K11 Owners Group

[Big Arthur]

I have a 98 K1100LT with a starting problem. It will not fire at all with the choke on or accelerator opened. I will only fire on no. 1 and 2 cylinders for a few beats then stop. I then have to repeat this for about 7 or 8 times before no. 4 kicks in and then sometimes only when aided by keeping the starter going. It then stops when the accelerator is opened. When no. 3 kicks in eventually it will tick over but still unevenly for a short while, then runs evenly and only then can I accelerate. For the rest of the day it will run well and start ok. But the next morning it will be the same.

It has new plugs, new leads, can hear the pump, plugs the right colour, tappets checked, Wynn’s system cleaner put in tank. The symptoms rule out coils and hall effect sensor. I bought the bike with 16,500 miles on it. It now has 124,780. I have serviced it myself and it runs well apart from this starting problems. Can anybody help?

[dave n]

Do a search for starter sprag clutch - and change the eng oil too.
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Dave Norris KOG 248
1999 Cagiva Gran Canyon
1993 K1100LT w/Hannigan sidecar
2008 Suzuki DR650

[Scott_Anderson]

It sounds to me like it's fuel related.
The spark plugs are paired up, 1&4 and 2&3 in series with each coil so that each pair fires at the same time(wasted spark if you will).
Either your pressure could be low(dirty fuel filter) or dirty(worn) injectors, not letting fuel into the chamber to get burned.

btw all 4 injectors get their voltage signal at the same time.

Electrical power(+12) is fed to the coils, it goes thru the coil and is grounded at the motronic control when spark is called for.

Check all your electrical connections that they are clean and tight, and that the big plug is seated well on the top of the motronic. Sometimes they can get a little loose and cause problems.
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Ride safe.



1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

[Tim (Midland Section)]

As it's Ok once running, consider the water temperature sender, which may be telling the Motronic lies & therefore getting the mixture wrong.
There is NO choke (strangler), that lever only raises the revs during warm up.
Sounds weak mixture to me. Next time you start it from cold, try a few cc's of neat petrol in the air intake. If it hasn't had a fuel filter in the last 50K, then tis time (I agree with Scott).
Good luck, do the cheapest bits first.
HTH
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Regards Tim,

Grey haired riders don't get that way by pure luck
1996 Guzzi Cali3 LAPD
1972 750 Commando
G6HRN
#485

[Big Arthur]

Further to my starting problems only when cold. I met a biker who recommended a specialist at Chesterfield (Redline Motorcyles) who said it sounded like a fuel problem probably caused by supermarket fuel. So suggested I put Wynns Petrol System Cleaner in the tank and in the morning prime the petrol pump a number of times and it worked! It fired up like it used to, but the next morning it was same again! The morning after I checked the plugs before I turned it over, bone dry, checked for sparks – all ok. Put plugs back in, didn’t start. Took plugs back out, still dry. Checked fuel up to injector rail – ok. Spun engine over a few times, put plugs back in and it fired up straight away. Any ideas???

[DaveVoorhis]

When you turn on the key, do you hear the brief whine of the fuel pump? If not, it may be the fuel tank electrical connector. I cleaned mine twice -- after similar symptoms to yours -- before I cut it out and replaced it with a screw terminal block. No problems thereafter.
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'93 K1100RS
Dave #3