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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 02:37:00 AM

Title: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 02:37:00 AM
Hi everyone. Is it ok to post here about a non - guzzi bike ? I thought I should ask as I recently posted a pic of my guzzi on a suzuki forum and got deleted ! Jealousy I reckon.
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: Mr Pootle on October 28, 2017, 04:20:09 AM
Look back through the posts. There are great pictures of bikes of every age and make. Obviously MG riders aren’t as insecure as some others.
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: KiwiKev on October 28, 2017, 04:33:55 AM
 Yeh go for it as long as it’s not a Harley lol


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Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: Huzo on October 28, 2017, 04:42:23 AM
I like it when guys post pics about bikes that are different from mine.
It makes me realise how lucky I am ! :thumb:
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: wavedog on October 28, 2017, 05:17:19 AM
No.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/eFpf5m/myredstrom1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eFpf5m)
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: radguzzi on October 28, 2017, 07:35:30 AM
Yeh go for it as long as it�s not a Harley lol


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Yeah, that would be in bad taste...  :rolleyes:



(http://thumb.ibb.co/cXe55m/HD_008.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cXe55m)


Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: guzzisteve on October 28, 2017, 07:40:14 AM
I had a Suzuki once, 72 Purple Water Buffalo, crashed & burned and I wasn't riding it. Bought it in 74 for $1200. Sorry no pics.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/h0f9Fm/the_shop_031.jpg) (http://ibb.co/h0f9Fm)

img url (http://imgbb.com/)


RevTech is not a HD
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: sdcr on October 28, 2017, 07:55:58 AM
Especially, no BMW's...

(http://thumb.ibb.co/c1ooam/image.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c1ooam)
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on October 28, 2017, 08:27:32 AM
You can not only post pictures.. Dusty sez we love pictures..  :smiley: but you can ask tech questions. This eclectic bunch of geezers has pretty much BTDT. 
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: oldbike54 on October 28, 2017, 08:35:33 AM
 If you want I'll ban that Suzuki forum from WG .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: bobrebos on October 28, 2017, 09:00:04 AM
No 1971 Honda CB 750 Choppers either!
(http://thumb.ibb.co/eTd71R/IMG_1135.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eTd71R)
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: radguzzi on October 28, 2017, 09:01:00 AM
Especially, no BMWs...

Copy that...


(http://thumb.ibb.co/gOk1vm/20170918_163526.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gOk1vm)
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: sdcr on October 28, 2017, 09:07:54 AM
Back in the day, when BMW actually made good looking bikes.    :drool:
Copy that...


(http://thumb.ibb.co/gOk1vm/20170918_163526.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gOk1vm)

Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 09:37:59 AM
Ok , well thanks for the go ahead. I wanted to post here cos I know there are experts here , if there weren't my sporti would still be up on blocks.
Ok so here it is - I've got an '87 gsxr1100h slabside. It's been sat for 8 years and I've pulled it out and got the old girl fizzing again. I had a few good but short rides on it and then it started popping and missing around mid revs. Over the next few journeys that got worse until it would happen around 2k. Now here's the weird bit. When it does it all I have to do to fix it is change over the cdi to my spare and she's away again. Next day it's shite when I start it so change back cdi and hey presto. I've gone over all the connectors and they seem fine. Is there anything in a cdi that can get stuck or confused by other systems ( like regulators etc) which would reset itself by the next day ? Wish I could post a pic but not worked out how yet , my phone doesn't like something. Anyway all contributions and advice welcome.
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 09:39:07 AM
Sorry , should I have started a new thread ?
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: Zoom Zoom on October 28, 2017, 09:58:51 AM
No ExSpurts here. Just drips under pressure. :violent1: :evil:

John Henry
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: guzzisteve on October 28, 2017, 10:23:03 AM
Could be the box resets & selflearn or not. I would inspect the ignition pickups if your carbs are clean.
NOTE  I don't work on GSXR's, just an idea.
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 10:36:17 AM
Carbs seem clean and when I opened them up they showed no signs of gumming up. I do have a spare engine so could try the pick ups thing. Ta.
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: Orange Guzzi on October 28, 2017, 10:42:55 AM
Three out of four bikes in my garage are not Guzzi.  But I do like my Guzzi the best. 
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: oldbike54 on October 28, 2017, 10:46:41 AM
 Mr Pants , altered the thread title , no need to start a new one . Someone here will probably steer you in the right direction , good luck .

 Dusty
Title: Re: Question about posting
Post by: Guzzistajohn on October 28, 2017, 10:47:28 AM

(http://thumb.ibb.co/eMST86/april11_2010_010.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eMST86)

This is a Guzzi forum, what the @#$% are you thinkin'?
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: LowRyter on October 28, 2017, 10:49:57 AM
Hi everyone. Is it ok to post here about a non - guzzi bike ? I thought I should ask as I recently posted a pic of my guzzi on a suzuki forum and got deleted ! Jealousy I reckon.

sounds familiar.  I used (past tense) to be on Max Suzuki.......
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 11:25:14 AM
I'm not sure what the protocol is so it's either thanks Mr oldbike or thanks Dusty. I'd like to think it's Mr dusty scruff.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: LowRyter on October 28, 2017, 11:33:41 AM
so it works when you switch CDI?  Maybe the battery?  Or battery connection?
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: oldbike54 on October 28, 2017, 11:35:16 AM
I'm not sure what the protocol is so it's either thanks Mr oldbike or thanks Dusty. I'd like to think it's Mr dusty scruff.

