Won't start warm with e-start

Disclaimer: I'm a wrenchin' retard, and should probably not be allowed to do anything more complicated than an oil change. That said, I need help...

My bike suddenly began giving me a problem with starting. When warm, even slightly warm, it will not start with the e-start, although it kick starts pretty easily. When it gets very hot, it simply shuts down (like out of fuel) at slower speeds, and will not re-start even by kicking until the temperature comes down somewhat.

Surrounding/preceding events: I installed a Vapor odo/tach unit. I works fine, and I don't see how it could have any affect on how the bike runs. I attached the tach wire to the plug connection at the coil, and just for grins I pulled that wire to find no affect.

At the same service setting as the computer install, I changed the sparkplug. I used an oem replacement and set the gap at .025 inch, or about .6 mm. I thought I might have gotten a bad plug so I got another one and put it in....same problem.

Also at that interval I checked the valves and did a slight reset of the intakes to .005 inch, or about .12 mm. I thought about the possibility of being 180 degrees out, or simply getting the gaps wrong, so I rechecked everything the next day after the motor was completely cool. All is good there, within a very high level of certainty.

I have an autoclutch, so I have to open the stator cover in order to turn the motor. I don't know if I could have done anything wrong there, but I as I said before, my mechanical skills are singularly unimpressive.

Fuel is fresh, and high octane pump gas, which is what I normally run.

Oil level is fine, although it is due for a change.

I don't know if my problem is electrical, mechanical, animal or veggie.

Ok... you have your case study. Where did I go from here?

Johnf3 said:

I would get it up to the temperature point that it quits running and then check for spark. I think it is electrical since the starter only works until it is warm and it will still kickstart.

It you adjusted the valves on the wrong TDC it wouldn't even start at all, so that is not the problem, as long as you clearances are good. A stator on the way out often fails when warm, or it could be something as simple as the plug cap.

Check and make sure it is not a tank vent issue (fuel-related), but I think you have an electrical issue.

Click to expand...

Thanks guys for the ideas. The tank is venting just fine, and I even removed the cap just to be extra sure.

I've thought about the stator, but it's never shown a hint of a problem. I think I'll get a friend to triple check my valve adjustments. It's not like I haven't checked and adjusted the valves before, but I can't quite shake the feeling that I've somehow screwed up. We'll use the 1/6 method.

Thanks for the idea about checking for spark after it's warm. That's logical, which is probably why I didn't think of it. I'll do that tomorrow.