Help the bloody thing won't start [Archive]

Nick from the nick

12th October 2010, 20:52

Conquiztador

12th October 2010, 23:12

Anyone got useful advice

Got a 97 cbr1100 after a 4-5 month lay up thought yep time to get back on the road, last started it 3 weeks ago to check the battery ran for about 30 secs all good turned it off. Went to it today got 2 backfires then nothing turns over real good but nothing else.

I'm a learner when it comes to mechanics so anyone got some easy to understand helpful advice ??

Cheers

Don't know them. But here some basic fault finding technique that will give you an idea re what is going on:

- Take off one of the plugleads. Fit a spare spark plug on to the lead and see if there is a nice spark. If no spark you have a electrical problem (sidestand switch, kill switch, isue in ignition switch...), if a nice spark carry on reading.
- If nice spark on spare plug you could have a plug with issues in motor.
- If good plug in motor and a good spark, check fuel. Pull hose to carbi (I assume she has carbies?) and check that there is fuel flowing. (If not, then problem is in tank/hose/filter). If fuel then keep on reading.
- If fuel comes nicely from hose, then your problem is in carbies. Dirt in idle/middle jets. Take apart and clean.

Now, if bike has been parked outside you could have water in tank. Note that water is heavier than fuel so will end up at bottom of tank and be first that flows to carbi. And water does not make nice explosions inside cylinders.

Many mechanical problems that it could also be, but as she was running sweet just a few weeks ago they are highly unlikely.

I also assume that there is an electronic ignition and not points. If there was points, then cleaning them is a good idea too. But almost 100% that there is not.

Good Luck!