Odd firing

carsen · L Plate Warrior Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Karma :

G'day all,

I have a 89 Yamaha Virago 1100, which as of late has been running tip top. The other day when I tried to crack it back up after having it off for 3 minutes just after about a 5 mile ride, she wouldn't turn over. She cranks as normal but just wouldn't fire up. So getting ready to call for a person to pick me up, I took the key out put the kickstand down to make the call. However I decided to try one more time. Put the key in pocketed the kickstand, bingo started up as pretty as you please. I said Hmmm.
After that is has been working flawlessly for 2 weeks. However as of yesterday after driving it successfullly to a location and sitting for about 2 hours I jump on to cruise home, but she won't turn over, just as before. Ruled out the battery by jumping off a car battery. Voltage is good. I left it over night. Next day, I try again and it won't turn over. I take the key out, put the kickstand down as if I'm getting ready to get off the bike, then I try it again and she fires up. Once she's up, she purrrs like a kitten. So I enjoyed the ride home and left her overnight. The next day I get up and try it, same thing, won't turn over. Very confused. Checked gas and gas flow. New spark plugs, with spark, and good compression.
Anybody have any ideas?

Thank you in advance,
Shocked

baldy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Karma :

Possibly the side stand switch?
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One day i will rule the world, just not today.

Alexio · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Karma :

So apparently you can cure your bike by tilting it (I assume this is what is happening when you place it in the kick stand). I also agree that it's more likely to be an engine cut off issue. I had a similar issue with my first bike which was fixed with some WD40. Although.... my issue was that the engine cut off was "on" as soon as it start raining. If I was frantic with the kick stand it would sort out the issue for another minute or so presumable as the movement broke the circuit causing the problem Rolling Eyes

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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

carsen · L Plate Warrior Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Karma :

Thank you for the replies. I had ruled out the kickstand switch because the bike does crank. I did verify that the switch works because when it is down its dead and when its running I can put the kickstand down and it kills the engine. So I ruled that out. This bike has a fuel pump which I know is functioning correctly. When I crank it for a long time, I can hear it pumping fuel. Lines are all checked. It cranks like when the battery is below 12 volts. It will crank and crank and crank, but just doesn't have the voltage to fire it up. Of course, I previously told you that jumped it to a car battery to make sure it wasn't the battery. This battery is 6 months old. I just tried my trick again and its not working, now. Could this be a coil issue?

Thank you,
Have a great one.