I finally got my bike out of the basement today (yes, I know I'm a little slow), put some gas in it and cranked it over. The bike turned over fine, but didn't even want to start. I couldn't smell any gas, so I opened up the float drains and both had gas in them. I took out the air filter and turned it over and didn't see any gas spraying in either carburetor.
What could be affecting both carburetors in the same way? The bike was running when I put it away last fall and I can't think of why it won't run now [bang]
Is there a fuel shut-off ? ;D
Sure is, but I drained the floats and all of the gas last fall. Put some gas in the tank today, and now there is gas in the floats, but no fuel spraying into the carbs.
Quote from: mojo on May 13, 2010, 04:25:55 PM
Sure is, but I drained the floats and all of the gas last fall. Put some gas in the tank today, and now there is gas in the floats, but no fuel spraying into the carbs.
Have you ever seen fuel spraying into a constant vacuum carburetor? I haven't and that's what the stock Mikuni carburetor is. They don't have accelerator pumps like the flat slides or like most automobile carburetors.
It might be time to check the spark plugs, both that they're clean and that they're getting a strong spark.
Some Ducatis just don't like sitting for months without being ridden.
To isolate fuel versus ignition, spray some carb or brake cleaner down each intake and see if she sputters off that 'fuel'.
Is your kill switch in the run position? Checked the fuses?
Quote from: Duck-Stew on May 15, 2010, 03:27:02 AM
To isolate fuel versus ignition, spray some carb or brake cleaner down each intake and see if she sputters off that 'fuel'.
I think starter fluid would be a better choice. If you have any spark at all, that stuff will ignite.
Thanks for the advise guys. [thumbsup] I found that I didn't have any spark, so I started checking some of the ignition components according to my Haynes manual. Didn't find anything wrong so I plugged everything back in and tried to turn the bike over again. I had a good spark! Must have been a loose connection somewhere.
Put the plugs back in and cranked it over...nothing. Still didn't want to start. Grabbed my can of starting fluid, and shot a small squirt down each carb. The engine started for a second or two and died. Put another squirt in each carb, and it fired up and stayed running. Now it runs like normal and went for a ride and it ran great!