GT250R won't start (but cranks)

[MSTRS:Me]

Damn. Huey has turned it on as well.

[Sentox]

It's under warranty isn't it? I'd be calling them up and telling them to get around there and sort it pronto.

According to my warranty booklet, I have 12 months or 10,000km... whichever comes first. I'm at 11,000km now

[CookMySock]

Hrm I'd call them up and try it on.

Steve

[slofox]

According to my warranty booklet, I have 12 months or 10,000km... whichever comes first. I'm at 11,000km now

That's a pretty limited warranty n'est ce pas? My last new bike had two years and unlimited km's...

[MSTRS:Me]

Have you tried some ether? ie Start Ya Bastard.

[Sentox]

I've read that ether combustion is too violent for small capacity engines...

My old beatup car failed its warrant this morning, so life is just getting peachier by the minute At this point I think I would just take it to the dealer and go from there, but I'm not overly fussed on pushing it 30km. Should be able to sort something out in a week or two though.

[MSTRS:Me]

Just talked to a mechanic. He agrees - no ether. He also agrees that the problem is fuel-related. He suggests that the plug/s are fouled, so replace with new ones and try again.

[Sentox]

Just talked to a mechanic. He agrees - no ether. He also agrees that the problem is fuel-related. He suggests that the plug/s are fouled, so replace with new ones and try again.

Hmmm... the spark plugs seemed in alright condition. Light brown, no appreciable build-up. I suppose they could still be bad, but it seems strange the bike would go from running perfectly to refusing to start. Still, not the most expensive thing to try, although getting at the front plug looks to be all kinds of fun.

[MSTRS:Me]

Hmmm... the spark plugs seemed in alright condition. Light brown, no appreciable build-up. I suppose they could still be bad, but it seems strange the bike would go from running perfectly to refusing to start. Still, not the most expensive thing to try, although getting at the front plug looks to be all kinds of fun.

If (and that is a big 'if') the plugs are fouled, it happened on starting.

[CookMySock]

All of that plug fouling is fairly unlikely on a modern fuel-injected bike. I'd say something simple has spat the dummy.

Any fuel smell from the exhaust after trying to start?

Water down the plug holes? (theres supposed to be drains)

A big gulp of water in the fuel? (can you bleed the EFI?)


Steve

[MSTRS:Me]

Update that isn't...
Since Sentox doesn't live toooo far away from me, I took a jaunt out there yesterday arvo.
I took some new iridium plugs and an open mind...
Old plugs possibly a bit worn (strange being only 11000kms old), but their colour was good, and gap about right, but they did smell strongly of petrol. So gave the engine a spin with them out to air the cylinders. Checked for compression puffs (ok). Put the new plugs on the leads and span again to check spark (ok). Installed them and tried again. No go. Checked the operation of the sidestand killswitch - seemed ok and there was spark happening anyway. Checked the exhaust outlet for blocked muffler. No problem with flow there. Turning over the engine doesn't seem to be taxing the battery, but used jumper cables too.
So. We have a fuel pump that whirrs and because it stops, seems to pressurise the system ok. We have fuel entering the cylinders. We have compression. We have spark. What we don't have is a going engine.
I have suggested he try crash starting down the hill he lives on, but wasn't volunteering for the push back up if still no go.
That is about the extent of direct assistance that I can provide on site.
Anyone else got some info that might help?

[CookMySock]

Pull the fuel lines off the injectors, start the fuel pump, and flush into a jar. Check for flow. Check for water.

Replace EFI fuel filter.

Temporarily close plug gaps wayyyy up (checks for weak ignition.)

Unbolt oil cooler (pull aside - do not un-pipe) pull front valve cover off - check for rotating camshaft.

Pre-heat plugs with gas flame, immediately refit and start.

um um um um...

Steve

[Sentox]

It runs again. I've been avoiding the hill start option thus far because I'm on quite a steep hill, and had no backup in case I got stranded at the bottom. Managed to get assistance today. Once I got it rolling the engine turned over and ran, but for about 15-20 meters there was no throttle response at all. At that point I suddenly got a surge of power ("felt" like a blockage suddenly cleared, if that makes sense) and away it went. Gave it a short ride to get it up to temp, came back, and key started it a few times. All is well so far.

Thanks again to everyone for their help, and MSTRS for coming out and helping me rule out a few things. I should never have to replace those damned spark plugs again DB, does that sound like there might have been water getting into the engine somewhere?

[MSTRS:Me]

Water shouldn't have got in by itself. It is possible that your last fill contained some, or ...
Water does not go through jets or injectors very well. It might help to just throw a bit of meths in your tank anyway. Google for an appropriate amount.

[CookMySock]

Yeah bro my guess is water in the fuel tank - only will need a teaspoonfull to make it quit. Try keeping it full to the eyeballs - stops condensation forming.

Go the big hill trick! The 250 is not too hard to run-start. Just key on, select 2nd, run harrrd, land on seat and ditch the clutch, and then run alongside it with the engine turning over. That will get you fit.

How full is the fuel tank? Maybe time to fill the bugger completely and then go ride it all off! That must be 400kms on that bike!

Steve