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Someone wrote that you need AIR-FUEL-FIRE (something like that).

I am hoping that your starter is winding, at least...

In the future b4 replacing spark plugs, test them: Pull out one at the time, then place the head of the plug inside the connector and make sure you are resting the base of the plug on a god metal ground (cylinder fins for exemple). DON't HOLD WITH YOUR HANDS. Start your engine and loof out for a fat blue spark. Repeat for the others. (but it's always good to have fresh ones, plus they are cheap to replace).

Check your fuel line (remove the lines, or parts of them and blow in them or find another way to see if there is no obstruction( DON't DRINK the fuel . Check your Fuel filter. Make sure your fuel pump is at lest vibrating when you start the engine.

Do NOt start rejetting your carb.

Try starting your engine placing a drop or two of fuel directly inside the intake (or use quick START). If engine start, it will probably stop after a few seconds. If engine does not start DO NOT ADD Fuel..or your gonna fly ! JUST one or TWO Drops.

Make sure your battery is fresh.

I'm making the same check on my VF500....

Good luck.

mindspa24 wrote:Do you guys think my problem might be the battery? I know it was charged, but by a friend of a friend who's not really a mechanic or anything, just happened to have a charger. And they left it on for like 4 hours. It just seems like it might be. Like how it will start after sitting for a bit then die. And then won't turn over again until it sits awhile again. Plus when it dies you get that kind of whining sound like from the starter? I'm not familiar with how this works on bikes, I assume its different from a car with a charging system and alternator. What are your thoughts? If its a possibility maybe I should pull the battery and have it tested.

Sounds like it could be the battery or the charging system. The only way to tell if it's REALLY getting charged is to stick a voltmeter on it. A freshly charged battery should read anywhere from 12.2v to 12.5v. If it's under 12v after it's been on a battery charger, then the battery is no good.

Just for the record....

Intake (air+fuel)

COMPRESSION (you need this!)

Power (spark)

Exhaust (pretty self-explanitory)

Or...

Suck
Squeeze
Bang
Blow

So it takes 4 things to make an engine run, not 3.
Air, fuel, compression, spark. Can't forget that compression.

Well..... replaced spark plugs, drained fuel tank and carbs, replaced fuel filter, checked petcock filters, replaced air filter, replaced battery. All to no avail. Needless to say, this has gone beyond my capabilities and patience. The bike is now at the dealership getting diagnosed and hopefully fixed. I will post here what the problem/solution was so others that may have similar problems will know.

Thanks to everyone who offered helpful suggesstions.

I have a yamaha 650 and that's what happened to me after I got it from a guy who had it sitting in his garage for a while. It would put for a little bit, and then stop,. If I let it sit for a while I would get adecent attempt at a start, but then no trying. After it sat each time it would try. I had to clean the carbs thoroughly and change the plugs. Just a thought...
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Got the bike back and its running, and sounding, better than ever. Turns out the carbs "just needed a really good cleaning." My guess is that the person who had the bike before me let it sit quite a bit since it was almost 7 years old and only had 6K miles on it.

Well, thanks for all the help. I'm loving having my bike back, I missed riding it so much.

Cleaning the carbs solve the problems of it not turning over and the whining sound from the starter?? It would be interesting to know how that happens

with my bike the main issue was the starting after a little while. The gas was able to work its way down into the bowls and get used up. I don't think the starter whining is related.
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