Suzuki DT55 not starting

[Al Mottola]

I have a '87 DT55 which I purchased a couple of months ago. It did run then, but not well. I checked everything over and it did start and ran fine with muffs. Recently, it was hard to start, but it did finally start. I turned it off, and now can not restart it. It has spark, new fuel, and the chokes operate normally. I have sprayed starting fluid into the carbs, and it will not even pop! The compression on all three cylinders is ~ 140 PSI and the timing on cylinder #1 while cranking is 10 BTDC. What am I missing?

 

[jafa]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

How strong is the spark , should be able to jump 3/16 with a crack. Are the plugs wet with fuel after cranking. On muffs, with no back pressure, you could probably start on two cylinders. Sounds like it was running on two cylinders before it quit.

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

The spark is not as srong as I would have expected, it is blue, but made up of a number of smaller arcs. All three plugs spark the same. It is the same with old and brand new plugs. The plugs are slightly wet, NOT saturated as you would expect if it was flooded. <br /><br />I do get an occasional back fire through the exhust port as I crank with gas squirted into the cylinders or with starting fluid in the carbs.<br /><br />Other observations: when it was running, the idle speed control switch did not have an effect. Also the previous owner said that the idle speed was good one day and over-revving the next. (I did not observe this.)

 

[31900]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

I had an 86 model of this motor. It had a crankshaft made in sections. On two occasions the sections moved so that the timing for cyl 2 and 3 were out. Yours is showing similar symptoms. I had to strip it down and have the local Suzi bike shop reset the crank and on the second attempt weld it so it could not move again. While I was at it I repaced the rings. Ran like a beaut after that. You need to look at the timing, plugs out hand rotating with something down the hole to find top dead centre on each of the cylinders and to see if they line up with the timing marks.<br />I hope for your sake that it is not this.<br />Good luck

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

A crankshaft designed in sections does not sound very durable. I hope that is not it. I will put a dowel down each cylinder and check for TDC timing marks. <br /><br />Do you recall ~ how long it took you to disassemble and reassemble the engine? I wonder if it is the crank, if it is worth the effort.

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Well, after checking TDC on #1 with a dowel, I found it to be ~50'BTDC! (Not sure how the timing light gave 10'BTDC while cranking.)<br /><br />It turns out to be a busted flywheel key. I just tried to get one at the local Suzuki dealer here in southern NJ and they don't stock them. The hardware store has them, but they are too narrow. Any ideas where I can pick a couple up?

 

[JB]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

There is a good chance that you broke the key by using the ether, ALM. That is one of the least expensive things ether can do to a 2 stroke.<br /><br />Always use fuel premix, never ether.

 

[jafa]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Try brownspoint.com<br /><br />EDIT: Please don't post direct links to businesses. Referrals are okay, just not direct links. Thanks.

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Thanks. I will order a couple of flywheel keys.<br /><br />Perhaps, I will be back to square one once I install the new key.

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Cylinder # 1 timing is marked on the fly wheel, but #2 & #3 are not. Can I assume that cylinders #2 & #3 are 120 degrees +/- cylinder #1? If not, what is the relationship of all three cylinders?

 

[BrettL]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Do not use ether on a 2 stroke suzuki... I had a very similar problem with my dt 75, and after I used the ether, I bent my crankshaft somehow, and after reading an awful lot and listening to Suzuki mechanics, ether ruins them... Please stay away fro m starting fluid!

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Is there a design problem with the DTxx crankshaft? Or is using ether in any 2 stroke outboard a problem? I have used ether in a multitude of small 'land based' 2 cycle engines w/o any problems. <br /><br />Does anyone have an answer to my May 7th question regarding timing marks?

 

[fridays]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Cyl. are 120 deg. apart. Crank twisting occured on some '86 model 65's (first year for that motor)but I have never seen one since. It's a great motor..enjoy. The fear of ether is a bit overblown I think..remember 'Moderation in all things, even moderation'.

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Thanks. The ordered flywheel keys as I understand, are on back order from Suzuki, so once they come in, I will mark the flywheel and check things over before cranking! All in all, the DT55 seems like a relatively simple engine, so with persistance, I will have it purring.

 

[Al Mottola]

Re: Suzuki DT55 not starting

Installed the fly wheel key and it runs. <br /><br />Thanks for everyone's help.