1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

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heath1066
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1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#1

Post by heath1066 »

So. I replaced my coils with Dynas a month ago. Been riding daily no issues. Parked last Sunday night, didn’t go anywhere til Wednesday and bike wouldn’t start, really wanted to, but then 1/3 side backfired. Like not a deceleration, not starting little backfire, like a call the cops someone has 1/4 sticks and is setting them off in the alley kinda backfire. So I let it rest and took the Jeep instead… today I checked my plug wires, plugs, coil wires, etc… still did the same. Before I go checking timing belts for spontaneous failure… anyone have any ideas?
Heath Hays
1984 GL1200 Standard
Chicago, IL
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#2

Post by ericheath »

A really loud backfire is often a spark way out of time, or on our bikes, the “waste spark” can light of a mixture that didn’t get lit on the compression stroke into the exhaust on the exhaust stroke.

A cheap check for hints is to check your plugs, oily?
Wet?

It’s not likely your timing moved, but with new coils, it could be a pulse generator or spark unit. (Can’t recall 84 for sure)
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
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83 Wing, in pieces
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#3

Post by Whiskerfish »

Definitely want to check the belts and cam timing. I am not familiar with the advance on the 1200 but believe it is vacuum activated. I wonder if it could be stuck?
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heath1066
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#4

Post by heath1066 »

Belt are three years old, but I never thought to check the vacuum advance, if the rain breaks this afternoon I’ll check that out…
Heath Hays
1984 GL1200 Standard
Chicago, IL
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#5

Post by gltriker »

I am not at all familiar with a 1200.
Are your spark plug wires reversable?
Like 1 and 3 could be reversed.

That will make a big bang! :shock:
Cliff (74yrs ;) )

Keep your eyes and ears open and you'll learn something new, everyday. tumb2

New users please visit our "Shop Talk" for common tips and help: <---jdvorchak
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^^^^^^^click up here^^^^^ :oldies

RE: a thorough fuel tank cleaning
"And your carbs will thank you. They no longer live down stream from a sewage plant." -gregforesi tumb2
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Cliff

'75 GL1000 home built trike; http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=39996
October,2017 BOTM :shock: https://nakedgoldwingsclub.com/forum/page/Welcome

previous rides:
1953 H-D Servi-car, naked, 1969-1978 (serial#53G1559 committed to memory!)
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heath1066
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#6

Post by heath1066 »

You can reverse them but they are correct, and the bike was running fine with no changes a few days before…
Heath Hays
1984 GL1200 Standard
Chicago, IL
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ericheath
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#7

Post by ericheath »

Some early 1200 manuals actually had the firing order wrong.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
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CYBORG
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#8

Post by CYBORG »

You mentioned rain. Any chance sme water might have gotten in the spark plug well's? If the drain holes are plugged the water and spark can do strange things
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MikeNTexas
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#9

Post by MikeNTexas »

A backfire in the exhaust can be caused by an intermittent fault somewhere in the primary ignition circuit. Since it won’t start at all now the fault may not be intermittent anymore. Check everything. Ignition switch, kill switch, all wiring connections.
Last edited by MikeNTexas on Mon Jul 12, 2021 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#10

Post by gltriker »

MikeNTexas wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:43 pm A backfire on the exhaust can be caused by an intermittent fault somewhere in the primary ignition circuit. Since it won’t start at all now the fault may not be intermittent anymore. Check everything. Ignition switch, kill switch, all wiring connections.
Have you/do you regularly use the off/run/off handlebar switch?
Cliff (74yrs ;) )

Keep your eyes and ears open and you'll learn something new, everyday. tumb2

New users please visit our "Shop Talk" for common tips and help: <---jdvorchak
http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/page/ST
^^^^^^^click up here^^^^^ :oldies

RE: a thorough fuel tank cleaning
"And your carbs will thank you. They no longer live down stream from a sewage plant." -gregforesi tumb2
"Can't see the paint when your looking thru the handlebars..........." -Oldewing ;)
"I'd rather Ride than Shine" -RAT tumb2 Me Too!!

Cliff

'75 GL1000 home built trike; http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=39996
October,2017 BOTM :shock: https://nakedgoldwingsclub.com/forum/page/Welcome

previous rides:
1953 H-D Servi-car, naked, 1969-1978 (serial#53G1559 committed to memory!)
1980 CB900 Custom (triked) 1997-2003 .... R.I.P.
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heath1066
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#11

Post by heath1066 »

The bike has been rewired with an m-unit so the handlebar kill is no longer used period. Water is a slight poss, it’s been raining forever..and still is this afternoon…
Heath Hays
1984 GL1200 Standard
Chicago, IL
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#12

Post by heath1066 »

Alright issue resolved! Two bad spark plugs, one real bad and one weird and intermittent. After rechecking and testing all wiring, testing the ignition unit Vac advance with a syringe, and further checking the 6v circuit fully, I pulled the plugs again and cleaned and gapped, put them back the the misfire switched sides. After testing spark plugs found one bad one and one questionable, so they all got replaced and she fired in the first push of the button. Plugs are only 3 years old, but I know the resistor caps were several times that age at least…
Heath Hays
1984 GL1200 Standard
Chicago, IL
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ritalz
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Re: 1200 Standard not starting and Backfire…

#13

Post by ritalz »

action1 action1 action1
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