HELP... Bike Won't Start, Small Video File Attached!

[4jacks]

Okay, I'm making progress on the bike!

Got a battery, got a gas tank, Thats a start!
Put everything together to see what happens..

This is what happens, please watch the following Video.

http://three.fsphost.com/4jacks/Videos/BikeProblems.wmv

(Windows Media Player File, 2.4MB 26 seconds)



Or Photobucket Video!

Both Links are Same Video!

It sounds to me like the starter is working. Although I gave it a good work out today!

I heard someone say something about Dumping Gas into the Carbs to help it get started, but how exactly do I do that?

Just unscrew the tops to the carbs and dump gas down that middle spring?

Do you guys have any recommendations?

Thanks a Billion!

[E.Diane]

Yikes! Do NOT take the tops off the carbs and dump in gas. It sounds like you battery is low or not spinning the motor fast enough? I heard a friend in the background...see if she will help you try to push start it.

Couple of different bump start techniques...make sure your choke and ignition are on and run along side til you are going fast as you can. Either swing a leg over or do it side-saddle...pull in the clutch, click it into 2nd gear and slam your butt on the seat as you dump the clutch. If your timing is right, it should turn over the engine and not just skid the back tire. Side saddle is good if you have to keep pushing while the engine continues to turn over but it's easy to crash this way. Back in the day, I got pretty good at bump starting race bikes by myself. Now, I imagine if I had to start my 900 alone, I'd get one good shot at it before collapsing in exhaustion.

...Diane

[QKENUF4U]

almost sounds like its hydrolocked but then it fires over fine. put a set of jumpers on it from the car (car off) and try to start it again. make sure fuel is on/full , choke on, might even hold it wide open for a minute to see if it just needs the cylinders cleaned out a bit (to much fuel)
if the car battery fires it off then make sure the battery is in good working condition (have a load test done) and make sure all your connections are good.
if you want to add fuel thru the carbs then just pull the air box boots back a bit , open throttle and spary some carb cleaner in there. but see if the extra umph from the car battery doenst fire ya off first.
let us know what happens

[4jacks]

Battery is brand new...

I've never riden this bike before, and I JUST passed my MSF.. so I don't know if I could push start it too well.

[anamosity]

solenoid?

[QKENUF4U]

Originally Posted by QKENUF4U

almost sounds like its hydrolocked but then it fires over fine. put a set of jumpers on it from the car (car off) and try to start it again. make sure fuel is on/full , choke on, might even hold it wide open for a minute to see if it just needs the cylinders cleaned out a bit (to much fuel)
if the car battery fires it off then make sure the battery is in good working condition (have a load test done) and make sure all your connections are good.
if you want to add fuel thru the carbs then just pull the air box boots back a bit , open throttle and spary some carb cleaner in there. but see if the extra umph from the car battery doenst fire ya off first.
let us know what happens

<---- try what i just told ya and see what happens.
oh and did you fill the battery with DISTILLED WATER and put it on a charger at 2amps for 8hrs as required ??

[vulcan500rider]

I have to go with battery. Even if it's brand new and it sat for a while, it could be dead. Charge it and see what happens. Now that doesn't mean that something else isn't going on. You could jump it with a car (assuming the bike is 12 volt which I believe it is). Don't jump with the car running though.

[4jacks]

Originally Posted by QKENUF4U

almost sounds like its hydrolocked but then it fires over fine. put a set of jumpers on it from the car (car off) and try to start it again. make sure fuel is on/full , choke on, might even hold it wide open for a minute to see if it just needs the cylinders cleaned out a bit (to much fuel)
if the car battery fires it off then make sure the battery is in good working condition (have a load test done) and make sure all your connections are good.
if you want to add fuel thru the carbs then just pull the air box boots back a bit , open throttle and spary some carb cleaner in there. but see if the extra umph from the car battery doenst fire ya off first.
let us know what happens

What does "Hold it wide open" Mean?

Originally Posted by QKENUF4U

<---- try what i just told ya and see what happens.
oh and did you fill the battery with DISTILLED WATER and put it on a charger at 2amps for 8hrs as required ??

No, I filled it with the Acid it came with. It charged overnight, and the charger I have stops charging when Its full. That was Two Days Ago.

[4jacks]

Also I dont' have the funky stuff to test the battery.

Can't I test it with a Volt Meter?

[QKENUF4U]

ok, WIDE OPEN means you hold the throttle OPEN THE WHOLE WAY. might be youve slightly flooded the bike by using the choke/cranking so much. oh and you dont need to play with the throttle so much while trying to start it (you did alot of playing with throttle in vid)

since the battery is new and you did charge it overnight it should be fine. but if you have a volt meter then just make sure it reads 12v+ w/ bike off

check all your connections at battery to make sure they are TIGHT/CLEAN. i would still hook the car battery up to the bike to help the bike battery do its job and not run down the bike battery.

[4jacks]

Sorry for all the questions but I don't get it.

Yes, I was playing with the throttle, i thought it might help to get it started.

You want me to open the throttle all the way and try to start it again?? Or just open the throttle all the way, and hold it for a minute without trying to start it again?

it's raining today in MD, so I think I'll take the battery back out, check it with the volt meter and plug it back into the trickle charger to be sure. Then try again tommorow. So at least that give me a day to figure out what I'm doing.

thanks Again!

