end of my rope

[Rhaags]

I had just bought this bike last summer, and just so you know this is my first bike and i am learning a lot about it. The problem however is that i cant get it to start consistently. When i first got it me and my father-in-law took it apart and cleaned the gas tank, carbs, put new spark plugs in it, new fuel filter. After we did this is when the problems started.

i was riding it on the highway and it all of a sudden started losing speed and the it just went dead. there is gas in the tank still and it has spark. i thought maybe the fuel pump but i had it checked out at it is fine. right now when i try to start it it cranks but wont turn over. i was able to get it fired up once but then after i let it warm up and i tried to just ride to the end of the road and back it stalled out before i hit the end of the driveway and wouldn't start again.

any thoughts of what to check next would be awesome.

[thatkid]

Did you sync the carbs after taking them apart and cleaning them? I would start there

[yamaha_george]

hi,
sorry to hear your woes with your FZR you do not say which model or year and in your profile there is no location so none of us here can be specific.

As you are aware the bike needs air/ fuel/ spark to run.
so when the bike stalls are you certain you are getting spark not just on No1 cylinder as there are two HT coils
(A) for cylinders1 & 4 , (B) for 2 & 3

The FZR runs lost spark ignition

When you FIRST turn the ignition on do you hear a whirring clicking noise YES = fuel pump priming the carbs
NO= problem

In your place I would get a large container and disconnect the tank from the pump and let it drain into the container.
Just to make sure the tank with the cap on is not being vacuum locked by no air entering the tank & shutting off the fuel.

If that runs at a consistant level then put the fuel in the tank again and do the same trick with the fuel pump and see if it runs consistantly.

If that is oK do it thro the fuel filter
If that all works then it is possible the carbs are set up wrongly and you should read the WIKI HOW-To;
everything you need to know about carbs and how to make your own Carb balancing tool.


Let us know how you get on & do not forget to add your location to your personal profile one of us could be close by......................

[Brutal Tooth]

I remember having this problem too. After I put the Ford Escort Coil Pack mod (yes you are reading right, FORD ESCORT) and a new Voltage regulator, I don't recall having this problem after unless I ran out of gas like a retard. If you are having a spark problem, the ford coils will help out alot as they did for me. Your battery might turn useless if your VR isn't working right since the final output will be a dead battery leaving very little spark to give. When you get your bike started, check your battery volts with a voltmeter on pos. and neg. posts and if it reads anything between 13-15, replace it. Also, I'd do some carb sync work because that gave me problems too... i think...

[Rhaags]

well, today i went back to my bike after work and i was checking the fuel system. i have fuel going through my filter when the system is open, but how do i check to see if it is going through the pump, i have fuel in the carbs cause i opened the drain plugs part way and i had gas coming out.

could this be a spark issue? the day this all started when we had checked the spark it wasnt the strongest of spark....they are cr9e plugs. my bike hasnt been exposed to the rain or weather, so i am getting frustrated. i also noticed that today my battery is starting to get really strained. when i tried to start it after checking the fuel my batter was starting to really bog down. so im thinking maybe this could be a battery issue or maybe the voltage regulator, also i cant get my bike started so i cant test the battery accurately

[yamaha_george]

well, today i went back to my bike after work and i was checking the fuel system. i have fuel going through my filter when the system is open, but how do i check to see if it is going through the pump, i have fuel in the carbs cause i opened the drain plugs part way and i had gas coming out.

could this be a spark issue? the day this all started when we had checked the spark it wasnt the strongest of spark....they are cr9e plugs. my bike hasnt been exposed to the rain or weather, so i am getting frustrated. i also noticed that today my battery is starting to get really strained. when i tried to start it after checking the fuel my batter was starting to really bog down. so im thinking maybe this could be a battery issue or maybe the voltage regulator, also i cant get my bike started so i cant test the battery accurately

I do believe I have answered those point in my previous post .The only additional advice if you decide to take any heed in what i write is to charge the battery over night

[Brutal Tooth]

YG is right, we have mentioned what to check for... Get a car battery by itself and jump it to your bike to give you more starting time, check your spark by pulling the boot off and letting it touch the frame, if spark is fine, take out the tank while everyything is hooked up, remove the hose from your carbs that connects to your tank and make sure you have a small container to catch fuel into, leave the bike turned off, then flip to the on position and see if fuel shoots out into the container. If that is fine, then you might want to try starter fluid in the carbs. This should help get the bike started.

[yamaboy]

If you don't want to use or have starting fluid , do this after taking your air box off:

Disconnect the fuel line from the carbs and hold it downwards in a container. If no fuel drips then turn the key to on and the switch to run momentarly. Do not press start. After, connect the fuel line back to the carbs and have someone hold the throttle pulled. With a screwdriver , carefully push the black plastic for each carb and pour a little gas. I do this everytime I take my carbs off in order to protect my starter and battery and it starts right up. If it starts everytime and runs while you do this , then you most likely have a fuel problem with the carbs.

Also check your fuel mixture screws. Give them another 1/2 or 1 turn out and see if it helps. For example , my bike would start at 4 turns on the screws but not 3. What about your idle screw? Are you at about 1200 rpms? Have you tried starting it with the choke all the way up?