Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MECHANICAL & TECHNICAL => Topic started by: mainerider on March 13, 2006, 02:03:42 AM

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: mainerider on March 13, 2006, 02:03:42 AM

A basic troubleshooting question:
Shortly after I parked my bike for the winter, it wouldn't start.  It turns over fine.
I have been putting off getting dirty, but it's starting to warm up.
It's been a while since Ive done this so:
1st, make sure I have a spark to the plugs.
2nd, make sure gas is getting to the carb. (do I have to remove the tank to get to where the fuel hoses go into the carbs?)

Assuming I have gas and spark, what next?
Also, are there any incredibly obvious things I could be overlooking?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  

HH

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: B6mick on March 13, 2006, 03:53:18 AM

We aussie don't seem to have to put up with this shyte of parking our bikes over the winter, yes it rains a bit more, and it gets colder but not enough to have to park it for the whole winter.
Anyway off the top of me head, drain the fuel and drain the carbs 4 x allen head bolts on the bottom of the carbs. 1 x for each.
Fuel goes stale. If ya have fresh fuel and spark, ya should be firing up real quick.

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: aussiebandit on March 13, 2006, 04:04:24 AM

Quote from: "B6mick"

We aussie don't seem to have to put up with this shyte of parking our bikes over the winter, yes it rains a bit more, and it gets colder but not enough to have to park it for the whole winter.

That's only in Victoria mate....dry as a nuns in NSW.......

Title: starting
Post by: tacoman on March 13, 2006, 01:41:17 PM

Get the bad gas out.  Also, remember to switch your fuel to "prime" when you go to start it.  If my bike sits for more than 2 weeks I use the prime for a quicker start.

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: mainerider on March 13, 2006, 04:42:36 PM

Okeedoky-

Got fuel, drained carbs, made sure they re-fill.

Got spark-sorta.  It's hard to see at the plug gap, but I feel it, and can get it to jump from the metal plug housing.  I think it should be stronger at the end of the plug itself, so new plugs in the morning.

Thanks.

HH

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: pmackie on March 14, 2006, 12:28:38 AM

Fresh fuel is a must...

Your old fuel will have lost some of it's light ends (parts of the fuel that evaporate easily)in storage, making it harder to start. So, yes, drain the fuel from the float bowls and put fresh fuel in the tank. Make sure the plugs look OK and let er rip...

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: chupacabra on March 14, 2006, 05:59:08 AM

I'd charge your battery, the starter uses alot of power and sometimes the starter will turn but not leave anything for the coils.

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: mainerider on March 15, 2006, 02:36:50 AM

VROOM, VROOM.

It was just fouled plugs.  Don't know how that happened,.  Parked it while it was running fine, and a couple of weeks later, nothing.  I figured it was going to be something more than plugs, so put it off till I had some time.

First ride was a short one through the muddy driveway.  vroom vroom.

Thanks to those that had suggestions.

HH

Title: Basic trouble shooting question
Post by: Nacho2059 on March 16, 2006, 02:31:38 AM

Fouled plugs suck, generally.. they werent so bad for me the last time because the previous owner of my 400 couldnt figure out why his bike suddenly stipped working when the bike had about 7500 miles so he sold it to me for $500 and i spent $15 on new plugs and bam the bike worked like a charm.
good luck my friend