My First Bandit. But it needs some work.

[pmackie]

Start logically working your way through things:

1. Do you have any spark at any of the plugs?
2. Battery in good shape and fully charged?
3. You mentioned you tested the coils but do the Plug caps, coil wires, etc look good?
4. Sidestand switch, clutch switch and kill switch (if you bike has any of them) working?

[Garyola]

What pmakie said plus

-does it turn over?
if so-----------> even if you have spark the plugs may be shot. I found this little bike has no tolerance for even slightly fouled plugs.

Are the plug wires on the correct plugs?

Is the kill switch on? I know this sounds like a "hey, I'm not that stupid" question but it happens and more than some people like to admit. I pulled a bike apart one time because it wouldn't start just to find out it was the kill switch.


G

[tundrazach]

haha yep the kill switch is in the run position. But i did check it to see if it works. the bike will not turn over if kill switch is flipped to stop. But in run position, it turns over, quite strong too. but it never fires. and i dont think its just the plugs, because i pulled the boot of cyl 1 and put a small screw driver in it and held it very close to a metal part on the bike and i still didnt see a spark. now i think i may have flooded the bike, cause i went out there a few hours after i was working on it, and there was a puddle of gasoline on the floor.

I havent checked the other cylinders yet either. But the battery is good, i keep it on a battery tender. Also, when im trying to start it, i have the bike in neutral, which to my understanding bypasses the sidestand switch. I see in the service manual that it shows me how to inspect the diode, neutral switch, and side stand/ignition interlock relay. Hopefully i can find a solution to this soon. This is my first roadbike and I cannot wait to get it in the road.

[tundrazach]

Is there supposed to be some sort of switch on the clutch lever? I was talking to a local bike shop, and he said to check the clutch switch. I looked under my clutch lever, and there are two mounting holes in a spot that looks like a switch or something goes there. Is there something that supposed to be there or does my bike just have some sort of universal lever or something.

[tundrazach]

Can Anyone help with my question ^ ?


 

[Banditmax]

Ive never seen a 400 with a clutch switch.

[tomacGTi]

US bikes did have a clutch switch.

If you look in the manual you can trace the colors and the factory even allows you to bypass the switch (plug the wires into one another) for clutchless starts. All of the wires are in a bird's nest in the HL bucket.

[tundrazach]

So if you do not pull the clutch, does it kill spark, or does it not let the engine turn over?

When i replaced the main harness, I dont remember seeing an empty plug in the headlight, but i guess ill open it up and look again.

[tomacGTi]

Won't let the engine turn over as in: hit button, nothing happens.

Find the wiring colors and just connect the two wires to bypass.

[tundrazach]

Well I guess the previous owner already did that. Cause the engine will turn over, its just not getting any spark. Everything seems to check out ok, i just cant find where the problem is

[gsxr400 racer]

power to the coil wires? with the key on? whats the ohms of the pick up coil?