Won't start, cranks but not even a cough.

[Madhatter]

so I just happen to read this thread yesterday . and I was planning to start up my bike which has set since October 10 . so I try to start it , spins over like a top, but nothing …… so today I decided to see if I could get her going …. nothing.... I read all this info posted here and applied it to the problem …. nothing …. even tried either , not even a burp.... everything seems normal , it was running when I parked it , but now nothing. it has had both recalls done , so am at a loss to figure this out... except im starting to think it could be a switch some where ….. I blasted it with either and nothing and that has me thinking a switch has it grounded out .... all wise forum members give me your best thoughts ….. im going to check the kickstand switch tomorrow..... or set the bike on fire.... we have a burn ban so fire is out.

 

[BaldKnob]

so I just happen to read this thread yesterday . and I was planning to start up my bike which has set since October 10 . so I try to start it , spins over like a top, but nothing …… so today I decided to see if I could get her going …. nothing.... I read all this info posted here and applied it to the problem …. nothing …. even tried either , not even a burp.... everything seems normal , it was running when I parked it , but now nothing. it has had both recalls done , so am at a loss to figure this out... except im starting to think it could be a switch some where ….. I blasted it with either and nothing and that has me thinking a switch has it grounded out .... all wise forum members give me your best thoughts ….. im going to check the kickstand switch tomorrow..... or set the bike on fire.... we have a burn ban so fire is out.

You have a big ass hill nearby?

 

[Tenman]

I tried to push mine off in a parking lot. Couldn't even come close.

 

[Madhatter]

im at the bottom of a hill , don't relish pushing the fat girl up that hill just to see if it will bump start. the kick stand switch is what I will check next, it has been hanging out in all the crap that the road can throw at it . easy to get to , and may not be problem , but easy to check. just weird.

 

[Tenman]

I've had old trucks and bikes do this kind of crap. Hopefully a fuse or a ground. Shouldn't it throw a fault code?

 

[Cycledude]

If you happen to live on a paved road I recommend getting a couple friends to come over to try giving you a push start, i recommend using second or third gear, you just might get lucky and get it to start.
if your not on a paved road push start probably won’t work.

 

[Madhatter]

well not sure what is going on ,but it started today. will see if it starts tomorrow .... gremlins ?

 

[Squibb]

well not sure what is going on ,but it started today. will see if it starts tomorrow .... gremlins ?

I must have heard about your threat in #25

 

[Tenman]

I posted this in another thread. Thought I would repost here. I hard start today. I grinded wfo for a while and gave up. Came back a few hours and repeated. Nothing. Couldn't smell any gas. I got my tools to check my plugs and decided to give it one more try. I started cranking with the throttle closed this time and rolled it open while grinding. It immediately roared to life. WEird.

 

[aln101st]

Update of sorts......
Hard to start gradually got harder!
Kill switch off when turning ignition on, to prevent fuel pump running prior to start, hasn't proved a cure.
Even bumping it wasn't guaranteed.
Decided I should try to find the engine and check the plugs.
Side panels off and tank up Ok. Air filter box out Ok. Then I saw where the plugs are........Good grief!
Had trouble trying to lift out the plugs. Rubber inserts in sockets didn't seem to grip them.
The coils didn't seem to hold them either. Strange?
Took the rubber plug seal off the coil to have a look and found a connection designed to take a full sized plug cap.
These plugs are supposed to have the screw-on caps fitted. Mine didn't have them!
None of my plugs have actually been making a direct connection with their coil. Two gaps to jump! I'm surprised its been running at all.
It was dealer serviced up till I bought it a year ago.
It was getting dark and cold, so I shoved the bike back in the shed.
I'll put new plugs (with caps) in it tomorrow, Though I doubt this will cure the world famous "hard to start" problem completely.
Alan

 

[Boris]

Plugs in and out with the plug spanner from the standard toolkit works perfectly (does on mine), assuming of course that you have the standard toolkit.

Oops, just realised, the missing screw on bit is the issue.............move along, nowt to see here

 

[aln101st]

Plugs in and out with the plug spanner from the standard toolkit works perfectly (does on mine), assuming of course that you have the standard toolkit.

Oops, just realised, the missing screw on bit is the issue.............move along, nowt to see here

Yes, the cheap and nasty box spanner from the standard toolkit is actually the only thing that will successfully get the plug out (if the caps are fitted).
I tried a proper plug socket first, and got it stuck down the hole! That was a moment of terror.
Alan

 

[WJBertrand]

Yes, the cheap and nasty box spanner from the standard toolkit is actually the only thing that will successfully get the plug out (if the caps are fitted).
I tried a proper plug socket first, and got it stuck down the hole! That was a moment of terror.
Alan

Interesting. I’ve changed plugs twice with no problems and I’ve never even opened up the OEM tool kit....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Nikolajsen]

I hope for you, that it will help

 

[aln101st]

Well, got the plugs and air filter replaced.
Started instantly. Ran it for 30 secs, then restarted again. Started instantly.
Restarted it frequently until it was warmed up. No problems.
Might be just wishful thinking, but it sounds a bit smoother.
I'm pretty sure the hard to start issue will still surface at some point. Maybe after it's sat for a week or so.
Alan

 

[Tenman]

A hard start in the boondocks alone made me invest in a antigravity jump starter. I keep it under my Altrider rack. I don't leave home without it. It'll also fit under the plastic cover below the pillion seat.

 

[dang]

i tried starting yesterday. did not start. Put back on the charger. Will try again Saturday. Going to disconnect the battery and pull FI fuse. Re-connect everything and jump off with my truck

 

[MFP]

A hard start in the boondocks alone made me invest in a antigravity jump starter. I keep it under my Altrider rack. I don't leave home without it. It'll also fit under the plastic cover below the pillion seat.

Which Antigravity Micro-Start unit do you use?
I want to buy one, looking at either a XP-1 or XP-3.

 

[Tenman]

xp3. Started my 5.3l truck ten times in a row with the battery cables off of it.

 

[aln101st]

Ha, didn't take long to show up!

Started this morning Ok. Ran 30 secs then tried restart. Reluctant. Eventually started on wot after a few seconds.
I did repeated restarts and noticed what seemed to be a regular effect.
The engine fired quickly each time, but continuing to crank gave only intermittent coughs after that.
If the start button was released immediately it had fired, it would usually rumble into life.
This is leading me to thinking again that this could be a spark problem due to low voltage while cranking.
For those of you old enough to remember, car engines were normally fitted with a 9v coil supplied during normal running via a ballast resistor beside the coil or resistive (pink) wire to drop the 14v system voltage down to match the coil. During cranking, this was bypassed, supplying the 9v coil directly with the 10v-11v cranking voltage. Result was a much better spark during starting.
I'm assuming something similar is replicated by modern ecu's? Or perhaps not? Does anyone know?
Opening the throttle while cranking makes it easier for an engine to suck in air, and slightly reduces the load on the starter motor, and therefore the voltage drop. You'll have noticed a slight increase in cranking speed when the throttle is opened.
I wonder if this effect is a part of being more likely to start with WOT?
Thoughts?
Alan
(I've now fitted a connection to the bike for a float charger, so the batt is full and not a possible issue).