My 2006 GN250 won't start - feeling lost and confused.

[simonthevet]

I have a serious problem with my GN250.
I've had it for about 9 months now. When I first got it there was difficulty starting the engine. It would have to turn over a lot before it would catch, then it would run fine, and for the rest of the that day would start fine, after parking for example. But then the next morning, it would be the same.
The starter motor will turn over fine. All the electrics come on fine.
I called the dealer where I got it from and they looked it over and said that they couldn't find any problems.

When I had the bike for six months I booked it in for a service. I wanted it looked over well before I started maintaining it myself. I mentioned the difficult starting and they cleaned and gauged the spark plug, but otherwise they couldn't find anything wrong.

Now the bike will not start at all.

I have changed the spark plug, no difference. I checked the fuel line, flowing fine. I charged the battery, no change.

Where do I go now??
Any help really appreciated.

[simonthevet]

The stand is up.
The kill switch is set to run.
The neutral light is on.
The clutch is in.
The fuel tap is set to reserve.
The choke is out.

[jellywrestler]

The stand is up.
The kill switch is set to run.
The neutral light is on.
The clutch is in.
The fuel tap is set to reserve.
The choke is out.

any spark?
where are you?

[simonthevet]

Hey Jelly Wrestler, thanks for your input

any spark?

Yeah - I took the plug out and held it against the motor body while hitting the start button and there was a good spark. Like what you see in an electric match for starting the BBQ, but it kept going.

where are you?

I'm in Palmerston North, near the racetrack.

[RideLife]

using 91 Octane? which in my limited experience helps things start easier

[Jantar]

After cranking it over, and having it fail to start, is the sparkplug wet or dry?

Have you tried push starting it?

[simonthevet]

using 91 Octane? which in my limited experience helps things start easier

I'm using 95 Octane - should I drain it and refill it?

After cranking it over, and having it fail to start, is the sparkplug wet or dry?

The sparkplug seems dry after turning it over. Does that mean fuel is not getting to the cylinder?

Have you tried push starting it?

I have not tried push starting it, yet.

[fridayflash]

hopefully someone down your way can pop around for a deek, if dry plug then perhaps a fuel starving issue, try again with a handfull of gas to tryn flood it, then check again for wet or dry plug. push starting it woulda been my first shot, as gn's can suffer from dicky sprag clutch (starter clutch) issues
and 'sound' like theyre cranking over but in reality doing feckall

good luck

[RideLife]

If the spark plug is dry, it's not a octane issue.

and your description of problem doesn't sound like just a stuck float valve in the carb.

Not sure sorry.

[Jantar]

Try turning it over briefly with choke on. Then do a push start in 2nd gear. I suspect the battery may be on its way out and the voltage may be down enough that the voltage drop when trying to start it means it isn't producing enough spark when under load. If it starts on a push start then that shows that there is sufficient battery voltage when its unloaded, but insufficient while cranking the motor.

The fact that when you do run it, it starts again on the same day, suggests that the battery voltage is recovering enough during that run to enable further starts OK. But when left overnight, or for a day or so, that the voltage is falling away. It may be something as simple as a new battery needed, or it could point to rectifier/regulator issue.

[caspernz]

Check the condition of the battery. Maybe charge it up and see if bike then kicks into life easily.

What Jantar wrote makes perfect sense btw.

[simonthevet]

Hi everyone - thanks for your input - the guy came and fixed things.
My idling revs were too high - so the mix was too rich - like I had the throttle open while starting.
This flooded the engine and lead to my problem.

I wasn't using the choke right either.

[Grashopper]

Sweet! That is great to hear.