all of a sudden the bike refuses to start....

davenay67 · September 4th, 2012, 10:43 AM

As the thread title says, my bike refused to start this morning. I have been riding 50 miles a day, 5 days a week for the last 4 months. The bike hasn't given me an ounce of trouble in all this time. It started yesterday just perfectly, but when I tried today it simply wouldn't start.

It cranks over with good speed but will not fire up. The battery is healthy as it keeps good cranking speed over many attempts. Here is what I do know so far:-

- Battery is good
- All lights (neutral, oil pressure) come on with ignition in ON position
- Bike shows no interest in trying to fire up

I will obviously be checking the usual suspects of gas and spark. The tough one about this is that nothing has changed from one day to the next; it lives in a garage and I haven't done anything with the gas.

I haven't spent any quality time with the bike as yet, and won't until tonight. Just trying to "armchair quarterback" this issue for now, and any suggestions would be very welcome.

My wild guess right now (probably wrong) is that my CD Igniter unit may be knackered, and I will be testing tonight with my multimeter.

TIA.

dubojr1 · September 4th, 2012, 10:52 AM

Pop the fuel lid and try cranking again. Maybe it has a vacuum lock on it right now. Looks like your on the right path though. Start with the simple things GL!

FvnnyL3tt3r1ng · September 4th, 2012, 10:53 AM

It's hard to say based on the brief description but as long as the fuel tap is "On" and you actually have fuel maybe you should try to pop the clutch on hill? It would just help eliminate a lot of the starting circuit issues and narrow the issue more in the direction of the engine.....

davenay67 · September 4th, 2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubojr1

Pop the fuel lid and try cranking again. Maybe it has a vacuum lock on it right now. Looks like your on the right path though. Start with the simple things GL!

Great suggestion.

But I tried that and it's not the cause. This bike also never get s the squealing noises associated with tank vacuums.

davenay67 · September 4th, 2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FvnnyL3tt3r1ng

It's hard to say based on the brief description but as long as the fuel tap is "On" and you actually have fuel maybe you should try to pop the clutch on hill? It would just help eliminate a lot of the starting circuit issues and narrow the issue more in the direction of the engine.....

I live in IL, and would have to push the bike for miles to find a hill.

I can try running up and down the street to bump-start it, but my old bones won't want to do much of this....

FvnnyL3tt3r1ng · September 4th, 2012, 11:03 AM

There's always this option:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I63InOIKdkw

davenay67 · September 4th, 2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FvnnyL3tt3r1ng

There's always this option:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I63InOIKdkw

That's pretty much how it would go for me if I tried that too....

conrya5 · September 4th, 2012, 02:21 PM

Is it possible that your fuel tap is leaking, causing the engine to flood. This happened to me and my bike would not start sometimes, even after cranking it for almost a minute. It was a very rough start to say the least but ran beautifully like nothing was wrong.

I had to hold the throttle wide open and crank the engine until it started before i replaced my fuel tap.

Just a thought, good luck!

davenay67 · September 4th, 2012, 08:49 PM

Well, the bike is running again and I don't know why..!!

Checked that the clutch interlock system was functioning properly. Then checked that the neutral interlock system was functioning correctly. Pulled the plugs and found that both were firing, so the coils and the CDI are also OK.

I could smell fuel, and there was even some on the spark plug thread when I pulled them. Still the bike wouldn't fire up. So, I gave the airbox a good dose of starting spray and the bike reluctantly coughed back into life. It is now purring at idle better than it ever has.

What was wrong....no idea. I am stumped by mysterious fixes like this. I'm not complaining, but I do like to know what was wrong. The big test is if it will fire up in the morning on a cold engine after sitting all night....

csmith12 · September 5th, 2012, 05:12 AM

Sounds like some debris in a jet or something that finally broke loose.

September 4th, 2012, 10:43 AM	#1
davenay67 ninjette.org member Name: Dave Location: Lisle Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Goldwing GL1800, 2002 Ninja 250, 2001 VFR800, 1999 Ducati 996 Posts: 107	all of a sudden the bike refuses to start.... As the thread title says, my bike refused to start this morning. I have been riding 50 miles a day, 5 days a week for the last 4 months. The bike hasn't given me an ounce of trouble in all this time. It started yesterday just perfectly, but when I tried today it simply wouldn't start. It cranks over with good speed but will not fire up. The battery is healthy as it keeps good cranking speed over many attempts. Here is what I do know so far:- - Battery is good - All lights (neutral, oil pressure) come on with ignition in ON position - Bike shows no interest in trying to fire up I will obviously be checking the usual suspects of gas and spark. The tough one about this is that nothing has changed from one day to the next; it lives in a garage and I haven't done anything with the gas. I haven't spent any quality time with the bike as yet, and won't until tonight. Just trying to "armchair quarterback" this issue for now, and any suggestions would be very welcome. My wild guess right now (probably wrong) is that my CD Igniter unit may be knackered, and I will be testing tonight with my multimeter. TIA.

September 4th, 2012, 10:52 AM	#2
dubojr1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Jacksonville, Florida Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250R SE, 07 Honda CRF230F, 06 Honda CRF150F Posts: A lot.	Pop the fuel lid and try cranking again. Maybe it has a vacuum lock on it right now. Looks like your on the right path though. Start with the simple things GL! __________________________________________________ 09 250R SE: Paying it forward one post at a time! Don't forget to add yourself to our Member Map

September 5th, 2012, 05:12 AM	#10
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Sounds like some debris in a jet or something that finally broke loose. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

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September 4th, 2012, 10:53 AM	#3
FvnnyL3tt3r1ng ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Justin Location: Florida Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2001 Posts: A lot.	It's hard to say based on the brief description but as long as the fuel tap is "On" and you actually have fuel maybe you should try to pop the clutch on hill? It would just help eliminate a lot of the starting circuit issues and narrow the issue more in the direction of the engine.....

September 4th, 2012, 11:03 AM	#6
FvnnyL3tt3r1ng ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Justin Location: Florida Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 2001 Posts: A lot.	There's always this option: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I63InOIKdkw

September 4th, 2012, 02:21 PM	#8
conrya5 ninjette.org member Name: Ryan Location: South Eastern, PA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Metalic Island Blue Ninja 250r Posts: 206	Is it possible that your fuel tap is leaking, causing the engine to flood. This happened to me and my bike would not start sometimes, even after cranking it for almost a minute. It was a very rough start to say the least but ran beautifully like nothing was wrong. I had to hold the throttle wide open and crank the engine until it started before i replaced my fuel tap. Just a thought, good luck!

September 4th, 2012, 08:49 PM	#9
davenay67 ninjette.org member Name: Dave Location: Lisle Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Goldwing GL1800, 2002 Ninja 250, 2001 VFR800, 1999 Ducati 996 Posts: 107	Well, the bike is running again and I don't know why..!! Checked that the clutch interlock system was functioning properly. Then checked that the neutral interlock system was functioning correctly. Pulled the plugs and found that both were firing, so the coils and the CDI are also OK. I could smell fuel, and there was even some on the spark plug thread when I pulled them. Still the bike wouldn't fire up. So, I gave the airbox a good dose of starting spray and the bike reluctantly coughed back into life. It is now purring at idle better than it ever has. What was wrong....no idea. I am stumped by mysterious fixes like this. I'm not complaining, but I do like to know what was wrong. The big test is if it will fire up in the morning on a cold engine after sitting all night....