only running on 3 cylinders.???

[floydsz1]

While the engine is running,get hold of the plug cap that's not firing and gradually pull it off the plug and slowly away from the plug. Listen and you will hear/feel if it starts to fire. Also the cap will start to spark across to the top of the plug. You should be able to hear it making a clicking sound. If the engine does try and fire on all 4 keep the cap just off the top of the plug until it warms up. I've just had to do this on my Z1B this morning, first ride out this year. Was only running on 3 after about a mile , so i stopped at side of road and pulled the cap off the plug until it started firing, after about 15 secs i pushed it back fully onto the plug and it's been fine since.

[Leelofty101]

Again thanks to all ideas.

[Leelofty101]

Hi everybody. After all the shit with this bike I've finally got it running half decent and got it Mot'd now..yes...!!!
The problem on cylinder no 4 was stupidity on my part really, as it often is with these things. After stripping the carbs for the 6th or more time, I could see no problem anywhere until I took out the brass insert that holds the float needle spring in and found a fairly large beetle in the bottom!!! I can only assume that it crawled in at some point and whenever I took it to bits it was stuck underneath where I couldn't see it. Anyway it's now running ok and I've mot'd it and sent off the documents for registration.
Thankfully it's a step in the right direction.
The moral of the story is... never give up! No matter how shit you feel or how cold you get or how many times you want to set fire to it and then chainsaw it in half(or is that just me??) keep going.
I can't say enough for you guys on here with your helpful hints etc and specially to Chris Poll for being on the end of the phone for me.(I really want your 1100r )
Thanks again to everyone and hopefully meet you all in the very near future.

[Redbeard]

Good news mate. Which beetle was it? Ringo? And 'no' it isn't just you who gets within seconds of torching the fecker.

[Pigford]

Good news mate. Which beetle was it? Ringo? And 'no' it isn't just you who gets within seconds of torching the fecker.

I'd happily torch all the Beatles - they were all crap

[DavidZ1R]

Frustration is the thing with these old bikes, today I managed to bleed the rear brake, all fine, did the front ones, okay, but found the nipped passing fluid when closed, took the Fecker off and close check with magnifying glass, the seating part of the caliper has been chewed sometime in the past, there are times I could happily chuck it in the canal, hey Ho.

[PAULJAC47]

Not another beetle chewing David?

[DavidZ1R]

Sadly not a beatle, there came a spare caliper with the project, I cleaned up the fitted pair that were on, it seems the previous owner knew about the problem, hence the spare, at least I don't have to hunt for another, for now.......

[Leelofty101]

I'm sure there will be more trying times ahead. Once I start replacing old bits. Just no more insects or 60's musicians please!!

[ZedHead]

Presumably the offending bug was holding the float valve open? Which begs the question why didn't it overflow? If the overflow is blocked it is possible that fuel has been flooding into the bores for sometime. It may be prudent to change the oil and filter sooner rather than later to be on the safe side.

[Leelofty101]

Yes that's my next job

[tlc]

Those "dang" beetles

I suppose it was blocking the fuel inlet and not the other way round?
Plenty of time now then to have a tinker over the summer whilst you get used to it.

See you around soon