My Bike Won't Start :(
 

Ok so it hasn't been started for a month now, however it is turning over fine and there is no obvious sign of a weak battery as you can hear the starter in all its glory! There is fuel in the tank, oil is at half and was in neutral in case anyone asks.

What could it be??

Many thanks.
Ash.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Bitta choke? You'll probably drain the battery keep trying at it though.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

choke was on full with/without throttle aswell, its never given me hassle before :(

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

plugs/leads?

check to see if its sparking

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

let me just double check how to do that.....

1.Take plugs out

2. crank engine

3. look for spark?

if it makes any difference i can hear the exhaust starting to go faintly, does that mean its sparking but not enough?

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

try it with a partly opened throttle.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

I'd be inclined to put some fresh fuel in it before I did anything else...

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Fuel, compression, spark

you need all three to get the engine running, which aren't you getting?

Does the exhaust smell strongly fuel after you turn it over? If so you're getting fuel

Does can you turn the engine over by rolling it in gear? If so you don't have compression

Does the plug spark if you take it out and rest the case on the engine case? If so you obviously have spark

My money's on bad fuel or oiled plug...

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

well the fuel light did come on the last time i used it.....a month ago maybe ill run over to the petrol station and try that first and will get some new plugs as they are due for a change and this is the excuse to do it! ill let you know what happens.

Cheers

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

if there wasn't a lot of fuel in the tank it might have gone off

fill it with fresh fuel and make sure you have a spark, if it doesn't run then the carbs could be bunged up with gooey fuel, and it'll be a bit of a chore to clean them out

but hopefully it's just grotty fuel...

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Kill Switch?

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

He says in his first post that the motors turning over fine, if that is the case, then its not the kill switch thats preventing the bike from starting as with the kill switch flicked the starter doesnt turn.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Ok. Was not sure as I have not tried starting the bike with the kill switch off.
Just a suggestion. :)

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Yeah killswitch was checked as well, will be sticking some fresh fuel in it tomorrow, and if that wont help i will have to try the plugs. Tbh, i could always just call the breakdown people......think i have home start! Would they deal with it?

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

probaby.......... but i would try to sort it first

new petrol, then see if its sparking, if not, then maybe call breakdown

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Funny you say that I remember trying to start the CBR one day and it just wouldn't fire but would turn. Turns out it was the kill switch, the kill switch allows it to turn just not fire :lol:

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

9/10 these threads always boil down to crappy fuel ........ got my bets on that

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Would i need to drain the old fuel?

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

If there is only a small amount then you could slosh new fuel in there , some threads I have seen recommend draining old fuel out but most of the time people slap new fuel in after checking plugs are ok and the bike fires up .

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

A lot of good advice but if it hasn't started in over a month I'd frankly put the battery in for a quick charge to make sure it has as much power as it can get. Add some new petrol, and then try to fire it up. Bikes don't like not being used, but I don't think there is anything major wrong with it. Mind you, you are not a million miles away down the road from me.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Badger......you were wrong! 5 litres of Esso's finest hasnt made it start :( Thought i would try jump start it however something new has cropped up.....(i hate this bike now) the clutch isnt working!! As in, put bike in first (very difficult) role forwards with clutch in and its still in gear.


WHY me? this was fine before i had the hot grips fitted? Would they have caused it??

Im very fed up now.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

If you move the gear lever with your hand instead of your foot what does it feel like does it move freely or is the lever stiff ?

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

That will just be the clutch plates sticking having not been used for a while. Dont worry about them, they will likely free up as soon as you get the engine running. Just be sure to keep the front brake on when you try to start her. If you dont you may find it will run off down the road without you :-)

If you have some, get some jump leads connected up between your bike and a car then just give it a good dose of starting attempts. It will start.

I had an old FZR400 that hated starting after a long break, mainly due to low compression but it would always start after connecting up to a good powerful car battery.

It is possible that you have old dried up fuel in the carbs etc but its still likely that it will start. Once the jump leads are connected you'll notice that the bike turns over real fast on the starter, give it a little throttle (maintaining the front brake!) and try it. If it takes a few attempts give it a break for 5 mins before trying again or it will just flood.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

The fuel in the float bowls evaporates off when stood for long periods of time. As the fuel tap is operated automatically by inlet vacuum, it takes quite a bit of cranking to refill the float bowls.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Ok well i have got the new plugs but they will have to wait until morning to be fitted, and i have a spare charged car battery so will hook it up to that as well. I hope you right about the clutch as otherwise half the gravel on my drive will be moved by a spinning wheel! I'm so tempted just to take it to a garage (or get them to come get it lol) and they can sort it, but we will see.

Thanks again.
Ash.

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Aah forgot to mention that the fuel may have evaporated and may need a few good cranks but it aint a waste of money is it as it can be used and takes something out of the equation anyway :)

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

Yeah it did need doing so not bothered really! Guess im just that 1 out of 10 people eh!

Re: My Bike Wont Start :(
 

I'd suggest draining the fuel out of the carbs. The fuel in there is old so will have lost all the volatile fractions. As you tried to start it on the old fuel in the tank they will have topped up with the old stuff, the fresh fuel you've put in the tank won't be in the carbs.

You can drain the carbs from below, just, but it's an awful lot easier to lift the tank and take off the airbox. You only need to loosen the drain screws a turn or 2 and the fuel runs out of the bottom of the floatbowls, soak it up with plenty of rag, easier than trying to catch it in a jar or similar.

It'll need a few stabs at the starter to pump fresh fuel through, give it a couple of seconds then wait a few seconds, repeat a few times and I'd bet it'll go. Use full choke + no throttle.

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

have you cleaned the air filter? make sure it isn't choking.

Also, i would bet the choke plungers are knackered. In which case it wont start cold anyway.

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

well i managed to change the rear plug today and it was caked in soot! Im guessing there is an underlying problem somewhere, maybe the carbs are due for a clean. Couldn't get to the front plug though as the radiator wont move enough and one of the hoses split when i tried :(. However after changing that one plug i thought id give it ago and it jsut started but died instantly and then wouldnt go again!

Ive given up and will be getting a garage to collect it in the morning, Just want a sweet running bike ready for me. Thanks again.

Ash

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

Sooty plug IIRC is caused by over fueling or running to Rich.

Front plug is a bit of a b*gger to get out, did you undo the Rad bolts, and also if you undo the fairing bolts and then pop the fairing off the Lugs that it clicks onto the radiator onto you can just about get your hand in there to get at it.

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

yeah fairing is off, nuts undone, it was just the hose has no slack to move the radiator and hence me splitting it.

What would cause over fueling? dodgy choke/carbs?

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

I would think so, but I'm no expert, could be stuck choke plungers I guess.

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

Choke plungers are a typical reason for rich running, could also be a sticky choke lever or a busted cable or something like that

Could also be a lack of air getting into the bike? I dunno, im thinking something like a blocked up air filter / dirty air filter

Re: My Bike Won't Start :(
 

hmm well ill let the garage figure it out now, after a month of it being in bits i want to go out and rideeeeeeee!!!!