strange non-start
 

hi guys,
i've recently had some random and occasional starting problems with my curvy.
-its only on cold mornings, first start of the day, other than that its fine
-changed & checked reg/rec, rebuilt starter motor, changed battery, alternator checked and working so it cant be any of the typical problems you see and hear about
a friend said occasionally when parking up the pistons can land in a funny position causing difficulty to start and rocking the bike in gear/failed bump start can jog the pistons and make life easier for the starter.
other than that, or just the cold (which just cold isnt really a good enough reason) can you think of anything else that it could be.
thanks.

Re: strange non-start
 

what kind of problem are you getting? is it turning over, can you smell fuel coming through the system, is it sparking, does it back fire when it finally does start

Re: strange non-start
 

well it just doesnt fire, its like the battery is dead, but it isnt, its real strange.
the ignition makes a slow whining noise like it does and really slowly tries to crank but doesnt, then i went to bump start it, didnt manage first time, but the ignition button then worked

Re: strange non-start
 

My mum had this on an old mini - a spray of WD40 on the spark plugs did the trick so maybe some water getting in somewhere?

Re: strange non-start
 

its only when its cold first thing in the morning around 20 to 6ish. it can rain on it all day and it'll still work, thats what is so strange, the inconsistency and randomness. it seems like it just doesnt like the cold sometimes... :/

Re: strange non-start
 

Tank up , airbox off, main loom on the left... strip it back and you'll find a load of Black/White earth wires in a funky crimped connector... Clean and solder these. Then run a really good earth from negative pole of battery to the frame... then get in the kitchen and put the kettle on Mr Redhead... I'll have the usual! :-) See you soon!

Re: strange non-start
 

" pistons can land in a funny position ". I've never heard that one before!
Did you change the battery for a new one? Or change it for a second hand one? When it is cold, if the battery is fully charged and sound, the engine should crank over nice and fast. I had similar intermittent problems a while back, new battery sorted it. It was always first thing in the morning.

Re: strange non-start
 

A friend of mine had a Yugo which had some teeth missing off the starter motor cog so sometimes it would 'miss'. You had to give it a rock to move the cog a bit so it'd start. All part of the lame ass charm.