I don't need to go anywhere, I JUST need to change the oil, get stabilizer through the system, and park it for winter. I can't even manage that apparently.
It cranks but wont turn over. Is it too cold out? Is the battery dead? I have no idea. I take the battery straight from the charger & plunk it in the bike, still a no go. I don't even know if it's possible for the battery to be *that* messed up, but I don't really want to buy a new one that may not fix the problem and then have it sit all winter.
I don't know what to do.
Do I get it towed to a shop, fixed, then towed back to my place?
Do I do a cold oil change, and just drain the carbs for the winter?
Do I sell the bike as-is and just eat the loss?
Any fourth option I didn't think of?
So just so the problem is clear: when you hit the starter button, the starter motor begins cranking, but the engine wont actually start? If that's the case, make sure to check basic stuff: is the choke fully open, are you getting spark, etc.
Hi Antaresia,
Darn, so sorry to hear about more troubles!! I can't help with much here but... if the battery was dead it wouldn't crank at all... right guys? Do you have a meter so you can see what the charge is on the battery?
There was a thread started recently here addressing stuff that should be done for winter storage... here it is, it might help a bit:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=71138.0
Other peeps will have to reply to address what else the problem could be. Would hate to see you go with option #3!!! :sad:
Not to detract from the post, but I always had a hard time with the term "Turning over" online. For me and everyone I grew up with, "turning over" was simply the process of the engine spinning. Not implying it fired and would start and then idle, just that it would literally "turn over". "Turn 'er over" was simply a command to turn the key/push the starter and get it spinning.
Anyway...
Ignoring the multitude of issues it could be, lets focus on something simple. The 4 things you need to get an engine to start:
Air
Spark
Fuel
Compression
Air is easy to diagnose. Look at the filter and see if the element is damaged, filthy, clogged, etc. That's basically the only reason air won't be getting to your engine.
Spark is easy to test. Pull a plug, place a rag or something over the hole, put the plug back into the boot, and ground the plug on a part of the head (a bolt or something). This should be easy to do by yourself on the right side of the bike. With the plug grounded and the starter cranking, you should easily see the electrode sparking.
Compression is harder to test for since you need a tool, and fuel can be a finicky issue, but you can knock out two birds with one stone with starting fluid.
Does it get air? Yes. Does it get spark? Yes. Ok, then spray some starting fluid into the filter and crank it. If it fires up we know your compression is ok, and you aren't getting fuel somehow.
If you really don't want to go through all the trouble right now, you can get the StaBil or whatever through the system simply by setting the petcock on PRI and opening the drain plugs on the carb bowls, and although everyone seems to do it I don't think an oil change is particularly necessary before storage.
You're going to change it before the first ride come spring anyway, and the idea that the fresh oil will coat the metals and prevent internal rust goes out the window in a month or so when all the oil has receded into the pan anyway. It's a waste of time and a waste of money...
Quote from: qcbaker on November 15, 2016, 12:05:44 PM
So just so the problem is clear: when you hit the starter button, the starter motor begins cranking, but the engine wont actually start? If that's the case, make sure to check basic stuff: is the choke fully open, are you getting spark, etc.
yup, choke in the right position, kickstand up, kill switch on, neutral gear. IDK how to check the sparks, I'll look that up tonight. My friend did check them for me a while ago, said they were working.
Quote from: Antaresia on November 15, 2016, 11:56:05 AM
It cranks but wont turn over. Is it too cold out? Is the battery dead? I have no idea.
I am with Watcher, I don't understand this terminology. But if the starter turns the engine when you press the "Start" button, then the battery and starter are fine.
If it just goes "click" when you press the start button, or if it just barely turns one time and stops, then the battery is likely low, or it could be a bad starter. 90% battery, 10% starter.
Once you establish these, then carry on with Watcher's diagnostic. Make sure you have spark (preferably on both cylinders) and then see if it will start with starting fluid. While the plugs are out (checking spark) verify they are not wet with fuel.
Report back when you verify spark and try to start with starting fluid sprayed into the carbs.
Then we can help diagnose the cause, once we verify some hard facts.
Get the battery out, get it to a shop, get it load tested.
It needs to be ruled out.
