Bike won't start this morning

[dgc67]

Last rode it 5 days ago, almost ran it out of gas that day, I know.  The low fuel light came on at 90 miles and I went to 115 by the time I was home.
Went out this morning and poured some Seafoam into the about 2 gallons of gas I had in a can and poured most of that into the tank.  You could hear it gurgling down and filling the lower tank.
Geared up and hopped on and it just turns over, doesn't even sound like it's trying to start.
There is plenty of fuel in the filter.  I had to get to work so I pushed it back into the garage and drove my cage, again.  They threatened us with so much rain the last 2 days I have driven the car every day, and it did not rain a drop over here.  So I was really looking forward to riding today!
When I get home I guess I will be checking the basics, spark, fuel, on/off switch etc ...  If anyone thinks of anything obscure, or not, to check on, please tell me.  TIA

[Sledge Hammer]

Don't the V45s have a fuel pump? Can you hear it running?

[MagnaDaddy]

There is a fuel pump and worst case you should be able to unhook the line from the pump and make sure it squirts gas...    Listen would be better

[dgc67]

I will check but I don't think fuel is the issue, seeing that the filter is full.
The fuel pump does not run constantly and does not come on at all unless the engine is running.  I believe it is powered via one of the spark boxes (?name).  Anyway, it does not come on when you just turn the key on, however it will give one little pump if I toggle the on/off switch.  I did that this morning and see the bubble in the filter move a little, so I am guessing it won't be that.  Also, if that is working I can ALMOST rule out the on/off switch.
I almost wish it would be the fuel pump as I have 2 more of them.

[mtrosclair]

If there is one thing I have learned from working on mechanical stuff... The parts you have spares for never break,  but sell that part or toss it out and failure occurs the next day!!  when you crank it can you smell raw fuel from the exhaust?   Maybe low battery voltage not enough to fire off?  Spark plugs fouled by fuel? 

[dgc67]

Got home and it still won't start.  The fuel pump is working for sure.  I take out the air filter since I needed to put in my K&N anyway and spray some starter fluid in while cranking it. nothing.
I pull a plug and it is a little wet, looks good though as far as color.  I check it and it has spark.  The same for all the others, except one cylinder is running a little lean and that plug was as wet as the other three.
I put them back and turn it over spraying a little more starter fluid while cranking with WOT, or close to it.  Nothing.
So I crank it some more with no choke and WOT and it acts like it wants to start.  Then it does, but dies.  Sounds like it is either not running on all cylinders or, honestly, maybe flooding except no black smoke came out at all.  managed to keep it running and it cleared up and is running fine.   
Rode it 28 miles to work this morning and it ran great.  Clearly something is up though.  Hopefully it starts when I get off of work. 

[Greg Cothern]

Open and clean the run/stop engine kill switch.....   

[lragan]

On the 3rd gen bikes, the kill switch also kills the starter.  Is this not so on 1st gen Magnas?

[MarylandMagnav45]

Got home and it still won't start.  The fuel pump is working for sure.  I take out the air filter since I needed to put in my K&N anyway and spray some starter fluid in while cranking it. nothing.
I pull a plug and it is a little wet, looks good though as far as color.  I check it and it has spark.  The same for all the others, except one cylinder is running a little lean and that plug was as wet as the other three.
I put them back and turn it over spraying a little more starter fluid while cranking with WOT, or close to it.  Nothing.
So I crank it some more with no choke and WOT and it acts like it wants to start.  Then it does, but dies.  Sounds like it is either not running on all cylinders or, honestly, maybe flooding except no black smoke came out at all.  managed to keep it running and it cleared up and is running fine.   
Rode it 28 miles to work this morning and it ran great.  Clearly something is up though.  Hopefully it starts when I get off of work. 

Too much seafoam?  I saw a guy on a thread that put too much NOS fuel into his tank...and it clogged it. 

Just a guess.

[dgc67]

Too much seafoam?  I saw a guy on a thread that put too much NOS fuel into his tank...and it clogged it.

The thread I saw on this the guy put 2 cans of NOS energy drink in his tank.  Idiot.

On the 3rd gen bikes, the kill switch also kills the starter.  Is this not so on 1st gen Magnas?

No, it will still crank if off.  wish it did not.

Open and clean the run/stop engine kill switch.....

Will do.  Got me some dielectric grease for it too.

[lragan]

Will do.  Got me some dielectric grease for it too.

Not familiar with this item.  I would leave grease, including graphite loaded silicone compounds, out of the switch area.   I used a contact cleaner on my kill switch when it was failing to contact, and it seems to have worked really well.  Have since used it on a couple of non-bike switches, also with good results.

Just my 2 cents...

[roboto65]

Dielectric grease is meant for high voltage areas and protecting those connections most commonly used on your sparkplug wires to keep water out so it would work great on the switch.

[Capt. Howard]

Dielectric grease is meant for high voltage areas and protecting those connections most commonly used on your sparkplug wires to keep water out so it would work great on the switch.

You got that right...learned about that a long time ago and thought the same thing......GREASE??...but man it sure makes the contacts last much,much longer...I use it on allmost all electrics I work on...just my 2-cents....come on moot-mag.....