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I have a dirt bike and it will not start! PLEASE HELP!

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:29 am
by IHMJack
I have a dirt bike and it will not start! PLEASE HELP!

the electronic starter seem to be cranking correctly, but the engine just will not start! It did started a few days ago, but idled for several minutes and it stalled, but now it wouldnt even start anymore!

PLEASE HELP!

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:49 am
by TechTMW
Hi Jack - We need more information, like what kind of bike it is and how old it is. If you have no mechanical knowledge whatsoever, it might be wise to take it to a shop to have it looked at.

The basics are this - Your bike needs 4 things to start - Air, Fuel, Spark and Compression. First check for spark, then fuel and go from there.

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:29 am
by IHMJack
TechBMW wrote:Hi Jack - We need more information, like what kind of bike it is and how old it is. If you have no mechanical knowledge whatsoever, it might be wise to take it to a shop to have it looked at.

The basics are this - Your bike needs 4 things to start - Air, Fuel, Spark and Compression. First check for spark, then fuel and go from there.
Its a 2005 "chinese brand" 200cc dirt bike. less than 100 miles but already having problems :(

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:02 am
by TechTMW
It's probably something really simple ... maybe your petcock is switched off or you have a kinked fuel line?

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:49 pm
by IHMJack
TechBMW wrote:It's probably something really simple ... maybe your petcock is switched off or you have a kinked fuel line?
How do you switch the petcock? how do you troubleshoot "kinked fuel line"?

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:41 pm
by TechTMW
Did you get an owner's manual with your new bike?

It -should- have a description of the petcock (or fuel valve.) Hopefully it's not in Chinese :wink:

Once you read about the petcock, and you are sure it's on, you can follow the fuel line from it to the carburettor, and make sure it's not pinched or kinked.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 1:55 am
by Gadjet
Is there gas in the fuel tank?

a stall during idle and a failure to start after that could be the result of no fuel in the gas tank.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:03 am
by IHMJack
petcock? that is the thing that you turn this knob to set on ON/Reserve/OFF? Its turned on "ON"

I wonder if there is some type of vacume problem?

and yes, there is gas in the gas tank.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:11 pm
by Gadjet
IHMJack wrote:petcock? that is the thing that you turn this knob to set on ON/Reserve/OFF? Its turned on "ON"

I wonder if there is some type of vacume problem?

and yes, there is gas in the gas tank.
Switch to Reserve and see if that helps. The most likely culprit then is that the fuel level in the tank is to low for the 'On' setting pickup tube. The 'reserve' tube is shorter and allows you to use the fuel that's in the bottom of the tank.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:45 pm
by Ninja Geoff
If it's got a kick starter too, try that.