RE:CBR400 - one of the cylinders not firing right - advise please!

marty_400 · 05-04-2008, 4:16 PM

Hiya All,

RE:CBR400 - one of the cylinders not firing right - advise please!

boohoo.... 3 miles from home, bike started to play up.. (A 90 mile ride home from Bornemouth - well done Wraith!)
Even the neighbour had a look over this weekend.

Dealer had done a service on it, and replaced the plugs. The problem was noted before, and the bike was sounding a bit "fluttering" at tickover, when We picked her up. But they did say that the bike has been standing for ages, and that we should perhaps try riding it off. If any problems still, we could get it fixed back in bristol, and he'd foot the bill.

bike has 2 ignition coils.
When only LHS coil is connected - bike fire up, (not well, but good test. LHS is fine)
When only RHS coil is connected - bike does not fire up, (Apparently can't start up bike on only one cyclinder.)

Ok, hopefully its only the RHS Coil, or RHS HT Leads.

Questions:
1. If its the Coils - Do we replace both the coils as a set for equilibrium? Or is it acceptable to only do the faulty one?
2. If its the HT Leads - Do we replace all of them as a set for equilibrium? Or is it acceptable to only do the faulty one?
3. Do we always replace with new sets, or are parts from breakers acceptable?? (If under warranty - I'd say get new!)

4. Any idea how much the above costs? Can I get the parts from David silvers if need be etc? (I'll can them when they are open!)
5. Any idea the part numbers (Hence my other "microfishe post!)

4. Can it be something else altogeher? Anyone seen this on CBR400s???

Hope you can advise!
Cheers
Martin

PS:
This is bit of a pain - I've just got the bike - but I'm loving the tinkering already! Boys with toys eh? :-D

Surffrog · 05-05-2008, 1:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Hiya All,

RE:CBR400 - one of the cylinders not firing right - advise please!

boohoo.... 3 miles from home, bike started to play up.. (A 90 mile ride home from Bornemouth - well done Wraith!)
Even the neighbour had a look over this weekend.

Dealer had done a service on it, and replaced the plugs. The problem was noted before, and the bike was sounding a bit "fluttering" at tickover, when We picked her up. But they did say that the bike has been standing for ages, and that we should perhaps try riding it off. If any problems still, we could get it fixed back in bristol, and he'd foot the bill.

bike has 2 ignition coils.
When only LHS coil is connected - bike fire up, (not well, but good test. LHS is fine)
When only RHS coil is connected - bike does not fire up, (Apparently can't start up bike on only one cyclinder.)

Ok, hopefully its only the RHS Coil, or RHS HT Leads.

Questions:
1. If its the Coils - Do we replace both the coils as a set for equilibrium? Or is it acceptable to only do the faulty one?
2. If its the HT Leads - Do we replace all of them as a set for equilibrium? Or is it acceptable to only do the faulty one?
3. Do we always replace with new sets, or are parts from breakers acceptable?? (If under warranty - I'd say get new!)

4. Any idea how much the above costs? Can I get the parts from David silvers if need be etc? (I'll can them when they are open!)
5. Any idea the part numbers (Hence my other "microfishe post!)

4. Can it be something else altogeher? Anyone seen this on CBR400s???

Hope you can advise!
Cheers
Martin

PS:
This is bit of a pain - I've just got the bike - but I'm loving the tinkering already! Boys with toys eh? :-D

Hi Marty,

While it's not a common occurrence, it does happen. Personally, I think that if you have isolated the problem and believe it's the RHS coil then just replace that unit - unless they're only selling them in pairs now. The LHS coil is obviously working okay. That said, if someone else is footing the bill like you suggest then replace both. But there really isn't any balancing issue here. Maybe if you were racing competitively but otherwise...

I would first try replacing the unit that's definitely not working correctly. Once that problem's been isolated you will soon know if the other is causing trouble.

Where HT leads are concerned, I believe it's just good practice to replace them all together, the same with spark plugs. Why bother going half measures when it's not a lot more work (once you're there) to replace all of them. One thing is for sure, you won't have to go back in to sort out a short in a lead a couple of weeks later because they'll all be new

Good luck with getting her back on the road.

LoopyLee · 05-05-2008, 5:25 AM

Quote:

4. Any idea how much the above costs? Can I get the parts from David silvers if need be etc? (I'll can them when they are open!)
5. Any idea the part numbers (Hence my other "microfishe post!)

I just rang them up and they looked it up on their computer, told me prices and that was it... they had to order the fuel lines in as they were out of stock but got everything in a week

Surffrog · 05-05-2008, 5:26 AM

Hey Loopy does the Haynes manual have part numbers in it?

