new speedster owner needing help please

[Richiespeedster]

Hi, where is the hn number which i believe gives me the year?
I have just got the port engine started so that one does run so surely the fuel must be ok,
I can't get the other one to even cough!!
I tried swapping the leads over from the side of the ecu on the working engine in case there was no spark but I don't know if that would work? it didn't anyway! made no difference,
I don't have a compression tester but the non runner is easier to turn over manually than the runner, yet the runner turns over much faster on the starter! very strange!
both turn over on the starters but I don't know if the non runner is sparking is there an easy way to test for spark??
where should the fuel taps in cockpit be?
so obviously being easier to turn it means it's low on compression, can this be anything other than a worn ring or knackered engine?
thanks guys I hope you can give me some hope
Richie

 

[Dr Honda]

1) You said you moved the wires in case there was no spark.... Did you check for a spark? THe easy way to check, is to simply put a spark plug in the wire, and make sure its grounded. Crank, and watch it.

2) You can't guess about the compression. It has to be checked with a tool. Speed that it turns over isn't a check. Bad wires, or a tired starter will run slow.

3) If the sticker isn't on the fuel valve... as I recall... up is "ON"... and down is "Reserve".

4) Even if every thing checks out... the Rotary valve could be broke, and not spinning. That will keep it from starting.

 

[Richiespeedster]

Hi Dr honda, thanks for the answers, I can see the picture of green fuel tank but which side of the knob that you turn has to be facing up as there is no arrow on it!?
is there an easy way to check that the valve is broken or not? or do i need to strip the engine?
I understand what you are saying about compression but surely if I can turn the engine by hand easier than the running one the easier one would have less compression as it's resisting less? or maybe a broken rotary valve would have the same effect?
thank you for all of your help,

 

[rjcress]

...but surely if I can turn the engine by hand easier than the running one the easier one would have less compression as it's resisting less? ...

Are your jet pumps connected? Could be that your jet pump bearings on the running engine are going bad, or the impeller is dragging on the wear ring. Either... as well as a number of other things, could cause the running engine to have more resistance when turning it by hand. As the good Doctor says, you can't be sure that your assumption about compression is right unless you check it. Too many other potential causes.

On the rotary valve, you can look it up in the manual (you have googled and found a downloadable shop manual, right?), or see some pics in this thread: http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?3554-A-look-inside-the-quot-787-quot
posts 4-6 show it disassembled.

Not sure if your fuel shutoff valves are the same as mine, but they have positive stops at On and Reserve. So, if I turn it clockwise until it stops, then it is On. If I turn it counter-clockwise (or anti-clockwise... whatever you call it) until it stops, then that is the Reserve position.

 

[Richiespeedster]

fired

Hi Guys,
it's sparks and when a little carbn cleaner was squirted in the arrestor it fired and ran for a very short period,
fuel comes out the top jet when you look down it and push throttle forward but it won't start without some extra squirts of carb cleaner,
so as it did briefly start does this mean the valve and compression are ok??
thanks

 

[rjcress]

...
so as it did briefly start does this mean the valve and compression are ok??
thanks

Seriously, no one is trying to waste your time checking compression. It really is how you will know if the compression is up to specs or not. Just because it started briefly with no load on it does not verify that compression is OK.

 

[Richiespeedster]

Seriously, no one is trying to waste your time checking compression. It really is how you will know if the compression is up to specs or not. Just because it started briefly with no load on it does not verify that compression is OK.

yes I understand I just have a bit more hope now!! so I will try and do a test today, screwfix do a compression guage for £20 so might as well buy one, would the valve be ok though if it briefly ran? I'm trying to keep optimistic as I don't fancy pulling it all apart!!

 

[Dr Honda]

Before we dig any deeper... we need compression numbers. An engine that is about ready to die can run on starter fluid. But... if it started at all... that's a good sign that the rotary valve is spinning.