Strange Starting Problem

[hightower]

Title not very helpful, I realise. But here goes:


Yesterday rode to work, bike fine on morning. Came out after work, wasn't raining but apparently had been most of the day (not sure if that helps diagnosis).


Tried to fire it up, but just kept turning over. Sounded like it was turning over at normal speed.


Tried a few times for a few seconds each time. And about the fifth time it fired up and started idleing as normal. I was worried I was going to flatten the battery with trying to start it.


The ride home was fine, and this morning it fired up no problems, first time (stored in shed overnight).


Any ideas what might have caused this?


P.S. I checked all the usual like engine cut off, and side stand switch.

[red98]

think you have answered your own question  .........damp  .....keep an eye on the weather and your bikes starting over the next few days to see if you can spot a pattern 

[darrsi]

Make sure plug caps are screwed on well, then give the plugs and cables a good spray with WD40.
Check the plug drainage holes aren't blocked at all as well.

[hightower]

I changed the plugs a few months back, and gave them a good spraying with WD40. I think the drain holes are clear, although i could be looking at the wrong thing.


Also, when I changed the plugs, there felt like grit in thethreads - I didn't want to clean it out too much in case the grit fell in the pot. But that could be causing a poor seal?

[darrsi]

I changed the plugs a few months back, and gave them a good spraying with WD40. I think the drain holes are clear, although i could be looking at the wrong thing.


Also, when I changed the plugs, there felt like grit in thethreads - I didn't want to clean it out too much in case the grit fell in the pot. But that could be causing a poor seal?

The drainage holes go from next to the spark plug to the centre of the engine fins.

When changing or checking spark plugs it's quite important to blow out the area surrounding the plugs with an air line, or can of air, first otherwise you get dirt and crap dropping into the cylinders, which is obviously not a good thing and probably what your gritty feeling is!

[Lawrence]

Mine did the exact same thing last year, after it'd been sitting out in the rain all day.  Next time it fails to start, flick the ignition key off/on a few times and try again.  If it fires up, squirt a bit of contact cleaner down the hole and do the key on/off a few times to clean the shite out and it'll be good as new.