Why won't it start????

[Jak]

OK - I haven't ridden the bike for about a month. So last night I went down to the garage and started it up - started reasonably ok and ran ok. Battery wasn't 100% so I took the battery out and stuck it on charge. It was on 6-12v so it wasn't dead, and it only took a little while to get it up to full charge.

This morning I stuck the battery back in and went to start it up - but it wasn't having it. First off it just clicked once then the ignition light went off. Then it turned over ok and just wouldn't quite fire up. Then it just clicked and ignition light went off again. Repeat a fair few times until the battery gave up.

One thing I noticed (and this may be normal) - I had the seat off and there was a bit of smoke coming off one of the battery terminals (no I can't remember which one - the one on the right as you stand at the tail of the bike).

The battery's about a year old and a couple of months ago it went completely flat, which was when I bought the charger.

Help?

Sooooo pissed off - the sun's out and it's relatively warm - was looking forward to a good blat this morning

[Glen1TRX]

Jak, Check for loose / dirty battery terminals.

[HolerTogni]

Hi jak!

The battery's about a year old and a couple of months ago it went completely flat, which was when I bought the charger.

If the terminals are ok, I think that's the reason - your battery might not be the oldest but since it was totally down (don't know the right expression in English - in German it is called 'deeply discharged' ) you might need a new one.

If it's possible, borrow a battery you know it's ok and then try again.
Then you know for sure before buying a new one.

Good luck!

PS: Just read about the smoke - (btw: the right pole is the ground (-) from memory) if the terminals / connection is/was ok I could not figure out how to short circuit a battery on the minus pole

But the symptoms you describe indicate rather a broken battery than something else.
Short charging time even if empty: not much capacity left
Just clicking: not enough power to turn the starter even if 'fully' charged
Ignition light going off: battery collapses due to 'too much' load for its little capacity

[Max]

I mentioned something along those lines in a MSN conversation. "Dead" batteries often only come back for a short time before they give the final hurrah...

[Jak]

Right - following my blonde moment with the battery ... that's now on and the terminals are clean and done up properly (thought I'd say it before Max or Shifty )

It's still not starting.

Now I don't know the technical way of describing it (this is me remember!) ... it turns over fine, there's noise coming from the cans as if it's a split second from starting - but it just doesn't get there.

Hope it's not a screwed battery - no-one round here I can borrow one off to check. If I didn't live at the top of a very steep hill I'd bump start it to see if it'll run, but there's no way I'd EVER get it back up the hill if it doesn't start!!!!!

Anyone got a link for a good/cheap place to buy a battery?

[trixynut]

Jak,

If it's now truning over fine, then it can't now be the battery. Obvious next thing to check is petrol: any in the tank...? (we've all done it!)

Dave.

P.S. If you look like that avatar, you can have as many blonde moments as you like!!

[Red Rex]

Jak, Just so you know you're not alone ... I keep mine garaged over the winter and start her every couple of weeks (or once a month) and sometimes she's exactly the same. Spins over OK but just won't catch. Thankfully most times she will reluctantly fire on one cylinder eventually, which is enough to help the other chime in sooner or later.
If yours was running OK before you put it away for the winter I suggest there is no major problem. But I would think by now there's a good chance your plugs are oiled and the only way I know to fix that is to take them out, clean them, dry them, check the gaps, and warm them with a hair dryer (you DO have a hairdryer ??). Spin the engine for a couple of seconds with the plugs out and throttle closed. Refit the plugs, cross your fingers and try again. Good luck eh?

[Jak]

P.S. If you look like that avatar, you can have as many blonde moments as you like!!

Petrol? doh! Almost full - filled up last time I was out.

It's not been put away for the winter, used 3 or 4 days a week until just before Xmas, just been too busy to have fun lately. Was running fine then and started/ran ok on Thursday - I decided to charge the battery to be on the safe side as it was about a month since my last ride.

Hairdryer? nope

[HolerTogni]

Hmm, checking the spark plugs is definitely a good idea, if it is just about to start but doesn't.

Before that I'd just empty the float chambers - that's only open two screws and close them again.
After that fuel tap to "PRI" for filling it again: this will hopefully flush some little dirt out which had the time to settle and now cause (?) your problem.

It's done very quick and - if it helps - it was very few work

Good luck!

[Max]

Also check for dead rats in the exhaust... Sticks work, but good stiff wire is better.

Don't ask me why I know this.

[burty]

I find I often flood it if it's been standing a while. Try choke full in and some throttle, often it will catch. Or alternatively, I find sometimes it's best to go away for 1/2 hour and then try again.

[Max]

An old trick... If it's flooded... Full throttle open, crank till it fires. Don't repeatedly open and close (especially if you have an accelerator pump setup like FCRs), just hold full open with one twist. There is not enough vacuum at starter speed rpms to draw (too much) fuel and you will mainly be pumping as much air in as you can to dry the mess up and hope the plug isn't fouled too much to light it. Partial throttle and choke will draw fuel.

[Jak]

Tried every combination of choke - still won't start.

Didn't have time today to look at it, too busy with DIY and gardening (and trying to dissuade my daughter from making me buy a Piaggo scooter thingy). Hopefully tomorrow afternoon I'll have time to have a look at the plugs as that seems likely doesn't it.

Bloody hate being mechanically challenged

[phuk72]

I'd guess that it is just old fuel in the carbs - just keep turning it over

[Max]

Check for spark, check for fuel. If you have both, probably gunk in the carbs (carb cleaning time) or as I said before, weak battery that is sending all its juice to the starter motor and not having much in reserve for the ignition. Also, check your fuses. Smoke from terminals is not a "good" thing...

Tetsu's (4hr partner) ZXR750RR would crank like a sum-bitch but the spark was worse than a Bic lighter with a bad flint. Battery...

Got booster cables? Hook it up to your car just to make sure it's not the battery. Make sure you don't have a blonde moment and connect red to black or you will have a nice IED.