Trouble with 1983 XL600R

Jdstylos · 09-22-2012, 02:49 PM

So I just started a road trip on my 1983 XL600R. Unfortunately I am having some bike problems. Yesterday it started missing when I really twisted the throttle, at the time I thought that I might have a problem with my second carb, since it would run fine unless I really opened it up. It got worse through out the day. After stopping for fuel it didn't want to start (not uncommon) I switched the spank plug just for just in case but it didn't seem to help. Eventually I pushed it to the top of a big hill and got it to pop start coming down. It ran fine for about 25 miles then started missing again. It got worse so I pulled over and it died at an idle. After lots of kicking and pushing it didn't even pop. SO I pulled the spark plug and grounded it while I kicked, I couldn't see the spark but if I put my finger on it I could feel a very week one, no worse then a static shock. There is a new Ricky stator in the bike with only a few hundred miles on it (I did a full rebuild of the bike this summer). So I'm thinking it is ether a bad CDI, bad coil or a faulty stator (seem odd that it would work fine for the first few hundred miles though). Does anybody have any thoughts? I managed to get a lift for myself and the bike to a campground so that is where I will be living till I get this figured out. I'm going to try and find a multimeter meter and see if I can test the Stator and coil. If anybody has any other ideas please let me know, I don't have internet at my campsite but I will be back in town tomorrow.
Thanks, Joe

D.T. · 09-22-2012, 06:32 PM

Looks like you didn't prepare very well. Since you rebuilt it yourself (?) you should be able to go through everything you did and double check for errors, or problems. Did you make sure the bike was ready to go on a long trip? You may get better help in the Thumpers section on this site, or a XL specific website.

I'd say carb issues but it could be many things. If it worked fine, then went bad I'd say electrical too. Did the lights start to go dim?

Where are you? Someone may be able to help where you are too.

Clebner · 09-22-2012, 08:17 PM

Pull the cap off the bottom of the petcock and see if it is full of rust. This happened to me on my NX before and after dumping the crap out of there it worked like a charm.

Switchblade315 · 09-22-2012, 08:38 PM

come on people read his post again. he hasn't got enough spark to run, no spark seen but it will just barley tickle him if he hold the plug. Sounds to me like the coil gave up. might run when it's cold but don't trust it if it does because once it heats up it will die again, don't start messing with your fuel system when you don't have spark. might be the spark plug cap or wire but it's sounds like the coil died. the great thing is that those old hondas shared coils with almost every other honda made around that time. if you where close I have one that would probably work sitting in my shop off of a ATC200S. any honda coil around that year that will bolt on will work. I think that one only has one wire going to it and grounds through the bolts to the frame. you just need one that works like that.

ttpete · 09-23-2012, 03:26 PM

You might also check the pulse pickup coil in the engine case. They have been known to die, especially if the engine's been run hard and the oil gets hot.

Jdstylos · 09-26-2012, 09:01 AM

Hey guys thanks for the ideas. I replaced the coil yesterday but it didn't help. I've talked to a couple mechanics who seem to think that it could be the stator, even though it's almost new. Apparently it's not uncommon for Ricky Stators malfunction right away. Anyway I am getting my old stator that I know still works back today and will swap it out and see if that gets me back on the road. I did get a ride to a friends house so at least I have a place to work on it now.

I'll let you know if it works.

1Bonehead · 09-26-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdstylos

Hey guys thanks for the ideas. I replaced the coil yesterday but it didn't help. I've talked to a couple mechanics who seem to think that it could be the stator, even though it's almost new. Apparently it's not uncommon for Ricky Stators malfunction right away. Anyway I am getting my old stator that I know still works back today and will swap it out and see if that gets me back on the road. I did get a ride to a friends house so at least I have a place to work on it now.

I'll let you know if it works.

Get a Ricky Stator and ride the piss out of it.

Jdstylos · 09-27-2012, 08:58 AM

Well I put the original stator back in and the bike started right up. Ricky Stator will be receiving a very angry phone call later today. But at least I am back on the road. Thanks for the help!

