Suzuki DT2.2 problem....abrupt cutting out

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FairweatherDave

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Been really pleased with how sweetly my Suzuki has been performing this summer, when out of the blue it cut out and would not restart. The way it cuts out is the clue, absolutely no warning, and then a very sudden death. I thought the lead to the spark plug might be loose, but I think that is fine. Restart in the dustbin, starts as sweetly as usual, then next time it does sudden death on my return from the mooring, having run well for the mile to get out there.
Now I have just cleaned the carb and changed the fuel (refiltered it) and it restarted and ran beautifully, for all of twenty seconds. I pushed the throttle lever down a fraction to slow the engine when it died very abruptly. I feel this was co-incidence because it would not restart. Does the panel think this sounds like a dirty carb still.... grit in a jet or does it sound electrical. I'm used to engines petering out or a stuck float valve preventing starting. I suspect I need to do a more thorough carb clean but interested if people have other ideas.
 
I had similar with my DT2.2. It ran for a bit then suddenly cut out. It would run forever in a dustbin full of water though. I fitted a new plug which solved the problem for a few trips then the fault recurred whilst I was in Dartmouth. I took it to the agent there and they diagnosed a faulty plug, fitted another new one and it's been absolutely fine ever since. So get two new plugs. Fit one and keep the other as spare. If the new plug doesn't work (try the second as well!) then it may be something else.
 
Cheers Dipper! Just popped in a new plug without taking it out the dustbin and it fired up. Put the old one back in. Couldn't start it. Thank you.
 
I blame my daughter. I think she killed it. She kayaked ahead of my wife and I in the tender. Trouble is she refused to listen to I wanted her to go. She knew better and did a marathon paddle to the old mooring. Once I had dropped my wife off on the boat I set off in hot pursuit, probably a further mile before I caught her.
 
FairweatherDave said:
Cheers Dipper! Just popped in a new plug without taking it out the dustbin and it fired up. Put the old one back in. Couldn't start it. Thank you.
Click to expand...

It's strange how an apparently perfect plug can fail like this. The first of my plugs had been very lightly used and the second was virtually new. Maybe the insulation gets a hairline crack in it?
 
I've had exactly the same problems with plugs for my DT2.2 failing all the time. I don't think they make them properly any more. Can't understand it - I never had this problem with lambrettas in the 60's. They got gunked up, but if you cleaned them they were good to go again. Cars don't kill their plugs all the time. Why does it happen with Suzuki DT2.2s?
 
Sounds like this one was the plug, but for the benefit of anyone else finding this thread later...

I had exactly the same symptoms on my DT2.2, changing the plug was the first thing I tried (I carry a spare in the dinghy kit) but no joy, also tried another couple of new ones later, and spent a while fiddling with the carb. What eventually fixed it was replacing the ignition system - on this engine it's a single part so I don't know or particularly care which exact bit of it had failed, but with the new one the engine has run faultlessly ever since.

Pete
 
Thanks Pete.Thats interesting. Changing the plug instantly got a result. But it is not running properly yet. I suspect my initial carb clean was not that good and my Soda stream air blast has relocated some debris. But a thorough carb clean is next to get it running smoothly. After that I might be trying to identify the ignition part.
 
FairweatherDave said:
Thanks Pete.Thats interesting. Changing the plug instantly got a result. But it is not running properly yet. I suspect my initial carb clean was not that good and my Soda stream air blast has relocated some debris. But a thorough carb clean is next to get it running smoothly. After that I might be trying to identify the ignition part.
Click to expand...

Prior to 1990 the ignition was coil and points. All components located under the flywheel

From 1990 onward the igntion was CDI with a single coil assembly mounted to one side of the flywheel. The coil assembly is apparently nla as an OEM part. ....

Before tearing into the carb again check that you can get a good spark from the Ht lead. Expect to get a 1 cm long spark from a CDI system
 
VicS said:
Prior to 1990 the ignition was coil and points. All components located under the flywheel

From 1990 onward the igntion was CDI with a single coil assembly mounted to one side of the flywheel. The coil assembly is apparently nla as an OEM part. ....

Before tearing into the carb again check that you can get a good spark from the Ht lead. Expect to get a 1 cm long spark from a CDI system
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Vic
I'm already into the carb as my first clean was more of a visual inspection and a puff of air.....My tin of carb cleaner had run out
Got a new tin from Toolstation for 2.68

I haven't read up about spark inspection ....I presume you mean a jump of 1cm from plug to engine.?
(My engine is from 2003 so coil assembly.)
 
Thanks LadyInBed........

And the good news is a proper carb clean and it is running sweetly in the dustbin. But the plug was the initial culprit. At least I was on the right lines thinking it was an electrical fault. I do carry a spare plug but normally just switch to rowing and sort out at home. If (when) there is a next time with an abrupt fail hopefully I'll go straight to the plug.........
Fingers crossed for the "road test" to the mooring.
 
VicS said:
The coil assembly is apparently nla as an OEM part.
Click to expand...

That's interesting - it's only a couple of years ago that I bought mine. Wonder if it went unavailable after that, or I was lucky enough to find some old stock. I don't remember having any great difficulty sourcing it, just being a bit miffed at the price :). All worth it though to make a nice little engine totally reliable again.

Pete
 
New plugs have a coating. If that coating us damaged it can cause the plug to fail. I have also seen if issues caused by faulty coils. Not sure if the coil turned the plug bad or vice versa. Also I have known plugs failing after running for long periods with stale fuel
 
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