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View Full Version : 1982 Honda ATC 200 Starting Problems



enikolich
05-28-2008, 05:33 PM
Hi everyone. I have a 1982 Honda ATC 200 that I got for two hundred bucks. Was blowing all kinds of smoke like crazy when I first fired it up then oil started dripping out of the tail pipe. So, pulled it apart to see the extent of the damage. Found cylinder wall severely scored, piston skirt scored and bad rings. Honed cylinder wall, replaced piston and rings. Put all back together and fired right up and ran like a dream. I broke it in very gently and put about three hours riding on it then changed oil.

Next day, kids riding it around. Not going crazy driving like maniacs or anything like that. But it died. Pull started it and started running ok. Made a few carb adjustments and continued on their way. Happened a couple more times until would finally not fire back up.

My first thought of course was that it was comething internal that I screwed up when doing the rings and such. Still have awesome compression, engine rotates easily and no funny noises. Resistance readings on coil seemed out of range, so installed new coil, plug and plug wire. After ten tries and using starting fluid, I got it to start and rev up a little bit. But did not stay running for more than ten seconds or so.

Took carb apart. Checked all passages, float, made sure nothing plugged up. Could not find a damn thing in the carb!

I got a new exciter could and have not put on yet because old one tests out fine. I am definitely getting spark - can rotate engine with pull starter and see blue spark. Compression blows finger right off the spark plug hole. Kill switch wiring bypassed just to eliminate that as possibility.

Any ideas? I am at a loss. I am not an expert, but not a novice either. I have scoured the posts looking for ideas and think I have exhausted the possibilities. Could it be something internal?? Valve clearance. Bent valve from me screwing something up inside? Your input and suggestions would be very helpful and thank you in advance!

Ed

TravEX
05-28-2008, 05:41 PM
What does the exciter coil measure, should be around 245 ohms?

TravEX
05-28-2008, 05:44 PM
And, make sure the ground is good on the primary coil up on the frame.

I'm like you, kinda weird it quit after running so good, and would still fire back up every now and then.

enikolich
05-29-2008, 12:19 PM
Yes, exciter coil measuring 245. I can't help but think its comething in the carb but have taken apart twice and found nothing. Frustrating because motor was in horrible shape before pulling apart and it still ran! Now can only occasionally get the thing to fire and run for a few seconds. Oh well, if no one has any other ideas, I will be spending weekend pulling head and cylinder again.