Questions on temporary no start & open primary

[Steven Proctor]

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I have a few questions about the bike not stating and the open primary. My wife and I went for a ride late afternoon. We rode about 50 miles and then stopped to eat. We were probably in the restaurant for about 35-40 min. We got ready to leave and the bike tried to turn over once, then nothing. No clicks or movement at any time. I tried neutral, in 1st and with the key turned in both directions. I tried about 3 or 4 times with no success. I pressed the "buttons" on top of the heads an still the bike would not start. So I took the seat off, checked the connection - all good. This all took about 10 min. Then I tried to start the bike and boom, fired right up. Not sure what the issue may have been. Any thoughts? If there is a potential problem, I would like to get if resolved now instead of when we are out and about and getting stuck. I have read somewhere on the forum about compression release. Also, with my open primary what maintenance do I need to be looking at? I am sure there are threads on both these topics if someone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. Thanx for all the help. I may ride out today to see if I can recreate the problem. This is a first for me with this issue. Thanx again.

 

[Mr. Wright]

Start with the simple thing first. Are your battery cables tight? Is the green solenoid wire making good connection? When is the last time you cleaned the solenoid contacts? It's possible you got some moisture on the circuit board.

 

[Hirter6Pack]

06 K9? Did you lose all electrical?
I'd check the spade connector going into the top of the starter to see if it may be loose.

 

[Steven Proctor]

Start with the simple thing first. Are your battery cables tight? Is the green solenoid wire making good connection? When is the last time you cleaned the solenoid contacts? It's possible you got some moisture on the circuit board.

My terminals felt tight. But your right, they probably do need to get cleaned. I'll do that next.

 

[Steven Proctor]

06 K9? Did you lose all electrical?
I'd check the spade connector going into the top of the starter to see if it may be loose.

I had all the lights working. What exactly is the spade connector?

 

[SEAL-rider]

It could be heat related. VR heating up or something else.

 

[Mr. Wright]

I had all the lights working. What exactly is the spade connector?

If you look at the top left corner of the start solenoid, on top of the starter. There is a green wire that connects to it, that gives the solenoid 12v to activate the stater.
Also, disconnect the battery, and remove the plate off the back of the solenoid, (3 screws), slide the plunger out, and clean the contacts.

 

[Mr. Wright]

Also while you are in there, check the solder connections on each side. Use a small screw driver to see if any of those wires have broke loose.

 

[Hirter6Pack]

I had all the lights working. What exactly is the spade connector?

Connector on top

 

[bdm7250]

While you have the green wire off the solenoid test your compression releases, hold your finger on the CR press start button and hold. If the compression release stays depressed as long as you have the start button pressed then your CR should be functioning correctly. I only say should be because the solenoid for the CR could be working correctly and your CR could be broken (happened to me).
As far as your open primary, not much for maintenance, you'll know when your clutch plates need replacing. What primary do you have?

 

[Steven Proctor]

So right now. What wife and I are stuck in town. Bike will fire up but won’t stay running.

 

[bdm7250]

So right now. What wife and I are stuck in town. Bike will fire up but won’t stay running.

Shuts off like it's starved for fuel? If so loosen your gas cap..

 

[Hirter6Pack]

Shuts off like it's starved for fuel? If so loosen your gas cap..

Good point.Also my 04 does not have a positive stop fully open position on the gas valve. Check the gas valve too make sure it is fully on

 

[Steven Proctor]

Ok. We made it back home safe and luckily before the rain hit. So I don't know what the deal is but hunny is slightly pissed. Wife not too happy she let me get this bike and now the last two times she is with me, we get stuck for a bit. A little concerning for me as well. We let the bike sit for about 10-15 min I start the bike up and it runs fine all the way home, about 10 miles. I will check the starter connections later this week. I don't think it's a fuel problem cause the bugs me runs well when it's running. I did press the CR on the heads before the last start before making it home. However I did this several times before when we originally tried to go home. It was sprinkling so I thought the water might have been a possible issue, but I have had the bike n the rain before with no issues. I will check the vent for the tank and fuel cap plus I will take a look at the petcock valve too. Thanx for all the ideas. I'll keep everyone posted on what I can find.

 

[Steven Proctor]

While you have the green wire off the solenoid test your compression releases, hold your finger on the CR press start button and hold. If the compression release stays depressed as long as you have the start button pressed then your CR should be functioning correctly. I only say should be because the solenoid for the CR could be working correctly and your CR could be broken (happened to me).
As far as your open primary, not much for maintenance, you'll know when your clutch plates need replacing. What primary do you have?

Not sure on the primary but here are a few pix.

 

[Sven]

'I've had the bike in the rain' says electrolysis in the making. It's all about electrical flow from point A to point B. A is the top of the battery post. B is under the ground cable. See the flow stopping where you can't see it? When the AA, AAA, D battery stands too long inside a toy, or anything taking said battery types and always finding the ground has the white corrosion going on covering the spring? Make sense polarity side> There is where you start.

The connector type in post #9? The male/female connectors were building the electrolysis there too. That's a flow junction point. You pull connectors off and on to scrub to a new raw base and scrape away the electro. The other place to start... make it easy first, rainman rider.

 

[Hirter6Pack]

Glad ya made it home.
I keep thinking about that printer cable going to the EHC being loose or not making good connection.
Now enough with the bike. Go give Honey a little extra attention. She will forgive ya.

 

[bdm7250]

Not sure on the primary but here are a few pix. View attachment 59367View attachment 59368

That is a Karata, I have the same. They are no longer made, but consumable parts are still available:
KARATA Enterprises Co.
3 River Road, Conshohocken, PA 19428
Phone : 610-825-2070

 

[liferider]

With a open primary you have a dry clutch. Every 500 miles or so depending on highway or city riding. Take your back plate off that is the clutch plate cover off and using a air compressor with a long wand poke the wand up in the clutch plate area and blow out clutch dust. Work your clutch while doing this getting rid of dust caught in between the disk.