Ok folks - time for an easy one <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> I couldn't start my bike one chilly morning (4°C), and have taken it off the road ever since. After a lot of stuffing around, I discovered that my 2nd fuel filter (not standard, of course ) leaks fuel, and freezes up! That was the reason why I couldn't start her in the morning. But, what baffled me is that it won't start up now, even without the troublesome 2nd filter! Even in broad daylight, 15°C, it still won't start! Could the freezing have had an effect on the 1st filter (comes with bike) ? The trick of it is, is that if I have everything connected, except the filter to the carbies, fuel pours out nicely when the tap is on. If I connect up my filter to the carbies, I get the feeling that the fuel there is "backed up" ? like there's an air bubble in the carbies that won't let the fuel in? Has anyone had this problem before, or have any good ideas on how to solve it? I know what some of you guys are going to say - "get a fuel pump!" - but is there a less-expensive way of fixing it? I've never had a problem with her like this before!?! -Muzza
Mr Mordred has offered a fuel pump in one of the other threads for $50. I suggest you PM him. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->
How long has it been sitting there? After the bikes been sitting for a long time it can take quite a bit of effort to get it started. There could be many reasons. What happens when you try and start it? Is the battery flat? Does the starter motor make a noise when you try and start it? Have you tried turning the crank over by hand?
No way is petrol freezing in melbourne! try spraying a sniff of easystart/start ya bastard through it and see if it will run on that, if its as simple as an airlock it may clear it. If it doesnt even try to fire on it it may be flooded, or not be a fuel problem at all.
Koma - I'm actually leaning away from the lower line as the source of the problem... I think it's carburettor! example: If I have the whole lot connected, and unplug the lower line from the tap, the fuel goes into the carbies like it should, but as soon as I connect up the system again, nothing appears to move!? I loosened the screws on the carby bowls, and fuel came out of each of them - indicating to me that there is a problem between the carbies and the engine? I let each of the carbies drain, and turned on the tap whilst the screws were loose - and fresh fuel came out of the bowls. I don't think a fuel pump is gonna fix it, as fuel seems to be already in there. Casso - The bike has been sitting there the better part of a week, but I don't think a day has gone by where I haven't tried to start it. When I try to start it, I can hear the starter motor ticking over, and I can hear a very, very faint "putt, putt, putt" sound under the starter motor sound. Battery is definitely not flat, I have a charger that I hook up to it, and the battery can draw 12V @ ~2A from the landline if it needs to. I see the ammeter spike (on the external charger) when I try to start it. No, I haven't tried turning the crank over by hand, and quite frankly - didn't know you could actually do that - which also means I have no idea on how to do that <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s --> Ciaran - Well, either fuel frozen, or water in fuel frozen. either way - ice smelled like fuel. I can't explain it, but I certainly saw it, and felt it. Cossie - I dunno about the freezing m8 - but I can tell you I definitely had ice hanging off my leaky fuel filter. I've only tried carby cleaner, and that hasn't had any effect on it. Haven't seen "Start ya bastard" (great brand name!) I'm guessing the usual places will stock it (AutoBarn, etc... ) ? It may yet be flooded, as there was definitely fuel in the carbies. But... we drained the carbies, and tried to start it... with no joy. ACE - There is about 4 or 5 litres in the tank - and when the lower line is disconnected and the tap switched on, fuel gushes out - which means the supply of fuel is not the problem. I think I'm gonna have to get some professional help on this one <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s --> it's been just about one week I've been off the road (on a bike, anyway...) and I wanna ride <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->
'Start ya Bastard' is just a cheaper brand of 'Aerostart'. No idea what's in it... but by gawd does it work wonders some times!
You can turn it over by hand by taking the magneto cover off (the metal cover that sticks slightly out of a hole in the fairing on the right hand side), and turning the end of the crank shaft that spins the magneto (you'll need the correct size socket to do that). Alternatively you can put it into 2nd gear and push start it… has the same effect really. Are the spark plugs sparking?
Casso - both the sparkplugs that I checked are sparking, and by jamming an allen key into each lead, they all spark. Will I have to drain the oil to get into the magbeto cover?
Nope, oil can stay in there. Another option for turning it over is if you've got some milk crates or old speakers, use them as rear stands. Put it in gear then turn the rear wheel. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->
might have fun trying to START it with the magneto. I was more thinking in terms of testing to see that the crank shaft moves freely. hmm. So you've got spark. You've got fuel. Unless your air filter is extremely clogged, then you've got air - you should be getting at least some form of detonation in the cyllinders. Have you tried just push starting it?
