Bike died - won't start

[AraiPnai]

Okay. So I'm really new'ish to the bike thing, and I just got this bike recently. Would be nice if I had local buddies to help me out and point to what I need to do and how but alas, none atm. All I have is my Clymer and you guys!

So, the previous owner said the bike runs fine except needs an oil change and spark plugs changed. I rode it a few times and it's working fine, but bogs a little (not sure if it's cuz i'm not putting enough throttle yet or what but maybe it has to do w/ the spark plugs needing change too?).

Anyways, today, I was riding the bike and was about to head over to a local bike shop place to have them check it out for me, and it died on me! Like it was running, then the throttle just wouldn't go. So I pulled over, did the whole shut down thing, and tried to restart it. It did the whole initial start up sound, but no Vroom. Later someone helped me by spraying starter fluid somewhere, but that didn't work.

I'm assuming it's the spark plug issue, but wondering if you guys have any other opinions on what I should look at/consider?

Mucho thanks!

[ThisEndUp]

"the throttle wouldn't go"

Does that mean that you had the throttle twisted open, but the bike wouldn't rev....and shut down on you?

Pop off your gas tank cover and check to see if your air box is seated well on the carbs. It could of popped off and leaned out the bike to the point where it won't run.

[ThisEndUp]

Also, is your fuel petcock on?

[AraiPnai]

the throttle wouldn't go - yes exactly.. at the time it sounded like the bike was on and running, but then i'd try to open up the throttle a little, and got absolutely no rev. Then it just sounded like the bike died as I was pulling it over.

Will check the airbox thought later.

Fuel Petcock - yes it was on.

[ragedigital]

I was working on rebuilding Supa600's carbs. I put everything back together and started it and it ran fine. He came over and rode it and it wouldn't run...

...pinched fuel line. You just never know sometimes.

Basics Check:

Amount of Fuel, if set to Reserve, petcock may not be working properly
Pinched Fuel Line
Listen to fuel pump to see if it's working
Make sure plug wires have not pulled out of boots. They actually come out fairly easily.
Check all fuses - ALL

Replace on a newly purchased bike:

Fuel Filter
Spark Plugs

[Modified96]

Also check to fuel filter!!

Mine was crammed full of stuff when I first got my FZR. The thing would barely run. It was a world of difference once I changed it.

[demon_knight69]

definitely check the airbox. mine wasn't on correctly because the rubbers had turned rock hard and didn't seat on the carbs anymore. eventually the bike started spewing gas all over the backs of the carbs and the day it died on me it covered the entire engine and was all over the ground. oh yeah and somehow i got gas in my oil too . everything is put together correctly now and so far i haven't had the issue again. it was kinda scary when i drained the oil and there was a stream that shot all over the garage (there was about a quarts worth of gas, as well as almost 3 quarts of oil that came out)

[moochems]

Have you tried bump starting it?

If you had a weak batterey, it might not have been able to adequately power the starter motor, which would make starting an issue for sure.

Push starting is free, and doesn't require you to take the bike apart at all. I would see if you could get it to start from a push, it might help narrow down problems without having to get into it at all.

Push start procedure:
Sit on the saddle
If you can get to the top of a slight incline it's much easier.
Put the bike in gear (1st if the surface has good traction, if you just skid when you pop the clutch out try 2nd or 3rd)
Hold in the clutch
Start pushing the bike, or let it coast down incline
Let out the clutch quickly, but in a controlled fashion once you have a little bit of speed (don't need much)
A little rev on the throttle when the clutch is let out helps, but careful if it kicks over and you aren't ready for it, a little rev could get out of hand.
And of course you must have the ignition set to on, and the kill switch in the run position.

If you can't flat foot well enough to get it going with stability under human power, find a hill.

[AraiPnai]

Mucho thanks all for the input. I'm probably not going to be able to check these things for the week (work and night classes). I'll let ya'll know what happens when I check it out though. I was thinking of trying the push start idea when my bro helped me push it back home (he sat on it cuz he can flat foot it while i pushed), but for some reason I didn't try it (my arse was hurtin' from pushin the bike and it was hella hot - my mind was on water and shade). I probably won't do that yet with mine till I actually replace the things I need to replace first.

I learned something today in this thread: Petcock

Somehow I missed that word in my earlier studies, or we had called it something else.

[Modified96]

Hah, don't worry, a lot of people I know had no idea what a petcock was.

I say, " Ah, I forgot to turn on my petcock, that thing always causes trouble."

They say, "WTF did you just say!"

Let us know what you find!

[billy_awesome]

Before you waste too much time, take out a spark plug and hold the threads against a bolt on the frame to see if you actually have spark. You need to take off the radiator mounts when taking out a plug.

[moochems]

Don't be intimidated, checking for spark is easy, but it will help to have a buddy press the start button, it can be a stretch on your own.

[AraiPnai]

YAY! I finally got to take everything apart and inspect what I could (with a knowledgeable buddy though of course). So for anyone who offered their advice here and wanted an update, here i'tis:

Airbox: is good, did not pop out

Spark Plugs: 3/4 were good as what was expected from previous owner, but we changed all 4 anyway - need to change out the rubbers holdin em in though...

Fuses: good

Fuel Petcock: good as far as we saw, but still wouldn't start at reserve

Fuel Filter: still clean and good

Fuel Pump: ah ha! So apparently there was a sound that is noticeable when you turn the bike on like a clicking sorta, but I had no idea if it was a bad sound or a normal sound at first, but my friend said - that's your fuel pump, why is it making that noise? It's got crap inside. So we banged it a few times to get some flow in there for the time being and alas! The bike ALMOST started... if it weren't for the battery. >.<

So: gotta change out the fuel pump and get a new battery..

Today was a fun day. I could've been at a LAN party playin on computers, but I went and learned how to take apart my bike and get my hands all greasy again. Yay!

I just hope I can remember how to put it back together. Hahahaha

Thanks again all!

[haunter]

the fuel pump should always make noise......but yes.......fuel filters are like underwear!

[AraiPnai]

Ah, well it was supposedly a bad sound the fuel pump was making. He even pulled it out and tried to blow air through it and it made a sound like a duck call, or kazoo actually.