Beware of Tunnel Vision When TroubleShooting

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm just sharing my experience so we all can learn as a group. I'm sure I'm not the only one with an experience like this.

This didn't happen with a tractor, but the same principles apply.

I bought a motorcycle off my brother last fall because he needed the money. This spring I got it out to ride it and the battery was dead. This is one of those 80's Yamahas with an induction type of magneto that needs power to make power and, therefore, spark. I charged the battery and it started up fine.

Next day, no spark. I charged the battery and it worked fine. I repeated this scenario a few times in rapid succession, and I began to wonder if it was the battery or the charging system.

Simple diagnosis: Charge the battery and then ride the bike around for a while. If it runs fine, it must be the battery. If it dies while I'm riding it, it must be the charging system.

Sure enough, it died while riding it. Dead give-away: Charging system is shot. I pulled apart the magneto rotor and other parts of the system, cleaned everything, didn't see anything wrong, and put it all back together. Charged the battery and... Nothing! I got a new battery, filled it, charged it, and installed a new spark plug. Tried to start it... nothing!

Just on a whim, I popped the gas cap off and realized the tank was empty! It died while I was riding it not because the battery went dead, but because it ran out of gas.

Aparently the charging system works because now with the new battery it fires up and runs fine.

I was so focused on troubleshooting the electrical that I didn't even think about the problem being something simple.

 

[AKfish]

Well, you have now taken care of some, no-doubt, long put-off maintainence! That motorcycle will probably run, problem free, for year's now.

By the way; are you the proud owner of a new tractor or several tractors (including the recently deceased one)?

Best regards,

AKfish

 

[Egon]

Ahh - I'd never do anything stupid like that ehhh!!

I check the bottom of the fuel tank on my toy tractor for debris on a regular basis.

 

[johnk]

I never thought the day would come when it almost takes 20 dollars to fill the motorcycle.

 

[Eagleview]

$1.66.9 per litre yesterday and my excavator holds 318 litres

 

[wh22366]

Dad once told me that experience is that long list of things that you should never do anymore. Now I'm geting to the point where I forget stuff on the list.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

$1.66.9 per litre yesterday and my excavator holds 318 litres

That's actually one of the reasons I'm getting back into motorcycles. I have another, bigger street bike that I'm hoping to use this summer and save some miles and gallons in my 15 mpg silverado.

 

[john_bud]

$1.66.9 per litre yesterday and my excavator holds 318 litres

That's $6.05 a gallon for us Yanks....


But I'm sure your government likes the extra 2 dollars a gallon in tax they are collecting on every gallon over and above what the US government is collecting. I know the Dems have recently floated a bill to RAISE gas taxes by 50 cents a gallon. Maybe it was an ex-patriot Ozzy wanting to feel at home?

jb

 

[Solo]

It's alway's the simple things.

Solo

 

[dillo99]

Yeah I struggled for half a day once trying to figure out why my tractor wouldn't start. It was cold out so I figured it had something to do with that even though it turned over fine. Called the dealer, tried to heat the thing up with a light bulb...etc.

Finally noticed the gas tank was empty. I had filled it after my last use buy my fuel filter had come loose and all the gas had leaked out into the gravel.

Filled the tank and she cranked right up...no problem.