F650ST won't start but I have spark

[DrDarkMatter]

hi, I had some trouble the other day coming home from work, the bike kept dying, think it was water in the tank from it raining so hard, got it home finally and parked it. I go to start it today and it wont start.

I have spark, how do I check the carbs are getting petrol? I dont have a "prime" on the fuel selector only , ON , OFF and RES so I was not sure I have got Petrol flowing.

thx

[kiwi cowboy]

hi, I had some trouble the other day coming home from work, the bike kept dying, think it was water in the tank from it raining so hard, got it home finally and parked it. I go to start it today and it wont start.

I have spark, how do I check the carbs are getting petrol? I dont have a "prime" on the fuel selector only , ON , OFF and RES so I was not sure I have got Petrol flowing.

thx

If its carbed it will have a small screw at the bottom of the bowl that you undo to empty the fuel out of it.

Should have a hose (but not always ) to drain out underneath.

If its got water in the fuel you would need to empty the carb anyway and the tank.

[DrDarkMatter]

hi, ya thats what we did when I got home, drained the carb via the screws, but that was AFTER I drove all the way home.

still need to drain the tank?

vapor lock maybe?

air in the fuel feel line?

[DrDarkMatter]

I somehow need to see if petrol is getting to the carb, how do I do that?

[98tls]

I somehow need to see if petrol is getting to the carb, how do I do that?

Leave the drain screw out and turn the gas on...or even messier,pull the hose off the carb and turn the gas on.Personally i doubt water in the fuel is your issue,my moneys on the lecky system.

[DrDarkMatter]

ok, I will try tomorrow, its too cold and wet now

thank you

[unstuck]

Put a piece of clear plastic tube on your overflow at the bottom of the carb, and run the tube up the side of the carb as a quick way to check your float hights in the bowl. But as agent 98 suggests, tis probably lectric.:Punk::Punk:

[DrDarkMatter]

ok about tube, thanks but I got spark, I pulled the plugs and tried starting it and I can see spark

how can it be electric if I have spark?

[Tarded]

Bear with me but what kind of spark?

A little yellow number or a good bright blue crackler? It should be audible when cranking - crack crack..

A spark that is weak in the atmosphere will be all but out in a cylinder under compression.

Intermittent faults cause much cursing in workshops too so dont assume cause it works when checked its all good when reinstalled.

Fun eh!

[DrDarkMatter]

hi, thank you for the reply, I have a nice blue spark on both plugs. So I am thinking its got to be something fuel related

still wont start though

[unstuck]

Are the plugs getting wet when you crank it over, or do they remain dry?

[DrDarkMatter]

they seem dry, no sign if moisture...

[unstuck]

Probably not getting fuel to the cylinders then. Is it getting fuel to the carb bowl? Put a wee jar or container under the overflow on the bottom of the bowl and open the screw, see if any fuel comes out. You want to collect it rather than let it run onto the ground though, so you can check if there is water in the fuel.:2thumbsup

[DrDarkMatter]

cool, thank you, I will try that tomorrow :)

[unstuck]

If you have nothing there then the next step will be to see if fuel is actually reaching the carb.:2thumbsup

[unstuck]

http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm This here may help you out too.:2thumbsup

[DrDarkMatter]

http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm This here may help you out too.:2thumbsup

very nice mate, thanks

[DrDarkMatter]

the plugs seem to be getting fuel, I can smell petrol on them, but no go, still wont start.

we drained part of the tank to see if there was any indication of water but nothing.

[oneofsix]

Passing on a suggestion. Clean the carbs fully, as in remove from bike and clean, remove the plugs and clean, kick it over a few times with the plugs out to clear the combustion chambers, rig up an alternative known clean fuel supply. Replace plugs and and carbs with alternative fuel supply connected and try starting with known quality fuel from alternative supply.

[DrDarkMatter]

Passing on a suggestion. Clean the carbs fully, as in remove from bike and clean, remove the plugs and clean, kick it over a few times with the plugs out to clear the combustion chambers, rig up an alternative known clean fuel supply. Replace plugs and and carbs with alternative fuel supply connected and try starting with known quality fuel from alternative supply.


okey dokey, thanks.

might have to wait for 2 weeks until we get back, but will try it

thanks again

[Tarded]

Did you try cranking it spraying burney stuff into the intake? If it at least briefly starts you know its likely fuel related.

If it goes boom back out at you it wasnt my idea. Shouldnt do unless something is badly wrong/ way out of where it should be timed.

Seen a v8 with the dizzy 180 out with this method, cool fireball up from the carb, wasnt my eyebrows so even better. :lol:

[DrDarkMatter]

Did you try cranking it spraying burney stuff into the intake? If it at least briefly starts you know its likely fuel related.

If it goes boom back out at you it wasnt my idea. Shouldnt do unless something is badly wrong/ way out of where it should be timed.

Seen a v8 with the dizzy 180 out with this method, cool fireball up from the carb, wasnt my eyebrows so even better. :lol:


hahahahaaha I did that with my '72 Z28 it was quite a bang lol

turns out I am covered under warranty by TSS, so they are coming to get it thursday. :yes::dodge:

so by the time I am back from the US of A it should be sorted :)