IanMe Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hi everyone, I have a 2003 Honda Shadow VLX 600, and I can't get the bike started at all. It turns over, but won't catch. I cleaned out the carbs, replaced the spark plugs, the overfill diaphragm, and still nothing. Any ideas or leads so I can take it to a mechanic would be great! TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) Fuel pumps are know to go bad on these, yes I know it's carberated but there is still a pump. Also did you change all 4 spark plugs I know it s twin but there are 2 sets? Only other thing i can think of is no spark at all, either bad coil packs or somthing else in the wiring.I'm too far from you to help but give crazyskullcrusher a shout maybe he can help he's closer. Edited January 27, 2015 by 2talltim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 If you can get it down here to massillon I can get it running. Shop rate is $50/hr plus parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbot Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 http://ducrx.com Paul doesn't fix just ducs (he's fixed and/or maintained at least 4 different brands from just me alone) and he's very reasonable. you're welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 http://ducrx.comPaul doesn't fix just ducs (he's fixed and/or maintained at least 4 different brands from just me alone) and he's very reasonable.you're welcomeLol Paul hates working on cruisers and sends them to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks guys! I changed all the spark plugs last night, I didn't have a chance to try starting it yet. Also, this bike to change the spark plugs, you need a thin walled 18mm socket...it took me a long time to find one, but the one from Advance Auto Parts works. I looked at all the wiring, couldn't find anything that seemed wrong with it, but then I could have missed something. I will have to see about bringing it down to massilion, it's kind of far from the east side of cleveland. Ravenna is also kind of far, but if I can't get it running, I need to have it done very soon, way before spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxkat1100 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I'm right down the road from CSC, I may be able to arrange transport of said vehicle if need be. Of course, there will most likely be a fee unless I'm heading up that way. How far are you from Euclid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Here's a checklist for you:Is gas getting to the carbs? Crack open the bowl drain screw and see if gas runs out the bowl drain.Is it getting spark?Pull a plug out, put it in the boot and hold it against the motor while cranking it. Does the plug spark? Is it bright and blue or dim and orange?if there's gas in the bowls and you have spark then you probably either missed a passage when cleaning the carbs or you reassembled them incorrectly, assuming your motor has good compression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 if you're in a serious bind as far as transporting the bike, I would try to help you out for the cost of gas. Decide where you need the bike to go, and let everyone know where you're at. I'm sure someone will help you out. I've brought my trailer to work several times to pick my bike up from Anderson Door Racing headquarters on my way home from work 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Kill switch ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) No al, it cranks over. Kill switch interrupts entire ignition circuit on those bikes, starter won't run with it killed. Edited January 28, 2015 by CrazySkullCrusher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 I'm right down the road from CSC, I may be able to arrange transport of said vehicle if need be. Of course, there will most likely be a fee unless I'm heading up that way. How far are you from Euclid?Not too far from Euclid, I am near Beachwood Mall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Here's a checklist for you:Is gas getting to the carbs? Crack open the bowl drain screw and see if gas runs out the bowl drain.Is it getting spark?Pull a plug out, put it in the boot and hold it against the motor while cranking it. Does the plug spark? Is it bright and blue or dim and orange?if there's gas in the bowls and you have spark then you probably either missed a passage when cleaning the carbs or you reassembled them incorrectly, assuming your motor has good compression.I will check the bowl to see if it's getting the gas. I think so, but I will have to check if it's getting a spark. Okay...I will check it out. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Kill switch ??It's working - when I use the kill switch, it won't turn over at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 No al, it cranks over. Kill switch interrupts entire ignition circuit on those bikes, starter won't run with it killed.Yep...I tried that but it wouldn't even turn over at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 if you're in a serious bind as far as transporting the bike, I would try to help you out for the cost of gas. Decide where you need the bike to go, and let everyone know where you're at. I'm sure someone will help you out. I've brought my trailer to work several times to pick my bike up from Anderson Door Racing headquarters on my way home from work Awesome! Thank you for offering transport! But that would be the one thing I'd be able to take care of, I can always borrow a truck from a friend and load the bike in the bed with some help from friends. I am thinking I will need to take it somewhere to get it sorted out if since I can't seem to figure out what it needs. I'm not a mechanic, but I am pretty handy, so doing the basic things is fun for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxkat1100 Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Not too far from Euclid, I am near Beachwood Mall I may be making a trip to Euclid (HGR) within a month or so, I will let you know if you are still looking to get it moved to a mech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 I'm gonna be in cle for the motorcycle show saturday, I could try and make a house call if you have some way to heat up your garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 I may be making a trip to Euclid (HGR) within a month or so, I will let you know if you are still looking to get it moved to a mech.Thanks! I would really appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 I'm gonna be in cle for the motorcycle show saturday, I could try and make a house call if you have some way to heat up your garage.Sadly I don't...it's just sitting there in the semi-cold, and a small electric heater won't make much of difference in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Ah well...hopefully nick (gsxkat) can truck it down here when things warm up a bit. I had an 1100 shadow for a season, loved that bike for what it was...check one more thing: if your choke lever is on the handlebars, check and make sure it's actually operating the plungers down on the carbs. Hondas are naturally cold blooded in the first place, and if your choke isn't operating in the cold it will never start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted February 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Ah well...hopefully nick (gsxkat) can truck it down here when things warm up a bit. I had an 1100 shadow for a season, loved that bike for what it was...check one more thing: if your choke lever is on the handlebars, check and make sure it's actually operating the plungers down on the carbs. Hondas are naturally cold blooded in the first place, and if your choke isn't operating in the cold it will never start.Sadly on this one, it's not on the handlebars. I had an 81 CMT400 that had the choke on the handlebars, it was great. This one is on the left side, near the starter for the key. I'm going to put everything back together tonight or tomorrow, and try starting it. I haven't had a chance to deal with it all week. If it doesn't start, I will need to bring it to someone to fix because I can't figure out where its wrong. The issue is that I had it running fine before, but then I had to replace the overfill diaphragm, put everything back together, and nothing. Hopefully I can get it done this week to get it running, time is running out before the season starts, and I want to be up and running well before the season starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Overfill diaphragm? Elaborate please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMe Posted February 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Overfill diaphragm?Elaborate please.So on this bike, this overfill diaphragm will send gas back into the tank if the carbs become filled up with gas. The old one was falling apart, and it was leaking like a sieve. Once I replaced it, the overfill wasn't leaking anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 But the bike also quit running....so my guess is that its not getting gas....like maybe you accidentally swapped the feed and return lines when you installed the new part? Did you ever crack open the bowl drains to see if it's getting gas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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