Ignition problems with FZR400

[Megazoid]

Hi.

as usually i screwed up... i had my friend take a look at the bike i was going to buy a month ago, and he said that it was great, and well looked after, so i saved up some money and bought it ($2700) FZR400 1988 2KR and now (three days after i bought it) i've found out that one of the cylinders is not going. yes, i know... i should have checked... but i didnt know what to check... so i've took the spark plug out, and checked it, it was pretty dirty, so i've bought a new one (7 instead of 8) and checked it for a spark. but there wasnt any, instead the spark was jumping out right from under the wire... so i've chenged the wire from my other bike, and it still wouldnt work. so i put everything together and went to sleep, today i've tryed to push start it, and found that now only the first cylinder is going, and the other three do not have the spark... someone help me... i cant even take it to "kg motocycles"... i'm desprate...

help... please...

Paul

PS. if someone in christchurch have any time tooday before 9pm, you are welcome to come and take a look at it... my mobile is 0210718120

[Megazoid]

dont anyone know what can be a problem?... even a hint could help...

[Ixion]

More info.

Do the lights work nice and bright? Horn loud? Motor turns over well on the starter? Have you tried spraying CRC around the spark plug lead area?

When you say "the spark was jumping out right from under the wire." what do you mean. If you leave the spark plug out, and put it on the metal of the engine, and turn the engine on the starter , does the plug spark.

I think these are double ended coils - so if the CDI/coil is bad it should take out both cylinders.

[geoffm]

Have a look in the workshop manuals thread for the workshop manual.
How many miles has it got, and what service history? Fizzers which have been spanked mushroom their intake valves, losing compression and getting harder to start. Before you do anything there (although a compression check is always a good idea.

A couple of things, has it been sitting for a while - could be bad petrol or rust in the tank. Clean the carbs and fresh petrol. Is the petrol pump working - you can here it at startup. Is the battery charged - try a jump start, with some starting ether.
Can you smell petrol coming out the sparkplug hole and exhaust?
Clean the plugs, or replace them all. If it has flooded, they will be wet and short out. You can get the plugs out from reaching in the side, although it is tight. A universal joint on the socket helps

if that doesn't work, check the resistance of the plug leads and caps. Try swapping the plug caps around.
My guess is gas and / or dirt in the carbs once you have fixed the plug lead.
Geoff

[Megazoid]

geoff: carbs are just fine because they were going well yesterday and the gas is fine too. it's got 52000 ks on it i've tryed to push start, but only one pipe went warm, and all though the motor was allmost going, it didnt get enought power to start, i've replaced one of the plugs with no effect the pump is working just fine, lus you can see the petrol going into the carbs when you push the button. it isnt fludded if it would be i would have cleaned it out like in the first cylinder. what do you mean by checking resistance of the plugs and caps?

ixion, what's CRC? all the electrics seem to work just fine. yes, spark does jump on the metal. yes, i think they are double ended, but then i dont understand how come one of the cylinders goes...

[Ixion]

geoff: carbs are just fine because they were going well yesterday and the gas is fine too. it's got 52000 ks on it i've tryed to push start, but only one pipe went warm, and all though the motor was allmost going, it didnt get enought power to start, i've replaced one of the plugs with no effect the pump is working just fine, lus you can see the petrol going into the carbs when you push the button. it isnt fludded if it would be i would have cleaned it out like in the first cylinder. what do you mean by checking resistance of the plugs and caps?

ixion, what's CRC? all the electrics seem to work just fine. yes, spark does jump on the metal. yes, i think they are double ended, but then i dont understand how come one of the cylinders goes...

CRC - spray on water dispersal stuff. Gets water out of electrics. There's a marine one which is better , in a green can (WD40 ?) . One cylinder on a double end coil usually means low tension is OK. So, either plugs or fuel.Or dud cables/caps. My guess is fuel, even though it was going (but only on 3 cyclinders) yesterday. I know it's a silly question, but you are sure that it isn't out of fuel, or down to reserve level. Pull a fuel pipe off on a non working cylinder and see that fuel comes out.

[ben444]

where abouts in chch are ya.. I could come and have a look if you want. a friend of mine races one of these..i'm pretty much free any time this week after 3pm..

[geoffm]

geoff: carbs are just fine because they were going well yesterday and the gas is fine too. it's got 52000 ks on it i've tryed to push start, but only one pipe went warm, and all though the motor was allmost going, it didnt get enought power to start, i've replaced one of the plugs with no effect the pump is working just fine, lus you can see the petrol going into the carbs when you push the button. it isnt fludded if it would be i would have cleaned it out like in the first cylinder. what do you mean by checking resistance of the plugs and caps?

ixion, what's CRC? all the electrics seem to work just fine. yes, spark does jump on the metal. yes, i think they are double ended, but then i dont understand how come one of the cylinders goes...

I am in Christchurch if you want me to come around and have a look at it.
Geoff

[Megazoid]

anytime tomorrow... i'll be asleep after work, so come and knock on the windows the adress is 64 marshlands rd, that's in shirley, 5 minutes walk from the Palms. i will be really greatefull if someone would take a look... come at any time...

thank you...

ps. ixion, i've got about half a tank of gas, and i can see it going into the cylinders when i press the ignition.