87 K100, new intake manifolds/fuel lines/intake boots, won't run

[musicbum]

Hi guys,

Sometime lurker, first time poster! Your posts and articles have been invaluable to me.

My bike won't run after replacing the intake manifolds, intake bushings, fuel lines, and fuel injection o rings. The rubber intake bushings were shot, the fuel lines were cracked...it needed help. I was riding it everyday for the past month, and it normally starts with just a blip of the starter.

It is getting spark, the fuel pump is whirring away and trying to keep up with the starter, but it just puffs black smoke and attempts to run but never kicks over.

I tried searching for some answers on the forum, but I don't know what to look for exactly, so apologizes if this question has been answered before.

Thanks!

[musicbum]

Update: It may not be getting spark after all. I'm seeing gas leaking out of the exhaust downpipes at the joint with the pipes and the muffler. I'll check it for spark tomorrow.

[Inge K.]

The most likely reason that you don't have spark, is that the spark plugs is wet fouled after all the
starting attempts.
If it gets all to much fuel, check the water temp sensor and it's connections.

[pallum]

Recently I left a single ground wire unconnected from the main grounding point underneath the fuel tank and it caused me the same situation. Fuel injectors dumping gas into the cylinders. Check for any disconnected wires that you might have left astray.

(I was so relieved to see that wire dangling alone that I didn't bother checking to see where it went off to before reconnecting it, naturally :P)

[musicbum]

Thanks for the replies!

I haven't had a chance to actually do some digging with resolving the problem, but I did pick up some new plugs yesterday.  I didn't realize that I need an 18mm spark plug socket, so I'll need to get one of those first. I did find that fantastic PDF of flow charts for resolving non starting issues, which should prove invaluable in solving the issue. The first solution proposed was that grounding wire directly under the tank, so I'll take a look at that first thing. I'll also take a look at the ECU temp sensor connection.

[musicbum]

I checked under the tank, didn't see any loose wiring. I checked the plugs, had new ones ready to put on but didn't have the end caps for them.  For kicks, I tried turning it over.

I did manage to get it to run, after letting the starter work at it for a few minutes. It sounded healthy, and the black smoke was transitioning from black to whiteish, and reeked like throttle body cleaner.  I did use a fair amount of it to degrease the throttle body while it was off of the bike, perhaps there is still a fair amount of it in the throttle body assembly?...

It then promptly died on me, and I haven't been able to get it started again. I want to let the battery sit for a bit and recover. 

[musicbum]

Huzzah! Got it to run today. I put on a fresh set of plugs and it fired up. Once she cleared her throat, the throttle response was awesome. She still can't seem to stay running.  Once she dies, it's back to lots of cranking to get her to start again. I wanted to pop on here and see if anyone had any advise before I went and soaked the plugs in gas with trying to start her again.

[musicbum]

Got it started again, gave it a few good rips of the throttle and let her idle for about 10-15 minutes. Starts with just a blip of the throttle. Thanks for the help. Now on to that clutch cable...