Finally, '96 won't start. Started easy and rode ~60 mis Wed., Started fairly easy Thurs am, ~ 40 deg., Started Fri am, barely running, made the ride to work, ~ 40 deg., Fri pm ~65 deg.,, to leave work, the '96 would not start. This issue started 10/2008, hard to start- replaced the plugs- no problem. At MM7, 06/2009, one morning the '96 was hard to start, similar to recent, but that was the only time. Until this past week or so. Any advise helpful. I have put 27k in 3 years in the '96, but have not done a carb clean. Am curious about needing to clean the fuel diaphram? of course clean/replace jets in carbs? Have heard alot lately about how less clean/refined/filtered that gas has been the past few yrs at the pumps. Thanks- will be back this pm.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
OK Region
1996 VF750C
I hate to ask Brad but when was the battery replaced ?
I presume it turns over vigorously. Brad would know if it was a low battery problem.
Do you have a way to check the ignition? If nothing else, take a plug out, leave it wired up and lay/hold/clamp it against the block then turn it over. You should have a strong, bright blue spark.
Unless you got some bad fuel somewhere, it seems unlikely to me that the carbs would clog that quickly, so in the guessing game of "where to start?", I would check ignition first. Can you correlate the poor starting with humidity? If there is a carbon track somewhere on the ignition module, it might manifest itself first under humid conditions.
Next, check for contaminated fuel by:
1) Turning the fuel petcock to "off"
2) catching the contents of the carb bowls when you remove the drain plugs.
Usually if you have gunk in the fuel you will see traces of it in the fuel that comes from the bottom of a carburetor.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the input- will check for spark.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
OK Region
1996 VF750C
I have had mine not start even though it was turning over "vigorously" and a low battery was the culprit. Twice as a matter of fact. Plus can't hurt to start with the simple things.
Something to try is pull the fuse for the headlight and try to start it. Last time my battery was low I did that and it fired right up.
Quote from: DG on March 06, 2010, 04:59:04 PM
Something to try is pull the fuse for the headlight and try to start it. Last time my battery was low I did that and it fired right up.
The start switch disables the headlight while cranking it. If the switch is dirty that could be a problem.
I had similar issues when I first got my '97. Turned out that the previous owner had painted the tank and somehow got some crud in there. I did two things that helped. First, emptied the tank and removed it from the bike. I then stuck some very thin wire into the vent tube at the back end of the tank. I could "feel" the wire push some junk through. I also removed the petcock and found the screen filter to be partially clogged. After cleaning out both of those things, the bike has run great...hope it helps
QuoteThe start switch disables the headlight while cranking it.
Yeah, but it worked. I am thinking that it was just putting too much drain on the battery between cranks. I don't why, but I do know it worked for me.
Took plugs out and cleaned them today. Tried to start- no go. Am charging battery (had been spinning very good, but after plugs back in, starter dragged some). Will try again in the am. I had replaced the battery ~21/2 yrs ago. Thanks for the input.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
OK Region
1996 VF750C
Quote from: DG on March 07, 2010, 08:46:54 AM
QuoteThe start switch disables the headlight while cranking it.
Yeah, but it worked. I am thinking that it was just putting too much drain on the battery between cranks. I don't why, but I do know it worked for me.
I two was considered put a light kill switch for the same reasoning.
Ended taking the '96 to a local shop. Tech said all four carb bowls were full of rust(or red dirt?). He checked the gas tank- no rust, and the res. tank, clean gas. He put an inline filter on, so hopefully this won't happen as often. I am wondering even more how clean this refined gas that we get at the pump is. I use ~90% real gas. Only time ethanol is when in the DFW area. It is possible that when I bought it Jan., 2007 that the carbs already had some crud in them. Runs great now.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
OK Region
1996 VF750C