Newbie's Hornet 250 won't fire up. HELP!

[motorbyclist]

maybe it just doesn't like the cold

are electrics getting wet?

[Neon]

maybe it just doesn't like the cold

Maybe. Tonight I had the fuel switched off all day, and gave it a bloody good shake up and down for 10 secs before attempting to start it, and it went first go. Wasn't wet though. Maybe moisture in the carbs?

[breakaway]

Try push starting it.

When you leave it out, it is subjected to colder temperatures than leaving it in a covered garage etc. The reaction rate in the battery will go down as the temperature lowers, meaning it will weaken etc. It might have enough power to crank the bike, but might not be enough for a good spark.

[motorbyclist]

Try push starting it.

When you leave it out, it is subjected to colder temperatures than leaving it in a covered garage etc. The reaction rate in the battery will go down as the temperature lowers, meaning it will weaken etc. It might have enough power to crank the bike, but might not be enough for a good spark.

heheh, looked into it and you're right, so worth a go.

had to do that today - battery would turn motor over but refused to start, but started real easy pushing it. i know my battery is well farked too; even had to turn the lights off to get it to turn over properly!

[motorbyclist]

Maybe. Tonight I had the fuel switched off all day, and gave it a bloody good shake up and down for 10 secs before attempting to start it, and it went first go. Wasn't wet though. Maybe moisture in the carbs?

shook it? well water would be sitting in bottom of tank, which is where the tap should sit, so turning it on could let a whole load of water thru.....

try pushstart

where do you buy your fuel?

[Neon]

try pushstart

where do you buy your fuel?

I will give it a go. Caltex Constellation Drive Albany. Might try a little meths in the tank and see if it helps.

[motorbyclist]

Caltex Constellation Drive Albany

havn't heard any horror stories from them, yet.

[Neon]

Sorry for thread dredge but... think I've finally established why my Hornet was so troublesome during winter after sitting all day. In case anyone is searching for this problem...

It was running cold plugs (either CR8s or CR9s not sure), which must have been fouling on the short putt putt run to work, where the bike hardly warmed up. When come to start in afternoon = pain in the ass. Solution? Either fit hotter plugs (and risk melting one if you cane it like I did) or make sure it gets a thorough warm up and a few revs to keep the plugs clean.

Hope that's helpful for someone.

[ducatilover]

Fancy that, I had a set of cold plugs in the spada for a while and suspected this was why it didnt like starting when cold and ran like shit unless warmed...I got new 'normal' plugs and the problem went away