starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

I have had this twice. The bike won't start after I cleaned the bike. Earlier in the year fiddling with the little connector that responds to the clutch lever and spraying some WD40 on it helped solve the problem. And today I just kept on pressing the starter button and it eventually fired up. I also applied ACF-50 today but not before when I had problems.

Anyone else had this?

Any idea what it could be?

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

Water in the electrics by the sound of it if it only happens after a clean.

Take the connector off from under the clutch and spray it with WD40, also your sidestand switch area.

What do you use to clean the bike? pressure washer, bucket etc?

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

I will do both. I use that spray stuff to clean and then take it off with water (bucket & spunge).

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

i used to get this with my sidestand swith it was all crap'd up with chain lube like a sludge which was holding moisture in, take it all off and give it a good clean :)

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

I will see if I can find it! Any pointers?

But there's not really a connection with the cleaning of the bike and the side stand as I don't clean under the bike.

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

Sidesatnd swith is easy...its basially above your sidestand as it folds back up. Looks like a large upside down drawing pin in a way. And as kwak says it can get very cruddy. I tend to scrape the crud off with lollypop like sticks (available from your local coffee shop by the handful when no ones watching, lol) and then give it a good spray. do the sping too while youre at.

When you press the started after a wash do you get anythign or is it just nothing at all till its in the mood?

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

I'm sure I will find it, is it at the end of the side stand end? or near where it connects to the bike?

At first it was just the starter motor on it own. Then it started to churn but didn't want to fire up. And then eventually it did. I was a bit pre-occupied with the smoke of the ACF-50 as for some reason I had sprayed it on the down pipe!

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

nearer where it connects to bike , perhaps you got some water in your front plug too??? Did you wash around that bit, or get water over it?

Do you ride in the rain much?

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

could you be flooding the front plug? engine will turn but she wont fire?

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

you beat me to it lol :)

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

ah don't know where front plug lives, but have washed and sprayed the area (well the front of the bike). Is it near the oil radiator cover? I have a fender extender for the plug problem and my bike is quite new (0 eight)

I do ride in the rain occassionally yes, but as I say this problem only happened twice this year and both times after cleaning. And I do a lot of miles.

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

if you plug caps loose (just behind your radiator) water may be getting in.

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

yeh front plug is above the oil rad, behind the main rad. if you have a fenda extenda thats fine for riding but if you tipped water over the tank to rinse it, its possiible its getting into the front plug cover.

For time being, give those other 2 connections a good spray. Then BEFORE you wash it next time spray those bits again to keep the water out and see if the problem occurs again i guess.

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

haha now you beat me to it, pmsl.

you and me are just way too helpful, clearly.

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

lol :)

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

you beat me to it.

:)


;)

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

:lol:

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

do yourself a favor and just bypass the safty switches (its ridiculasly easy), they are just a nuciance. and as for the front plug a bit of rubber grease round the plug neck is helpful
hth

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

When you wash your bike on the side stand it is actually leaning the wrong way for the small drain hole on the front cylinder. It pays to stick the little plastic piece you get with WD40 up this hole and give it a good squirt.Ensures the hole is clear for drainage and puts a moisture inhibitor on the front plug,it being the one that would give a problem with water ingress.
I always use a hair dryer to "Blow-dry" all the electrical switches and connectors before a squirt of inhibitor and found starting to be no problem.
Definitely a moisture related problem by the sound of it

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

+1
And don't wash bike, they don't like it.
for front plug any heavy grease is fine, just around cap to stop water getting in. If this is problem.


Wow, when you say starter was churning, you mean it was spinning engine but not firing?

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

Had to wash salt off last week ,started on one cyl. for 10 seconds this week,ran ok after that.
Trouble is its caked in salt again ,Cumbria and northumberland seem to have salt six months of the year,gladius's engine is looking crappy after only 7000 miles.:sad:

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

I was just interested if more people had this.

Can't be the side stand switch as that doesn't come into play until you want to ride away (after the bike has started). And it's not a recurring problem.

Can't be the front plugs either as it has only ever happened twice, every time after I cleaned it, and the bike has no running problems whatsoever it's a new 08 bike serviced regularly and good running bike. I understood that problems with the front plugs were more for slightly older bikes and bikes without fender extenders. Not a recurring problem.

Sprayed the connector with WD40 and wait what it does next time I wash the bike!

Re: starting problems after cleaning the bike
 

Just bypass the clutch switch and save yourself future headaches.