Help, it won't start!

Message

gearhead65 · Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:03 pm

So, I went outside to start my '07 Vulcan 500 and I pulled the choke to the first setting and it started right up. It was running for a while until the idle started getting a little choppy, so I put the choke and the last setting which should let it idle pretty high. Even on that setting it was struggling to idle. Then, it just died. I couldn't get it started again. I tried everything that I could think of, different fuel valve positions, (full tank of gas, by the way), choke positions, etc. Don't know what to do next. I know it's getting fuel cause I can smell it really strong. I thought maybe I flooded it, so I went to start it about an hour later and...no luck. HELP!

#2 Unread post by **Wrider** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:51 am

My best guess would be that you left the choke on for a little too long and you fouled out the plugs.
I'm assuming it still turns over but doesn't fire?
If so the first thing I would do is replace my plugs and it should fire right up.
Not sure where you're from, but you shouldn't need to use the choke to start up in anything over 30 degrees, and only for a few seconds (most people leave it on for way too long)
Wrider

gearhead65 · Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:02 am

Wrider wrote:My best guess would be that you left the choke on for a little too long and you fouled out the plugs.
I'm assuming it still turns over but doesn't fire?
If so the first thing I would do is replace my plugs and it should fire right up.
Not sure where you're from, but you shouldn't need to use the choke to start up in anything over 30 degrees, and only for a few seconds (most people leave it on for way too long)
Wrider

I live in AZ and it does get below 30 in my area, but hasn't yet. Even so, I have to use the choke to first start it if it is below 60 or so. I will check the plugs, though. I haven't checked that yet.

coffee_brake · Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:28 pm

Yes, check the plugs and if one or both of them is oily or wet, you can clean them. They probably don't need to be replaced yet. Don't bend the little metal tab of the gap or you will need to re-gap them (the measurement for the plug gap should be in the owner's manual).

When this has happened to me, it has usually been something simple like a bad connection at the coil or battery, or the vacuum line from the tank to the carbs has come off, or the little vent in the gas cap is plugged (so that no gas is getting to the carbs). Your bike is too new to have cracked rubber parts. I know AZ is dry but...has it rained or has the bike gotten wet or been in moist air? That will wreak havoc with your connections at the battery and coil. If one of your plugs is wet then you can assume you lost spark on that cylinder and with a newer bike it is likely an electrical connection.

gearhead65 · Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:14 am

Well, here is my discovery. In an attempt to find the problem, I stripped everything off of my bike. When I got to the battery, I noticed the brass fitting on the terminal was loose, but the battery cable to the brass fitting connection was tight. So, I was trying to take off the cables so I could clean everything up and then put it back together, but the lead battery terminal busted off as I was taking off the cable. So, I now have a battery on order. I sure hope this is the extent of my problems. I will update this thread as necessary.