Motorcycle Repair: Electrical?, ron ballew, air fuel mixture

Question
Mark, I was trail riding and my 1991 250 XR Honda quit running like it was running out of gas. It started again and went about 100 ft. Towed out. Gas good & new plug. The headlight was very dim and the morning it was strong. To me it does not seem that the alt. is charging the battery and keeping up with electrical need? I do not know if it is that or something else? What do you think? Your help is greatly appreciated. Ron Ballew

Answer
Hi Ron,

Your suspicions may be on the right path. You'll need to perform electrical diagnosis to verify that the electrical system is working properly.

If you do not have the service manual, get one. Remember, you get what you pay for. Follow the troubleshooting and testing procedures in the service manual.

Visit "www.electrexusa.com" and follow their troubleshooting chart.

An engine needs a spark at the exact time, correct air-fuel mixture, and adequate cylinder compression for the engine to run properly.

Remove or alter one or more of the above and the engine will run poorly or not at all.

Quick checks: Check compression, check reed valves, check charging coil, check air filter.

Respectfully,
Mark Shively