I could really use some experienced thoughts as I'm short on time. I usually have no trouble starting my '96 GTS after winterizing and a long break. This time (only here 2 weeks), it momentarily fired up, died down within a few seconds and will no longer start. The engine turns over fine and has good compression, but never fires.
Things I did:
1. (before winterizing): I did rebuild the mikuni carb with a cheap $10 china/ebay washer kit (I know, bad idea). I did not replace the needle/seat. I plan to order and replace with a genuine mikuni kit later, but the carb seemed to be working okay with the cheap kit last season, ran about 10 hours.
2. I just replaced all fuel lines with some recommended gates hose, cleaned fuel filter. Replaced the fuel selector as well. 100% certain I hooked it up proper, and primed the fuel to the carb with a suction hose.
3. I bought new br7es spark plugs (always used these instead of br8es) and gaped it to the recommended 0.020" (but it always previously fired at the stock 0.034")
4. I've tried pouring a little gas directly into the spark plug holes, always got me started from cold before. I also tried pouring fuel with oil premix directly into carb, same result, just turns.
5. I previously used 87 regular ethanol gas before, but switched to non-ethanol fuel last year. The original fuel line connecting to the crankcase was fully gunked-up, and I tried to scoop out any sludge that might have been blocking the crankcase nozzle.
Unknowns:
1. The battery is really bad and I have to charge it up after ~30 seconds worth of cranking. I tried turning over with a jumper pack attached, it also just turns (fast) in this scenario.
2. Could problem be a bad ignition coil?
3. Even if the carb kit is bad, shouldn't the engine still at least fire briefly with some gas poured in per above?
Is there anything else I can test in the short-term before I give up and get a new battery and carb kit next time? I'm only here another week and I replace these stupid powersport batteries every 6-12 months (gone the next 6 months), but if this is the likely culprit, I'll just run out and grab one.
Thank you!
Things I did:
1. (before winterizing): I did rebuild the mikuni carb with a cheap $10 china/ebay washer kit (I know, bad idea). I did not replace the needle/seat. I plan to order and replace with a genuine mikuni kit later, but the carb seemed to be working okay with the cheap kit last season, ran about 10 hours.
2. I just replaced all fuel lines with some recommended gates hose, cleaned fuel filter. Replaced the fuel selector as well. 100% certain I hooked it up proper, and primed the fuel to the carb with a suction hose.
3. I bought new br7es spark plugs (always used these instead of br8es) and gaped it to the recommended 0.020" (but it always previously fired at the stock 0.034")
4. I've tried pouring a little gas directly into the spark plug holes, always got me started from cold before. I also tried pouring fuel with oil premix directly into carb, same result, just turns.
5. I previously used 87 regular ethanol gas before, but switched to non-ethanol fuel last year. The original fuel line connecting to the crankcase was fully gunked-up, and I tried to scoop out any sludge that might have been blocking the crankcase nozzle.
Unknowns:
1. The battery is really bad and I have to charge it up after ~30 seconds worth of cranking. I tried turning over with a jumper pack attached, it also just turns (fast) in this scenario.
2. Could problem be a bad ignition coil?
3. Even if the carb kit is bad, shouldn't the engine still at least fire briefly with some gas poured in per above?
Is there anything else I can test in the short-term before I give up and get a new battery and carb kit next time? I'm only here another week and I replace these stupid powersport batteries every 6-12 months (gone the next 6 months), but if this is the likely culprit, I'll just run out and grab one.
Thank you!
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