjusted to maximum specifications? I'm ignoring the no spark diagnosis since it ran when you put it away but won't start now. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 . . ____________________________________________________________ 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4fc445ab8e4401bbb41bst02vuc

Ken, My suggestion is to adjust the valves to maximum specifications. Since they were only checked at 6K they have probably tightened up some more. Tight valves are a cause of hard starting. Specs in inches are: Intake 0.004"-0.008" Exhaust 0.006"-0.010" Make the valves at intake 0.007" or 0.008" and the exhaust at 0.009" or 0.010". Then see how the bike starts. Shims change sizes in 0.002" increments. Example, a change from a 260 to a 255 shim will be a valve clearance of 0.002" larger. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 On Mon, 28 May 2012 20:54:46 -0700 (PDT) ken cefalo writes: Hi Jeff, It only has about 11k. I checked the valve clearance at around 6K and they were all within specs. I've treated the bike badly and taken it places maybe it shouldn't have gone. It's got lots of zip ties and looks like it has many more miles. (My ST1100 gets the nice easy long trips). Ken Ken Cefalo Main Street Music, Inc. 53 W. 10th Street Tracy, CA 95376 (209) 835-1125 ext 12 (209) 601-9809 (cell) Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. - Innocents Abroad

--- On Mon, 5/28/12, Jeff Saline wrote: From: Jeff Saline Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Frustrating intermittent spark ... I think? To: kencefalo@... Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, May 28, 2012, 8:40 PM On Tue, 29 May 2012 03:14:20 -0000 "ken" writes: > Hi Guys, > > My 2005 KLR was giving me some problems before leaving for a trip to > Death Valley. I checked all wiring connectors using contact cleaner > and then putting dielectric grease before re-connecting them. I > thought I had the problem fixed, but the night before leaving, the > bike wouldn't start.....no spark. > > I trucked the bike to a shop where the mechanic said there was spark > and the gas was bad. He dumped the gas and refilled the tank. The > bike ran fine all the way to DV, but would occasionally buck. The > problem got worse on the way home, but the bike got me here. Now > the bike won't start and guess what... there is no spark. > > I checked for spark by grounding the removed plug to the head. > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks! > > Ken <><><><><><> <><><><><><> Ken, How many miles on your 2005 and when were the valves last adjusted to maximum specifications? I'm ignoring the no spark diagnosis since it ran when you put it away but won't start now. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 . . ____________________________________________________________ 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4fc44f482eb56459a67st01vuc [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "ken" wrote:

> > Hi Guys, > > My 2005 KLR was giving me some problems before leaving for a trip to Death Valley. I checked all wiring connectors using contact cleaner and then putting dielectric grease before re-connecting them. I thought I had the problem fixed, but the night before leaving, the bike wouldn't start.....no spark. > > I trucked the bike to a shop where the mechanic said there was spark and the gas was bad. He dumped the gas and refilled the tank. The bike ran fine all the way to DV, but would occasionally buck. The problem got worse on the way home, but the bike got me here. Now the bike won't start and guess what... there is no spark. > > I checked for spark by grounding the removed plug to the head. > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks! > > Ken >

I'd start with a new spark plug, but that's just me... After that I'd think coil, then I'd see if I could find a CDI to borrow for a minute. Tight valves won't kill your spark...

I had these same symptoms when my kill switch failed. This was the only time that the bike left me stranded in 66K miles. The kill switch is not sealed and mine had water inside it and was corroded. I'd try blasting contact cleaner into the switch while vigorously cycling the switch between the two off positions. Then follow that with compressed air. Note that when the kill switch is in the off position (or failed open) the bike cranks fine but there is no power to the low voltage side of the coil so no spark. I discovered the problem when I tried to start the bike in a torrential rainstorm and could see steam emanating from the switch as I cranked the bike. I blew out the switch with a Starbucks swizzle stick sized straw and blew enough water out of the switch using just lung power that the bike fired and ran fine. The kill switch was replaced under warrantee (the unlimited mileage Kawasaki 5-year Good Times Protection Plan compliments of the previous owner). From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ken Sent: Monday, May 28, 2012 8:14 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Frustrating intermittent spark ... I think? Hi Guys, My 2005 KLR was giving me some problems before leaving for a trip to Death Valley. I checked all wiring connectors using contact cleaner and then putting dielectric grease before re-connecting them. I thought I had the problem fixed, but the night before leaving, the bike wouldn't start.....no spark. I trucked the bike to a shop where the mechanic said there was spark and the gas was bad. He dumped the gas and refilled the tank. The bike ran fine all the way to DV, but would occasionally buck. The problem got worse on the way home, but the bike got me here. Now the bike won't start and guess what... there is no spark. I checked for spark by grounding the removed plug to the head. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Ken [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

That's a splendid idea. So much so that I bought a pair of wheels a few years back with the same idea in mind. The were very well-priced at $300 for the pair, from a friend. You could be equally lucky, or you might well pay double that on the market. As It happens, I never did fit them with alternative street rubber. It costs me enough to keep my bikes in the rubber they are using, so I haven't really been able to afford a spare set of tires for some time in the indefinite future. I still might, though, so no, the wheels are not for sale. There used to be a lot of chat about the compatibility of wheels from other bikes, but AFAIK it never came to much, and you will have to do your own investigation, without a lot of hope for success.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "glennintn" wrote: > > I really want to get a second set of wheels so I can have one set for the road and one ready for trails. Swapping wheels would be quicker (but not cheaper) that removing/mounting tires when I want to do some dirt work. There aren't many "new" options out there for the KLR650 and most are pretty expensive. > > Do any of you guys have some recommendations for vendors for swappable wheels? > > I'm beginning to think it is better to just burn through bunches of Kenda 270s rather than swap wheels, but I like the road handling of a more street oriented tire when I'm not doing gravel/fire roads, etc. > > Ideas? Recommendations? Thanks! >