Help! Vino won't start

[tker32]

So I've been messing with my 2001 Vino off and on for about the last three weeks, and I can officially say I am stumped. I've searched this and other forums for hours upon hours while at work, and I still can't figure out why it won't start.

I have changed the spark plug, and verified that I can get a spark to it when kick starting. I have tested compression and the cheap gauge I got at Harbor Freight is showing about 120. I have been through the carb about 7 times, giving it a good cleaning this last time (carb cleaner through every passage I could find, canned air after the cleaner) but I still can't get it to fire up. A couple of times I was able to get it to act like it wanted to start using carb cleaner in through the spark plug hole but that doesn't always work.

This is my first trip into engines, and it's frustrating the crap out of me. One thing I haven't checked yet (even though I have no clue how they play into the whole thing) is the reeds. Do they play any part in starting?

Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions anyone can throw my way.

[Blackbomber]

The reeds are crucial, but not likely the issue. Is your plug wet with fuel when you remove it after trying to kickstart? How strong is your spark? A weak orange spark in atmospheric pressure can literally disappear under compression.

[tker32]

This last time the plug was wet, but I don't think it normally has been. It's a good solid blue spark when grounded against the frame.

In cleaning the carb, I moved the air/fuel mixture screw. I thought I saw somewhere that the factory setting for this screw is 2 1/4 turns out. Is that right?

[Blackbomber]

I have heard anywhere from 2 to 2.5 turns. At 2 1/4, it should definately start, even if it's not perfect. Timing on these things doesn't go out, so I wouldn't worry about that. It wouldn't hurt to check the reeds. At least you will know the condition.

I'm going with the assumption that the gasoline is fresh, and clean (and water free). If in doubt, pull your tank and flush it. Starting fluid is normally sprayed into the airbox inlet or carb throat. It may not vaporize enough to light off if sprayed directly in the chamber. I really never tried that, so it's just a guess.

So what's the history on this bike? Did it run when parked, or did you get it this way? How long since it last ran?

[tker32]

The gas is fresh. I have drained the tank and even ran a fair amount of clean gas through to flush the tank and hoses.

When I put it away for the winter, it wasn't running. Troubles began when it wouldn't run in the morning, but if I tried again in the afternoon it would start. Eventually it got to where it would fire up, and then die. Now it's to the point that it won't start at all.

Besides the reeds, I was wondering if maybe the autochoke had gone out. I tried starting without the choke in the carb at all, and that didn't work....but that was before I had really gone through and made sure the carb was clean.

[Blackbomber]

Yeah, sounds like the autochoke is suspect. You should be able to observe the action with the solinoid removed from the carb.

[tker32]

At this point, my battery is pretty much shot. I did try hooking up the autochoke outside of the carb a week or so ago, and it didn't move at all. I probably should have figured that was the problem then, but I didn't know if the warm weather would have made a difference or not.

Is there a manual choke option for the stock carb? Looking at a couple different OEM part sites, it looks like the autochoke is about $135. For that price, I can upgrade the whole carburetor.