Dragonslayer Posted July 26, 2015 #1 Posted July 26, 2015 The 07 Midnight had been sitting for the past two years without a battery and collecting spider webs and dirt daubers in my buddies carport. It had been a personal embarrassment to me that such a fine machine had been ignored for so long. So, I set off on a mission to resurrect and old friend back to her full and well deserved glory. Dropped a new battery in her. The last time she ran, she was allowed to run out of gas idling where she sat. So, I put some fresh gas and a can of Sea-foam in her. After a few minutes choking her and tickling her throttle she finally fired back to life. A quick ride around the block pointed out spongy tires. Hooked the air compressor up and pumped her up. The next stop was at the DIY quarter car wash to knock the top 4 or 5 layers of dirt, dust, dead pollen and pine straw off of her so I could stand to sit on her. Then there was a thirty mile ride back to my house where I had the tools and technology to devote the attention to her that she would need. The ride indicated slow and erratic acceleration with intermittent surges of full power highlighted by back fire pops through the right pipes on deceleration. There was a strong stank of raw gas evidenced by raw gas spewing from two small holes on the bottom of the right muffler near the front of the right side saddlebag crash bar. Heavy fuel consumption was also noted. I was hoping that a few tanks full of good gas and sea-foam would smooth her out. But, It did not. So I'm anticipating going into the carbs. What should I be looking for? PS> Looking back I see that I posted a similar thread back in the 2009 about the 1st gen MKII and on that thread the problem seemed to point at bad TCI connections. What do you Think?
Marcarl Posted July 26, 2015 #2 Posted July 26, 2015 From what you said so far the first place I would look would be the ignition. Take of the the air box and squirt some carb cleaner into each carb separately to rule out carburation. If the squirt smooths out the idle, that is a trouble cylinder, if it slow the rpms then that cylinder is firing but you flooded it, so good for now. Fuel usually doesn't go in spurts, but ignition does. Put a new set of plugs in her to get started.
Dragonslayer Posted July 26, 2015 Author #3 Posted July 26, 2015 OK, but where is the TCI located on the 2nd gen beast. I had thought that it was the black box under the front faring and just above the headlight but, that appears to be the sound system amplifier.
Dragonslayer Posted July 26, 2015 Author #4 Posted July 26, 2015 OK, but where is the TCI located on the 2nd gen beast. I had thought that it was the black box under the front faring and just above the headlight but, that appears to be the sound system amplifier.
Marcarl Posted July 26, 2015 #5 Posted July 26, 2015 TCI not usually a problem on the second gen,,, more often plugs or coils,,,,, change the plugs first and then go from there.
bongobobny Posted July 27, 2015 #6 Posted July 27, 2015 Make sure the carb vent hoses are clear! Bugs like to nest in these lines...
Dragonslayer Posted July 30, 2015 Author #7 Posted July 30, 2015 I'm checking the things noted so far. Are there any other suggestions. Can anyone tell me where the TCI is located on the second Gens?
Freebird Posted July 30, 2015 #8 Posted July 30, 2015 You have to remove the battery and battery box.
videoarizona Posted July 30, 2015 #9 Posted July 30, 2015 Looking at the parts guide found in the reference section...it looks like the TCI is located under the battery near the 2 rear coils above the front of the rear fender. Somewhere tucked in there. May be able to see it from left side taking off the plastic panel there...
Spyder Posted July 30, 2015 #10 Posted July 30, 2015 I just went through this on my 06. The #1 coil was not firing but tested OK. The diagram for coil testing is incorrect in the factory manual. (Long story) I was able to remove the TCI by removing the fuel pump, Radiator overflow bottle, and mounting bracket that holds them both. I had to remove the TCI to bracket mounting bolts in order to slide the bracket out. I also had the coils out at the time but I'm not sure if that would be necessary or not to get the bracket out. Once I did that I cleaned and greased (with dielectric grease) all of the connections and reassembled. Ran fine afterwards.
