jeep_guy3

Alright so ive owned this bike for about 8 months and have had nothing but problems with it and its starting to get on my nervs. Its an '04 and has 22k miles (7k of those are mine haha) ive done all the routine maintence, had to get the valves replaced, and have struggled with fuel leaks for months now.

i got all the leaks taken care of and rode it around for about a week without any problems, other then a rough idle that i believe was from needing a carb sync since i pulled the carbs and had to tear into the float valves. anyways it started and ran great. i washed it down the other night and now cant get it to start, its getting spark, and i can get it to idle at about 800rpm. as soon as i try to get the rmp up it dies... any ideas on where to look? and yes it has fuel, a full tank, both valves on the tanks are opn too haha im a college student and money is tight so i am looking to fix it myself, being a jeep owner i have picked up quite the mechanical know how. just looking for ideas or suggestions

Mattpar

what controls the spark? it may have spark, but not strong enough for high revs. Get a distributor wet?

jeep_guy3

each plug has its own coil, i checked the voltage and everything checked out.

Mattpar

I work at a dealership and very often when Jeep libertys get detailed, the detailers power wash the engine and get the spark plugs wet(they also have coil on plug), Usually we put a set of plugs in them and its all good after that,...

NH_Jeep_XJ

The fact that you washed it clearly points to that as being the culprit.

Fuel + Air + Spark = Combustion

You said that you are getting spark ? Good.

Make sure your Air Filter isn't soaked. Not sure how hard you pressure washed the thing.

I'd pull the plugs and make sure they're not fouled and or wet by now.

It most likely is flooded. Literally ...

Try kicking it, oh you probably don't have a kick starter, try starting it with out any choke or gas and see if she begins to pop.

She just needs to dry out.

Read the manual on how to wash it and not direct the water spray next time.

jeep_guy3

My first thought was water in somehwere it shouldnt be, however i didnt pressure wash it, and its been almost 4 days now and it still hasnt changed, i would think that would give it enough time to dry out. all i did was rinse it with a garden hose on half power and wiped it with a towel with some soapy water and rinsed it again.

I am starting to believe that the washing of the bike was just a coincedence in timing. i am going to tear into the carbs and spray them down with cleaner and see if i can get any dirt or anything out.

I always fill up at the same gas station on both my bike and my jeep. over the past two weeks i have experianced 2 clogged fuel filters, a clogged fuel pump and faulty fuel regulator on my jeep. and now the bike is acting like it has dirt in the jets of the carbs,and i filled at about the same time as the jeep.... makes me suspect the gas staion has some problems with their tanks.

Gee oh Dee

Bikes never get rained on? They never get water hammered on them when flying down the freeway. I highly doubt its because of water, unless of course there is obvious corrosion or a spot where you see wires have arced.

As for "kick starting" you have to bump start it. **IF** you are tall enough, drop it in first, hold in on the clutch, and push it as fast as you can go. Let go of the clutch fast, and at the same time open the throttle all the way. Its just a 500, so its not gonna put you on your back. That is the only way to kick start your bike.

You should be able to hose your bike off, maybe not with a pressure washer, but you should be able to use a hose and nozzle with no issues. Its a bike, its meant to get wet every once in awhile.


I'm also willing to bet the water is just a coincedence. Have you tried hitting the carbs with starting fluid? Maybe a float is sticking closed?


As a last resort, you can take it to a stealership and get them to do the diagnostics. The Yamaha dealership around me charges $60 if I remember correctly. You don't have to pay them for the labor if you do it yourself.

jeep_guy3

Ive been busy working on the jeep just so i have a mode of transportation for work and then class starts again this week so i needed a vehicle, i am going to spray the carbs when i get off work today in a couple hours and go from there, the local dealership went bankrupt here so i have to resort to local shops which have been nothing but pains in the **** to me since i got the bike. in order to get into the carbs you have to take off the air cleaner and tank so its a bit of a process.

I appreciate all the input and suggestions i have gotten from you guys so far, hopefully i can get this thing going and soon, with work and school my daily commute is about 50 miles so riding the bike is a bit more affordable then the jeep haha

Gee oh Dee

It shouldn't be difficult. I've got a 1993 Yamaha FZR600R, I've had the carbs off a few times. I've also taken apart a Kawi 250 and 500, and a GSXR600.

For mine its 2 bolts on the gas fill cap, 2 up by the triple tree, and two down by your crotch, under the seat. Then the gas fill cap gets pulled, and the tank cover comes right off. A smart idea would be to put the gas cap back on and move forward from there. I'm lucky, the Yamaha has a tank cover and the actual tank, the Kawi 500 had a metal tank that was exposed. The airbox was just in front of the tank, and was easy to remove even though I've got 2 more cylinders.

Even if your tank is exposed, it'll be easy. 4-6 bolts, and the fuel line(s). A good extenion to losen the clamps on the airbox, maybe another bolt or two, and everything should come right off.

Hell, I bet if you do it once or twice, it'll take you all of 5 min to do again.

jeep_guy3

Oh yeah ive been in there a couple times now since i have owned the bike, i have it down to about 5 minutes to take the tank off and be into the carbs haha.

what do you know about carb syncs? i have heard that anytime you take one of the carbs off or mess with it you need to get one done?

Gee oh Dee

That sounds about right, and its much easier if you've got a carb sync tool. You don't want one of your cylinders running with more or less fuel than the other(s).

(*~*)lost

the carburetors shouldn't be to far out of sync to cause the problems you are describing although im a very hands on tipe of person with bikes, ive had the same thing happen to me on occasion an both times were different but equilled out to fuel starvation. 1. air in the lines 2. pinched fuiel delivery line 3. stuck needle valve... just my .02 good luck hope this helps

dennis461

Can't help you unless you state FACTS.
Will it start or not?
I would pull the air filter(s) off and look for water in the air box if you have on on it still.

Start it with no air filters. Sometimes the flter gets wet and lets a little air through for idle, opening the throttle pulls more water out of the filter and puts out the sparkplug.

jeep_guy3

sorry if the original post didnt make sense, it was hard to start, half the time it wouldnt do anything but crank then when it would fire it would run at low rpm and then die...

you actually nailed it right on the nose, were you spying on me when i fixed it this afternoon?? haha jk. i finally got time to pull the tank, and air box, there was a little water in the airbox and both bowls on the carbs were full of water. i was able to get it running and i would put my hand in front of the carbs to kill the air, in turn it would "flood it out" and it cleared all the water out of the bowls when the vaccume would try to draw fuel... i dried the airbox, drained all the fuel (i think that was the source of the water, the breather tube that goes into the airbox was were the water was entering the airbox) i pulled the head and drained all the oil as it had a little water in it. put it all together, new fuel from a different gas station, and got it running again like new.

Thank you all for all the help! its gonna be good to have it back just in time for classes tomorrow.

Gee oh Dee

Doesn't your airbox have a drain tube? If not, tap one, that small of a hole won't do anything...