SV 650 - wont start, blocked carbs?

Hey Guys, first post here hope you are all doing well

I have a 1999 SV650 Naked, unfortunately after storing it for winter, it will no longer start - it has been on a battery maintainer and seems to have power - it has no trouble turning over, but it will not fire

I have replaced the spark plugs, and when spraying "quick start" into the air intake I can get the bike to fire - which suggests most things are working ok

I can only think that fuel is not getting into the engine, but I am not 100% of how to check, it has been suggested that the carbs could be blocked due to leaving old petrol in the engine (had never heard of fuel stabiliser up until a few weeks ago)

Is it possible to drain the carbs or something? if so, how do I do it, and where is this located?

Anything else I can try? I am not that technically knowledgeable - I can handle it phyiscally but its my first bike, and I have no understanding of the inner workings just yet - so please explain stings in layman terms

Thanks for any suggestions or help cant wait to get riding again
Alex

[andrewsmith]

Try opening the fuel tank as it could be a vacuum lock.

If that doesn't work, I would lift the tank and take the airbox off. It gets you into the carbs easily. On the carbs there is 2 brass Allen head bolts undo one and Suck on the fuel tap line
You should get fuel through and repeat for the other carb. It could be as simple as air in the system which can happen

Everyone keeps telling me to drain the carbs/float bowl - does anybody know which screw it is?

they are Allen head bolts look at the bottom of the float bowls and you should spot them.

Originally Posted by nutzboutbikes

they are Allen head bolts look at the bottom of the float bowls and you should spot them.

I cant seem to see them (or I am blind) have looked everywhere for a photograph but nobody seems to have one labelled up

They are located in the middle down between the carbs, there the only Allen head bolts down there, you can see one of them in the picture you have posted!

[andrewsmith]

They should be brass if they are original

Originally Posted by nutzboutbikes

They are located in the middle down between the carbs, there the only Allen head bolts down there, you can see one of them in the picture you have posted!

I undid this bolt quite far, and nothing seemed to run out

sounds like your carbs are not getting fuel, you could try pulling the fuel hose off at the carbs and feed some petrol in via a piece of hose on a funnel to see if she will run, if it runs you would then just need to work your back through system to see whats restricting the flow!.


Grab your self a Haynes manual they can be very helpful.

Which means there was no gas in the float bowl.
BTW, I can't see the float bowl drain screw in the picture.

Anyway, either your vacuum operated petcock isn't working, or the outlet from the fuel tank is plugged, or the inlet to the petcock is plugged. Or there isn't any fuel in the tank.
If you pull the vacuum line off the rear carb, the one that runs to the petcock, you can open the valve (if it's operating properly) by sucking on the hose. If you also remove the fuel line at the carb end and hang the fuel line low enough so that when you suck, you can see if fuel comes out of the line or not.
If it does, your petcock and tank outlet are OK. and it will be on to the carbs.