My firestorm won't start!!!

[tony.mon]

+1 on AMcQ's answer, sounds like cam chain timing issues have caused the piston to meet valves.
Do you know if the person who fitted the CCT's did it just before you bought the bike, or has it been running well for a few weeks?

Might be a "wrong top dead centre" problem, where the engine hasn't been put in the right position before removing the old CCT's (or one had already failed by the time the new ones were fitted).

[kev1982]

The CCT's were fitted by a guy in warrington called Benny (who is on here somewhere) that is apparently sh1t hot on these engines and i have been assured that locktite was applied when they were fitted. Tomorrow i have a mate coming round with a multimeter to go all over the electrics first. Then I'll look into checking if the CCT's have jumped, as described by AMCQ46.

[tony.mon]

Then you're alright re the cct's being fitted properly, that's Benny Hedges, and he will have done it properly.

More properly than he can launch a Storm on the drag strip, anyway......

How ya doin', Benny?

[Xenocide]

How did you get on? Is it fixed?

I'm going to check my manuals now. make sure they're still tight. You've scared me!

[VTRDark]

Good news. For future reference as the symptoms where very much CCT like. What was the cause of the no starting? Sorry to have given you a bit of a scare there but it's always tricky to diagnose something over the internet.

(:-})

[AMCQ46]

Good news. For future reference as the symptoms where very much CCT like. What was the cause of the no starting? Sorry to have given you a bit of a scare there but it's always tricky to diagnose something over the internet.

(:-})

will be good if we can get a reply on what this is to clear up the worry, and I hope it is not CCT failure, but it cant be ruled out. I know if I was going to trust someone to do mine [other than me] It would be Benny or Tony, so that makes CCT less likley, but not impossible!

come on kev, we need to be put out of our misery

[kev1982]

Sorry for taking a while to repost, but my first experience of a firestorm isn't a good one!!!

I did eventually manage to start the bike, although I didn't do anything different to all the other times I tried and had no luck. Only to be ear peircingly deafend by a metallic sqeaking. After a bit of investigating I've found that the front cylinder isn't firing and there is fuel in the oil!!!

As for Mr Hedges, he has been near impossible to contact for the last week by me or the guy I bought the bike off.

[kev1982]

Still no idea if the cct's have failed or not.

[VTRDark]

Oh, for some reason I thought it was back up and running. Are you sure it's fuel in the oil and not water?

(:-})

[AMCQ46]

Don't try and start it again, you will cause more damage. take the tank and air box off and remove the front cam cover. It is easier with the faring off, but it can be done with tin if you don't have anywhere safe to store it.

Sadly I think you are looking at bent valves onthe front cyl, and taking the cam cover off will be the best way to asses the extent of the damage.

[tony.mon]

Ah, the metallic squeaking might be a clue.....
Don't know why there might be fuel in the oil, bent valves or a failed standard cct can't cause this, in fact there are not many things I can think of that would allow fuel into the oil, so let's disregard this for now and start with the squeaking.
Also can't comment on the front cylinder failing to run?
Could be carb, sparks or piston.compression, but don't worry about that for now. (I know, easier said than done, but we need to isolate one problem at a time).

I think that the squeaking may be caused by the transfer gears between the starter motor and the sprag clutch. They are a known weak point on these (and other Hondas).

The transfer gears are two gears on a common shaft, and one is a very tight fit on the shaft of the other, so that when the starter motor turns its gear, the other (smaller) gear turns the sprag clutch.
They're not welded or pinned onto the shaft. so that when they either wear or excessive force is applied, the turn one against the other. This makes the aforementioned horrible metallic squealing/squeaking.

The cure is to fit another set of gears, which can be done in situ, search the Workshop Knowledgebase for a thread called "starter motor problems".

Once you have the engine turning over properly, let's see what's causing you to mention fuel in the oil, and front pot not firing.

[AMCQ46]

Following that line of thought, was the metalic noise during starting or after it was started or all the time?

[benny hedges]

Then you're alright re the cct's being fitted properly, that's Benny Hedges, and he will have done it properly.

More properly than he can launch a Storm on the drag strip, anyway......

How ya doin', Benny?

yeh bike ran fine when it was converted to bazza manuals.... for a few month.
they were locked up with stud grade loctite which is fkin hard to shift lol.
highly unlikely they have moved.
i intend going down to take a look at it but have been on call all week so couldnt get away....
needs sorting tho

covers need to come off etc... check the basics first before panicking

sound btw tony m8 - work work work tho. missed fkin bulldog and mates wedding cos im workin this weekend :/
will catch up with everyone on the sept meet tho

[Xenocide]

If oil smells like fuel, could be as simple as float bowls out of alignment? fuel leaks down and sits in the cly then down past the rings and to FREEDOM.

I own a ktm - ask me how i know about leaking fuel? ;)

[tony.mon]

If oil smells like fuel, could be as simple as float bowls out of alignment? fuel leaks down and sits in the cly then down past the rings and to FREEDOM.

I own a ktm - ask me how i know about leaking fuel? ;)

Float levels aren't adjustable on Storm carbs.

Could be a bit of grit in the seat, though.