Hello, new owner of nun running Falco project :)

[jmccalip]

the official colour code from aprilia was Clostridium Yellow....

and we make them camp in the next field... actually, i lie - the next county

It's not that you make them camp in the next field, it's that they CHOOSE to camp in the next field. You see, yellow is a slightly more dignified color than black or red. It represents class and sophistication for some of us Falco owners. Therefore, for obvious reasons, it would be detrimental to our social well being to sleep in the same field as your "race" colors.

[Aladinsaneuk]

if wit was shit, you would be constipated

and i am certain that others will be along to help with your delusions soon... more dried frog tablets??

[TRXnMe]

Hmmm, colostomy yellow, I'm liking that, liking that a lot

It's still bettererererer than black or red mind ewe

[jmccalip]

Hmmm, colostomy yellow, I'm liking that, liking that a lot

It's still bettererererer than black or red mind ewe

I'm seriously thinking about putting a small "colostomy yellow" decal along the lower tank.

I'm be ordering all the other decals this week, so...

[TRXnMe]

OK, spent the day replacing the starter solenoid, cleaning up the starter button and a lot of manky electrical connections including the one to the starter motor. I also chucked a gallon of nice fresh petrol into the tank.

The beast now turns over, not as fast as I'd like it to, and possibly not fast enough to start the thing, is there an earth off the starter? I couldn't see one today so I'm assuming it's simply earthed through the engine into the frame?

So far I've not found a fuel tap, do they have one? If so, where is it?

I feel as though I'm very close to getting the big V twin to rumble, just need a little more input please

[velowood]

Did you take at look at the "earth" connection? That would be from the battery to the engine/frame. Some people forget an electrical connection has two sides (+ and-). Some have even run an extra cable to the vicinity of the starter motor to make sure.

There is no fuel shutoff.

[TRXnMe]

Did you take at look at the "earth" connection? That would be from the battery to the engine/frame. Some people forget an electrical connection has two sides (+ and-). Some have even run an extra cable to the vicinity of the starter motor to make sure.

There is no fuel shutoff.

Bugger No I didn't check the battery earth, now that's just bloody embarrassing

Anything else my stupidity is liable to have overlooked?

I'm assuming that as the motor turns over reasonably smooth on the button, all be it slowly, that the sprag isn't going to be knackered, or is it possible the starter motor is 'fighting' a knackered sprag? The posts I've found referring to the sprag problem are generally 'my sprag is fecked' how do I fix it, or 'my sprag was fecked, this is how I fixed it'

[Aladinsaneuk]

Sounds like the battery may be in poor condition....

And have a look here or at ridersite for starting instructions

[jmccalip]

Maybe try the wire mod a shot. Quite a few people have said it makes the engine start quicker/easier. Check the brown plug and see if yours is melted/yellow wires discolored.

I just finished mine today. Of course, I just did away with the connectors altogether and straight soldered the wires together.

[Wot_bike_isit]

These bikes need a strong battery to start.
If it floods in the process of starting due to weak spark they can be a bugger to start. If you think it's flooded ( one can often smell the gas in the exhaust) be sure to have the cold start lever all the on and try to start with a wide open throttle.
May be worth checking the state of the plugs as well. 2 per cylinder.

[TRXnMe]

OK, that's a few more jobs for me to do next weekend then

I was planning to change the plugs before putting any miles on, are there any suggested plugs for these bikes?

The battery on the bike is banjaxed, so I've been using the spare battery from my car, a 2 litre diesel, while trying to start it, so I'm hoping that there is plenty of electrical welly there

I didn't realise the brown plug was involved in the starter circuit, although now it's had a mention I realise if it's causing volt drop on the ignition that this wont be helping

So far I've not had any smell of petrol while spinning it over, but I can hear the fuel pump (or what I think is the fuel pump) running when I press the start button, suppose I'd better pull one of the fuel lines off and check for fuel flow, are filters ever a problem on these bikes?

Thanks for the suggestions

[Aladinsaneuk]

make sure you use an airline to blow the crud away from around the plugs before you remove them

many of us have used the iridium plugs - some have reported increased performance mpg wise, and easier starting

to start the falco if NOT flooded

make sure the bike is in neutral
make sure the engine stop is not on


ignition on
fast advance/idle on
twist throttle a couple of times - then leave it alone
press the starter in

IF FLOODED
as above but hold throttle wide open

[banjaxxed]

Are the injectors working ok? Can you see them firing when you look down the throttle bodies?

Pull the plugs and check spark gap and condition?

[TRXnMe]

More for me to do on Saturday, hope the weather stays nice as I'm working on it in the back yard

I've not got an airline for clearing the crud away from the plugs, that's going to make life interesting, might 'borrow' the wife's hair dryer for an hour or so

[Exdukenut]

.............might 'borrow' the wife's hair dryer for an hour or so

Show us the hairstyle you end up with, after an hour of blowdrying!! I'm sure you'll look good!!