  :laugh:
 Either is fine , I'm kinda like the character referenced in my sig line , just call me in time to eat  :food:

 Dusty
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: rodekyll on October 28, 2017, 11:39:03 AM
I worked on a Suzuki of that vintage a while back with a similar history.  On that one the connector between the cdi pickup on the engine and the cdi control unit was corroded.  I cleaned it up and the problem went away. 

On another one, some V-twin POS, it was the silly mechanical fuel pump.  That one fooled me for a while.  It would run until it didn't.  We'd tinker with it, and then it would run again.  We kept thinking we had the problem licked every time because it would run when we fixed it -- until it didn't.  It turns out the pump was having a hard time lifting gas from its low position to the carbs.  It would pump enough to start and idle the bike and fill the float bowls (remember these won't actually start until pressure is up and you don't get pressure until the engine is cranking -- a real cluster to troubleshoot through).  But it couldn't keep up with the volume required to keep it running at speed.  So it would slowly starve, pop, misfire, fart, backfire, and generally misbehave. 

All episodes ended in a dead engine.  Tinker with it for half an hour (long enough for the pump to recover) and anything tinkered with would then be the "fix" -- until it did it's little death dance again.  I finally found the problem when I opened the drain on a float bowl immediately after it died and found it dry.  Replaced the pump and filter, ensured proper tank venting, and rerouted the fuel line to give it a better gravity feed.  As far as I know that POS is still running.
Title: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: KiwiKev on October 28, 2017, 11:39:22 AM
Maybe both CDI units are poked ?  Not likely I guess but maybe.

Oh yeh as above could be starving for gas - fuel filter blocked ?
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 11:55:20 AM
I did suspect fuel flow as the bike had sat for ages and had surface rust in the tank but I have checked the bowls when not running and always got fuel out. The cdi switching thing is amazingly repeatable and consistent. I can have an engine that misses when I start it , repeat this day after day then switch cdi and it works. Next day back to misses and pops. I'm gonna give it a try now - it's in my living room so it's gonna get smelly.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: KiwiKev on October 28, 2017, 11:57:57 AM
Lol, you must be single or the missus is out of town :-)




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Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 28, 2017, 12:13:58 PM
My beautiful girlfriend lives a beautiful 100 miles away. Hence 5 bikes in my living room. Please don't tell her I said that.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: pehayes on October 28, 2017, 12:31:50 PM
Guzzisteve, can you please hang that cargo dolly somewhere else?
 :evil:

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: JohninVT on October 28, 2017, 12:45:08 PM
'87 Yamaha TW200's are infamous for an intermittent CDI.  The bike will run fine until everything gets hot and then it'll misfire, pop and eventually refuse to run.  Wait an hour and it will fire right up and run great until it gets hot and the cycle will repeat itself.  A GSX-R CDI unit is about a hundred bucks.  It is not beyond the realm of possibility that both of your 30 year old CDI's are bad.     
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: guzzisteve on October 28, 2017, 12:50:49 PM
Guzzisteve, can you please hang that cargo dolly somewhere else?
 :evil:

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Had my fare share of playing 'OCC'
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: Turin on October 28, 2017, 07:35:14 PM
Some pics would be nice. I like Vintage sportbikes. Red and black or blue and white?
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: KiwiKev on October 29, 2017, 04:56:51 AM
Some pics would be nice. I like Vintage sportbikes. Red and black or blue and white?
And a couple of the beautiful girlfriend please :-)
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: flangeman_70 on October 29, 2017, 05:00:45 AM
I have read the posts multiple times but I can't be clear on this:-

The first CDI starts the bike and once warm it starts misbehaving, correct?
I assume the second CDI won't start the bike cold but works perfectly when warm, correct?

Does the bike have a dual speed fuel pump? It was common on later model bikes with carbs but 87 seems a little early. This is driven by the CDI output and once X revs is reached voltage to the pump is increased by a the relay.

Check and clean connectors to battery, crank pick-up, CDI (grounding is critical), Fuel pump and all related fuses. Check the voltage at the fuel pump connectors. Check the carb fuel bowl vents are not blocked.

Report back.

Good luck!

