View Full Version : Kawasaki KMX trail bike wont start.
I haven't got a clue where to start checking for problems. It's got a dead battery but always has and starts anyway. It was running fine on sunday. Started this evening but cut out and I caught a glimpse of the oil light. Went straight up and topped it up with 2 stroke, now it wont start at all! barely even turns over when I kick it
plugs are dead i had one and it was always always that
yorkie_chris
21-10-08, 06:32 PM
Is it seperate oil tank?
Look at the injector pump feed if so, see if it's full of oil. If not it sounds siezed.
Bad plug wouldn't make it hard to kick over, but feel free to try, as that's easy. Do check it's getting oil first though...
had this loads of times on the same bike they are very finnicky with plugs
they are separate oil tanks on the kmx under the seat yorkie
I think it might be seized, there's a container on the RHS of the bike which looks like where the oil should feed into and there's nothing in it. How do I check the plugs? i've had the bike 5 days and it's been quite a nightmare but then again I guess I didn't pay for it!
can you see the ht lead above the engine bud
yorkie_chris
21-10-08, 06:40 PM
You say you added more 2 stroke? Was it empty?
You say you added more 2 stroke? Was it empty?
if it was it's dead:(
yorkie_chris
21-10-08, 06:43 PM
Yup.
What? seriously? When I opened the lid on the oil container I could see fluid down in the bottom (through the little hole) so I wouldn't have thought it was empty, oil light wasn't on on sunday either, what's an HT lead and which one would it be!?
on top of the single is a lead coming out the top rubber thing pullit off and in your tool kit(if youve got one )should be a spark plug spanner undo the spark plug be carefull not to crossthread it.
if it's any shade of black or brown it's shagged new plug job about £4
arenalife
21-10-08, 06:51 PM
Oil pump two strokes with a separate tank have a sort of safety feature that when it's empty the bike won't run and start, my old yam used to do it (I'd painted over the sight glass accidentally, oops). After refilling the tank with 2 stroke oil, it would take an age to get it bled through and running again, lots of kicking. might just be that.
Blue_SV650S
21-10-08, 06:56 PM
Take the plug out and kick it over, if it still shows reasonable resistance its gone POP!! ;)
yorkie_chris
21-10-08, 06:56 PM
If it needs to be bled after being run then you've already damaged the motor.
Way to do it on a rebuild is run it on premix, holding the cam on the oil pump wide open untill you can see that oil has made it's way up the pipe and is getting to motor. Then dump the premix out and refill with petrol.
sorry guys you've really lost me here. The side window on the bike is empty, i've put oil in under the seat but there is still nothing in the side window. I don't really get it as I looked before I put oil in and could see oil through the container but the side window was empty.
thats gearbox oil not two stroke
yorkie_chris
21-10-08, 07:02 PM
Take plug out and turn engine over see if it's like "phutphutphut" or like "grrrrcccchhhhh"
What you mean the oil you see through the side window is gearbox oil?
What you mean the oil you see through the side window is gearbox oil?
yes you check the two stroke by looking in the tank under the seat and the gearbox oil in the sight glass if i remember rightly dont fill the gearbox with two stroke for gods sake.;)
Pulled the top of the plug off (couldn't get access to the actual plug with a tool) and it did the first, no crunch noise.
easy to get the plug off can you see the bolt head type thing thats the plug poking out the top
yorkie_chris
21-10-08, 07:18 PM
Right so is it kicking over like normal? Just not running?
theres a knack to kicking em up dont stamp flick.
yeh its not making any dodgy noises, just not starting, could well be the plug ill check tomorrow. I pulled the ht cable off the plug when i kicked it over, it that not enough to check if its dead?
no you need the plug out and just change it if it's been stood for long they get oiled up
peice of **** to do 2 minute job
have to order a plug though, anyone in particular?
ngk ill check my manual dude back to you in a sec
apparently it's ngk BR8ES if i remeber rightly i used to run mine on a hotter plug but stick to standard
used to go halfords for mine usually they had them in stock
Cheers for your help mate, sorry for being a dunce at this. When I kicked it over with the spark cap unplugged would that not have the same effect as removing the plug though? I'll let you know tomorrow if it works!
remember to flick if you keep on hammering it it'll flood
have you got a haynes manual dude
What if i've already flooded it tonight, as that could be a possibility. How would I remedy that? Isn't it something like kicking it with the kill switch on (fuel or engine?)? No i don't have a haynes manual, prob should though!
changing the plug'll sort it do you want a manual ive got one you can have.
I'll certainly take it off your hands, do you want me to send you payment for postage?
nah ive got stamps bud just remember to help the next guy out pm you address and i'll send it foc.