LoopyLee · 05-05-2008, 6:26 AM

Not that i've noticed.. But..... I have a link to a site for the microfiche for anyone who is interested... The writing is in japanese, but you can find the part from the diagrams and look at the writing underneath to get the part number....
As I cant post live links here on the site if you I can send the link via PM to anyone interested....

marty_400 · 05-05-2008, 6:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopyLee

Not that i've noticed.. But..... I have a link to a site for the microfiche for anyone who is interested... The writing is in japanese, but you can find the part from the diagrams and look at the writing underneath to get the part number....
As I cant post live links here on the site if you I can send the link via PM to anyone interested....

I'd like that link please LL!

PM over if that ok!

Martin x

LoopyLee · 05-06-2008, 1:34 PM

I cant send you a PM yet.. you havent posted enough!!!! post a few more times and I'll be able to send it to you.....

marty_400 · 05-06-2008, 5:38 PM

Friend brought his factory trained mate around to take a look. A pretty chilled and awesome chap!

1. All cylinders are firing
2. It's a fuelling problem
3. Carbs etc need cleaning. Will sort out a whole number of sins/symptoms.
* Needs to be done in the workshop realistically.

4. Bike's engine is sound apart from the carbs.

He is going to try and squeeze the bike into the workshop for this week. Failing that, hew will try to get one of the smaller workshops that does work for his dealership, to work on the bike.

Nice helpful chap, Chris has some great contacts!

Cheers
Martin

sheepofblue · 05-06-2008, 6:46 PM

If it has been setting up look in the tank. I am betting rust so when you get the carbs done you might consider adding a cheap in line filter if possible. Most have a screen in the petcock but they are not that great and can fall off. Plus you can see garbage in the clear in lines. If you can get it to fire you may be able to get it to clean out if it is just varnish from old gas (I assume you changed the gas already

) Good luck it sounds like a cool bike. Also the Haynes are useful and nice but if possible get the Honda manual (in the states we can get them from www.helminc.com for a lot of bikes)

Good luck and enjoy

LoopyLee · 05-07-2008, 2:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

2. It's a fuelling problem
3. Carbs etc need cleaning. Will sort out a whole number of sins/symptoms.
* Needs to be done in the workshop realistically.

Check and recheck the fuel pump and relay (intermittant fault), change fuel filters, personally I'd get new fuel lines as well if you can (mine were really rigid/old), they are about £3 each from David Silver.. I put a load of carb cleaner in my carbs as it had stood for 6 months and they seems fine, I also put cleaner in the fuel tank so it could run through the fuel system as well as an added measure..

If all the above had failed I would have had to strip carbs and clean them..

soupnazi · 05-14-2008, 9:58 PM

I had a similar problem with the coils, it wouldn't start with the right coil but would only run on 2 cylinders with the left or both plugged in. The only anomaly was that my battery had died so was using a different battery. When I bought another battery and fitted it everything miraculously worked again.

That said if you've got a fueling problem and it didn't affect the 1st and 4th cylinders chances are there's gunk in the 2nd and 3rd carbeurettors.

Take your tank off and inspect the bottom of it. Are there any flakes of paint or pinhole dimples? If the tank had some water inside the bottom will be rusted and flowing into the fuel lines. If you've got a fuel filter you should be able to see crap rattling around inside, if you don't have a filter then that crap is in the carbs.

marty_400 · 05-15-2008, 5:50 PM

Got the bike back this afternoon

£120 Carb strip and cleam (Apparently really bunged up, 3hrs work at £40/hr....)
£180 service (incl cab balance and dyno chart)
-----------
£300

ouch!

Dealer paid £200, I paid the rest. (not happy with, but the warranty work was the £120 bit, the other £80 they paid was towards a f*cking proper service!)

Bike back, running like a trooper, infact, like a different bike altogether - thats all I care about - will enjoy the rest of the summer with my baby now!

Martin

Surffrog · 05-16-2008, 2:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Got the bike back this afternoon

£120 Carb strip and cleam (Apparently really bunged up, 3hrs work at £40/hr....)
£180 service (incl cab balance and dyno chart)
-----------
£300

ouch!

Dealer paid £200, I paid the rest. (not happy with, but the warranty work was the £120 bit, the other £80 they paid was towards a f*cking proper service!)

Bike back, running like a trooper, infact, like a different bike altogether - thats all I care about - will enjoy the rest of the summer with my baby now!

Martin

Good for you Marty. I know it's a pain to have to pay out anymore cash, but she will reward you in the long-run. Enjoy

LoopyLee · 05-16-2008, 4:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty_400

Bike back, running like a trooper, infact, like a different bike altogether - thats all I care about - will enjoy the rest of the summer with my baby now!

Nice one.. glad she is running properly now.. now you can get out there and play

Surffrog · 05-17-2008, 2:33 AM

Rain seems to have stopped for us for now. I'm going to start digging around this weekend to see if I can't fix my bike's misfire.

LoopyLee · 05-17-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surffrog

Rain seems to have stopped for us for now. I'm going to start digging around this weekend to see if I can't fix my bike's misfire.

Good luck with it.. we're thinking of you and Akira