Honda CBR600 won't start

[johnsf1980]

Hi everyone,

Im having a problem starting my bike today. In the past it has started at 1 push of the button all the time but this morning I can hear it trying to start but it wont. I tried a few times and then stopped as I dont want to drain the battrey totally.

I suspect its the battrey however the headlight, horn and indication lights are working fine? in the past when Ive had a dying battrey the headlights usually go dim, etc.

Additionally Ive tried push starting it a few times in both 1st and 2nd gear and no luck with that either. It does not fire up even a little bit. Could be because it hasnt been ridden since last weekend and is cold?

Any suggestions/help appreciated (please try to keep it simple tho as Im not very techinical/mechanical mided).

Cheers,

John

[Disco Dan]

Check your fuel tap is not switched off...

I did a service on mine, then put it all back together and there she sat for a couple of days.. went to go start her... "oh crap" ...took me ages to realise the fuel was still turned off.:yes:

[dino3310]

you could check all your leads, could be as simple as a loose wire connection.

[johnsf1980]

I dont think this bike has a fuel tap and Ive checked the leads to the battrey to make sure they are fine

[Grub]

Rumour has it {blush} that somebody else had that problem and it turned out to be the kill switch had been bumped to off.

[johnsf1980]

Unfortunately its not the kill switch either (though I wish it was!). When you push the start button you can hear it trying to start up... Ive given up on doing that though because I dont want to drain the battrey

[Tumbles]

If you are trying to push start properly, and its still not starting, its not the battery. She was starting mint, and suddenly doesn't? Has it been banged/fallen over anything like that since its been sitting?

I would be surprised if it didn't half a fuel tap. If that's the case then you would have no reserve either?

Engine needs air, fuel, and a spark. Check ignition connections (sounds like the starter system is working, but could be ignition lead problem. Does the engine sound like it fires even a little bit or flat out nothing?) Could also pull and check condition of spark plugs.
For fuel, check tap, if carburated, unscrew carb float tank drain to ensure fuel is getting to the float tank.
Can't really check air without pulling her apart, but would also be the most unlikely cause of the three.

[johnsf1980]

Yes, I do wonder if Im trying to push start properly. Or if its the cold / not being ridden for a week is why it wouldnt push start.

No the bike does not have a reserve, so definately no fuel tap. Bike hasnt fallen over either.

As far as I can tell (and Im no expert at this) the starter system is working but the engine is not firing.

Do I need to take the fairing, etc off to check the ignition leads? I did take the seat off and check the leads going to the battrey and they seemed fine to me.

[Tumbles]

Check sparkplug caps are firmly on. If they are, the next step is to check the resistance of the leads. To do that, you need a multimeter. If your bike is at home, see if your local shop will lend you one and tell you how to do it. They should also be pretty happy to give free advice on what they think might be the problem. Resistances should be similar across all leads. if one is significantly higher than the other, then replace that lead.

[FROSTY]

odvious things to check. A is there a fuel tap up underneath that ya havent noticed. B is that aforementioned kill switch turned to off.
c) have you got full choke turned on and starting with no throttle?
D) has it actually got fuel in it

[FROSTY]

If all the above checks out fine then
Quite lkely what youve done is slightly fouled the plugs.
take the seat off and use jumper leads from a car -now press the starter button. All should be sweet as after a few seconds -itll probably run on 2 then 3 then 4

[johnsf1980]

No fuel tap on this bike. It was actually surprising after I bought the bike to find no fuel tap and asked the guys at AMPS where I bought it from if it had one and they said no too. Kill switch is definately off... if its on this bike's starter does not go and you can audibly hear it trying to do its thing.

I had the choke turned on but I did try to push start it while giving it throttle... could that be the issue why its not push starting?

Got a bit dispondent after the last round of trying to push start so came back home.... I shall have to walk down to the civic parking lot and give it another go again...


odvious things to check. A is there a fuel tap up underneath that ya havent noticed. B is that aforementioned kill switch turned to off.
c) have you got full choke turned on and starting with no throttle?
D) has it actually got fuel in it

[fridayflash]

four cylinders can be a bit fussy in cold weather,especialy if theve got a free flowing muffler/exhaust. they want choke,but flood if you give them too much
catch22 huh? lol if it was me, id push start it down a slope or get someone
to help push,do it with choke on full,killswitch turned OFF and throttle
wide open to clear her out. then turn choke off and kilswitch back on
and try thumb start with no throttle,if on luck,slowly introduce choke
incrementaly. good luck

[fridayflash]

oops meant to say,push her in 2nd gear;)

[johnsf1980]

Heading off to try push starting it again.... this time with a friend to add to the "push power"... fingers crossed!



four cylinders can be a bit fussy in cold weather,especialy if theve got a free flowing muffler/exhaust. they want choke,but flood if you give them too much
catch22 huh? lol if it was me, id push start it down a slope or get someone
to help push,do it with choke on full,killswitch turned OFF and throttle
wide open to clear her out. then turn choke off and kilswitch back on
and try thumb start with no throttle,if on luck,slowly introduce choke
incrementaly. good luck

[FROSTY]

Ive got a 96 cbr here and it seems to prefer full choke and no throttle to start from cold

[johnsf1980]

Full choke, no throttle and two of us pushing it got it started on the 2nd try.

I guess that confirms that the battrey is nearing the end of its life? It wont start off the battrey even after a long ride...

Thanks for the advice everyone :2thumbsup

[Sharry]

I have a cb250 that spent 10 days in the workshop,(had never had a problem starting prior) when I got it back it took a 1 hour ride before it stopped cutting out while idling. and two weeks later, which was 1 week ago, it takes 1 to 2 mins to start in the morning. It is parked in a carport and the choke makes no difference, it will usualy cut it off, but once started it is fine for the rest of the day. I put it down to the cold mornings.
I had a cb400 in 1980 that never had a problem in the mornings so I'm not sure if my usumptions about the cold is right.

[scracha]

It's either electric or fuel :-) Whip out one of the pugs and check it's getting a spark. If it is, then I wouldn't bother checking the whole lot, just check the 1st and 2nd cylanders (should be on two separate coils). Failing that, the obvious one is the battery terminal...nah...fark that..the starters turning so it won't be that.. Failing that, you need to check she's getting fuel. If it's carb then the quickest check is to unscrew one of the overflow's and check that fuel is pissing out. Failing that...it's probably bike shop time. Maybe CDI unit or you've knocked your mixture screw or summit.

[FROSTY]

I have a cb250 that spent 10 days in the workshop,(had never had a problem starting prior) when I got it back it took a 1 hour ride before it stopped cutting out while idling. and two weeks later, which was 1 week ago, it takes 1 to 2 mins to start in the morning. It is parked in a carport and the choke makes no difference, it will usualy cut it off, but once started it is fine for the rest of the day. I put it down to the cold mornings.
I had a cb400 in 1980 that never had a problem in the mornings so I'm not sure if my usumptions about the cold is right.
I'd contact the workshop and tell them what is happening --may be a maladjustment