Help the mechanically inept!

[JediGoat]

Ok....having some problems with my bike (SV650S K4), but I'm determined to do at least the pathetically easy stuff myself.

Basically, bike refused to start. Well, it started, then cut out (does that a lot, but normally then starts on 2nd attempt with a bit of throttle). On 2nd go, it just turned over and over and wouldn't start. I presumed I'd flooded the engine so left it.

Next day it wouldn't start at all, the day after, it would barely turn over. That was about 5 weeks ago.

So, I removed the battery and recharged it, the charger showed a 'strong' reading from the fully charged battery, so that seems ok.

I've just put it back on, switched the ignition on, turned over, started, then cut out. It didn't sound quite right when it started up....it sounded a bit more hairdryerish than normal.

Anyway, now I'm back to where I started, engine just turns over and won't catch.

So I assume my next step is to change the spark plugs? I think they may still be the original ones (so have about 8k miles on them).

The Haynes manual rates this as a not very difficult task, but I'd like to know - should the plugs be my next step in the fault finding? And if so....what are the common ****-ups?

Thanks in advance

Jo (Mechanically Inept But Determined)

[dizzyblonde]

can't help you with your problem, but once you get going on the simple stuff, you'll be playing with engines before you know it, and smelling of grease and looking like a grease monkey
A year ago I didn't even know how to get a battery out, now I know how to swap a cylinder head

Good luck

[rictus01]

Hi Jo,

First off simple question, it does have petrol, yes

OK, turn the bike over a few times, then remove the rear spark plug.

Have a look at it is it wet or dry? very black or a light brown colour ? (if you have a haynes manual there's a plug guide usually on the back cover)

Put the plug back into the plug lead ( thick black cabled one) but don't screw the plug back in, holding the plastic bit (important if you don't like electric shocks) touch the screw thread on the sparkplug to a metal bit of the engine (narmally a bolt head will do), turn on the ignition and press the starter for a few seconds, you are watching for a blue/white spark arching across the gap on the end of the sparkplug.

Once done, let us know.

Cheers Mark.

[JediGoat]

Haha.....I've been fooled by a kill switch...but never fooled yet by lack of fuel (well, not since I was on a 125 anyway ).

Yes there is petrol in it, I'll have a crack (maybe not the best choice of word) at taking the rear spark plug out. Is it ok to try to start the bike with the tank raised?

[yorkie_chris]

Yes, fine. But don't turn it over without the HT leads connected IMO

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah pulling the HT's and giving them a burst of WD40 and leaving them to dry out isn't going to hurt matters.