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Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Nathan S on June 01, 2008, 07:44:05 pm

Title: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Nathan S on June 01, 2008, 07:44:05 pm
This is infuriating.

The bike will fire everytime you kick it, and will idle weakly for a second or two, and then stall.

Fuel is clean and fresh.
Carby is spotless.
Spark plugs are both new.
Spark is nice and blue.
The choke needs to be about half-way on, or it won't fire at all.
It spits fuel back out the carby (like a piston port engine would - I thought that the rotary valve is supposed to stop that?).
Compression is good.
Pushing the bike around doesn't help.
Endless fiddling with the idle mixture screw doesn't make any real difference.
The carby is still spotless.
The plugs come out wet with fuel, but not dripping.
Removing the carby cover makes no difference.







Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: gerpster on June 01, 2008, 07:53:03 pm
You sure carby is spotless?? Sounds like a blocked idle jet to me...any junk in the tank???
I had the same symptoms with bike only running on choke....cleaned carby at least 3 times but in the end it was the idle jet..just kept getting blocked with minor tank crap even after a tank cleanout. A fuel filter fixed it in the end.

Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Lozza on June 01, 2008, 07:57:30 pm
 WTF is a carby cover?? What happens with the choke on full??I would agree with Greg either to much or not enough air/fuel
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: pmc57 on June 01, 2008, 08:00:37 pm
Nathan S,
I agree with GregACT but I would also make sure all the jetting and slide in the carby is as per spec?
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: pokey on June 01, 2008, 08:05:45 pm
poor bottom end seals ?
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Rosco400 on June 01, 2008, 08:07:09 pm
have you had it running prviously, stripped it down at all ???
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: pokey on June 01, 2008, 08:13:52 pm
Checked the rotary valve at all Nathan and the O ring behind it?
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Nathan S on June 01, 2008, 08:18:32 pm
Full choke = no go.
No choke = no go.
Half choke = half go.

When it does kinda run, it does feel like the old 'cold engine and blocked/too small idle jet' problem. But in my experience, if you keep kicking it and letting it idle until the engine gets a bit of heat into it, then the bike will run.

Has a clean fuel filter.
When I got the bike on Thursday, the tank was nearly full of old fuel, which I drained before doing anything to the bike, and then I refilled with fresh fuel from a clean container. Tank looks clean inside.

Carby has been apart several times now...
Haven't delved any deeper than that though.

The carby cover is the bit that covers the carby...  ;D Seriously, its the access plate for the carby on the rotary valve motor.


Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Doc on June 01, 2008, 08:54:30 pm
check the flywheel key Nathan TS/TC100's are bullet proof and ultra reliable like most small bore trailies  ;)

was there a story with the bike? Maybe it sat for a mechanical reason. Any engine covers off or loose or anywhere it appears it may have been subject to previous work or tinkerings may give up a hint. Wiring played with? Screw heads worn out from regular meddlings?

the little plastic insert thingy that goes in the carb cracked/broken??..my TS75 had issues with not sealing and would not run until it was corrected.
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: holeshot buddy on June 01, 2008, 09:00:26 pm
check the exhaust is not blocked ;D
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Nathan S on June 01, 2008, 09:15:41 pm
Bike came from Firko. I don't know the history beyond "It was running, then it wasn't". Apparently the previous (to Firko) owner then lost the cover and the airbox, and Firko never really touched it. The TC90 parts bike that came with the 100 donated replacement parts.

Overall, its a very clean bike, with little sign of molestation - still on the original front tyre, I think (it's a gumby looking 'tractor tread' style of thing). Headlight and tail-light are still intact and still working, etc. The odometer reads 2424kms,and looks believable, although the cable is missing.... In any case, its not the usual flogged out old paddock hack.

Flywheel does NOT spin on the crank.

How blocked does an exhaust have to be before it becomes a problem? If you put your hand near the outlet while you kick it over, you can feel the exhaust coming out.
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Rosco400 on June 01, 2008, 09:31:42 pm
Whack a bolt thru the piston, then reliability wont be an issue ;D
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: holeshot buddy on June 01, 2008, 09:37:31 pm
it may not be exhaust but i have
struck many with blocked systems  ;D
symptoms are it starts but wont rev much above idle
and it will fuel up more than normal :'(
see if you can poke a wire or something down through system
you will still feel exhaust out back when running
but if its blocked it will be weak ;D
just another check to do on the list for you nathan ;D
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: gorby on June 02, 2008, 12:31:12 am
hello nathan,
pull the carby off and look inside the port as you turn it over slowly.the edges of the cutaway on the rotary disc valve should be square,you can see if there is any damage to the leading edge caused by debris(previous piston collapse etc)
or the valve may be mis-timed,its on a coarse spline from memory and gives much the same symptoms as a four stroke with the cam timing out.
 
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: Doc on June 02, 2008, 09:53:04 am
Condenser, points?? Nathan it's a hit and miss method when the bike cannot physically be seen. If the motor has compression and turns over fine, if it fires then stops and has blowback from the carb, is unmolested and seems otherwise in reasonable condition I'm inclined to go a timing issue. The flywheel may not feel loose but that's not to say it hasn't sheared the woodruff key and the flywheel jammed in a position where the timing is retarded to the hilt. My TS100 sheared these keys on more than the odd occassion and it sounds very remenicent of your wants to start and fire a few times but will not run ;) I probably have a nos set of points kicking around if you want them (free), I've about 100 sets of misc nos points but mainly for early suzuki's  :P
Title: Re: TC100 starts but won't run.
Post by: yzhilly on June 03, 2008, 12:26:51 pm
My RV90 had a few gemlins with the electrics the first was the wiring to the points a dirty contact and the flywheel spun on the crank ,My father in law re timed it and it run bewtiful but in reverse so we had a comp to see how far anyone could ride it up the drive backwards it was hilarious . But then retimed it and it starts  easy now and runs the right way . Hah you should have seen the commotion the first time i put it in gear and let the clutch out roaring backwards into the shed .