Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Ok so here's the situation:

Just put a new stock 90% charged battery in my '02 CBR F4i. Purchased the bike two weeks ago and had to charge original battery twice so I just decided to go with a brand new one and start fresh.

Popped in new battery today and have been off riding in half hour intervals about 3 times today. No problems.

Took it out tonight for a spin, then let the girlfriend practice turning in an empty parking lot and she dropped it while trying to manuever it into position

On first glance, no major cosmetic damage and upon starting it up again, I got a sound unheard before...sorta like the bike was trying harder to start up. I then took it for a few circles around the neighborhood with no problems once moving.

However, upon shutting it down, and trying to restart her, I got nothing...and continued to get nothing upon several more attempts. I ended up having to coast it home in neutral.

I tried charging this NEW battery to no avail and when trying to start the bike I get absolutely nothing. It doesn't even attemp to turn over. Just the normal dimming of the headlight when starting. No clicking, no noise. The horn and lights all still light up.

Since I've been having somewhat of a battery issue I'm wondering could it be that or is something killing the battery life. Or, could something have caused this as a result of the bike being dropped. Perhaps something is loose somewhere. I'm due for my initial inspection within the next 3 days so hopefully they can tell me more but if I can't event start the bike I'll never make it to the shop in the first place.

PLEASE HELP!

I don't know any thing about your bike, but I had a similar problem on mine. It turned out one of the cylinders on my bike was filled with gas (from dropping it). Is it possible this is your problem?

pull your spark plugs and crank it a few times with the plugs out. Odds are its flooded

Very similar issue, only mine IS trying very hard to turn over. RRurrRurrRurr....backfire, repeat.

Ive owned a bike a couple weeks now. I have no friends who are bikers. I'm clueless here.

The bike had tipped for 10 seconds, but i caught it, but hasnt started since. I recharged the battery, and now it sounds MUCH more like its trying to start, but it just wont...quite...get ...there... Turning the throttle does nothing, its almost like its not getting gas.

i tried the gas levers (petcocks?) in the reserve position, even. Nada.

So you think somethings flooded still [a week later?]? or does the battery sound difference in our stories change that?

I have the clymer manual coming in a day or two - maybe then I'd be able to find the sparkplugs...

any help? Please?

woosta2 wrote:I have the clymer manual coming in a day or two - maybe then I'd be able to find the sparkplugs...

any help? Please?

Ummmm...wow - dunno where the sparkplugs are? It's one of two things: flooding like the previous posts said (fairly likely) or you have an electrical problem somewhere - either a short or maybe a loose battery connection. Do you know where the battery is? Make sure the connections are tight.

The spark plugs are where there are wires going into the cylinders. Find these wires and pull them out (there should only be two if your bike is under 500cc). Now you should be able to see the spark plugs themselves. Go get a little tool set, and find the spark plug socket (should be big and long), and but it on the ratchet. Loosen the spark plugs with that until you can unscrew them by hand. Take them out completely and gently set them somewhere where you won't lose them. Ok, now, with the spark plugs out, try to start the bike. If the cylinders were flooded, then gas should spray out of the spark plug holes. Wait until most of the gas seems to be out. Put the spark plugs back on, and put the wires back on. Try and start the bike. If that was the problemm, it should start (make sure you turn the petcock back on).

if its electrical problem and not flooded sounds like a ground isnt making. can you jump it? I am new to bikes so I am only going based on what happens with cars.

ofblong wrote:if its electrical problem and not flooded sounds like a ground isnt making. can you jump it? I am new to bikes so I am only going based on what happens with cars.

That's what I think the problem is. Check your groundwire. Sounds like a loose/bad connection. Also check the voltage in your battery. Some bikes are finicky and will not start on a battery that isn't FULLY charged (11.98 volts just isn't enough ...)

Give me some specifics about your bike and I'll try to give you a plan to get it going. Make, model,cc, year.
In the fuse system there is, in most bikes, a flat metal strip that conducts the ignition current. It is possible that this has blown out. They're known to do that for no particular reason. The engine will crank but won't fire. This is just a plain metal strip, usually about one - one and a half inches long, and maybe an eighth of an inch wide. It will be located in your fuse box. It's not your typical plug in fuse, although there will also be a plug in fuse for the ignition, check that also.
If it's the metal strip. they are fairly inexpensive, so when you buy one, get a few for spares. If it blows once, chances are it'll happen again.
I doubt if dropping the bike, and leaving it laying down for a short time would keep it from starting. If that were the case most of the bikes out there wouldn't be running. Most of us have dropped a bike at least once, maybe not every bike we ever had but at least one went down.
If that doesn't solve your problem , post back here with your specifics and let's see what we can come up with. You have a lot of folks here that are willing to help and someone will figure the problem out for you.
Oh and as a precaution...if the cylinders have flooded enough to warrent pulling the plugs to drain them...do an oil change too. Gas will seep past the oil rings and get into the crankcase, polluting the oil, breaking it down to the point that it can damage the engine to run it like that.

Never said I wasn't a bike-moron

I do know where the battery is. I've even removed it, charged it, and put it back in [all in the bike-not-starting-period]. I knew I was gonna learn a lot about bikes, and I want to, I just didnt realize it would happen when I had to.

To try to answer a few at once:

Give me some specifics about your bike and I'll try to give you a plan to get it going. Make, model,cc, year.

1976 BMW R-75/6 (750cc boxer airhead twin)

I'll check the fuse system behind the headlight - I have a directional thats out anyway, and it's not the bulb (I already tried switching them, and still only the left side worked).

(make sure you turn the petcock back on).

Right, fuel on, as always - wait, do you mean it should be off when i'm trying to start the bike without the sparkplugs?

Now that you mention it, is it damaging to accidentally leave the choke on or petcocks on when youve parked the bike for a day? an hour?

Thanks again.