Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Not starting

Very confused. I put the bike back together last night and it wouldn't start. I heard what i assume the starter spin a couple of times each time I tried to start it. Heard this the first couple of times then after the first couple of times all I hear is a click like something is in a bind? I took it apart to put shims in. I put it in fifth gear and rotate the the wheel around to get TDC. Then I took the cams off to replace the shims. I then I put it all back together in reverse order. I'm confused of what it could be but have a feeling it's the idler boss. Going to take the side over off at church and see I can figure it out from there? any takes on this would be appreicated

Sounds like a weak battery and possibly a starter solenoid. Doing a cam shim job normally will not cause any of the problems you are exhibiting unless you left the battery hooked up for a pretty long time and it discharged.

Battery be should good, I hope, I put it on a battery tender when I first took it apart. I did disconnect the negative battery lead. It has been off the battery tender for about two weeks after it was fully charged tho. It's still possible tho. I'll check the starter solenoid first thing when I get back from church. Thanks for the input

Also when I hit the button there's no dim in the lights

How much stuff did ya take off the bike? You could have damaged some wires.

Charged the battery and same issue. Connections on the solenoid are good. I took the side cover off and I'm not seeing anything broke. When I try to start there is a clicking noise coming from the top of the engine. I can't make out if it's coming from inside or the the relays that are under the tank. I got the tank back off. I took the normal stuff off to get the valve cover off but didn't put the AI system back on. Goin to take the valve cover off to make sure nothing is in a bind and everything is still in time

Pop the tank off and then listen its one of those relays I am sure. I will have to look in the book but one is the starter relay I do believe.

Well I went out and took the top off and then tried rotating the engine and I can only rotate it about 90 degrees because it's not in time

There ya go. Good luck getting her done
.

Hope you didn't bend your valves.

Me too

When the cam gear has "top" at the top is that only "TDC" every other turn?

I took the cam caps off and the cams are out. With the "top" at the 12:00 position I can rotate the cam gear clockwise to where "top" is about the 3:00 position comes to a dead stop. I can rotate it counter clockwise and "top" will come to a dead stop around the 7:00 position. Any ideals?

Not good, sounds like pistons hitting the bent valves.

Did you ascertain by removing the stator cover the crank was placed right to install the cams and do you even have a manual? More importantly, are you reading it, if you do?

I was doing the deal of rotating the wheel with It in high gear. I just figured having the cam gear at TDC that everything was in time still. Nothing like learning something by it hitting the old wallet. I do have a service manual and I do read but I thought had everything covered

I don't remove the stator cover when I do the valve adjustment but I set the cams up in timing position before I take anything apart and don't move the engine until after I reassemble.