Bike wouldn't start this morning...

[smartinez1984]

:angry:

Temp was in the low 40s this morning so I figured I'd bring the bike to work (2008 Mastiff, carburated) but it wouldn't start!!!!

I followed the same steps I always do, pretty much the way the book calls for starting a cold bike:

- turn on the fuel
- turn on the ignition
- push the Run button
- set the enricher to half way
- two bursts on the throttle
- hit the start button

The engine would turn, turn, turn... but never kick in...:angry: :angry: :angry:

I last drove the bike this past Sunday with no problems. The only thing different now is that I had the new battery tender on the bike (I removed it before attempting to start the bike). And the engine turned fine...

Sigh... so frustrating...

Any ideas?

-Samson

 

[woodbutcher]

2 simple questions. was there gas in the tank? did you check the plugs to see if they were wet? could have been flooded by giving it the two blips on the throttle AND the enricher.:angry:

 

[smartinez1984]

2 simple questions. was there gas in the tank? did you check the plugs to see if they were wet? could have been flooded by giving it the two blips on the throttle AND the enricher.:angry:

Yea... should be about 1/2 tank of gas.

Should I not use the enricher? Just the throttle?

 

[mcgroom]

Had the same issue last weekend. It was a bit colder, but identical problem except I only pulled the enricher 1/3 during one cycle of the engine and then back down.

Pulled the plugs (completely fouled from 60 seconds of trying to start), cranked the engine over a few times to try and get the fuel in the jugs to evaporate, went out and bought a dozen plugs, gapped @ .040, installed, 3 hits to the throttle (no enricher at all this time), fired right up.

Let her warm up a bit and rode her for an hour.

 

[woodbutcher]

if at all possible, leave the enricher out of the starting sequence. use it only as a last resort and then turn it off as soon as it cranks and use the throttle to keep it running until it warms up.:2thumbs: :2thumbs:

 

[smartinez1984]

if at all possible, leave the enricher out of the starting sequence. use it only as a last resort and then turn it off as soon as it cranks and use the throttle to keep it running until it warms up.:2thumbs: :2thumbs:

Excellent - I'll try to run home at lunch and see if I can get it started.

Thanks!

 

[Bulldog03]

I forgot to turn the gas on once, it ran till the bowl went empty and I kept on trying to start the damn thing for about another 20 min. also thinking about all the major things that could be the problem then I look down and the fuel was off:bang: turn it on then bam started right up!:loony:

check the small minor things first!

 

[smartinez1984]

I forgot to turn the gas on once, it ran till the bowl went empty and I kept on trying to start the damn thing for about another 20 min. also thinking about all the major things that could be the problem then I look down and the fuel was off:bang: turn it on then bam started right up!:loony:

check the small minor things first!

Yup - did that, sort of have this whole process in place... fuel switch, key, on/off switch, throttle, enricher

It's worked every other time in the past few weeks.

So, does one only use the enricher AFTER the bike starts?

 

[woodbutcher]

1) petcock on
2) key on
3) run button
4) two twists of the throttle
5) make sure it is in neutral
6) start button
try several times if it does not start right away.

if it still does not start, then pull up the enricher maybe 1/4 to 1/3. when it cranks, push down the enricher and use the throttle to keep it running

run with the enricher on=== fowled plugs

 

[IrishGuy]

When it's cold outside I aim a space heater at the engine 10 min before I ride.

It can be below 20 and the bike will fire right up without having to use the enricher at all. Am I the only one that does this? Maybe I'm just crazy :loony:

 

[woodbutcher]

irishguy, i think you're just trying to warm up the seat, which isn't a bad thing:roll: :roll: :roll: :2thumbs:

 

[mcgroom]

I have read on here that at least one guy took his enricher off all together.

 

[slowrower]

I have read on here that at least one guy took his enricher off all together.

I disconnected my enrichner - dam thing can flood the engine fast -- like they say 2 blips on the throttle and it fires right up. Hold it around 1500 rpms till it warms up a bit and I am moving - of course being easy on the throttle until it completely warms up. Hope it works out for ya

 

[ChuckRB05]

I do 2 twists, enrichner halfway and it fires up with one crank everytime. As soon as its turned over I turn the enricher off and and use the thottle lock to hold it at 1000 until it's warm.

 

[smartinez1984]

I do 2 twists, enrichner halfway and it fires up with one crank everytime. As soon as its turned over I turn the enricher off and and use the thottle lock to hold it at 1000 until it's warm.

Yea, that's what I've been doing in the past, didn't work this morning... hmm...

I didn't get a chance to run home at lunch to give it a whirl but I'll try again this evening...

 

[Oscar Maldonado]

4 years with my bike and I never used the enricher.

Where is it?:lol: :lol: :lol:

Just messin' around - All kiddin' aside I hope you get that bike fired up tonight smartinez. Keep us posted.

 

[lee]

I have read on here that at least one guy took his enricher off all together.

that might have been me - its back on now though for completeness but i never use it

 

[woodbutcher]

that might have been me - its back on now though for completeness but i never use it

not a bad thing to have------just in case. :2thumbs:

 

[smartinez1984]

So - if the bike was flooded this morning, do I need to remove the plugs, clean them, do anything in particular before attempting to start it again without the enrichner?

 

[smartinez1984]

Got home about 5 minutes ago. Walked into the garage, turned the fuel switch to on, turned on the ignition, switched on the run button, pumped the throttle twice, made sure the bike was in neutral, hit the start button and....

:2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

Bike started right up!!!!!!!!

So... safe to say... no more enrichner lever for me ... ever... until I need it, of course....

I tell ya, all day I was beating my head against the wall saying... I did the right thing, I did the right thing, I did the right thing... I got carberated on purpose, I did the right thing....

Whew...

Thanks all for the tips!

-Samson