Bad Bike Day

[JoJoYZF]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Please verify this... or is more like

starter was cranking
engine is turning over but won't fire?

Yeah that sounds about right. The starter was cranking but the engine wouldnt fire.

Originally Posted by askmrjesus

This is why I hate diagnosing bike problems on the internet.

JC

Understandable. I hate trying to describe them online.

Originally Posted by marko138

Perhaps. I'm pretty sure mine was/is a battery issue...and he's describing the same symptoms.

Thats what I was thinking too. I had an issue with it before so it may finally be done for completely. If I can get it to start fresh off the charger Ill probably just replace it.

[askmrjesus]

Originally Posted by JoJoYZF

Understandable. I hate trying to describe them online.

I know what you mean, I have a hard time doing that myself.

"Well, it kind of goes wrrrrrrr and then tictictic...BOOM!"

JC

[Gas Man]

Engine cranking but not firing...

I'm saying its not the battery.

I'm thinking either a safety nazi switch or something with the ignition or coils... maybe fuel related like no fuel.

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Engine cranking but not firing...

I'm saying its not the battery.

I'm wondering how strong the cranking really is...

[JoJoYZF]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

I'm wondering how strong the cranking really is...

It seems strong as normal, but I also dont pay as much attention to it usually since it starts right up. Ive got the battery on the charger right now so Im going to see if itll start with a freshly charged battery and check the battery with a voltmeter and go from there. If that doesnt work itll be on to the fuel filter, spark plugs, etc.

[JoJoYZF]

I went out about 5 minutes ago and hooked up my freshly charged battery to see if I could get it to start and no such luck. One thing that I did notice is that it seemed like everytime Id go out to start it before a few days ago and the bike had been sitting for more than a short period of time, there would be a noise when I flipped the kill switch. I typically turn the key, open the choke, flip the killswitch to run, then hit the starter (bike in neutral) and it would start. But it would also make a sort of clicking noise after turning the killswitch to run, almost like the fuel pump priming itself or something. Well today I noticed that its not making that noise at all. Is this possibly part of the problem? It makes me think its fuel related, but I could be way off.

[marko138]

Is that bike carb or FI?

[JoJoYZF]

Carb

[askmrjesus]

Originally Posted by marko138

Is that bike carb or FI?

It's carbed, with a fuel pump.

Jojo, the clicking noise sounds like it could be a relay, but it's hard to tell without hearing said clicking noise.

My fuel pump makes what I would call a "whining" noise when activated, YMMV.

Assuming the battery is okay, you need to verify that the pump is getting juice, so check the fuse if you haven't already done so, and check the connections for corrosion, etc... I believe the pump is external on those bikes, so sorting them out isn't too big of a pain. You'll likely have to remove the tank to get to it. The pump will have an in and an out. There may even be a diagram on the bottom of the fuel tank that says which is which.

Get some clear vinyl tubing, and attach it to both ports, then stick both of them into a gas can (with gas in it), and hit the switch, (I usually do this while smoking a cigarette, but since you're a novice, you may want to skip that step...) if gas comes in and goes out, you can rule out a pump problem.

JC

[JoJoYZF]

Originally Posted by askmrjesus

It's carbed, with a fuel pump.

Jojo, the clicking noise sounds like it could be a relay, but it's hard to tell without hearing said clicking noise.

My fuel pump makes what I would call a "whining" noise when activated, YMMV.

Assuming the battery is okay, you need to verify that the pump is getting juice, so check the fuse if you haven't already done so, and check the connections for corrosion, etc... I believe the pump is external on those bikes, so sorting them out isn't too big of a pain. You'll likely have to remove the tank to get to it. The pump will have an in and an out. There may even be a diagram on the bottom of the fuel tank that says which is which.

Get some clear vinyl tubing, and attach it to both ports, then stick both of them into a gas can (with gas in it), and hit the switch, (I usually do this while smoking a cigarette, but since you're a novice, you may want to skip that step...) if gas comes in and goes out, you can rule out a pump problem.

JC

Got it, definitely not a whining noise.

Ill check those things out and then probably pull the tank off. I was figuring on having to do that anyway in order to check the fuel filter and to get to the plugs easier anyway.

I already have a gas can with gas so Ill just grab some vinyl tubing while Im out running errands to check the pump. And Ill skip the smoking step since Im only a mere mortal and dont smoke.

Thanks for the suggestions and if anything else comes to mind feel free to add it to the list. Ive never had to trouble shoot a bike a before so Im completely new to this.