[QKENUF4U]

yes WIDE OPEN WHILE TRYING TO START BIKE ,
BUT
DO NOT HOLD IT THERE IF BIKE STARTS, just keep it running when it starts to fire off (not at redline !!)

[4jacks]

No need for the Caps Bro, if me asking so many questions bugs you, you don't have to respond. I DO appreciate your help so far.

But your advice seems contridicting. You said I was WRONG for "playing" with the throttle in the Video, but I should now "HOLD" the throttle, so it's contridicting and confusing.

anyhoo, I'll move on, when I try to start it again, (after checking the battery) How long is it okay to hold down the starter button. Before I was worried about me harming the starter by holding it down too long.

Thanks again.

[cudaosix]

I dont think Lance was trying to be rude with the caps 4jacks. Just trying to make sure you understand not to keep the throttle wide open after it starts. Eventhough the battery sounds strong enough to start the bike, it probably isnt. At least thats what it sounds like at the end of the video. You could just keep with the starter untill it drains the battery. Recharge the battery or you could try hooking it up the way Lace mentioned. Hold the throttle open and hit the starter button for a few seconds at a time. Holding it in for longer wont do anything but drain your battery. Basicly I'm just repeting what others already said, but thats what I would try. Keep asking questions bro.

[4jacks]

Yeah, I’m sorry, I’m just trying not to tick anyone off. I just always ask a lot of questions. So I guess it seems like I’m not paying attention or just not doing what is recommended. But I can’t just go out and try everything right away cuase I’m stuck at work and other commitments. But its nice to have time to sort things out and get a game plan for when I get an hour to mess with the bike.

I do understand everyone thinks it’s the battery, definitely not my first idea, cuase it’s brand new, and I assumed the starter wouldn’t even click if the battery was dead. But I will plug that in tonight. I also have a car or a Ninja 250 to try jumpstarting, and I’ll do that.

Thanks for the Clear answer Cuda, and sorry about all the questions and no action qken..

Thanks guys I think I have a game plan. Gonna try some starter fluid in carbs, recharged battery and if that doesn’t work, I’ll try jumping it with the car.

Will report back, Thanks again.

[vulcan500rider]

Originally Posted by 4jacks

Yeah, I’m sorry, I’m just trying not to tick anyone off. I just always ask a lot of questions. So I guess it seems like I’m not paying attention or just not doing what is recommended. But I can’t just go out and try everything right away cuase I’m stuck at work and other commitments. But its nice to have time to sort things out and get a game plan for when I get an hour to mess with the bike.

I do understand everyone thinks it’s the battery, definitely not my first idea, cuase it’s brand new, and I assumed the starter wouldn’t even click if the battery was dead. But I will plug that in tonight. I also have a car or a Ninja 250 to try jumpstarting, and I’ll do that.

Thanks for the Clear answer Cuda, and sorry about all the questions and no action qken..

Thanks guys I think I have a game plan. Gonna try some starter fluid in carbs, recharged battery and if that doesn’t work, I’ll try jumping it with the car.

Will report back, Thanks again.

Hey dude, ask away. Somewhere down the line someone else is going to have the same problem and they'll be able use the search function and maybe find an answer to their question.
Do you know if you're getting a spark from the spark plug?

[4jacks]

Originally Posted by vulcan500rider

Do you know if you're getting a spark from the spark plug?

no I can't be sure that I am. I have two brand new Spark plugs, but you need a 18mm Deep Thin Walled Socket to fit on it, and I don't have one of those... ugh... gotta run to sears.

the old spark plugs are still in the bike. (not sure how old or condition)

[wiredgeorge]

4Jacks... Am on dial up and can't view the video.

What type bike?

If the bike turns over, then the battery and solenoid are likely not the problem. In order for the bike to start, it must have gas already in the carburetors. Does your petcock have a "PRI" function. This is a prime position on the petcock where gas will gravity flow into the carbs. Anyway, put the bike in prime and leave the throttle alone. Put the choke on and hit the starter. I start my carb test bikes with a variety of carburetors and all respond/start best if I don't touch the throttle when starting. Just open the choke and crank it after making sure you are in "PRI". If the bike is reluctant to start, buy some starting fluid and give the air intake a VERY BRIEF shot. Also, if your airbox has been removed in favor of adding pod air filters, many CV carbureted bikes are very fussy as far as starting if they haven't been rejetted. To start, the bike requires a rich air/fuel mix and the OEMs have leaned bike carbs out in favor of EPA regs so they are lean enough to begin with. Without knowing what type bike and carbs are in question, I can't make any specific recommendations regarding pilot jets but if a bike has pods and hasn't been rejetted, it can be a bear to start. If you want any follow up, drop by my web site message forum as I don't look in here often enough.

[cudaosix]

Originally Posted by 4jacks

no I can't be sure that I am. I have two brand new Spark plugs, but you need a 18mm Deep Thin Walled Socket to fit on it, and I don't have one of those... ugh... gotta run to sears.

the old spark plugs are still in the bike. (not sure how old or condition)

The plugs could be fouled to the point that its not going to start. You'll just drain the battery trying. Replace the plugs, check for spark then do what was mentioned above with the the battery fully charged, useing the throttle. Then take it from there. If the old plugs are fouled your eventually going to have to address the problem of why. I'm going to stick with what I suggested in your thread a while back of buying a manual and following the maintenence steps.

[4jacks]

I have a Cylmer, been doing all the maintenance steps, just didn't have a thin walled 18mm deep socket..