Help - GSF250 won't start

[ruinedinc]

my bike won't start if i've left it for too long (a week and a bit) without taking it out. used the choke it still won't start... what do i do...

[ajturbo]

put some petrol in it

[ruinedinc]

it's got petrol in it i can still see it in the tank?

[Murray]

crash start it!!!!

[Bend-it]

Try this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9D3TBy6hYI

[ruinedinc]

what does that mean?

[p.dath]

my bike won't start if i've left it for too long (a week and a bit) without taking it out. used the choke it still won't start... what do i do...

Perhaps you might like to describe the problem.
Is the motor turning over?
Does it start then stall?

[ruinedinc]

na just wont turn over... th choke on full helps it cough out some revs but doesnt go any further than that.

[ajturbo]

put it onto reserve?

i have left my turbo untouched for 3 months, 15min on the battery charger and it fires into life....same fuel, but it is inside!...

[ruinedinc]

k ill try that thanks heaps

[madmal64]

Has it been left outside? Are you using the Mobil ethanol blend fuel?
If yes is the answer to both of these it may be a water issue.

[ruinedinc]

not left outside... i have been going to mobil only though and been gassing it with higher octane petrol. whats this ethanol blend fuel?

[madmal64]

Mobil uses a percentage of ethanol in their fuel and ethanol will mix with water where benzine(petrol) wont. It can cause starting and running problems. My mate had his 1098 run like a bag of shit on this stuff over the weekend. Small amount of water in his tank from a previous sitting around period mixed with the ethanol and it was all downhill from there. Anyway you can drain the tank & try it with some fresh non Mobil fuel?
Drain the float bowl on the carbs too if it is caburetted (didn't look at what sort of bike we are talking about) if you go that way.
I could one of many things and its just I have had issue with this fuel lately and thats why I asked the question.

[Squid69]

my bike won't start if i've left it for too long (a week and a bit) without taking it out. used the choke it still won't start... what do i do...


Is the fuel turned on? Kill switch?

Try HOLDING the throttle wide open and cranking it over, do not pump the throttle or you will flood it.

Tried bump starting it? Sometimes the battery looses enough life in the cold to crank the bike over but not fire the ignition system...

:scooter:

[ruinedinc]

ill keep that in mind... thanks heaps i've always wondred why my mates 250 similar to mine always starts on demand even when he doesn't ride it for awhile... what's puzzling me is why i have these problems when i just had a full service and tune up with the carbs and tank flushed and cleaned out with a new fuel tap. but anyway thanks yea i'll stay away from ethanol now haha

[ruinedinc]

wouldn't holding the throttle wide open flood it even more?

[madmal64]

wouldn't holding the throttle wide open flood it even more?

NO choke. Hold it wide open will help clear it.

[ruinedinc]

what if it still doesnt start still? if i try again and again wouldn't it eventually flood the engine?

[The Stranger]

Where in Auckland are you?

[ruinedinc]

on the shore

[madmal64]

Trying to diagnose these problems over the interweb with very little to go on is like trying to explain the colour red to a blind man. Damn near impossible.
Is it getting fuel?
Is there spark?
How are the plugs?
Are the fouled/ wet?

[ruinedinc]

starter motor works, new spark plugs... thats all i know haha

[ruinedinc]

seeing that i've just had a full service, could it simply have somethin to do with the cold and leaving it untouched?

[madmal64]

Have you tried the suggestion of full throttle no choke yet?

[ruinedinc]

no i haven't actually might try it right now

[ruinedinc]

doesn't work...

[ruinedinc]

tried it with reserve too didn't work

[The Stranger]

Is it turning over strong? - I'm guessing so as you have been trying it for a while.
Is there spark?

[ruinedinc]

Is it turning over strong? - I'm guessing so as you have been trying it for a while.
Is there spark?

im not clear on what turning over means but i try starting the bike and it does try to start, but it just doesn't fire up.

[The Stranger]

im not clear on what turning over means but i try starting the bike and it does try to start, but it just doesn't fire up.

Ok, that's turning over.
Do you have spark?
It's a Suzuki right? You are trying it with the clutch pulled in aren't you?

[gwigs]

Have a look at this site ,troubleshooting.

http://www.dansmc.com/troubleshooting2.htm

[ruinedinc]

yea i did do that quite a bit... thinkin it would make it easier haha so do i try turn it over without holding in the clutch? how do yu know if there's spark or not?

[ajturbo]

ONCE you have this thing up and running... we need to see who you are...

on the bike of cause.. riding it.. so get ya camera working!!!

AJ

[mitch.ww]

If it cranks but wont start could be a battery problem, my Bandit did the same thing, put the battery on a tester and was only showing 50 cold crank amps.. chucked a new battery in and that fixed it....... Next problem was charging haha it wouldnt start if left for a while. Problem was the magnets on the flywheel (which are essentially the charging system) had all broken and fallen off and shit so it wouldnt charge the battery.. A new flywheel and $450 later and shes sweet.. So you best be hoping its not your flywheel!!
One way to tell is it will run rough and vibrate a lot as the flywheel is unbalanced due to being unevenly weighted by broken magnets

[Dare]

My GSF250 doesn't like to start before 10am. Not even kidding.
After 10 it starts first time! Well, when its not freezing.

