Bike won't start

[Adamjf82]

Ok well Sunday morning a set off to meet some mates, I road about 40 mins met my mates and had a quick a brew. Went to start bike and it was like battery was dead and had to push start the bike. I rode it another half hour and parked it up for 4 hours then it started no problem. Parked up another half hour and it started fine and rode the 40 mins home.

Monday morning bike starts fine and i ride to work, I pull up at work and the bike dies and it's not started since. I've had 3 batteries tried on it so I know that's not the issue.

Any ideas?

Also last week the bike wouldn't start after I stopped to fill up, it was like battery was flat then after 5 mins it started.

[Stu]

when you say its like a flat battery what does the bike actually do? is there anything when you turn the key? lights etc and what about when you hit the starter?

[Adamjf82]

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[fastbob]

Given the intermittent nature of the fault I'll take an educated guess at this one . I reckon you have a build up of carbon dust and muck inside your starter motor. Strip it down and give the commutator plates a buff up with very fine wet and dry paper ( 2500 grade ) and it should be fine.

[fastbob]

Ahh... So it does turn over , sorry ignore starter motor theory.

[Stu]

I would look at stripping and cleaning the carbs to start with as you may have a bit of shite in there

These are also prone to hot start problems too but the way you describe it I don't think its that

I does sound to me like the engine isn't turning over fast enough too

[Adamjf82]

I would look at stripping and cleaning the carbs to start with as you may have a bit of shite in there

These are also prone to hot start problems too but the way you describe it I don't think its that

I does sound to me like the engine isn't turning over fast enough too

 

What would cause the engine not to turn over fast enough?

I can't do anything with the bike until Saturday as it's currently stuck in the warehouse at work

[Stu]

bad connection between the battery, starter relay and starter or weak battery but as you have already said you have tried different batteries!

I would offer some assistance but its the forum rally this weekend so I am away!

You need to start with the basics ie decent battery with all good connections make sure you have a spark fuel and air

[Adamjf82]

Thanks Stu, luckily this Saturday the company MD is in and he is a keen biker and knows his stuff so I'll rope him into helping out. I've ordered a new battery anyway as mine was getting on a bit and I'm going to give the bike a service while it's in bits so hopefully I'll be able to get it sorted

[Stu]

Let us know how you get on

One way to rule the battery out is to jump it off from a car but don't have the car running if it turns over faster and starts then your battery is failing or in a poor state of charge

[fastbob]

I would look at stripping and cleaning the carbs to start with as you may have a bit of shite in there

These are also prone to hot start problems too but the way you describe it I don't think its that

I does sound to me like the engine isn't turning over fast enough too

So maybe the starter motor is back in the frame ?

[Stu]

I would look at stripping and cleaning the carbs to start with as you may have a bit of shite in there

These are also prone to hot start problems too but the way you describe it I don't think its that

I does sound to me like the engine isn't turning over fast enough too

So maybe the starter motor is back in the frame ?

 

Possibly yes

I missed your post about cancelling your first one

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Check the earth, intermittent problems like that can be down to corrosion on the main earth. One way to check is to use a jump lead as a temporary secondary earth.

[Adamjf82]

Thanks for the replies. I've had the bike in bits today and it turns out to be a combination of knackered battery and the fuel pump.

I've stripped down the pump and cleaned all the connections and put on a new battery and it's running again.

I've also booked it in to get carbs cleaned as it's running a bit rough.