[Psycho1]

on pavement 2nd should work, dirt might take 3rd to keep from locking the rear tire depending on sprocket ratios.

[DayKat]

2nd gear wil start it with a little speed behind it

[JohnnyWash1]

Alright, just got back. I couldn't get it started. We tried two guys pushing and 2nd gear, and although the engine would spin, it wouldn't catch. It's weird. I'm wondering, the bike has been sitting for 3 months. Is it possible the sparkplug is fouled? I can smell gas. Also, which way should the gas dial (bad verbiage I know) be pointing? I had it pointed up (towards the gas tank) but the guy insisted on sideways. I don't know much about this bike, so I'm lost.

[arsenic]

well, considering it doesn't point up, you should look into that

[JohnnyWash1]

well, considering it doesn't point up, you should look into that

I don't follow. It's a knob on the left side of the gas tank that has an arrow on it. It either points up towards the tank or back towards the rear.

[Slofuze]

I don't follow. It's a knob on the left side of the gas tank that has an arrow on it. It either points up towards the tank or back towards the rear.

A Kat's petcock points to 3, 6, and 9 o'clock.......3 (PRI) is for when the bikes been laid up for a long time and you want fuel to go directly into the carbs.....6 is where it should be ALL the time....and 9 is your Reserve. You may want to check your petcock.

[StevieB]

I just had to replace the battery on my Mazda Protege5. Being a cheap bastege, I squeezed every last day out of the old battery- until the very end, I could roll down my driveway and clutch start it. But once the battery got so bad even the radio preset memory went, the car would not start. I believe that at least a little voltage is needed to get the systems to at least "open one sleepy eye." I know, Kats have carbs, but they also have ECM ignitions- with 0 voltage available (eitehr because of a TOTALLY dead battery, or no battery,) it is quite possible that nothing at all is happening there, thus no start.

[Electrical_Tech]

I've never really looked into car electrics that far. Is it possible I wonder that the alternator on the car is not a self-exciter and therfore requires a little DC to create the magnetic field so the rotating coil can generate ?? Would make sense since they are rather compact, and a self-exciting generator tends to have more bulk due to the permanent magnets.

[DumbLuck]

most CDI systems on bikes wont fire the coils without at least 10 volts. (dead batterys can have volts but no amps) I cant push start my '80 Kawi 750LTD with a dead battery, the CDI just wont fire.

On older systems you will fry the windings on the stator plate, the regulator, and/or rectifier (or all 3) by running a skoot with a dead battery or no battery. Even magnito systems (designed for lights) will toast components without at least a dead battery in them unless designed to ONLY run the motor. IE: off road dirt bike use only. If it's an enduro with lights, keep the battery in the system even if it's dead, or it cant shed the extra voltage properly that the mag throws up. you still may fry components tho.

btw, your petcock knob is on upside down, or the petcock is assembled incorrectly.

[JohnnyWash1]

A Kat's petcock points to 3, 6, and 9 o'clock.......3 (PRI) is for when the bikes been laid up for a long time and you want fuel to go directly into the carbs.....6 is where it should be ALL the time....and 9 is your Reserve. You may want to check your petcock.

most CDI systems on bikes wont fire the coils without at least 10 volts. (dead batterys can have volts but no amps) I cant push start my '80 Kawi 750LTD with a dead battery, the CDI just wont fire.

On older systems you will fry the windings on the stator plate, the regulator, and/or rectifier (or all 3) by running a skoot with a dead battery or no battery. Even magnito systems (designed for lights) will toast components without at least a dead battery in them unless designed to ONLY run the motor. IE: off road dirt bike use only. If it's an enduro with lights, keep the battery in the system even if it's dead, or it cant shed the extra voltage properly that the mag throws up. you still may fry components tho.

btw, your petcock knob is on upside down, or the petcock is assembled incorrectly.

Thanks gents, I'll look into this. I don't know much about working on carb systems, but I'm sure I can learn with your help.

[il_ragazzo]

i still had my battery in when i had to push start my bike in Sanfransisco all the way home. 2nd gear works well for push starts. as far as carbs.... look up carbs 101 and get a haynes or clymers manual.

[suzukifan]

on the hill thing... its only easier going downhill.

in case you were wondering. uphill is way harder.

[Wreckie29]

on the hill thing... its only easier going downhill.

in case you were wondering. uphill is way harder.

i thought that was obvious but ok

[scaryfast777]

Bike would not start one day so I push started it fired right up! But only made it up the road about 200 yards bike shut off. Lucky I was going up hill turned around and coasted back home charged the battery and fired right up. You can push start a bike but only for like a bad starter not a dead battery.

[hardlydangerous]

What is this in response to?

And am I correct in assuming the overwhelming answer is no, the bike will not start without a battery?

YES

Actually there are some bikes that will run without a battery but they are very few and most are off road bikes where there is no or very little electrical draw other then the ignition. 99.9 of most road bikes need to have at least a dead battery in there with 10-11 volts. Without that the lights will draw and the ignition will starve for power.

I recommend if anyone has a dead battery and needs to push start thier bike, they at least remove all the lighting fuses or unplug the lights so there is as little electrical draw as possible. Not only will this allow your bike to run with a very low battery but it will also save your alternator/generator.
These charging systems are designed only to keep a charged battery fully charged, not charge a dead battery... If you run it with a bad battery or dead battery that extra load will shorten the life of the charging system. Simply remove the lighting fuses, then as soon as possible put it on a slow trickle charge to allow the battery to recover.
Rememeber most standard acid type motorcycle and auto batteries will not fully recover with a quick charge.