Thing with these bikes i've been told is you start it with no throttle (and a tiiny bit of choke if its really cold), then when it catches you rev it and let it settle. Holding open the throttle often floods it.

Check the battery first as its easier than taking bits off and flushing them

[ruinedinc]

haha thanks all mechanic said the choke seized whateva that means... pickin it up tomorrow will give yas an update when i find out what exactly went wrong or caused it. thanks again... much appreciated

[GSF_Lou]

Ok, I'm gonna bump this thread as today I have this problem with my bandit. I've only had the bike since wednesday. Have only rode it on wednesday but have started almost all days in between at the request of mates coming to have a look.

The Fuel is on with a full tank. The battery seems to be charged as all lights are on and the starter motor cranks strong. When I went out to start it, its started fine but died a few seconds later and wouldnt crank over.

Ive tried holding the throttle open and also with a little choke. I've tried it with the reserve. I haven't yet tried to roll start as I'm not hugely confident at doing that yet.
Is there anything else I should do before going any further?

My driveway is also quite steep, so on the off chance I do try to roll it and it doesnt work, I dont really want to be stuck at the bottem.

[GSF_Lou]

Right, so in the space of writing that post and going out to give it another go. Its back to the start where it fires over but just dies.

Should also mention that the gas is Gull Force 10 and its been in the garage since I bought it, and stored inside the showroom at the dealers.

[GSF_Lou]

Ok so after all that, I left it another 10 minutes and then tried it with full choke.
It fired over and came right, and now starts first time. So I think we can just put this experience down to me being a f'n noob and leave it at that :facepalm:

One further question however, my choke needs to be held on full (or anywhere in between) or it will return to closed. shouldnt it stay put until i close it?

[3L4NS1R]

Think these bikes are a bit 'individualistic' when it comes to starting habits - every one needs a different start up sequence. It'll take a little while to work out the sure-fire way of starting yours, but once you get it, it's kind of like a second layer security system! (Yeah, sure, you can take my bike for a 'test ride'. You just have to start it first).

I know my partner's one is a bitch to get started on a cold morning, but generally the start up goes:

Attempt starting no choke no throttle.
Attempt starting Full Choke, no throttle.
Attempt starting no choke, bit of throttle.
Attempt starting full choke and full throttle.
Go and wake 3L4NS1R up and get him to bump start it for me.

usually it doesn't get past attempt #2, and very rarely past 4/5.

Good luck!

[GSF_Lou]

Ok thanks for that. I think what threw me off was the ease of which its started every other time. I'll make sure I remember that sequence and run through that before I freak out too much.

[The Everlasting]

Good that you managed to sort it out.

I have found that during cold winter mornings,it really is hard to start,but summer it's easy.

[Hopeful Bastard]

Yup.. These things are a bitch.

Make sure you have good plugs. If not, Replace them with some decent quality ones.

Next, Make sure you have good fuel in it. Mine hates stale crap.

Then, tick it over. If it doesnt fire, Throw it onto some jumper leads connected to a good battery to see if it ticks over faster.

Starts but then dies, Check your Idle. Adjust if necessary. I found that if you get it to fire and then it dies, you are screwed!! until it drains all the gas outta the carbs with a bit of help..

Also, Check your float levels. Mine is running too rich at the moment even with the choke off and the idle set for summer..

[mittens]

If you scrap the bike will you sell me the wiring loom?

I've got a GSF 250 and it's the last part I need to make it run...

[cbfb]

Check your float levels. Mine is running too rich at the moment even with the choke off and the idle set for summer..

Don't suppose you know what the floats need to be set to? I've got a GJ74A and am just in the process of overhauling the carbs as it happens. Problem is both the GSF400 manual and the GSX250F manual have different carbs to the GSF250 (no manual as you probably know). I have attached a parts diagram of the carbs.

[Hopeful Bastard]

Don't suppose you know what the floats need to be set to? I've got a GJ74A and am just in the process of overhauling the carbs as it happens. Problem is both the GSF400 manual and the GSX250F manual have different carbs to the GSF250 (no manual as you probably know). I have attached a parts diagram of the carbs.

Dont ask me anything about that load!! My knowledge of bikes goes as far as chain checking and lubing, tyre pressure, Oil filter and oil change. and making sure the lights and brakes work.. Also, Making sure there is actually PETROL in it :facepalm:


I'm gonna take mine in and get a full check on everything when i get some cash.

[cbfb]

Dont ask me anything about that load!! My knowledge of bikes goes as far as chain checking and lubing, tyre pressure, Oil filter and oil change. and making sure the lights and brakes work.. Also, Making sure there is actually PETROL in it :facepalm:


I'm gonna take mine in and get a full check on everything when i get some cash.

Ah no worries, will just measure the float level on all 4 carbs, at least that will tell me if one is way out.