VTR250 Engine sparks but no life - battery problem?

[crazyv]

Hi,

My VTR250 (2003) has not been ridden much (2500kms) - last owner had it in the garage for almost all its life - till now (trying anyway)!

It has been working a few days back (i.e. starting and on idle - not riding the bike), not for long however, just a few mins - today, after having done a engine oil/filter change & chain clean I tried starting it. At first, it almost came to life but on subsequent attempts it just wouldn't go. I believe the spark plugs are fine, as they seem make a 'spark' type sound, also the head lights and display lights turn on so its not like the battery is flat. I took out the spark plugs and they are pretty good too. The bike has a full tank (tried starting while the fuel switch was ON)

Anyway similar thing happened when previous owner was showing the bike to me - i think he just jump started the bike and it was fine.

So the question is - do you think that due to the long lay off the battery is somehow not charged?

Also how long while the bike is on would it take to charge the battery?

Is there a chance that due to the long 'time off' the battery has gone bad or lost its charge?

I have a GN250 too - is it possible to jump start using this and starter wires?

Or am I on the wrong track here?

Any help is much appreciated - Thanks :niceone:

[davebullet]

Is the fuel new? Maybe the fuel filter is bunged up

[crazyv]

yea the previous owner put a full tank of fuel before selling -

It makes sense to have a fuel filter but haven't found a reference to a 'fuel filter' in the Manual - it just says to "inspect fuel tube from cock to a carburetor" and to replace if worn or damaged

so not sure where this 'fuel filter' might be (?)

[JimO]

i wouldnt worry about jumper leads they are light enough to push start, use 2nd or even 3rd gear

[crazyv]

i wouldnt worry about jumper leads they are light enough to push start, use 2nd or even 3rd gear

OK good point - i have decided to take the battery out to give to a bike shop to check the charge...

will see how that goes :)

[rossrc]

Don't know how closely these resemble the Spada, but they sometimes have problems due to the side stand switch. Try it with the side stand up (flick it up a couple of times) and maybe clutch in (can't remember if they have a clutch switch too)

[crazyv]

Don't know how closely these resemble the Spada, but they sometimes have problems due to the side stand switch. Try it with the side stand up (flick it up a couple of times) and maybe clutch in (can't remember if they have a clutch switch too)

Tried this - the sleeping continues

[ypvs kiwi]

If the bike has been stood a long time the fuel in the carbs will turn to jelly, maybe just get enough through to start on the pilot jets but thats all. Suggest strip and clean carbs thoroughly, drain the fuel for the mower, and unbolt the petrol tap from the tank - there is usually a gauze/filter which may be bunged up too. Re-fil with clean fuel and try again.

Cheers

[lankyman]

If the bike has been stood a long time the fuel in the carbs will turn to jelly, maybe just get enough through to start on the pilot jets but thats all. Suggest strip and clean carbs thoroughly, drain the fuel for the mower, and unbolt the petrol tap from the tank - there is usually a gauze/filter which may be bunged up too. Re-fil with clean fuel and try again.

Cheers

How long has it been sitting though? does take a fair while for fuel to gell up...
If you can get it going via a jump start (from your GN will be fine), and it runs ok then you can be pretty sure it's not the carbs. Take it for a descent ride (half an hour at least) and then see if the battery is holding charge after that. If not, time for a new battery. If new battery still not holding charge, possibly a problem with your reg/rec (honda's are renouned for crappy reg/rec's). Good way to test if your battery is charging properly is to put a multimeter across the battery and shopuld be getting between 12-14 volts at about 3000rpm

[samgab]

If the lights come on with the battery and the starter motor turns quickly when you press the button, it's unlikely to be a battery problem.
Could be a fuel problem.
The seller put a full tank of gas in, but if it'd been sitting for a while then the old petrol would be no good, so there might still be "stale" fuel in the line -- fuel hose to carb and carb float chamber -- depending on how much it's been run.
If it had the problem when demoed, and still hasn't, and hasn't been run much in the mean time, that could be the problem.
If you've ridden it for a few K's though, then that old fuel will be all flushed through.

Few things I'd check:
* Disconnect the fuel hose and make sure the fuel is flowing thru okay when the tap is set to on -- just quickly, you don't want the whole tankful flowing out! (To make sure fuel is at least getting to the carbs)
* Take out the spark plugs, plug them into the HT lead and hold the plug on the cylinder, turn the motor over and look for a spark. (To make sure there really is spark -- hearing what you think is a "sparking" sound when you turn it over isn't really conclusive, could be a number of clicky noises...
* Are you sure you haven't flooded it? Leave it a few minutes, turn the fuel tap off and open the throttle fully, and turn it over for a few seconds consecutively. Then turn the fuel back on and turn it over with no, or very little, throttle.
* Is the choke on or off? You shouldn't need it at all in this weather. Mine hasn't needed any choke yet.
* Make sure it's in neutral, cos that takes the question of the side stand switch out of the picture, for trouble shooting.

* Failing all that: 0800 MOTO MD for George, the Motorcycle Doctor. :niceone:

[samgab]

yea the previous owner put a full tank of fuel before selling -

It makes sense to have a fuel filter but haven't found a reference to a 'fuel filter' in the Manual - it just says to "inspect fuel tube from cock to a carburetor" and to replace if worn or damaged

so not sure where this 'fuel filter' might be (?)

There is a fuel filter of sorts. Inside the fuel tank, where the fuel tap is screwed into the tank, there is a small plastic mesh strainer, basically attached to the inside of the fuel tap. To check it you have to unscrew the fuel tap from the tank, and that will mean draining all the fuel from the tank.
Not really a big job.
See page 90 of the workshop manual:
http://www.timdoyle.net.au/pdfs/VTR250_Workshop_Manual.pdf

[crazyv]

Thanks for the info guys... I have since put a new battery which seems to have fixed the problem. I got to this point by jump starting. After jump starting and having it on for sometime, it wouldn't start again after turning off power. The voltage on the old battery was about 12.3 (with no load) So got a new battery (toplite) from Botany Honda and that has been fine (voltage at ~14 with no load). I have ridden it for about 80kms since getting the new battery just to keep it on full charge. I think that should close this out ....