Troubleshooting basics (Crash Course)

[@tobiasclawson4243]

Thanks for making really great repair videos! I've been rebuilding a Polaris sportsman 400 and using your videos to figure it out. Great content, no nonsense, good knowledge, love it. Keep going.

[@mkuehn5450]

I've been slacking on commenting. baseline with a test ride, determine exactly the issue you're addressing, spark, fuel, timing, mechanical. only changing one variable at a time cannot be stated enough. "which fix worked?" isn't THE fix. (verify the fix) when it comes to fuel issues, i use the "give the motor what it wants" rule, add fuel or air to see how it reacts. is it happier or worse? really liked the advice "swap with known good part" when you have multiple carbs or identical machines. as moving the problem is definitive diagnosis.

[@petst]

Very nice Video but i have a question, My cb 360 twin only runs on the right cylinder but as soon as i unplug the sparkplug cover from the running cylinder and start again, the left cylinder works fine but only until i plug the right side back in. When both sparkplugs are connected only the right side runs. Any ideas?

[@MrFixit1]

So, refresh my memory here. Is this bike from the mid 1970's? Does it have only one set of contact points or two? Is it 12-volt ignition with only one ignition coil or two coils? Might be a coil. I would ohm check the coils primary and secondary windings. Pull both spark plugs and look to see if they are dirty. Plug both spark plugs into the spark plug wires and lay both spark plugs on the engine where you can see the gap, now crank the engine and look for spark on both plugs. The spark should alternate, left right left right. Use a spark tester and test that spark can jump a 10mm gap.

[@petst]

@@MrFixit1thanks for the quick reply, It is a 1974 Model and i have already replaced the two ignition coils aswell as the sparkplugs. I have also checked for the right ignition timing and replaced the regulator and rectifier for a new combo unit but nothing worked. Could it be a charging problem?

[@MrFixit1]

@@petst Possible it's a charging problem. Have you checked the charging voltage while the engine is running? Should be 13.5-14.5 or around about. Have you tested the stator output with engine running? If there isn't enough voltage to the coils, it's going to have erratic spark issues. Start with the basics.