hey folks, still having loads of problems with my 1000ds not starting properly and think I have discovered something. Firsty the problem seems to be on the front cylinder only - if I remove the plug leads it turns over a lot better, remove the plugs and it turns over great. When removing the plugs the vertical cylinder ones looked great, the horizontal or front ones were really black. Could it be a leaky injector causing my problems? If one it is peeing neat fuel in there it could be causing a hydrolock and also seriously rich running? Or have I totally lost the plot? I had the belt covers off this morning - the cam timing is fine, the ecu has been run on another bike, I am told that started perfectly. It's definitely not a starter / wiring problem. Your thoughts please. Rudi.
How does the strength of the spark compare Vertical to Horizontal? Are you getting a spark on both plugs for that front/Horizontal cylinder? Or just one of them?
i have a massive fat blue spark on all 4 plugs. Funnily enough when I tested that I got a cloud of visible vapour from the front cylinder, which ignited and changed the colour of my underpants.
I nearly answered earlier on your introduction and glad you've added more symptoms. Does the bike idle ok and revs raise quickly when revved? doesn't appear to be overheating during or after a run? First of many thoughts, partly depending on answers to above, What are the details of the second starter? did you spin it up before fitting? - no reason why you would, but wondering if coincidentally second starter has a problem also?
Not wishing to be a harbinger of doom but what's your compression like on the horizontal cylinder ? I had starting issues on a 1200 Multistrada and it was finally pinpointed to low (bottom of the spec) compression. Andy
The starter spun up really well before I fitted at, I got it from somebody I trust. It does not over hear, it runs fairly well but very rich on the front cylinder. I think I have found the problem - or at least one problem - see my update furtehr down the thread.
ok, think I might have got to the bottom of this - failed injector peeing copious amounts of fuel in to the front pot. I just spent a joyless eternity removing the tank and airbox so I could have a look see - the inlet tract for the horizontal cylinder was wet. When I removed the injector I found I could blow through it. With the pressure from the pump it must have been absolutely flooding it - hence the cloud of vapours that caught in the spark. It may not be my only problem but it is definitely a problem - I also noticed that the pins on the connector for the rear injector were badly corroded so a new plug is needed, if I can't fins one it may have to be a solder job. I'll keep you all informed, if this doesn't fix it I will break the bike, it's too much of a pain to work on.
it does sound like you've found it - if you are seeing advanced corrosion on the bike, you might want to check front coil if you haven't already. Because it's "in the firing line" the main body can corrode heavily with delamination that you cannot miss as can grow to twice the width of the normally back-to-back laminated width. I diagnosed an old Lancia after a trackday once, nobody believed me including the owner. We came out from the pub and his (V6) engine just wouldn't turn fully over. More and more people gathered around the open bonnet and all got even more mystified as the battery and leads were checked and were fine, starter not getting hot either. I finally convinced him to take 3 plugs out of one bank and we struck gold, well water in fact as all got soaked by a fountain as he cranked the engine.
LOL, thanks for that Chris, I will definitely have a look at everything very carefully while I am in there. I am fairly accustomed to weird problems, I had one on my mate's Bevan racing imp the other week - the tacho had gone short circuit preventing a spark from being produced. It was fine one minute, not the next. I hate engines.
I think there might be a "minimum posts" requirement for this, chrisw can send you one though I believe. if you have the facility by now, it's labelled:- "Start a conversation"
