Dead right side

bkmarsha · Posted: September 3, 2009, 3:50 pm Post subject: Dead right side

I recently installed the electronic ignition and the green monster love both of them

I was out on a ride about an hour 15 out and same back and not even 10 minutes form home i had a problem

I was running highway so 65-70 mph and i went to pass a car and accelerated 70-75 mph while next to the car i felt a loss of power. I pulled over and when i pulled in the clutch the bike died.

I have looked over it and have found this

1. Bike will not run at idle without gas being applied
2. I have a spark on both sides
3. The right cylinder is not producing power (exhaust pipe never gets hot and exhaust smells of unburnt gas)
4. left cylinder seems to be running

Any help would be great weather is great here right now wish i was out riding and the dreaded fall and winter is right around the corner

gordo · Posted: September 3, 2009, 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

Compression test first. If you've got spark for sure, gotta see if you got enough pressure to fire the mix.

pamcopete · Posted: September 3, 2009, 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

bkmarsha,

Check to see if one of the magnets is missing in the rotor. If one magnet is missing, then one cylinder will not fire. You will still get a spark on both sides, but thats just the wasted spark on the cold side.

bkmarsha · Posted: September 3, 2009, 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

i will check but i am pretty sure they are still there because my kit came with the retention plate

plan on checking compression this week

thanks guys

bkmarsha · Posted: September 8, 2009, 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

well... i found my problem and it was what i have feared .... no compression on the right side

i am getting 120 psi on the left side and 0 on the right

i checked and all of the magnets are still in the electronic ignition and my valve clearances seem ok

where do i go from here the only other things i think it could be would be piston rings or head gasket but you guys know better than i do

thanks for the the advice

bkmarsha · Posted: September 9, 2009, 11:45 am Post subject: Re: Dead right side

i have a feeling i am going to need to take the top end apart to fix any of the potential problems

xsleo · Posted: September 10, 2009, 2:27 am Post subject: Re: Dead right side

Yep, sounds like tear down time. Kinda sounds like a hole burnt in the piston. It happens now and then. If it is a holed piston, the ATU could be the culprit. If it is worn out, it will over advance the timing. If it gets loose it can over advance the timing too. Either way a holed piston is the result. You can try looking in the spark plug hole and see if the piston has a hole.

bkmarsha · Posted: September 10, 2009, 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Dead right side

i feel that the springs on the atu needed replaced becasue the bike started to idle high after warming up

i had that on my next order from mikes but i guess i might have been to late

ill check the piston and see if that is the problem

thanks guys

bkmarsha · Posted: September 10, 2009, 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

it is a hole in the top of the piston i can see it through the spark plug hole

this is going to be a bigger project than i have ever taken on before

i will be counting on you guys for some help i am sure

any recommendations of parts or tools to have on hand before i start

jayel · Posted: September 10, 2009, 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

bkmarsha wrote:

it is a hole in the top of the piston i can see it through the spark plug hole

this is going to be a bigger project than i have ever taken on before

i will be counting on you guys for some help i am sure

any recommendations of parts or tools to have on hand before i start

complete gasket set (You can use the lower end stuff later) cam chain and guides for sure,... after the top end is off you want to check the rod(s) on that side very carefully if the piston melt got into the rod/crank bearings a complete tear down will be needed, take the top end apart first and go from there

xsleo · Posted: September 11, 2009, 2:18 am Post subject: Re: Dead right side

If you don't already have one, a repair manual.
I can't think of any special tools to get it apart.
A few to reassemble, a grinding tool of some sort if the cam chain needs replacing. You can take the cam and head off without cutting the chain.
A good torque wrench. If you can find a place to loan or rent a good one, it can save a few bucks. Buying one from a place like Harbor Freight, A place I visit very often, Is false economy. The calibration is what makes a torque wrench a torque wrench, A cheap one isn't very accurate. I have two cheap ones. I don't trust either one. A good one may cost $75 or more.

bkmarsha · Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Dead right side

thanks for the tool advice

i have a repair manual that is is the first purchase i made when i bought the bike

hopefully this week or next i will be able to get it somewhere in a garage where i will be able to start tearing it down

i keep you guys updated and i am sure i will have more questions

bkmarsha · Posted: September 16, 2009, 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

ok i have been checking out mikes and been making a shopping list

i see that there are different sizes of pistons available

1) how do i know what size i will need
2) is it likely that i will need to rebore or hone the cylinder
3) does the same size piston have to be use on both sides

thanks guys

yamaman · Posted: September 16, 2009, 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

You need to pull it down first!
Then you need to take the barrels & pistons to a motorcycle engineer, a shop that specialises in motorcycle rebores ect. They will micrometer your pistons & bores, also check for scoring, any other damage.
They will then tell you what you will need to do to save it.
Your pistons will have a number on top, if it's a number like 976, then that is a standard bore, 025, 050, 075 & 100 are all oversizes.

It is standard/good practice to keep both sides the same, though not entirely essential.

gordo · Posted: September 17, 2009, 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: Dead right side

Or bring it to a reputable machine shop, poss. one that doe's alot of race car/ engine work.Have them maesure out the cylinder's BEFORE you buy piston's & ring's.They will tell you how far they need to go, if any, on the oversize. Then you can order accordingly. If in doubt, call the local bike dealer, ask for service & ask them who doe's their machine work. Bring the head,too, as often the valve's need to be refurbished. Best to do all the top end at the same time. Should not be too costly,$300- $400 top's, including the valve's. The part's you end up ordering, the machine shop will need the piston's to 'fit' them with the bore.

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