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Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:46 pm
by coaster
Hi, my reed valved Indian Ally 225 started to die at low revs on the way back from Mersea and I haven't managed to get it re-startarted since. Repeated kicking will result in the occational backfire, I've check the stator readings which are all at the top end of good, I've changed the plug and CDI but was geting a big fat blue spark anyway. The reeds are fine and the plug is getting wet. I've tried it with the fuel on and off and with and withoiut choke. I've also bypassed the Augusto and dissed he wire to the switch.
Prior to this, it was running just fine and I'd been buzzing along between 55-65 for the 55 mile trip home.
It had been a bit difficult to start on a few occations whilst at Mersea and I thought then that maybe the compression was down a bit and now it seems definately low compared to my other scoot (muggy 186 but with a high compe head).
I'm also wondering if the woodruff key could have sheared but don't want to strip it down if it's more likely to be the top end, any ideas?
Cheers
Colin
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:54 pm
by rbgaz
hi col, u say reeds are allright but hav u taken them out to look ? what u are saying was the same as my scoot and it was a split reed the exhaust was full of petrol
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:09 pm
by coaster
rbgaz wrote:hi col, u say reeds are allright but hav u taken them out to look ? what u are saying was the same as my scoot and it was a split reed the exhaust was full of petrol
Yes, I took them out and they didn't look damaged at all, all screws still in place. Was the damage to your reeds clearly visible?
Cheers
Colin
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:29 pm
by rbgaz
not until i took them out had close look and just one had small split in corner
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:40 pm
by coaster
rbgaz wrote:not until i took them out had close look and just one had small split in corner
Thanks, I'll take another look
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:19 pm
by coaster
Ok. just had the flywheel off, the woodruff key was fine. Flywheel back on and after several kicks it backfired again, sounded like the bang came for underneath, probably the exhaust flange?
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:51 pm
by Andy Pickering
A mate had exactly the same issues on the way to york recently..every stop it would die and a pig to start, backfires loss of power eventually giving up the ghost, he changed the stator road side which cured the problem...although your readings seem correct have you another stator to try Colin to back up the readings..just seems odd as you would swear it electrical..
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:31 pm
by coaster
Lam46 wrote:A mate had exactly the same issues on the way to york recently..every stop it would die and a pig to start, backfires loss of power eventually giving up the ghost, he changed the stator road side which cured the problem...although your readings seem correct have you another stator to try Colin to back up the readings..just seems odd as you would swear it electrical..
I do have another stator but it has a high resistance on the LT coil which I've been meaning to check out....maybe I'll see if I can fix it and try that first.
Cheers for the idea

Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:00 pm
by lambytone
Why prolong the inevitble, if it was me I'd get the barrel off and check for a blown head gasket or a dropped ring.
Re: Won't start, occational backfire opinions please
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 5:57 pm
by coaster
lambytone wrote:Why prolong the inevitble, if it was me I'd get the barrel off and check for a blown head gasket or a dropped ring.
lack of time and opportunity, just trying to avoid unnecessary faffing
