85' 454 ltd won't start

[kmosier]

I am a student athlete at Purdue university and am up here training all summer and I have always wanted a bike plus needed something other than working and working out to do(like work on a bike lol). So I bought my first bike


One of my friends inherited this bike from his grandpa and didn't want to fiddle with it. He sold it and nearly a full part bike for it to me for $300.

I don't have much history on it. I know it hasn't been wrecked or anything like that. It is in pretty good shape for a 26 year old bike it has a little rust here and there but nothing terrible.

I bought it a new battery and hooked that up. The lights and horn work but it is giving no response at all when I try to start it. I am not experienced with bikes but a friend of mine is with dirt bikes and said it must be the starter.

I am currently trying to get the carb off to then get out the starter and replace it with the one from the part bike. I had it tested and it cranked. They didn't assure me it was working perfectly though. I also plan to clean the carb while it is off.

Am I on the right track?
Any suggestions on what I need to do?
Also any tips on getting the carb off? I am struggling to get it off. Again I am new to motorcycles so all the help I can get is MUCH appreciated!


here are some pics of it

www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7520190&l=c0b25a6bab&id=733477338


www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7689023&l=75a25b8c55&id=733477338

www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7689022&l=5d3ee6ad4b&id=733477338


www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=7689021&l=c4dd31bca2&id=733477338

[eaglerider]

Don't start with the big stuff...doubt that the starter is bad. Check all electrical connections, fuses, ground wire connections, etc. Check to see if you have power to the starter, sometimes, the ignition switch gets dirty, or does not function properly. Sometimes the starter push button is bad. You need to read thru & do some research on the forum posts, looking for similar problems that others have had. Remember, this is an older bike, probably been sitting for an unknown amount of time. Drain,and refill with fresh oil, drain & flush & refill cooling system, check valve adjustment....carbs most likely need cleaning. These are some of the things that need to be done to get your bike back on the road.

[wanchesenative]

I would add draining and cleaning the trash out of the gas tank as I'm sure it is full of old, sour gas.

[ice cream man]

Look at the started solenoid. Its behind the right side cover. Touch the 2 poles together with a screwdriver and see if it kicks over at all. Let me know what happens next

[Bearded Biker]

i want to welcome you to the sight.sounds like you got steal of a deal on both bikes. try pushing key in and turning it to the right all the way and back to start. that is how i have to start my 85 to turn over. dose your turn signal work and the green light to show you that it is in nuetral.keep us posted on what you have down so far gayland

[kmosier]

been extremely busy and am so anxious to get working on it again!

Ice cream man... can you explain how to do that in a little more detail. If it does turn over is the starter good?

I will def change the oil and gas before I try and start it.

eaglerider... where is the coolant at?

bearded bikeer... yes the turn signals and neutral lights work

Thank you all so much for your replies

[eaglerider]

I'll answer a couple of those: The starter selonoid is behind the right cover, as was said. U can identify it by the two larger battery cables attached to two posts. One of the wires goes to the positive post of the battery, the other goes to the starter. With the bike in neutral, and a fully charged battery, use a heavy wire, or two screwdrivers to "jump" the two posts...if the starter turns over, the starter is good. The 454 is "watter cooled", has a radiator (just like a car), and the overflow jug is on the right side of the bike, under the right side neck cover, the filler cap for the cooling system is under the left side neck cover.

[kmosier]

I am trying to get my throttle cable back in place. Any advice on a good way to get that back in? I spent about two hours straight on it and still didn't get it in. Is there a way to loosen it up at the handle bar?

[eaglerider]

Yes.....read the adjustment procedures in our workshop maqnual, that is available here on-line. Download and install our 454 toolbar, in order to make navigsation easier....it is shown on that toolbar.

[kmosier]

well I finally got a good half day's work in yesterday. I replaced the oil and oil filter. Replaced the old gas. Broke the fuel line coming from the tank in the process, had to replace that.

Then I tried getting it to crank by connecting the two solenoid nuts with a screw driver. It cranked!!! I tried cranking it while a friend played with the choke and throttle.

It never really showed any major signs of wanting to fire up. So my friend said we should take out the spark plugs and try putting them on some metal as we crank it and see if we have any spark.

We performed that test and found that there was no spark. I went and got new spark plugs and we performed that same test but still didn't get any spark.

Could I have been testing them wrong or do you think it must be a problem between the starter and spark plugs?

