I had my tank off this winter to install all sorts of mods, ignition coils and new carbs were part of this. Im trying to start her up now, and it isnt working. Am I missing any sort of trick after the bike has been completely drained of fuel?
The only other time I had it drained was for shipment, I couldnt get it started afterwards, but the shop i took it to that fixed some other things said it just needed gas. I had put gas in it but couldnt get it to start then either. Just wondering if Im missing a simple trick here that needs to be done after everything has been completely dry.
Has newish spark plugs, fuel line works, know this because I just replaced it after the last one broke and dumped gas all over... The engine is turning over when I go to start it, but not firing up.
Ive done searches but cant find anything that sounds exactly like what I need, thanks in advance
It takes a while for the system to fill with fuel.
I'd put a few drops of fuel into the carbs and get it running and things should fill quicker. You'll have to add fuel to keep it running until it happens.
This may be an incredibly stupid question, but do I just take the air filter off and put a couple drops in the intake of the carbs, or is there somewhere else this needs to happen?
Quote from: xarlo on April 11, 2011, 11:15:00 AM
This may be an incredibly stupid question, but do I just take the air filter off and put a couple drops in the intake of the carbs, or is there somewhere else this needs to happen?
Yup.
Add it slowly...a little at a time...until it fires. When it starts you can add a little more each time you drip or squirt. If you have an old spray bottle with an adjustable nozzle it works great.
A word of caution...if it backfires through the intake there is a slight possibility your container can catch fire...be careful.
Out of curiosity, do you think it might start up faster if he bypassed the fuel pump and gravity fed the carbs? My thought being that the vacuum pump will only pump when he's cranking and other than that, it's obstructing flow of the fuel. It doesn't stop fuel flow, but it obstructs it. Of course then once he's got fuel in the carbs and he goes to hook the fuel pump up again he's got an empty fuel line again but the fuel in the carbs should be enough to get it running again. Just a thought.
Yes, but priming, at least to me, is less work.
Quote from: erkishhorde on April 11, 2011, 02:40:40 PM
Out of curiosity, do you think it might start up faster if he bypassed the fuel pump and gravity fed the carbs? My thought being that the vacuum pump will only pump when he's cranking and other than that, it's obstructing flow of the fuel. It doesn't stop fuel flow, but it obstructs it. Of course then once he's got fuel in the carbs and he goes to hook the fuel pump up again he's got an empty fuel line again but the fuel in the carbs should be enough to get it running again. Just a thought.
My fuel pump doesn't obstruct flow completely when it's not pumping. If there's enough gas in the tank, gravity flow will be enough to prime the carbs. However, I don't have that little pressure regulator petcock thing. I think that's the problem here.
Quote from: 671M900 on April 11, 2011, 05:54:22 PM
My fuel pump doesn't obstruct flow completely when it's not pumping. If there's enough gas in the tank, gravity flow will be enough to prime the carbs. However, I don't have that little pressure regulator petcock thing. I think that's the problem here.
I don't imagine his '96 is much different from my '95. What's this "little pressure regulator petcock thing" you're thinking of? Between my tank and my carbs I've only got a fuel filter (was under the tank), a manual petcock (on the frame under the right side of the tank), the fuel pump (was right next to the petcock) and then line runs straight into the carbs.
Quote from: erkishhorde on April 11, 2011, 06:57:51 PM
I don't imagine his '96 is much different from my '95. What's this "little pressure regulator petcock thing" you're thinking of? Between my tank and my carbs I've only got a fuel filter (was under the tank), a manual petcock (on the frame under the right side of the tank), the fuel pump (was right next to the petcock) and then line runs straight into the carbs.
I think he's referring to the vacuum petcock which is stock on the monsters.
Im fully expecting a scolding and horrified looks on this one BUT....
My old KZ400 will only restart after a 4-8 second blast of carb cleaner directly into the heads if it runs dry on fuel, I hold the butterflys open and put the little red tube as far down each carbs throat as it will go and just let her rip. Then hold it at WOT and itll go in 3 kicks... I really love fuel injection.
I`d start w unconnecting fuel line at carbs. Keeping fuel pump connected.
Have a small container under fuel line. Run a few secs on starter.
If all is OK, it should start flowing in seconds.
Just to know all is good all the way to carbs.
Got it! the taking the air filter off and spraying gas into the carbs worked perfectly. Took a few tries, but got some cool fireworks out of both ends of the bike, so that was fun. Finally on the road again after an ungodly amount of work done this winter, at least for it being my first time picking up a wrench. Ill try to post a couple before and after pictures and a short write up at some point.
Quote from: freeclimbmtb on April 12, 2011, 01:31:40 AM
Im fully expecting a scolding and horrified looks on this one BUT....
You won't get 'em from me. I would use starter fluid if I had some on hand, but nothing wrong with using carb cleaner.
Quote from: Syscrush on April 13, 2011, 11:32:06 AM
You won't get 'em from me. I would use starter fluid if I had some on hand, but nothing wrong with using carb cleaner.
starter fluid works great, but it's hard on rings. ;)
In all honesty, I was working on a project a few years ago and got excited when I got all the wiring complete. I filled an old windex bottle with fuel, mind you the bike had no gas tank, no fuel pump, no airbox or filters, and straight pipes, and it was a fuel injected 955 (916 with overbore). That little windex bottle spraying fuel into the throttle bodies would keep the bike running as long as I wanted it to.
Man it sounded mean too.
Quote from: ducpainter on April 13, 2011, 07:22:09 PM
starter fluid works great, but it's hard on rings. ;)
It also makes you sleepy. Starting fluid has an octane rating not much over zero.