[350D]

Hi All,
So I got a great deal on this wheeler from a guy who was having trouble keeping it running. In fact, he couldn't get it started at the time, said the man at the shop told him it was working fine when he brought it in to have him look at it. Well, I just so happen to have a wood splitter he was in need of, hence I own it now. Anyway, I found a stash of acorns under the old chewed up air filter and the battery was dead. I dropped a new battery in it and cleaned up the carb and it started right up. Smiling away, I would go out to the garage and run it from time to time just to listen to it purr as I repaired and painted all the plastic, put on new front brakes and replaced a cv boot. Next up is to change the gear oils and motor oil and filter. So I noticed one time it didn't want to start. Thinking it was not getting fuel, I sprayed a little ether in it and it fired right up again and kept running. I drove it around the driveway a few times and it ran perfect. Then it happened again only a few hours after it had been running. The battery was fully charged, engine turned over, but still it wouldn't start. I checked the fuel pump by taking the gas line off the carb and no fuel is coming out. And to top it off, when I tried to start it with ether, it wouldn't fire. So I pulled the plug and it's not sparking either. I think the ground to the fuel pump is good because it will pump when I over ride the positive feed with a direct wire to the battery while leaving the ground wire attached. It seems like it may be two problems at once or somehow they are connected. I have power to the coil. Anyone care to share some insight and help a poor guy out?

 

[350D]

Thank you Retro! Yes, the green neutral light is on. Can you explain how I would I go about checking the fuel cutoff relay? I think I can figure out the kill switch if it's obvious enough.

 

[350D]

Thanks for the info, I have the manual now. I'm sure it will be very helpful.

 

[350D]

The kill switch appears to be functioning correctly. I pulled the assembly apart and checked the two soldered points on the side facing the front of the wheeler and it continuity in the run position. One down!
I'll plan to unwrap all the tapped up wires, look them over carefully and locate the grounds for a look-see to make sure they are clean and connected. So far I have checked a couple easy to locate, one smaller green one connecting the fuel pump and one heavy black one on the frame to the right of the carb area and they are good. Fuses looked good too. No answer for the fix yet, but I'm still :smile
Any help pointing out ground locations?

 

[350D]

It HAD continuity after checking it in the run position. (above edit)

 

[350D]

It's a miracle!!! Maybe...I think...? lol Anyway, it's working for the time being.
Thank you for sharing your insights with me Retro. I have read a few of your post and "you da man"! :hail:
As far as the taped wire harness goes, actually, the tape was just at the first 3 or 4 inches of the harness. So that was good!!!
I was cleaning around the wire connection on the ignition coil when I thought I heard my fuel pump kick on. It may have kicked on earlier while cleaning grounds, but I didn't hear it. I had the key on hoping to hear it engage while cleaning grounds and wiggling wires. Anyway, I don't know if it could still be a problem that is intermittent, so I'll leave the fenders off and keep starting it over and over for a few days. Perhaps if it's something going bad it will cut out again. We shall see. Mean time, thx again!
:funnyhonda::icon_ peace:

 

[350D]

Well, that was short lived. lol I just went out to try and start it, but no go>
I did notice something that might be helpful in diagnosing the problem. I noticed (with the key on) that as soon as I unplugged the green wire from my ignition coil, the fuel pump cam on. As soon as I plugged it back in, it shut off the power to the pump again. So I turned the key off, unhooked the ignition coil, turned the key back on and the pump clicked on. Do you think the problem is in the ignition coil? I'll order one right up if that's it!

 

[350D]

Retro, I went out to start the wheeler one more time before going to bed and it would NOT start. When I tried it this morning, guess what? It started right up like a charm. lol I'm telling ya! So I ran it for a few minutes, shut it off, restarted it, shut it off, restarted it maybe 10 times and it ran fine. So I figured, while everything appeared to be operational, motor off with the key on, I would try unhooking the wire going to the coil just to see if it affected the fuel pump as it had before when I couldn't get it started. (I don't know if you remember, but whenever I would unplug the green connection to the ignition coil, I could hear the fuel pump kick on.) This time it did not affect the fuel pump, there was no sound of it clicking on and off. So i restarted it and let it run and after about 2 minutes it just shut off by itself and would not restart. That's the first time it has ever just shut off by itself. Normally when it would start, it would stay running. It really is crazy!

PS I did put a little dielectric grease on the connections as I checked them over.
Thank you for pointing me in the direction of Shadetree. I'm gonna look him up and see if he will let me pick his brain.

 

[350D]

The fuel cutoff relay gets a signal voltage from the CDI while cranking to energize it and then the fuel pump runs... The service manual has the wiring diagram for your machine and it can be used to check the relay, CDI, coil and related Ign. circuits.

When I get a chance, I'm gonna really figure out how to use my old multimeter.
I'm also going to look over all the grounds and connections again.
It's raining and 40 degrees outside. I need better lights and a heater in my old garage. lol

 

[350D]

Retro,
As you suggested, while it was misbehaving, refusing to start, I tried tapping lightly on the CDI and it fired up right on the first tap.
And the mean time, I decided to swap out the starter coil, spark plug, fuel pump and filter.
Do you think I need a new CDI?

 

[350D]

Retro,
Thank you again for all this great advice.
You sure have me second guessing myself on all those electrical connections. lol But I sure think I got them all. I even put a dab of dialectic grease on them after cleaning them up.
I'm confident that the ignition coil and wire to the plug are fine. I actually replaced it, just to be sure.
I got an Auto Star fuel pump that bragged it was made of all the good stuff and better than those cheap ones you described. You can check and tell me what you think. If I need to replace it, I will.
Fuel Pump For Honda TRX350 TRX350D 4x4 4WD FOURTRAX FOREMAN 350 1986-1989 NEW | eBay

As far as the resistance of the pulse generator goes. I'll read up on it and give it a test it asap.
Rest assure, if I end up having to purchase a new CDI after all of this, it will be the good one.

 

[350D]

I believe the the puls generator tested okay, but I'm not sure if I had my multimeter set up correctly.
I set my multimeter at 2K and it read .308
The manual said the resistance should be between 300 and 360 ohms.
Is that the right setting on the meter, 2K?
I checked both the ground wire and the frame and got the same reading.

 

[350D]

Retro,
Ever since the last time I tapped the CDI it has started about 25 times and run perfectly.
Before that, while wiggling the connection to it, I thought it acted funny, lust for a second, like it might stall, but it quickly came around and seemed fine. I took the connections off, felt tight and it looked clean. So I put a little dialectic grease on each metal tab, snugged it back together tight and wrapped some electrical tape around it just make sure it could not back off or move any at all.
It was after all that, that it ran fine for a while and then simply would not start. So while trying to start it, I lightly tapped it and it started.
I just ordered an Honda OEM CDI box for $116 on Ebay. So we shall see!
Ya know, I got such a great deal on the wheeler that these new purchases are not so bad. It's not like I have a lot of cash, I don't, but it helps knowing I only had about $400 in cash invested in it before I started fixing it up. I'll be happier and have the peace of mind when it finally turns over and runs steady for a week or so. I'll probably need a new starter by then. LOL

 

[350D]

PS That handsome face on my avatar is my new grandson. He may just be playing a bigger part in my happiness than my deal on the wheeler. :grin