Non starting Chinese dirtbike - advice please.

I'm staying with the girlfriend's parents in Finland at the moment and they asked me to dig her younger brother's old bike out of the shed for them so they can sell it now he's left home.

I dug out some chinese dirtbike I've never heard of before that's not seen daylight for 2 years and looks like it too: I'm wary of touching the exhaust because it's so corroded it looks like it might crumble with the slightest amount of pressure. Battery's gone but the bike has a kickstarter, which I'm new to.

There's petrol in the tank but the bike won't start no matter how hard I kick the starter. It's not in gear, there's no sidestand cut-out switch and I have no idea what else to check in my quest to get this piece of rubbish going.

Any thoughts?

[Girth]

I'm sure you'd still need the battery............

[the_lone_wolf]

petrol in the tank but is there petrol in the carb?

Originally Posted by Girth

I'm sure you'd still need the battery............

my KTM hasn't got a battery

spark plug

[CheGuevara]

With a large 4t (you didn't specify), kick slowly through to TDC (it'll suddenly get hard to kick), release the kick starter, give it a small squirt of gas, and then one good swift kick. Repeat as necessary. Do no give it any throttle while kicking or you're likely to end up with your knee in your chin.

This should work if you have spark and that carbs aren't all gummed up (and assuming it wasn't originally parked because it died for some other reason). I'd probably replace what fuel is in there with fresh stuff though.

After two years not being used I suspect the petrol in the tank has probably gone off and gummed-up the carburetor. Apart from getting rid of the petrol and refilling with fresh petrol you will need to give the carbs a good clean. Also check the electrics, coil, contact breaker points and spark plugs.

try bump starting it!

[yorkie_chris]

Basics first, is it turning over?
Then, whip the plug out, hold it against the head and kick again, is there a nice spark?
Then fresh petrol.

And after this - is the petrol turned on?

[tj2]

Do all of above....... Plus if it is one of the honda engine clones check the valve clearances as the chinese heads suffer badly from valve recession ( I bought a non running 50 cc 57 plate chinese trail bike for my son for £30 got some clearance back on valves and runs a treat)

Terry