Dragonslayer Posted August 1, 2015 Author #11 Posted August 1, 2015 I just went through this on my 06. The #1 coil was not firing but tested OK. The diagram for coil testing is incorrect in the factory manual. (Long story) I was able to remove the TCI by removing the fuel pump, Radiator overflow bottle, and mounting bracket that holds them both. I had to remove the TCI to bracket mounting bolts in order to slide the bracket out. I also had the coils out at the time but I'm not sure if that would be necessary or not to get the bracket out. Once I did that I cleaned and greased (with dielectric grease) all of the connections and reassembled. Ran fine afterwards. Thanks Spyder, That's helpful. I'm heading out to the shop and get started. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Dragonslayer Posted August 2, 2015 Author #13 Posted August 2, 2015 I finally got the TCI out,Cleaned and greased the quick connect plugs, replaced the spark plugs, checked the carb diaphragms then had a sinking spell from the heat. So, I took a break that turned into a nap. now I'm about ready to go out and start putting everything back together.
Deputy Dog Posted August 5, 2015 #14 Posted August 5, 2015 How did it go? I am having some similar issues so am waiting to see how it went.
Dragonslayer Posted August 8, 2015 Author #15 Posted August 8, 2015 I got everything put back together and set the tank back on. Turn the key and hit the starter turns over but wont fire. I'm not hearing the clicking of the fuel pump pressurizing the fuel line. I'm like WTF why isn't the fuel pump clicking? Where is the fuel pump fuse?
Dragonslayer Posted August 8, 2015 Author #16 Posted August 8, 2015 I got everything put back together and set the tank back on. Turn the key and hit the starter turns over but wont fire. I'm not hearing the clicking of the fuel pump pressurizing the fuel line. I'm like WTF why isn't the fuel pump clicking? Where is the fuel pump fuse?Never mind, I think I got the non clicking fuel pump figured out. After taking the TCI back out one of the wires on one of the TCI plugs had pulled out of the back of the plug (Black with grey stripe). Got that put back together and plugged back on the TCI and when I turn the key the fuel pump is clicking now. so, now the battery is low and won't turn the bike over so battery is on the charger now.
Dragonslayer Posted August 9, 2015 Author #17 Posted August 9, 2015 I got everything put back together and set the tank back on. Turn the key and hit the starter turns over but wont fire. I'm not hearing the clicking of the fuel pump pressurizing the fuel line. I'm like WTF why isn't the fuel pump clicking? Where is the fuel pump fuse? Never mind I figured that out. On of the wires on one of the TCI plugs had pulled loose from the back of the plug.Now I ahave another problem apparently the starter gears locked up somehow.
RSTDdog Posted August 15, 2015 #18 Posted August 15, 2015 (edited) Regarding your starter issue, DON'T TRY STARTING IT AGAIN UNTIL YOU REMOVE ALL FOUR PLUGS AND TURN IT OVER BY HAND. Watch your eyes, if I'm right, gas will come out of one or more cylinders. Depending on the time that transpired from your first attempt at running it, it is probably now hydrolocked with fuel (Stuck float pouring gas by the carb into cylinder). You mentioned seeing Raw gas in the exhaust? Is Oil way over full or smell like gasoline? Carbs man, keep reading. Unfortunately, a can of seafoam ( or can of anything) and fresh gas won't fix a bike (correctly) that has been sitting for two years. YOu may have ran it out of gas, but unless you drained the carbs afterward and blew air through them, there was still fuel left in the bowls and hanging inside the jets and emulsion tubes ( Don't you just hate surface tension of fluids). Running on the side stand, The two carbs on the right will run out of fuel before the two on the left (side stand side) and kill the engine. Left side carbs probably still had at least 1/2 their fuel still in them. If that was stabilized non-ethanol fuel there may have been a SLIM chance, but you will need someone to go through the carbs and fuel system complete at this point IMO. If it was running fine when it was parked, and it was parked inside, removing the TCI and checking connections is largely a waste of time IMO. If it had a running issue when you parked it, then those would be suspect with everything else. Sitting two years is classic carb and fuel system restoration time, all things being equal and a correct running bike when parked. When you get the carbs apart, let us know how the left ones look relative to the right. Regardless how they look, Clean and service all four complete. ddog Edited August 15, 2015 by RSTDdog
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