Problem Getting Started...

Hi everyone,

I am new to these boards and am turning to your expert advice as I feel helpless at this point. I cannot seem to get my bike started no matter what I do. I recently had the carbs cleaned/adjusted and replaced the spark plugs, air filter, oil, and brake fluid as well as filled the tank with new gas. Despite these efforts, the bike won't turn over. Tonight I attempted to jump the bike using a car and it just continuously sputtered. A few times it turned over as I slowly moved the choke from full to about 1/2 open, but it quickly sputtered out again. The bike has not been really run in a solid two years or so, however, when the mechanic put the carbs in about a week ago, he got the bike to fire up when he jumped it with a car so I'm a bit worried it's a bigger problem than just the fact it hasn't run in a while. Could this be a sign of a problem with the alternator or regulator? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome to you Keith, please take a few minutes and tell us what model of bike we are dealing with here. I can only speak in general terms otherwise.
I would highly suspect anyone having "cleaned" your carbs unless they are intimately familar with them. The starting circuit port in the fuel bowl is normally overlooked by the uninitiated. It will cause starting problems. Look under "how to clean your carbs and the whole nine yards" by Rick-O-Matic, it will detail a step-by-step cleaning of these carbs (assuming you have Hitachis).
Have you ensured fuel is getting to the float bowls? Crack the fuel bowl drain screws and verify. If no fuel, you need to clean out the fuel system. Ensure the fuel petcock is set to PRI initially and switched over to ON when you have sufficient fuel in the bowls. Don't leave it on PRI for too long as it may flood the carb if your floats are stuck.
Make sure your fuel petcock is functioning correctly. No fuel flow means no starting.
Install a fuel filter inbetween the tank and the carbs. At 20+ years the tanks start to get groadie and pass junk along to block up carb passages.
Use great care in jumping the bike with a car. Do NOT ever hook up a dead bike to a running car, it will spike your electrical system. Hook up the vehicles when the car is not running, then start the car.
Another thought is to the health of your battery. How old is it? Three years or older and you should replace it. Are the cells full? Use distilled or demineralized water only to top it off. Do not use tap water. Is the battery charged up? Time and again folks complain of a no-start condition when the starter motor will turn over the engine but not have enough battery capacity to operate the ignition system. Another electrical gotcha is the alternator brushes. If they are worn beyond 11mm, time for new ones. Short brushes will cause starting and charging issues.
There is a good place to start, go down the list and do a little research. You should nail the issue rather easily if you have a good book to help. Hit up our resident parts expert Chacal, he sells the books at very reasonable prices and the shipping is rapid.
Best of luck.

 

Thanks so much for all of your help. The bike is a 1986 XJ700 Maxim and the battery was just purchased a month ago, but it is one of the cheaper ones from Wal-Mart, so my initial thought was maybe I just bought a junk battery. Anyhow, I will start with your suggestions and see how that all goes.

 

glad im not the only one.

I too am new so hang on. I have an '82 xj650. heres my problem: bought a new battery for her about a month ago put it in she started fine and i went for a much needed ride. the next weekend i went to go for a ride (im trying to get all the fuel out so i can change my petcock i know im doing it the hard way.) and she wouldnt go. wasnt even trying to turn over. Battery was dry..like practically bone dry. Took the battery to a local shop and they filled it back up and charged it for me. Put the battery back in bike and now we are back to not even wanting to try. Every few times i hit the starter it makes a click sound some where. I know i need to clean the carbs and all but this electrical stuff is killing me.

 

Eureka! Could be part of my problem.

 

and it was. What happened to the old days of 'off' 'primary' 'reserve'

 

I don't know why they filled it back up and charged it. If you have run your battery to the point of dry, it is shot. You can fill it back up and charge it, but it won't hold a load or work much longer after that. Also, if you ran your battery dry just by riding, you probably have a bad regulator rectifier and your charging system is toasting your battery by over charging it.

 

make sure all your wires are connected good.

 

yea thats what i was afraid of. All th wires are good, some of them look new so i checked. so where can a poor college kid get a regulato rectifier and a good battery?