Bike won't start

[tffy]

Bought a 91 B4 from a friend... just installed the new battery. Bike had been sitting for about 3-4 weeks, according to her. When trying to start, all lights and electrical systems turn on, motor turns over, but won't start.

Put the petcock to the "Prime" (having unscrewed the blocker screw) position and let the fuel drain into the carbs until they were filled (stopped seeing running fuel through the fuel filter). When starting motor turns over, and sounds like it wants to catch, but still doesn't start. Won't start on either On or Prime positions.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

[stormi]

Hi! welcome!

Couple of things...

Check the spark plugs.  Take a spark plug out, take a look at it.  

Is it wet?  Then you're getting fuel to the cylinder.  
Dry, possibly no fuel at the cylinder ( most likely indicates a blockage in the carb.)

Put the spark plug into the spark plug boot ( not in the cylinder) and crank the engine a few times.  Do you see spark?  Is it nice and fat, or is it a weak spark?

If there isn't good spark, then you need to determine if it's a coil problem.  Cylinders 1 and 4 share spark, as do 2 and three.  

Test all 4 spark plugs, then let us know.

[Wee H]

Hi there, might seem a daft idea but before you start tearing the bike to pieces..... have you tried the engine kill switch?  Hope you get it sorted anyhows  

[Herr Tod]

If the kill switch is set to 'off' the starter won't even turn

[crashoverrideplik]

I have the same issue on the Bandit I just purchased  The story I got from the previous owner was that the CDI fried and he had it replaced along with a battery last year. Mine started 1 time and ran for about 15 seconds then hasn't started since. It back fires after trying many times to start it. I bought new plugs last night to see if the old ones were fouled, but haven't put them in yet.

[crashoverrideplik]

I swapped the plugs and added a new battery and my bike runs like a top. My plugs were fouled. I believe I fouled them leaving the petcock in the prime position.

[interfuse]

Do you have spark?