Bike Not Starting--- Any ideas???

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gr8ful rydr · Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:27 pm

I am a total novice so this may be a dumb question. I just bought my first bike on Saturday. It started right up Sat and Sunday but today it won't do anything but make a clicking sound when I try to crank it. Any ideas???

Shiv · #2 Unread post by **Shiv** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:35 pm

Well, that's not a whole lot of information...

You're holding down the clutch, right? The bikes in neutral and you didn't leave it in first gear?

You can start it in neutral and not need the clutch, if you start it in first gear then you do need the clutch or it will die.

Do you have the pettcock turned down to give the engine gas?

Those are just basic diagnostics, not even diagnostics, but you didn't give us much info either...

gr8ful rydr · Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:38 pm

Yes to everything except the pettock as I have no idea what that is. But I am doing everything that I was doing yesterday when it was starting right.

gr8ful rydr · Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:46 pm

I think it may just be the battery. The dealer probably charged up a crappy battery and it took a few days to drain. Would this cause the bike to do what I have described?

#5 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:18 pm

Stupid question, but the engine kill switch on the right handgrip. Is it set on "not start?"

paul246 · #6 Unread post by **paul246** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:49 pm

The clicking would indicate either a weak battery or a loose connection. Make sure the battery terminal connections are tight and there is a good ground.

sapaul · #7 Unread post by **sapaul** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:19 pm

Does your stand have a safety attached, some stands have to be up. IE you have to be sitting on the bike with the stand up before you can start it.

Two possibles: 1 battery is flat or has a dead cell 2 solenoid connection on the starter has bad connection.

Shiv · #8 Unread post by **Shiv** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:52 pm

Pettcock, I believe (I may have the wrong term for it) is the switch on the left side of the bike, down near the farings.

It has a off, prime, and resevoir mode (or something like that, regardless it's three options).

If you have it to off, then the bike has to start with whatever is in the straw currently as no new gas is getting to the engine with the valve closed. Thus the machine would start up, then die, then start up, and die, then just refuse to start at all once you completely drain the gas from the straw. And yes, this is experience talking.

But if your bike is fuel injected, then don't worry about it.

BuzZz · #9 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:59 pm

Clicking sound when starter button is pushed....... Holy
Basic, Batman....

Paul is right. Weak charge in battery. Charge or replace as needed.