Bike didn't start!

[Jules-C]

Full choke if it's below freezing and bike outside.  Half choke if bike been sitting out on windy day at work.  No choke or just a fraction of bike been in garage or after normal day at work. 

[JoeyMcEssex]

Cheers Jules only had mine since Feb so confirms that it seems normal-- but hopefully after a carb balance this weekend will idle a bit better and be cleaner through low revs.

[darrsi]

Gently wheeled the bike out of the garage this morning, gave it one small plunge on the forks with the front brake, then it started first time no problems, on the side stand.
Couple of revs, no choke used at all, and it sat and purred no problem whatsoever?

I've put the bike on the centre stand outside work this morning, so i'll wait and see what happens when I go home later.

So annoying, because it's so unpredictable.  :\

[ben17484]

Gently wheeled the bike out of the garage this morning, gave it one small plunge on the forks with the front brake, then it started first time no problems, on the side stand.
Couple of revs, no choke used at all, and it sat and purred no problem whatsoever?

I've put the bike on the centre stand outside work this morning, so i'll wait and see what happens when I go home later.

So annoying, because it's so unpredictable.  :\

Unpredictability in a car/bike you use daily is the most frustrating thing. Hope you can get it sorted.

[darrsi]

This is where i park the bike every day at work, as you can see there's a bit of an uphill gradient but I don't see why that should affect starting the bike.

[mogster]

nice  :faz darsi  :thumbup black n unpredictable  :wall hope you solve the riddle mucker.

[mogster]

my bike mostly starts no choke. wont start on full someone said to me that the carbs wear quicker if used badly and the
bike runs richer than rich. so im wonderin if my bike has had the foc ridden of it

[daviee]

i would clean the carbs sounds like the floats are sticking and when you rock it , it lets some petrol through can you hear the pump prime the carbs when you switch it on ?

[darrsi]

i would clean the carbs sounds like the floats are sticking and when you rock it , it lets some petrol through can you hear the pump prime the carbs when you switch it on ?

Yep

[darrsi]

So that's how i parked the bike in the photo this morning, up on the centre stand instead of the sidestand.


Put the key in, hit the start button with no choke.......and it started straight off, no problem at all.


I'm still thinking fuel related so what would cause it to not start being on the sidestand?


Sidestand switch has been bypassed, so it's nothing to do with that, plus the sidestand was down as well anyway when it started up.

[greenman]

[quote author=greenman link=topic=22260.msg257124#msg257124 date=1490919220]
[size=1.45em][sup]I have to use full choke when engine is cold all year round, unless it's a really hot day, it always sputters in to life then once it smooths out and the revs rise (about 20 seconds) I can turn the choke off and runs sweet as after that.[/sup][/size]

[size=1.45em][sup]How clean are your carbs? Just a thought.[/sup][/size]

Not sure about the carbs. I've only had the bike a month and never had them off. If I get the problem again I might start digging further, but whilst it's running ok I think I'll leave everything attached
[/quote]
Glad you're back up and running again, so annoying when your bike won't start for no apparent reason.

[His Dudeness]

So that's how i parked the bike in the photo this morning, up on the centre stand instead of the sidestand.


Put the key in, hit the start button with no choke.......and it started straight off, no problem at all.


I'm still thinking fuel related so what would cause it to not start being on the sidestand?


Sidestand switch has been bypassed, so it's nothing to do with that, plus the sidestand was down as well anyway when it started up.

You said rocking the bike back and forth seems to make it start so I was thinking your floats or float valves might be sticking and rocking it frees them up so the carbs can fill and the bike starts. Parking it an angle on the side stand would be putting a small bit of sideways pressure on the float and float valves and making them stick worse whereas if the bike's parked upright then there's no sideways pressure on them they're less likely to stick. It's a long shot but I can't think of any other reason rocking it would make it start.

[bandit]

darrsi maybe it's time to break out that STP again.

[darrsi]

darrsi maybe it's time to break out that STP again.

Certainly won't hurt to try!

[darrsi]

Damn thing wouldn't start again this evening, and it was on the centre stand all day.


It starts for a few seconds then properly stops dead like the kill switch has been hit.


After about 5 attempts and shaking and bouncing the bike about like a madman it catches then runs perfectly.


I have no idea what to do next?

[Jules-C]

Electrical if it stops that suddenly.  Check all connections and wires around steering head  for possible breaks and check connections on back of ignition switch

[darrsi]

Electrical if it stops that suddenly.  Check all connections and wires around steering head  for possible breaks and check connections on back of ignition switch

I'm starting to think the same now.
Me and electrics don't mix too well though, but i'll have a rummage when i get a chance and see if there's anything visual, but most of the wiring near the steering is all loomed up so it's not gonna be easy.

[darrsi]

i would clean the carbs sounds like the floats are sticking and when you rock it , it lets some petrol through can you hear the pump prime the carbs when you switch it on ?

Was looking at the photo of my bike and realised that with the bike on the centre stand it is leaning back even more than when it's parked on the side stand on the uphill slope.
So i've parked the bike on the centre stand but on level ground so the bike is now leaning "down hill" rather than uphill.
I'm wondering (aimlessly) if something is drying out and sticking in the carbs as suggested when the bike is parked uphill during the day?
I'm clutching at straws a bit here, but it could be feasible.

[darrsi]

[quote author=darrsi link=topic=22260.msg257206#msg257206 date=1490981354]
So that's how i parked the bike in the photo this morning, up on the centre stand instead of the sidestand.


Put the key in, hit the start button with no choke.......and it started straight off, no problem at all.


I'm still thinking fuel related so what would cause it to not start being on the sidestand?


Sidestand switch has been bypassed, so it's nothing to do with that, plus the sidestand was down as well anyway when it started up.

You said rocking the bike back and forth seems to make it start so I was thinking your floats or float valves might be sticking and rocking it frees them up so the carbs can fill and the bike starts. Parking it an angle on the side stand would be putting a small bit of sideways pressure on the float and float valves and making them stick worse whereas if the bike's parked upright then there's no sideways pressure on them they're less likely to stick. It's a long shot but I can't think of any other reason rocking it would make it start.
[/quote]


Sorry Dude, just read this again.
Okay we're thinking along the same lines here now which is good.


When i gave the bike a quick bounce on the front brake this morning all the wires around the headstock never budged at all. I will have a good look but i don't think it's gonna be a chafed wire, not there anyway.

[unfazed]

Could be the ignition switch, try bypassing it