Adam

Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 30, 2017, 08:11:35 AM
hey flangeman (never thought id say that).
So whats been happening is i go out to start the bike and it starts but misses and pops etc .
I then change cdi and it runs fine all day.
Next day i have to repeat the process.
Theres no cdi works better hot or cold , its just whichever one is fitted that day has to be changed.
Well thats how it was , yesterday it packed up all together and wouldnt start on either cdi. I checked and had no spark. I happened to have one of the origional 10 year old plugs to hand so tried it and got a good spark. Changed all four of the new plugs for the old ones and it fired up ! Just done 10 lovely miles on it and didnt miss a beat. So whats going on there ? The plugs i took out looked fine and theyre new , why would they stop working and how would changing a cdi make any difference ? And will it require a cdi change tomorrow morning ?
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 30, 2017, 08:12:42 AM
Oh and no fuel pump or anything like that , just old tech.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on October 30, 2017, 09:00:04 AM
Have you checked the boots and wires with an ohmmeter? It sounds to me like there is something that is overloading the CDI. FWIW, I have an aviation spark plug tester that I have modified to test automotive plugs. I have found new ones that tested bad. When they do, they exactly mimic a coil going bad on a twin cylinder lawnmower engine. Don't ask me how I know this..  :smiley: (misfiring until it quits as it gets warm)
At any rate, I'd put new plugs in it and make sure I didn't have any high resistance boots or wires to start with.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on October 31, 2017, 05:18:08 AM
Well I've just been out again on the old plugs and it ran sweet. I also noticed that the ht leads from the new coils are not a good fit on the plug caps , could be losing some power there.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on October 31, 2017, 09:00:00 AM
Well I've just been out again on the old plugs and it ran sweet. I also noticed that the ht leads from the new coils are not a good fit on the plug caps , could be losing some power there.
[/b]

And.. heating up the CDI because it's having a hard time with that gap. Have you ohmed the wires/caps yet? It's not rocket science.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on October 31, 2017, 09:11:18 AM
With your ohmmeter measure from each plug cap to ground, they should be all identical. I'm wondering if you have those nasty carbon resistor leads.
A Guzzi typically measured 8k, your rice burner will be different but all the same.
Just one thing, if you have double ended coils with a wasted spark you may have to measure between a pair of plug caps instead of to ground, in this case each pair will be the same.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on November 01, 2017, 02:38:21 PM
Not had a chance to do my duty with the meter yet as breakdowns this morning on the way to work and again on the way back have depleted my resolve . Ruminating with a beer now but on the job tomorrow. I sprung a pin hole leak in the tank today and had ride the 30miles home one handed in the dark with petrol wicking all up my sleeve. Glad to be home.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: rodekyll on November 01, 2017, 03:11:49 PM
You can fix a pinhole temporarily by rubbing a bar of soap (I used Ivory) on it.  It holds for an hour or so -- long enough to get somewhere safe before it burns down.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on November 02, 2017, 05:35:32 AM
Really , soap ! I had to settle for no more nails as it was the nearest to a glue that I could get. It held for about 1min so I gave up and used the finger.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on November 02, 2017, 05:57:15 AM
Ok I've been out with multimeter and I'm afraid I have nothing to report except my incompetence.  I cannot get any repeatable or stable results. The meter fluctuates between 30M ohm and 5M and keeps dropping and rising. I tried without a plug cap and got the same results. I'll have a coffee then go try to improve my set up.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on November 02, 2017, 06:34:39 AM
Ok I think the fluctuating results were because all I was measuring was my own resistance ! So making sure I wasn't touching anything I did get very repeatable results. O.L on the meter which I presume means overload and isn't right.
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on November 02, 2017, 09:05:31 AM
OL = open circuit I think, at least on my meters
Maybe you have the carbon core resistor leads if so find some copper core stuff

Does the cable unscrew from the coil?
If not try unscrewing it at the plug end and either shorten it by 1/2" or take a sewing pin and jamb it up the wire to make the circuit

The plug cap might measure 5k from the cable connection to the cap, that would be normal for a resistor cap but you shouldn't have resistor cap & resistor leads.

As I said before if you have double ended coils like a lot of 4 cylinder rice burners you probably wont get a circuit to ground but should get a circuit from 1 cap to the other.
I'm only guessing when I say 8,000 Ohms just look for the same value in the other coil.
I found this schematic, it confirms the double ended coils are not grounded, they spark through both plugs in series. But it also confirms you should get a circuit between plug caps.
http://www.classiccycles.org/media//DIR_1653304/DIR_1762756/1b0aa491b60a7ac3ffff8496ffffe415.pdf
Title: Re: Question about '87 GSXR .
Post by: bigpants on November 03, 2017, 01:32:16 PM
Thanks again Roy , you're gradually working through my entire collection of dilapidated bikes. The coils are copper core. I'm pretty sure a defective lead on my meter is at fault , I'll need a meter to check my meter , I forsee an infinite series of meters. I do have good news though - we can put this thread to bed , she's fixed. I'm sure no one will be surprised to discover the problem was just a corroded wire deep down in the chassis. I was trying to get the rear brake light working and had to stick a finger into no man's land behind the frame , the engine cut out. Restarted and repeated and same result. It was a power feed to the fuse box. The terminal always read battery voltage but if I touched the hidden wire the engine cut out. Stripped it out , cut in a new section and bike fired up , Rev counter stable and hasn't missed a beat since even through a pea souper this morning. I've learnt a few things this time such as always check your meter , I've got 20M ohm resistance and 13v ain't always 13v. Thanks for all the help and advice everyone. I promise not to start working on my scooter for at least a month.