help

[mick]

my cx500 trike is getting on my last nerve now lol
a couple of night ago it started well and ran well got to my destination.Stooped the trike and the bitch wouldn't start.
It took me over 30 mins to get it started then it ran well for a day.
Today(Saturday) started well drove 15 miles no problems stop turned off the trike and it now wont start again.The spark seem very weak.Ive changed the cdi unit checked the coils checked all the wiring.Took all the meter reading and every things coming back as ok ???but it frigging well ain't ok lol :mad: anybody got any ideas??

[bird]

Have you changed the plug caps recently? those used to fail on My CX for a pastime....

[John Hopkins]

Very awkward when the fault is intermittant because when you put the meter on it everything could be touching...It sounds electrical because when it runs...it runs... a slightly loose earth connection or dirt on the frame at the connection point, a screw connection that has vibrated loose, or a piece of wire broken just at the crimp point of the connector which is making and breaking...pull on the wires just before the crimp and see if any stretch, that means the wire is broken inside the plastic outer, check any screw connectors, they sometimes get water in or vibrate loose, check from the battery earth to the bare metal of the frame while pulling at the wires, an analogue meter is best for this as the meter swing is easier to spot, do the same from the live to the starter solenoid, next time it stops, try a jump start from the frame to the live side of the solenoid, you know, live jump lead from car battery to solenoid negative from car battery to frame...if it starts switch it off and use the jumper leads as a bridge from the frame to the bike battery negative and try again, if it works, check for the open lead to the battery..if it doesnt keep that lead in place and try the other lead frm the positive bike battery lead to the live side of the solenoid, if it starts switch off and reconnect it to the other side of the solenoid and try the starter button, if it doesnt start you have a dirty starter button...John

[John Hopkins]

of course most of that is assuming that the bike is dead and not turning over...let me know...John

[mick]

thanks both the plug caps are new ish m8
john i will try all that tomorrow
thanks for the quick replies
it is turning over m8

[Mistress Maker]

intermittent earth fault somewhere...........chaffed cable

[John Hopkins]

If it's turning over, and the spark seems weak, connect your meter on volts across the battery, you need over 14v, switch on and press the starter see how low the voltage drops, if it drops below 13v and still doesn't start connect jumper leads from a car that is running to your battery with the meter still connected, it should read 14.5v when you press the starter..if it starts measure the voltage across the battery when you have disconnected the jumper leads and while it is still running, if it still measures 14.5v you need a new gel battery, otherwise it is probably one of the connections that I mentioned earlier.... the weak spark could be because it is jumping a small gap somewhere...you could check those new leads are tight, but the bike should still start if only two of them are connected..John

[mick]

hi all
got the engine out today took the back of the casing off to check the pick ups in there
it looks like waters got it there so I'm gonna dry it out and stick it all back together and hope thats all it is
will let ya know the outcome in a couple of days

[growl bunnie]

sounds like the mechanical seal has gone.

[mick]

all sorted it was something screwed up in the back of the engine i think it was the pick ups
i change the whole back plate with my spare and she starts on the button again now
thanks for your help