Just thought i'd let you know I went down this evening after work, gave it one flick and it started! I think maybe the oil was bleeding through and it needed a while, either that or I flooded it last night and it needed to clear. I got a spark plug though but didn't need to change it! Thanks for all your help!
it'll benefit from a spark plug change nonetheless and a bloody good run to clear it out.and your manuals on it's way.
Thanks again mate and i'll remember to pay it forward! Turned out none of my wrenches fit it, not too accessible is it! But it started anyway, will give it a ride out tomorrow now I know it starts!
cool theyre fun bikes for a 125 especially if it's derestricted.
Took it out for an hour today, what a great little bike, was a lot of fun. Got my DAS booked in for the 17th Nov too. Fingers crossed I pass first time so I can get on an SV!
Revisited! Just repaired ignition etc as I lost my keys so had to replace. Recharged battery and lights come on fine now. The bike was pushed over on Sat night by someone through the barred windows onto it's right side. No damage done really. Someone's push bike cushioned the fall. Only thing is, it wont start again, spark plug is new. Cut off switch was only turned back on this evening, does the fuel need to come through a bit first? Also the front brake doesn't work. There's no resistance in the lever?
-Ralph-
23-12-08, 01:27 AM
Sounds to me like your flooding it, thats why after you left it a while it started fine. The oil obviously needed topping up and probably the low oil sensor caused the bike to cut out in the first place, but as far as ongoing problems are concerned oil is a red herring. Cold 2 stokes can be a right bugger. If your flooding ittake the plug out and it'll be soaking wet in petrol. Dry the plug with a rag and wave a cigarette lighter over it to burn off any excess petrol and dry the plug. Kick the bike over a few times with the plug out. This will expel the petrol vapour from the cylinder through the hole that you took the plug out of and you may see dropd of fluid spitting from the hole. Replsce the plug and ht lead, kill switch to on, choke open, and kick the bike over without touching the throttle. When it fires, right at that moment give it a tiny bit of throttle to get it to rev, then keep revving on the throttle until the bike warms up and idles smoothly on it's own without any choke. Let it stop before it's warm and it'll flood again. If everything I'm saying appears to be true, print this, show it to a mechanic and ask him to sort your carbuerettors out.
Alpinestarhero
23-12-08, 10:04 AM
COuld be running a bit rich if its always flooding? Or the jet(s) might be getting blocked up a bit? My cousin had an old honda xl125, we always had the carb apart to clean out the jets - tank was a bit messy inside
Sounds to me like your flooding it, thats why after you left it a while it started fine. The oil obviously needed topping up and probably the low oil sensor caused the bike to cut out in the first place, but as far as ongoing problems are concerned oil is a red herring. Cold 2 stokes can be a right bugger. If your flooding ittake the plug out and it'll be soaking wet in petrol. Dry the plug with a rag and wave a cigarette lighter over it to burn off any excess petrol and dry the plug. Kick the bike over a few times with the plug out. This will expel the petrol vapour from the cylinder through the hole that you took the plug out of and you may see dropd of fluid spitting from the hole. Replsce the plug and ht lead, kill switch to on, choke open, and kick the bike over without touching the throttle. When it fires, right at that moment give it a tiny bit of throttle to get it to rev, then keep revving on the throttle until the bike warms up and idles smoothly on it's own without any choke. Let it stop before it's warm and it'll flood again. If everything I'm saying appears to be true, print this, show it to a mechanic and ask him to sort your carbuerettors out.
Sounds good to me. Good advice. At least I know where to start looking, I'll wait until I've got time to run the bike around as opposed to starting it and cutting it out again. Engine never cut out because of lack of oil, that was a suspicion but it's fully topped up now nevertheless.
What about the front brake, I took the front disk guard off to fit a disc lock but I've a feeling it's more to do with it being pushed over the other night. There's no resistance and the piston doesn't push the pad
-Ralph-
23-12-08, 10:02 PM
Sounds good to me. Good advice. At least I know where to start looking, I'll wait until I've got time to run the bike around as opposed to starting it and cutting it out again. Engine never cut out because of lack of oil, that was a suspicion but it's fully topped up now nevertheless.
What about the front brake, I took the front disk guard off to fit a disc lock but I've a feeling it's more to do with it being pushed over the other night. There's no resistance and the piston doesn't push the pad
Maybe the fluid reservoir took a knock, on the handlebars next to the brake lever. See if the fluid level is OK and check for leaks when you pull the brake lever.
Lovely, cheers Ralph. Followed your instructions, started first time (after cleaning plug which was new anyway but had some oily fuel on it). Left it run for a bit to clear it through. It needed to run with the choke open for a bit first, if I touched the throttle it would cut out?? left the choke open for a bit then after a minute or so I could blip throttle
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