Charging and spark plugs
 

Hi guys, bike not out since early november and looking to keep it ticking over, tried to start it today but it was having none of it! Tried hooking up to the car battery (engine off!) and it was trying but just couldnt fire up. Got some new petrol thinking that might work but didnt make any difference.

Next stop was the plugs but trying to get to the front one was a pain in the **** and it was very cold ao I gave up and had my roast dinner!

Any tips for quick removal of the plugs to check them?

Also is it really not suitable to have the car running whilst attempting to use the jump leads? It just seemed like it wasn't quite charging enough without running.

By the way, I don't have a battery charger! Is there anything else worth checking?

Cheers!

Re: Charging and spark plugs
 

Unless you've otherwise had a problem with charging, I doubt there's anything amiss with the charging system, a battery that's not in the first flush of youth may be fine when in regular use, but not be able for a two month lay-up and then starting when it's bloody cold like it is now.
As to jump starting, your car battery won't even notice the SV's starter so there's no need to have the car running.
Getting to the front plug can be a little awkward - remove the radiator's lower mounting bolt, then depending on model - you don't say which yours is - it may be necessary to unclip the fairing sides from the lugs in the radiator, and then swing the radiator forward to access the plug cap, a bit of wood about two inches across is a useful spacer to hold the radiator away from the front cylnder head. The best plug spanner is the one that comes with the bike.
Once you've cleaned/gapped the plugs and made sure there's enough go in whatever battery you're going to use, either the bike's own or the jump battery, give it another go.
If that fails then we'll need to know which bike you've got in order to make further specific suggestions.

Re: Charging and spark plugs
 

just a quick one, if you're connecting up a car battery to your bike one, leave it connected for a few minutes before trying it.

Oh and positive to positive, neg to earth (frame or engine).

Cheers Mark.

Re: Charging and spark plugs
 

Is it a Curvy or a Pointy , reason I ask is that my Pointy was off the road for about 4 weeks after I hurt my back . I had neglected to plug my Optimate in and gave her a charge one day and for the life of me it would not fire up at all . I would hit the button and it would go for it but not quite spark up . I would charge it again and try it but not to the point where it would flatten the battery right down . I had a minor theory that maybe the fuel pump was not getting enough juice as the bike was sparking but no fuel seemed to be igniting . I may have been wrong but I noticed a "Snowflake" setting on my optimate and gave it a huge zap on that and it did the trick , bike fired up nicely and I went for a run on it to give the battery a good charging , has been fine ever since .

Re: Charging and spark plugs
 

So long as you've got a decent contact with the jump leads, otherwise stuff just melts.

Re: Charging and spark plugs
 

True, but it'll be the same whether the car's running or not.

Re: Charging and spark plugs
 

Yes, didn't mean to leave that bit on the quote.