Quote from: Watcher on November 15, 2016, 12:33:10 PM
If you really don't want to go through all the trouble right now, you can get the StaBil or whatever through the system simply by setting the petcock on PRI and opening the drain plugs on the carb bowls
Okay, I got a bit busy this week (got hit by a car on my bicycle, you know the usual) but basically my motorcycle is not starting still and I'm giving up. But I don't understand this advice.
Can I get a better step-by-step? Do I leave it on pri? I assume I close the drain plugs? I assume the drain plugs are the drain screws, I can't seem to find plugs on any diagram???
There is no such thing as being too condescending, I know nothing and I have no one helping me. I need a *very* clear course of action.
First of all, sorry to hear you got hit on your bicycle. Yowsa. I hope you are not hurt badly. I've been hit twice, both times left me with permanent or long-term injuries and once began with an ambulance ride while I was unconscious and ended with a six-figure settlement.
About the no-start:
Start out by telling us exactly what it's doing, and avoid the phrase "turns over" since it might not be clear.
1. use a DC voltmeter to measure the DC voltage of the battery. get that number back to us. If it's under about 12.5 volts, then charge it fully before continuing.
2. push the start button as usual like you are trying to start the bike (clutch in, side stand up, etc.). what does it do?
- Does it go "click" and nothing else?
- Does it spin freely with a whirring sound?
- Does it turn the motor with normal cyclic resistance and sound like it is trying to start?
- If it turns over like it's trying to start, does it ever seem like it occasionally fires?
Those things above will help identify whether the problem is electrical or the starter. Once we figure that out, then we can continue on to diagnosing engine starting issues apart from electrical starting issues.
no no, I'm giving up. I just want to know the steps to get the stabilizer through the system.
I live in Vancouver, it's raining like every day now. I have no covered or well-lit area to work on my bike, it's outside. It's dark when get home from work, I have no idea what I'm doing.
1. I don't own a voltmeter, I don't know how to use one. The battery was fully charged overnight, put in the bike, still didn't start.
2. It used to click, after the batter charge now tries to start with that whirring noise. Imagine trying to start it on a cold day with the choke in the wrong position, it's like that. I have no way of explaining if the last two points are or aren't happening, since I don't know what they sound like.
I honestly just want to park this thing so I can get on with my life and stop thinking about it until spring.
OK, if all you're shooting for is running Stabil through the system, I'll take a stab at easy instructions.
Use this for pictorial of the carb if you need. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=56601.0
At the bottom of each carb bowl is a spigot, next to a screw. You turn that screw to open and close the drain. Ideally, try to find some sort of small plastic hose you can connect to the spigot, or have a small catch bowl ready so that the gas doesn't drip all over. Also don't do this on a hot / running engine given risk of ignition, but this (unfortunately) isn't a concern for you.
Mix the Stabil into your gas tank per instruction. With the drain hose connected to your carb bowl, turn your petcock to PRIME and then open the drain screw until you think you've run enough gas through. Close the screw; connect your drain hose to the other side of the carb, and repeat the process.
We all started as noobs at some point. God knows I learned a ton from all the great folks here.
Good luck!
You can add 4 Oz of Sta-Bil to a full tank without any issues (double dose)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/307rue1.jpg)
will try, thanks
I assume I turn it off prime when I'm done?
Quote from: Antaresia on November 21, 2016, 12:01:43 AM
will try, thanks
I assume I turn it off prime when I'm done?
Yes.
Prime allows fuel to flow through the petcock, while On and Reserve are both vacuum actuated and are essentially "off" when the engine isn't turning.
The petcock should never be left on Prime.
This is the information I wanted (for future reference)
hook up a hose from the carb drain to a jerry can
open the drain screw
wait until the gas stops flowing - that way you know all the untreated gas is out
turn your petcock to "pri" - let it flow a little. You can easily keep one hand holding the hose to the drain and reach over your bike to switch the petcock.
close drain screw
switch from "pri" to "on"
put gas back in tank.
New problem: the right side of the bike drained just fine. The left side drain screw is stripped af. I even have a jis set of scewdrivers, no dice. What do I do now.
Why does every little, tiny, thing have to be impossible with this bike.
Fairly common problem to strip those little screws. I've used a small pair of vice grips to grab the end of the screw and get it started turning, then if it isn't too stripped out, put a screwdriver back on it. When you re-tighten, just gently snug it up. They don't need to be super tight.
I hope you've found your problem here and it isn't something else causing your starting woes.