Ok, some on this forum are familiar with the problems I have been having with my bike.  For those who aren't, I wasn't able to start my bike at all for about a week.  I then pulled and cleaned the carbs and replaced the air filter.  
This fixed my problem and it worked flawlessly, for two days..

I took my bike to work today, and fate would have it that it won't start again, and I'm stuck at work.  I finally did get it started, but I took 7  cranking attempts over the period of an hour.  I tried starting with full throttle, i tried putting the petcock on prime, and nothing worked.  

Then I decided I might have to leave the bike at work, so I moved it about 50 feet to a well-lit area.  And decided "what the heck, I'll try one last time", and it started, hesitated, but started.

It cranked but didn't want to start, even though I have new spark plugs and a new battery.

Any Ideas?  Anyone?

buy new battery  :dunno:...that fixed my bike after replacing the plugs, srinath rejet and cleaning, and new air filter...i tried just charging my old batt but i just decided the hell with it...40 shells with the local cyclegear been ridin ever since....

did you check the fluid level and charge your new battery?

if it cranked 7 consecutive times then it obviously doesn't need a battery or a charge, sounds like a possible intermittent spark problem.  When cranking does it sound like it's firing?  Like it's catching and just not starting or is it just a continuous crank and nothing?

Quote from: 97gs500e
It cranked but didn't want to start, even though I have new spark plugs and a new battery.

*lookin around*....*rushed out the room*...

Its a long shot, but I would wiggle my key as I attempted to start..
its highly possible you have a bit of corrosion in your ignition that is allowing the bike to crank, but is not allowing your coils to fire..

wiggle, turn, turn, wiggle..

Quote from: FaxxxyIts a long shot, but I would wiggle my key as I attempted to start..
its highly possible you have a bit of corrosion in your ignition that is allowing the bike to crank, but is not allowing your coils to fire..

wiggle, turn, turn, wiggle..

ehhh...what?  You're serious?  How could I fix a corroded(sp?) ignition?

(by the way I do have the necessary amount of fluid in my battery and it is charged.  And the first time I tried starting it tonight it barely caught but didn't start.  Every other cranking attempt was cranking alone with no engine noise or firing.)

Quote from: 97gs500eHow could I fix a corroded(sp?) ignition?

Just wiggle and twist on the key a bit and if it seems to make a difference, then the only good solution would be to replace the ignition..

That is, of course, if that is your problem..
Do the plugs look good when you pull them?
Are they gapped correctly?

Yeah, the plugs are good..

Replace the ignition?  Is this what your reffering to?  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4561280343&category=35595&sspagename=WDVW

Quote from: 97gs500eYeah, the plugs are good..

Replace the ignition?  Is this what your reffering to?  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4561280343&category=35595&sspagename=WDVW

Nope..
This is what I am referring to..

Or probably more correctly...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4539477104&category=35594&sspagename=WD1V

Will it start if you try to coast and catch it in gear?

Dennis Kirk sells another option made by EMGO.  (Only $28.99 ... that's $9 cheaper than in their 2002 catalog!)



In case the link stops working, the Dennis Kirk part # is 20-0731.

Got gas?

Quote from: FaxxxyIts a long shot, but I would wiggle my key as I attempted to start..
its highly possible you have a bit of corrosion in your ignition that is allowing the bike to crank, but is not allowing your coils to fire..

wiggle, turn, turn, wiggle..

I have seen where a weak battery has enough amps to turn the starter, but the spark is weak.  I suppose that some corrosion in the ignition could add resistance there, lowering available amps.  You could hot-wire the bike to see if it makes a difference.  Or just bump-start.  If there is enough juice to turn the starter, then if it doesn't need to turn the starter, it should have plenty of juice for the spark.

But the first things I'd try are: jump-start the bike from a car battery (car should be off); and try a bit of starter fluid.

Quote from: KerryDennis Kirk sells another option made by EMGO.  (Only $28.99 ... that's $9 cheaper than in their 2002 catalog!)



In case the link stops working, the Dennis Kirk part # is 20-0731.

Hmm.. how would I go about installing a new ignition?

take ya plug out and place on the head to earth it and turn it over to see if you have a week or strong blue spark before you mess around with other things, do this in a darkish place in the shade or somewhere, check the plug when you take it out first to see if it is damp or dry, if its dry then look at a fuel problem, if its wet then look at an electrical problem, you could have an intermittant spark and it may just be down to a simple bad connection

I'm not so sure its the ignition now..

Just the other day I tried push-starting it, and that works.  So would that mean I just need a new starter?

You said that the bike has been "cranking", right?  Unless it has been a real sluggish "crank", it sounds like the starter motor is doing its job.

The question is "Why won't it catch?" and why WILL it when you push start it?  :dunno:

I went by the local suzuki dealer to leave it for their service dept today, but they said they're two weeks backed up.  So I want to fix the bike myself..

This morning it would only start on a push-start, but its starts fine if the engine's hot.   But the engine doesn't want to turn over, when it's cool.


Whats causing this?  Any ideas?