Here's a list of tips to try when your bike won't start, like in the spring.
Help! It's spring time and my bike won't start!
First, check the battery. Are the lights coming on? Are they strong? Is the starter motor enganging? Is it "clicking?" Obtain a Multi-Meter and test the battery. Is it reading 12-13v DC? If not... attach a battery tender OR attempt a jump start. To Jump start, get a car or truck with a 12v charging system. With the car or truck OFF attach jumper cables and attempt to start the bike.
Charging system looks okay? What about fuel?
Did you put stabilizer in the gas last fall? Turn the petcock to PRIME for 30-60 seconds to make sure you have gas in the bowls.
You can check to be sure your bowls are filling by cracking the drain screws (with a rag under the carbs) to see that gas drips out.
Still no luck? Huh? Time to dig in.
From here, you can try a multitude of trouble shooting.
Sparkplugs. Remove and inspect. Plugs should not be black, sooty, oily, or damaged.
Coils. Check for spark. Be sure to use a good solid ground, laying the plug on the engine might note do it.
All connections good?
Wires. Wires aren't frayed or loose? Boots have good connections to plugs?
Any questions about the plugs, install new ones.
Petcock. Is it operating correctly? Flows fuel freely on prime?
Airbox/Airfilter. Installed correctly and clean?
Is it still too cold? Try heating the engine or the space the bike is in. But be careful of gas fumes!!
If none of the above seem to be helping... then you likely have dirty carbs. If the bike will idle, but only with the choke on... the pilot circuit is dirty. Check out Carbs 101 and Carbs 102 in the wiki.
Ugh... it's spewing gas everywhere! Out the puke tubes? Gas in the oil/crankcase? Check the petcock function. The diaphragm is probably bad and/or you have a stuck float. Sometimes to unstick a float, you can drain the bowl. Put a small container under the float bowl to catch the gas... and open the drain screw. Do this once or twice. This will usually flush sediment out.... but can be an indication of a bigger problem! Like rust/scale/dirt/junk in the tank.
Hopefully others will come along and provide some additional sage advice. Please, don't post QUESTIONS here... post ANSWERS to problems.
Help! It's spring time and my bike won't start!
First, check the battery. Are the lights coming on? Are they strong? Is the starter motor enganging? Is it "clicking?" Obtain a Multi-Meter and test the battery. Is it reading 12-13v DC? If not... attach a battery tender OR attempt a jump start. To Jump start, get a car or truck with a 12v charging system. With the car or truck OFF attach jumper cables and attempt to start the bike.
Charging system looks okay? What about fuel?
Did you put stabilizer in the gas last fall? Turn the petcock to PRIME for 30-60 seconds to make sure you have gas in the bowls.
You can check to be sure your bowls are filling by cracking the drain screws (with a rag under the carbs) to see that gas drips out.
Still no luck? Huh? Time to dig in.
From here, you can try a multitude of trouble shooting.
Sparkplugs. Remove and inspect. Plugs should not be black, sooty, oily, or damaged.
Coils. Check for spark. Be sure to use a good solid ground, laying the plug on the engine might note do it.
All connections good?
Wires. Wires aren't frayed or loose? Boots have good connections to plugs?
Any questions about the plugs, install new ones.
Petcock. Is it operating correctly? Flows fuel freely on prime?
Airbox/Airfilter. Installed correctly and clean?
Is it still too cold? Try heating the engine or the space the bike is in. But be careful of gas fumes!!
If none of the above seem to be helping... then you likely have dirty carbs. If the bike will idle, but only with the choke on... the pilot circuit is dirty. Check out Carbs 101 and Carbs 102 in the wiki.
Ugh... it's spewing gas everywhere! Out the puke tubes? Gas in the oil/crankcase? Check the petcock function. The diaphragm is probably bad and/or you have a stuck float. Sometimes to unstick a float, you can drain the bowl. Put a small container under the float bowl to catch the gas... and open the drain screw. Do this once or twice. This will usually flush sediment out.... but can be an indication of a bigger problem! Like rust/scale/dirt/junk in the tank.
Hopefully others will come along and provide some additional sage advice. Please, don't post QUESTIONS here... post ANSWERS to problems.
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