Ya know Shadow, there was a "cooked" smell for a very short while. The clicking relay will be 1st thing I replace (its gonna be the cheapest). I'll go by Honda on Thursday. There was nothing obviously blown apart. Saying 10 seconds may be generous on my part. Everything happened so fast. When I pulled the plug wires / coils off they looked ok.

I'm starting to think that may have be the bang. I was up against the divider wall on the freeway so maybe it echoed off of it? The air box is the next thing I'm gonna pull out, I just don't have time today.

Thanks guys I know its hard to diagnose from half the globe away. I truly appreciate your help. The stories made me giggle a bit.

If this relay doesn't check out I'm gonna follow it back to the starter and go from there. Isn't there a dreaded starter chain I've heard of?

 

Yes there's a starter chain, which if it went, wouldn't go "bang" - bike would probably limp to a wimpy stop. Unless of course it jammed something.The starter actually doesn't run on the Primary chain, but is driven off it by another geared system.
Look under the rubber cover on the relay, Baron Michael, and in the airbox, and let us know.....I'm curious....

 

The very first thing I thought of, Shadow had mentioned already.
If it were me, the very first thing that I would do is pull the plugs and turn the motor while checking for compression. The reason I say this is that if the CC did break, the cams would stop turning and the valves would be opened and the piston would hit them. In this case a few things can happen.

One would be that a vale or valves would be bent and loss of compression.

Maybe the valve poked a hole in the piston and there would be loss of compression.

The worse case is the piston hits the valve and gets cocked. When this happens the piston pushes against the cylinder wall breaking it and coolant will flow to the oil sump. This can be checked later when draining the oil.

To check the compression you would have access to the valve cover and the next step would be to check the CC.

If you have compression, look somewhere else foe the problem.

You would be nuts not to repair a 1kF in such good shape. If anything replace the motor if it comes down to it. This is YOUR bike, fix it.

 

I 'm with the compression test scenario first too Mike especially on #2

 

The intake side of the motor looks clean, but look at the carbs. Is that normal or burns. otherwise the airbox / filter looks ok. I'm really thinking its electrical. #3 Plug looks like it got warm. All of 'em are more or less dry, and number 3 its a litte white....

I really wish this wouldn't have happend because this would be a great time to do the cam chain. i just want to wait till we can get power running through it 1st.

I get the compression idea, but I have ZERO electricity to the starter. Pretty sure a lack of compression wouldnt cause it not to even crank when I can turn it over manually?

Again, I do have a relay behind the spedo clicking with the start button, but the one on the right by the rear brake fluid fill isn't. It doesn't sound like the starter relay is clicking. So we gotta nail the electric thing 1st. I cant get it even to turn the starter. I pulled the starter and am gonna have it tested to make sure it isn't fried.

Come to think of it, now that its out I'm gonna hook it back up and try to spin it while under battery power.

Here are a few more pics of progress.

1 - The cams look pretty decent for the rattle...

2 - Is that carbon build up common?

3 - #3 looks like it was leaking a little fuel?

4 - Gonna test it and work back to the relay.

 

1 - The cams look pretty decent for the rattle...
Cams look OK but you'll only know if and when you remove the cam covers.
CAREFUL with tightening afterwards !!!


2 - Is that carbon build up common?

No, not on my bike...............

3 - #3 looks like it was leaking a little fuel?

Yes it does - float bowl gasket.

4 - Gonna test it and work back to the relay.

Yuck that starter looks orrible...................

No3 carb is above the starter - may have been a blowback,,,,,,,,,,,?
(leaking fuel ignited by an ignition source) ?

 

I have a question. Does the head lamp come on bright when the key is in the running position? If your charging system chit the bed, the bike would pop and die. Without enough voltage to energize the coils the bike would not start when you tried to bump start it.

Relays need enough power to stay closed. That may also be why it is clicking.

If a cylinder did not have enough spark to fire itwould fill the exhaust with unburnt mixture and when a hot enough spark did ignite one of the cylinders, the flame would travel down the pipe and the hot gasses in the exhaust system would go off like an explosion.

It looks like the CC did not fail, good news. I tend to agree with you michealparks, electrical.

Shadow, the carbs look Ok to me. Some residue is common. Don't forget that the corn leaves more gook than we are use to seeing. There is some bowl weeping that I also think is normal for bikes of these years. It just builds up. It take several years to look like that. Also the starter is not running oil, just seeping over some time.

 

Good thinking TBT - certainly worth investigating.
Another thought comes to mind which would laso give a helluva bang:
hit the kill switch (or have it fail) and reconnect while rolling- that'll give you a similar result, and guarantee pee in the bed !

Shadow, the carbs look Ok to me. Some residue is common. Don't forget that the corn leaves more gook than we are use to seeing. There is some bowl weeping that I also think is normal for bikes of these years. It just builds up. It take several years to look like that. Also the starter is not running oil, just seeping over some time.

Yes, I guess my float bowls were a bit like that before I replaced the gaskets - not a cheap job.....

 

TBT the headlight does come on and the so do all the dash lights, turn signals ect. I put the battery on the charger last night and it really took a long time to charge, odd for it not sitting a long time. Think maybe the alternator / generator when to chit then the battery just gave out? Kinda like how they won't start (crank no fire) on a low battery? The battery might be so low it wont turn the starter? Its not that old, maybe 1 1/2yrs.

But you may be on something with the clicks and not bump starting....

Gonna get the starter tested today to see if it spins, if I can get by Honda on the Fire Engine. May have to wait till tomorrow. I'm on duty today so I am Chit outta luck.

I looked around on a local Honda dealer for new starter and alternator just for kicks.... not pretty.

http://www.westernhonda.com/fiche_se...1991&fveh=3021

http://www.westernhonda.com/fiche_se...1991&fveh=3021

Thanks guys I really appreciate the help.

 

If it's the charging system, you only need the stator/alternator COVER - it has all the electricals in it - the rest is a probe which hardly ever needs replacing. Remove the stator cover and see if it smells burnt - if it does - there's your problem.

The starter is also unlikely to be the problem, but having it tested is another step in the process.

Check the main fuse 30amp and relay - right side middle of the bike
I know you said the bang came from the left, but sound could have bounced off the wall you were running next to.