09-22-2012, 02:49 PM	#1
Jdstylos ^OP n00b Joined: Dec 2011 Oddometer: 3	Trouble with 1983 XL600R So I just started a road trip on my 1983 XL600R. Unfortunately I am having some bike problems. Yesterday it started missing when I really twisted the throttle, at the time I thought that I might have a problem with my second carb, since it would run fine unless I really opened it up. It got worse through out the day. After stopping for fuel it didn't want to start (not uncommon) I switched the spank plug just for just in case but it didn't seem to help. Eventually I pushed it to the top of a big hill and got it to pop start coming down. It ran fine for about 25 miles then started missing again. It got worse so I pulled over and it died at an idle. After lots of kicking and pushing it didn't even pop. SO I pulled the spark plug and grounded it while I kicked, I couldn't see the spark but if I put my finger on it I could feel a very week one, no worse then a static shock. There is a new Ricky stator in the bike with only a few hundred miles on it (I did a full rebuild of the bike this summer). So I'm thinking it is ether a bad CDI, bad coil or a faulty stator (seem odd that it would work fine for the first few hundred miles though). Does anybody have any thoughts? I managed to get a lift for myself and the bike to a campground so that is where I will be living till I get this figured out. I'm going to try and find a multimeter meter and see if I can test the Stator and coil. If anybody has any other ideas please let me know, I don't have internet at my campsite but I will be back in town tomorrow. Thanks, Joe

09-22-2012, 06:32 PM	#2
D.T. One wheel wonder... Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Moneyapolis, MN Oddometer: 6,302	Looks like you didn't prepare very well. Since you rebuilt it yourself (?) you should be able to go through everything you did and double check for errors, or problems. Did you make sure the bike was ready to go on a long trip? You may get better help in the Thumpers section on this site, or a XL specific website. I'd say carb issues but it could be many things. If it worked fine, then went bad I'd say electrical too. Did the lights start to go dim? Where are you? Someone may be able to help where you are too. __________________ "Tough times don't last, but tough people do." Robert A. Schuler D.T. screwed with this post 09-22-2012 at 06:37 PM

09-22-2012, 08:38 PM	#4
Switchblade315 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Ethel, Ms Oddometer: 3,240	come on people read his post again. he hasn't got enough spark to run, no spark seen but it will just barley tickle him if he hold the plug. Sounds to me like the coil gave up. might run when it's cold but don't trust it if it does because once it heats up it will die again, don't start messing with your fuel system when you don't have spark. might be the spark plug cap or wire but it's sounds like the coil died. the great thing is that those old hondas shared coils with almost every other honda made around that time. if you where close I have one that would probably work sitting in my shop off of a ATC200S. any honda coil around that year that will bolt on will work. I think that one only has one wire going to it and grounds through the bolts to the frame. you just need one that works like that. __________________ When i die bury me upside down so the whole world can kiss my ass.

09-23-2012, 03:26 PM	#5
ttpete Rectum Non Bustibus Joined: May 2009 Location: Dearborn, MI Oddometer: 3,523	You might also check the pulse pickup coil in the engine case. They have been known to die, especially if the engine's been run hard and the oil gets hot. __________________ 10 Ducati 1098 Streetfighter S - "Sleipnir" 09 Kaw Versys "The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money" _____ Margaret Thatcher

09-26-2012, 09:01 AM	#6
Jdstylos ^OP n00b Joined: Dec 2011 Oddometer: 3	Update Hey guys thanks for the ideas. I replaced the coil yesterday but it didn't help. I've talked to a couple mechanics who seem to think that it could be the stator, even though it's almost new. Apparently it's not uncommon for Ricky Stators malfunction right away. Anyway I am getting my old stator that I know still works back today and will swap it out and see if that gets me back on the road. I did get a ride to a friends house so at least I have a place to work on it now. I'll let you know if it works.

09-22-2012, 08:17 PM	#3
Clebner Lurkin Slacker Joined: May 2008 Location: Michigan's little finger Oddometer: 366	Pull the cap off the bottom of the petcock and see if it is full of rust. This happened to me on my NX before and after dumping the crap out of there it worked like a charm.

09-27-2012, 08:58 AM	#8
Jdstylos ^OP n00b Joined: Dec 2011 Oddometer: 3	Got it! Well I put the original stator back in and the bike started right up. Ricky Stator will be receiving a very angry phone call later today. But at least I am back on the road. Thanks for the help!

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