KR-1S.co.uk Forum

....at least it seems like that to me. Trying to figure out how to get my bike to start reliably (or the kr1 equivalent of reliable...)

The bike had been stood for a while, so I wasn't expecting it to start at all, and lo and behold, it started first kick. Had some problems with the side stand cutout switch, fixed that, was going to take the bike for a spin, took her out, clutch was slipping like mad. Made it to a petrol station (after a lot of swearing/crying etc), filled up the tank. Was going to start her up again, wouldn't start. At this point, the engine was warm, but not overly so if you know what I mean (not like it would be after say half an hour of riding). Decided to wait until it cooled down. When it had, tried to start again, and it worked. Left the petrol station, feeling like a proper a*se.
Wanted to take her for a spin the following day, wouldn't start. I worked up a proper sweat kicking the engine over, but nothing.
Pulled out the plugs and discovered the worst case of fouled plugs ever, and can't fathom how I even got a spark the previous day. Voodoo magic??
Put in the new plugs, discovered a problem with the fuel tap. Fixed it, then the bike started. Did a little dance while the neighbours pulled a face...she is LOUD!
Took her out for a spin, clutch not slipping this time. I was rather happy until she started dumping two stroke oil over the back tyre (how did I realize? Well, I was going through a roundabout...need I say more?? This bike is NOT for the faint hearted ). Then the clutch lever came off in my hand. Stopped to have a look and discovered shift was on its way out as well. The bike was on the verge of self-destruction.
Made it back to the garage at 8 p.m. (took her out at 3 for a 'quick spin'), completely frozen. Stopped the engine to go unlock the garage door, then tried to start her again, nothing. Went back the next day, nothing. It's very interesting since during the drive, I stopped several times to check on leaks/bits that were falling off the bike, and every time it started back up first kick, no problem. It's like it senses when we get back to the garage and then just goes, 'p*ss off, I'm not moving"

Since it cannot be the plugs again, and the fuel tap is fixed as well, what IS IT? Is it a temperature thing as well? seems to start ok from either very warm or stone cold, but not in between?? or is it all just the voodoo magic or the stars aligning....

Also about the fouled plugs...new air filter in so can't be that, so is it the carbs??

I'd check the carbs, but perhaps is the stator on its way out too?

Had the same symptoms and then one day she didn't want to start at all: stator r.i.p.

cheers,
Charles

start with cleaning the carbs totally. carb's that have been standing for a while with fuel in them always benefit from that.

fuel evaporises and leaves residu in the crab that can easily block the small holes.

This is getting weirder by the day. Tried to start the bike again yesterday, choke on and it started first kick. Tried again without choke, nothing (normally it's the other way round). Choke back on, nothing.
Waited a couple of hours, tried again. Choke on, starts first kick. Choke off, gave it a handful - nothing. I was turning the throttle, but absolutely no response. Tried again, and after the second or third time revving I started getting a response. Sounded like it was just running on one cylinder though.

Do what Jan says.
Laying a bike up with fuel does the fuel system no good at all.It can block the jets,starting circut,foul the float needle etc.Even when you think you've cracked it crap will come down from the tank,fuel tap and put you back to square one.Bin the fuel and clean the lot.
Your gonna have to start somewhere it won't fix itself,so thats where I'd start.

I'd start with the fuel system.

I took a tap off a bike that had been left for a long time and found the reserve tube completely blocked with fuel deposits. The main was ok because it had been above the 'fuel' level.

If fuel can block the feeds as it degrades, think of what it will do inside the carbs. Get the lot off and give them a good going over.

Soaking them in toluene or Xylene (available for a good paint supplier) seemed to work best for me. Soaking them in fuel will not do it.

I'd strip the tap out and poke through the feeds as well.

If you have filters in the lines to the carbs, bin them and get new ones.

It doesn't seem to be electrical. 99% of the time if an electric part fails it doesn't repair itself to fail again.

Cleaned the carbs out today, checked fuel tap all ok. Discovered that she's leaking oil from the gearbox, through what I assume is a breather pipe?? Don't really know why this is happening.
Ideas??

lt_kr1 wrote:Cleaned the carbs out today, checked fuel tap all ok. Discovered that she's leaking oil from the gearbox, through what I assume is a breather pipe?? Don't really know why this is happening.
Ideas??

crankseals are gone, and so the crank pressure goes into the gearbox and blows out oil through the breather pipe.

not abnormal for a bike that didn't run for a long time.

Again I reckon Jans on the money.That will contribute to your running/starting problems aswell.
My husky WR250 has just had to have new mains and seals its performance just dropped off the scale and it was pressurising the gearbox.It's breathing fire again now tho

Where do I go for replacement seals??

You will have course have to strip the engine and send the crank to someone like;

http://www.bdkraceeng.co.uk/KR1-S.html

They will advise you, the condition of the rods and all the bearings.

buz

lt_kr1
Sorry, but I had to laugh at your initial posting. You wrote it very amusingly (although your problem is not so at all. Grrrrrrrrrrr).

Sounded like my possessed bike. Kick starter just bent then snapped off recently. No problem as rob one from the spare engine. All fine again.
Bike sitting on stand OK. Go to ride it and think a cat has pi$$ed on the rear tyre as yellow fluid on rim. No, a flamin' brake fluid leak. Now staring at the old rear brake slave cylinder in front of me that once removed showed it had a stuck piston that has taken ages to free off and remove the said offending piston. It just is what older bikes are all about I'm afraid.

LotusSevenMan,
no need to apologize, if there is one thing I have gotten used to since I bought this bike it is being laughed at/stared at/pointed at/having abuse shouted at me when breaking down in the middle of traffic etc

Actually when I stopped to figure out what to do about the clutch lever a bunch of blokes on practically show room condition sportsbikes passed me, then turned round to ask me if I was okay...Imagine my face (or theirs) when I told them that 'Everything's cool, clutch lever came off, that's all.'

Have also been laughed at in Hein Gericke for saying that 'my bike breaks down all the time so I need to carry lots of tools in my rucksack'. I think they thought I was joking. Obviously not one of them owns a KR 1. Just glad to hear that mine's not the only one that's throwing tantrums. I think without all the advice from this forum, I would have already suffered a nervous breakdown in addition to my many mechanical ones.