RF900R - wouldn't start - worked the problem to get a result.

[riffer]

The headlight had stopped working and the bike wouldn't start. I pulled the whole bloody thing completely to pieces on the driveway eliminating problems.

1. Replaced all fuses. Jumper lead from car battery to bike battery in case battery was down in charge. Bike won't start.

2. Assume the headlight wire had broken and the automatic cutout of the headlight on startup wasn't working so stopping CDI from working. Remove headlight fairing and strip out instruments. Check wiring with multimeter. Damn. No problems. 12v at both main and full beam. Light is blown. Bike still won't start.

3. Check solenoid fuses and replace. Hotwire bike at solenoid to isolate potential ignition switch problem. Bike still won't start.

4. Take tank off. Check fuel tank petrol output. OK. Check main/reserve fuel tap output. OK. Check Fuel pump output to carbs. OK. Bike still won't start.

5. Pull airbox off and start bike while twisting throttle. Damn. Petrol squirting into venturis. No petrol problems then. Bike still won't start.

6. Timing problem? Coils? CDI? Pull spark plugs out one by one checking for spark. Damn. They all have spark. But spark plugs don't look too wet. Strange... they should be flooded after all this non starting. Bike still won't start.
7. Finally had an epiphany and checked the workings of the carbs, linkage by linkage. It turns out that the choke linkage to the cabs had broken and the carbs were running too lean for the bike to start when cold. Grab spare carbs from the garage and strip the choke linkage out from one set to another.

Bike starts first push of the button. Decided to take the car to work after that, and leave the bike on the charger today.

However, it just goes to show how you can get caught up thinking it's one problem when there's actually two separate ones.

I still love my bike but damn it irritates me sometimes.

Thanks Frosty for putting up with my bitching while I was diagnosing the problem.

[kneescraper]

Good investigation skills there mate, awesome that you found the problems. I have the problem of thinking the worse when I come across problems on my bikes...always go to far and end up causing more problems then there were to start with.

I loved my RF, loved how easy they were to work on...just needed more power however very underated motorcycles.

Glad it all worked out in the end.

[Macstar]

Geeez Riffer, you wanna do the valve clearances and spark plugs on mine? Should be a bit easier than the work you just did...

[emaN]

dang bro...always having fun & games & spending quality time with her, ain't ya?!

good skills tho!

[yod]

nice job, and thanks for sharing, ya never know when info like this might come in handy

[FROSTY:Me]

that was one out of the box. must have split as you rolled into the gargre