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I can't start my bike!

Am I just being a weedy female (!) or might there be some other problem?

I started it this afternoon - and it caught first time and revved away nicely. Switched it off. Tried again later - it is *almost* catching, with a couple of splutters, but not properly so it is running. I can smell fuel - is this normal? Could the engine be flooded somehow? To get it to catch before, I gave a little throttle just at the end of the kick.

Its got fuel, I put another couple of litres in this afternoon wondering if it had been low to begin with.

Its flippin' hard work kickstarting over and over! Especially with my short legs.

Pull your spark plugs and see what condition they are in .
Regards, Wizzard

I agree. Two-strokes require pretty regular plug changes due to fouling. That's just the nature of the beast since the plugs fire on every other stroke, the engine typically spins faster than a four stroke, and the fuel is mixed with oil. Sometimes it's enough just to pull them out and wipe them down really well...or get yourself one of those little battery-operated plug cleaners. Hopefully the engine was designed with easy plug access in mind.

ZooTech wrote:Two-strokes require pretty regular plug changes due to fouling. That's just the nature of the beast

Thats cool. Thanks guys - going to have a look tomorrow morning. Not a biggy to nip out and get some replacements if they can't be wiped down

sounds flooded to me.

to clear it you might try turning the fuel tap off, and kicking it through a few times with the ignition turned off. Then turn the fuel tap back on and try to start the bike

My little Suzi RV 90 would only kick start on 3/4 throttle no matter what I did and if I left the fuel tap on overnight it always flooded the plug. Bikes are normally as individual as you. You have to find out what their quirks are. OH also check your fuel filter.

sapaul wrote:Bikes are normally as individual as you

I did wonder if it was a case of getting to know its quirks. Elsie is, after all, 20 years old!

I have a circuit tester to try and complete the wiring loom connections - but it seems that just having the ignition to 'on' doesn't send a current through. The bike has to be running. Is this typical?

P.s Yes, the fuel tap is 'on'.

Yes the initial current is supplied when you kick your starter, then your magneto takes over. Are you switching your tap off when you are not riding. If not you will foul the plug and flood your carb.

That is the first thing I thought of... I accidently left my bike on "pri" overnight once, and had a puddle of gas all over the floor.