Waahh! Can't seem to get starting problem fixed!

[John Hopkins]

So..how did you get on..the instructions I gave were only to diagnose not to fix..if you publish the results of your tests I can tell you what needs to be done next..

John.

[John Hopkins]

Don't overtighten the new plugs they only need 10 ft lbs..that is tighten them up finger tight and then about half a turn more if you don't have a torque wrench.

John.

[LadyDrifter]

Thanks! I will try that...I was also just going to go ahead and change out the plugs and see what happens...I have not changed tham since I've had it (10/2011) and the previous owner just liked to toy around with it---don't think he ever did much to it...I pulled up the manual off of another post and it has all the specs...so it should be pretty easy to do---if that doesn't do it then I will do what you suggest and take it from there...

Thank you for your help! 
Sandra

[John Hopkins]

It's not easy to make the correct guess on a bike that is thousands of miles away, but from what you have written I'll have a go.

First lets forget the gasket work because once you got it started it ran ok..

Let's think about the battery..

new battery, we know it was charged before you got it because it started the bike a few times..

buy a $10 DIGITAL multimeter, take the seat off, set the meter to dc volts and measure the battery voltage..expect about 12.45v dc.

now fit new sparkplugs..The firm you paid to fit new headgaskets would not have fitted new plugs unless you asked for them and they may have fitted the wrong type..

Beside all that it is an easy thing to change..

Now check the battery terminals are tight.

next connect the negative lead of the meter (DVM) to the metal part of the engine and the positive lead to the battery to make sure the battery is correctly grounded to the frame and engine..you should have exactly the same voltage as your first measurement..

Now connect the DVM back across the battery and look at the reading while trying to start the engine, the voltage should not drop below 12v dc, if it does the battery needs charging..

After fully charging the battery try to start the bike again, keep the meter connected across the battery, if the engine starts expect the battery voltage to increase slightly while the engine warms up and the revs drop to idle..

Increase the revs to about 3k and expect the voltage to increase above the idle voltage..

If there is no increase in voltage then you either have a faulty alternator or a faulty rec/reg unit, I can tell you how to fault find them next.

John.

[LadyDrifter]

I have had the battery changed the leaky headgaskets changed and darn thing still won't start---got it home after headgasket change--went for a ride..no problems other than having to start a few times before it actually turned over---got home parked it--next day would not start, drained battery twice already --- I have fuel, I can smell it...I have power because it tries to turn over---but seems like no spark to actually start the bike...suggestions please!