Can't Get Motorcycle Started

strebalicious

So I have a 1996 Suzuki Savage LS400. Same exact thing, save engine size, as the LS650 in the States. First motorcycle I've ever had, period.

Anyway, it was sitting for maybe a couple of months when I went to go start it. Battery was weak, it cranked slowly, but didn't start. I went to get pull the battery out, when I noticed the way wrong size battery was in there.

So I got the right size battery and installed it. Didn't bother to charge it because it was a good enough voltage and a fresh battery. Still didn't start, but at least it sounded solid when cranking.

Tried to push start. Nothing. Hooked it up to a car. Nothing.

Took out the carb float bowl drain screw. Fuel is at least getting to the carb. Held my hand up to exhaust and some kind of air is coming out, though I don't know if that is an indication of good sparkage or not.

I'm too lazy right now to take the stuff apart to take a look at the spark plug, but is that a likely candidate for a fault, or could it be something more with the carb? Anything else I should be checking?

Donovan Puppyfucker

There's a very good chance the fuel has gummed up all the jets in the carb.

Strip it, clean it, take this opportunity to put a carb rebuild kit through it, and put it back together.

After you check the plug.

Cycophant

chrishallett83 wrote: »

There's a very good chance the fuel has gummed up all the jets in the carb.

Strip it, clean it, take this opportunity to put a carb rebuild kit through it, and put it back together.

After you check the plug.

Seconded. Although a carb rebuild kit may not be entirely necessary (it never hurts though).

Check the plugs first, and make sure you charge that new battery up as well. It may be cranking fine now, but new batteries rarely come fully charged, and you run the risk of reducing its capacity by running it down with all these start attempts.

MushroomStick

Get a battery tender and try to run it for at least a few minutes every other week or so for when you're going to let the bike sit like that.

IronKnuckle's Ghost

Also a can of Sea Foam is a good idea when you know the bike is going to sit for awhile. Just pour it in to the tank, and when it's time for storage just turn the fuel valve off, let the bike idle until all the gas in its lines burns off, and store.

L Ron Howard

Sea Foam is horrible for that. It eats rubber. If you want to add anything, add Sta-Bil. Add the Sea Foam if you're going to run your gas tank empty in less than a week or so and try to clear out the excess gunk that's in the tank and whole fuel system.

IronKnuckle's Ghost

Woah yeah brain fart there. Yes, Sta-Bil for storage.

Raif Severance

My old Kawasaki had a horrible time starting in the cold. I had to put the choke on full for a good 30 seconds or so and then slowly un-choke (I guess that's a word) before it would run without stalling. My fuel-injected bike never had problems in the cold though. Not sure if the temp. might be a problem for yours. The fuel gunk build-up mentioned previously sounds like a good culprit.

Hooking a bike up to a car can be risky. If you do it (which you probably already know) never turn your car on. It will jump just fine with the car off and if you turn the car on you may blow your electrical system on your bike. I jumped my bike many times with my car and never had any problems so ymmv.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Cycophant wrote: »

chrishallett83 wrote: »

There's a very good chance the fuel has gummed up all the jets in the carb.

Strip it, clean it, take this opportunity to put a carb rebuild kit through it, and put it back together.

After you check the plug.

Seconded. Although a carb rebuild kit may not be entirely necessary (it never hurts though).

Check the plugs first, and make sure you charge that new battery up as well. It may be cranking fine now, but new batteries rarely come fully charged, and you run the risk of reducing its capacity by running it down with all these start attempts.

If you've got your carb in pieces, cleaned and waiting to be put back together, you'd have to be a silly goose not to spend the $10-$15 and put a rebuild kit through it whilst it's in that state already... It'd be like completely tearing down a used engine and not spending a couple hundred on a rebuild kit while you were at it.

Then you know it's perfect, and will be for some time yet.

strebalicious

Turned out just to be a dirty spark plug. Cleaned it and now the bike is running. I do plan on pulling the carb out and beating it up because I'm sure it could use it.

Need to fix my speedometer while I'm at it.