My NSR wont start... any ideas?

[Disco Dave]

Hey all, I've used this forum for a while but only registered today. I have a 1999 NSR125R, and have been riding it for over a year now.

Anyway, I took my bike out today, it started ont he 3rd attempt, I thought because it hadnt been run for over a week. I get halfway down the road and the engine just fades and dies, kinda like I ran out of petrol, but I didnt, the tank is full, tap was open. Tried to start it again but it didnt wanna know, wheeled it home and charged the battery as it was getting low now. While that was charging I checked my spark plug, it was wet but a bit sooty, so I brushed it off and put it back and tried again, still no luck.

I can't help but feel like its a glaringly obvious problem and I'm just missing it. anyone got any ideas?


Also ive been wondering for a while, does it damage the clutch to sit at traffic lights in 1st gear, instead of putting it in neutral?

[McJamweasel]

What happens if you try and start it now? Does it turn over but just not fire? Try it with another sparky.

No, you won't damage the clutch by doing that.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[bonceunounce]

Sound like dirty carburettor, blocked jets. Clean the float bowl out and blow the jets through with air.

Does the starter motor sound different when you try and bumpstart it?

Check to see if you are getting a spark.

Make sure the choke isnt on! Or the kill switch.

[Disco Dave]

Hehe, I learnt about the kill switch long ago on a cold dark night when it wouldnt start... D'oh!

Cant see a spark so I'll try a new plug, I think I'll clean out the carb too, cant hurt, I've not done it before.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow, I'm off to work now.

There's a pic of my bike on my website in the gallery section, she's a beauty

[bonceunounce]

Just dont touch the smaller screws on the carburettor, the last thing you want is throwing your mixture settings out and thats going to cause more problems!

Just take all the jets out and clean the carb float bowl.

Clean the air filter while its in bits, put a new spark plug in.

How many kms or miles has the bike done?

[Disco Dave]

The bike has done about 13000 km

thanks for being so helpful

[bonceunounce]

Hmm, if you have thrashed the nuts off the bike and/or used cheap oil the piston rings could be on there way out, but i would rule out the carb first.

Clean the carb, airbox, and change spark plug. This is the last time i can hijack steves account to give you help (serve him right for leaving it logged in on my machine!) im going on holiday and back in couple of weeks.

Good luck with it and if you still have problems after doing the carb and that then you have members like kickstart etc who can help.. its only a screamer 125 so it will be easy to fix.

Laters

[Hex]

I'd just do the spark plug first, less hassle than cleaning the carb out.

If you have the time though do the spark plug first and see if it helps, if it does great and then you can clean the carb just knowing that its a job worth doing. If it doesn't work clean the carb and see if that helps.

If it doesn't help its possible that the compression is gone due to a buggered ring etc - but I personally think it will be the spark plug.

All the best

Hex
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[t3j4n]

bit of a newbie question, but how precisely do you clean the carb and is it a long job, as i need to do the exact same thing to my 1996 nsr due to the same problem.

[Disco Dave]

I gave the spark plug a good clean, brushed the crap off the terminals, it works fine now, i'll clean it every now and then from now on so this doesnt happen again. Also i think carrying a spare sparky with the toolkit would be a good idea

I've not cleaned the carb on an NSR before, but if its anything like my Dads Triumph Bonneville 750, then its not too tricky and wont take long. A workshop manual would be great for helping us out with stuff like this, I wanted one a while ago, I contacted Haynes, and they said they dont do it. Anyone know if any have been made?

[McJamweasel]

You may as well replace the sparkie, theyre only about £3 so it won't break the bank.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Disco Dave]

I got a letter yesterday morning, I owe Essex University £2700 in rent for the next year. Thats most of my £4000 student loan!

so yes, it may indeed break my poor little bank :'(
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www.davemansfield.net

[Scotty]

Get a job! and stop relying on me getting you manuals. Bleh students

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Regards
Scott

[Disco Dave]

you'll come crying to me when i cure cancer and wont give you the cure

(biology degree)
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www.davemansfield.net

[Scotty]

[Ste]

okas.co.uk is working fine now. Any problems please let me know

[Disco Dave]

I got 4 of them (4,7,8,9), I'll try the others tomorrow night probably, I'm gone all day tomorrow

Oh and I do have a job, but dont tell the government that! *wink wink*
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www.davemansfield.net

[Hex]

[Disco Dave]

[Ste]

/me runs away sheepishly after pressing the upload button

sorry

[Jo]

With my vast bike knowledge and cheek.... I declare it won't start because its...... wait for it ...... BROKEN. Hope that helps a little!!!


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mummy now