RF400 will only start with full choke and no throttle, after sitting for a month.

[who_me_33]

Hi. As the topic states, my rf400 will only start with full choke and no throttle (and even then is very hard to start), after not beign started for a month. The bike has been sitting since early September (except for one 30k ride), but it has been started a few times since then, just wouldn't start this last time. What should I be looking at in order to fix the problem, I was thinking of flushing the fuel tank with fresh fuel, and cleaning the carbs (only hesitation with that is that they then need balancing after it has been done). Does this sound like a reasonable place to start looking for the problem.

[imdying]

Charge your battery properly, even if it appears to turn over fine. Chargers are cheap from just about everywhere these days... a little 4A model will do peachy.

[who_me_33]

Charge your battery properly, even if it appears to turn over fine. Chargers are cheap from just about everywhere these days... a little 4A model will do peachy.

Put it on charge earlier today (I figured it would need it anyway), will try to start it again tomorrow and post details.

[who_me_33]

Just tried to start it, same problem (and still very reluctant to start). Should I start looking at cleaning the carbs from here.

[scorry]

if it starts, i would suggest takin it for a ride, put some 96 or 98 in it and then seeing if the problem happens again

[who_me_33]

if it starts, i would suggest takin it for a ride, put some 96 or 98 in it and then seeing if the problem happens again
Taking it for a ride is out of the question, it dies the moment the throttle is opened. Just noticed that I hadn't mentioned that in the first post..

[scorry]

Taking it for a ride is out of the question, it dies the moment the throttle is opened. Just noticed that I hadn't mentioned that in the first post..

what if ya let it warm right up with the choke on, then you should be able to let the choke off and it might run??

worked with an old gpz400 i had

[skipah]

Hi matey, I have had the same problem with my FZR400R, I go overseas quite a bit and as soon as I get back the first thing I want to do is ride my bike, alas the issue you have. The good news is that once I got it going it started first pop every time. Some people may frown at this but it worked. Put jumper leads on your battery, and to a running car, spray some engine start in the carbs, choke on, no throttle at all, and press the start button. Keep turning it over and will start to almost get there ad start. keep trying, you have to keep it turning over for a a few minutes. Eventually it will fire. Then just play with the amount of choke until it runs, then choke off, turn it over a few times with the start button with no throttle. You should be able to start it now by feathering the throttle and choke and get it to start. Then hold the throttle so it idles high for a few more minutes. Should then be problem solved, start every time there after. This has worked for me three times now. Some people might say this is bad for the starter motor but it got my bike going and the starter motor is fine and still starts my bike everytime now.

[wired00]

Just tried to start it, same problem (and still very reluctant to start). Should I start looking at cleaning the carbs from here.

yeah maybe try checking the pilot fuel and air jets are both clear? won't take you long :)

[who_me_33]

I ended up draining the old fuel out of the bottom of the carbs (no water, but a little bit of muck in it), put a little bit of meths in the tank, (just in case there was any water in the tank), squirted a little bit of ether into the carbs, and it started about second try. Cheers for any advice given.