[jp]

Is the key on? Is it in neutral or clutch squeezed?

[wanchesenative]

To what were you grounding the plug?

[kmosier]

yes, the key was on.

It was in neutral.

I was grounding it to the side of the engine.

[wanchesenative]

You might check the plug wires for good continuity and connection.

[kmosier]

how do you do that?

[wanchesenative]

use an ohm meter to test the current traveling through the wire from one end to the other. This will tell you if you have a loss of current through the wire. If you don't have an ohm meter, any auto parts store or the auto section of walmart should sell a test probe. Hook the ground to the bike and touch the probe to the connection for the spark plug. This does essentially the same thing as the spark plug but the light is easier to see when you hit the start button. Checking the connection is simply a hands on visual check. Make sure the end is attached properly to the coil and in the plug connection.

[kmosier]

Does anyone live in Indiana and know of a bike shop that will even look at a bike older than 20 years old?

[zekkfett]

Dec 21, 2011 16:03:35 GMT -6 kmosier said:

Does anyone live in Indiana and know of a bike shop that will even look at a bike older than 20 years old?

I live in east-central Indiana. From West Lafayette, Bloomington would be a long way, but their Kawi dealer worked on my 454 right before I bought it a couple months ago.

We have a local mechanic here in my hometown that works on ALL bikes. PM me if you need info. Half the fun in a bike is working on it yourself. Buy a shop manual, and with the most basic tools, you can do 95% of all the work yourself. The guys on here are full of 454 and motorcycle knowledge. We can help get you pointed in the right direction.

Best of luck, post results. Ask questions after you search the past topics.

My advice, check plug wires, then ignition coils.

[kmosier]

Well I'm actually from Muncie and am there now

[zekkfett]

I am in Rushville, 50 miles directly south on SR3. I make a bi-weekly pilgrimage to Funcie.

I have a local bike mechanic here; Bloomington Power Sports, Anderson Power Sports, Indy Cycle & Ski, Dreyer Motorsports, and the Flat-Out dealers in Indy are all Kawasaki dealers.

As I stated before, the Bloomington dealer worked on my 86, so I would assume they could accommodate you.

I personally like my mechanic. He charges half on normal labor costs, and he's had 30+ years of experience. He is mainly a Harley mechanic, and his shop help is his son, who works at Southside Harley as a technician.

About the only thing I wouldn't have done by him, would be a carb sync; Harley s generally don't have more than one carb, so he prob doesn't have that equipment.

I also know of a few more local bike mechanics if you want that info......

[kmosier]

I finally got the money to get my motorcycle looked at!! There is a place in Lafayette called "All-cycles" that will work on old motorcycles. It's there now being diagnosed!! yay! = )

[remat457]

Dec 21, 2011 16:21:11 GMT -6 zekkfett said:

My advice, check plug wires, then ignition coils.

Do they separate?

[zekkfett]

Good luck!

[kmosier]

Aug 17, 2012 11:28:57 GMT -6 remat457 said:

Dec 21, 2011 16:21:11 GMT -6 zekkfett said:

My advice, check plug wires, then ignition coils.

Do they separate?

What do you mean?

[kmosier]

The bike is in the shop currently, got the carbs rebuilt and the electrical checked. I think all it needs now is an ignition switch. Well, also I lost the air filter cover. Man I can be an idiot sometimes.

Anyone know someone who has either for sale?

[kmosier]

I finally got my baby fixed! I gave up on my tinkering and finally gave it to the professionals. I think I over-payed, but I haven't really cared. I put a little over 1000 miles on it in the first two weekend trips lol.

I just need to get some minor things fixed now...

Rev meter
turn signals
seat needs reupholstered
air filter cover is missing

I also want to get some sort of saddle bag for it. I've just been ratchet strapping on a suitcase lol.

[kmosier]

I got the rev meter fixed. All that was wrong was the cable. Replaced the cable and now it works great. I snapped off the mounted bolt in the process though so now I need to find a bracket sometime that holds the bolt that holds the speedo and rev meter. Zip ties are currently doing the job of holding the rev counter on.

I am now looking for the aforementioned bracket, an air filter cover for the right side, turn signal mounts(front and back), mirrors, and actually a right front foot peg. Friend layed it down and busted the peg. Currently have a spare left on. works, but it's backwards, feels a little funny, and looks bad.