Won't start!

[Artur]

Hi guys, I'm gutted!
Went to see a Hornet on Monday from dealer, looked alright, bough it on wednesday. On both these days the bike started fine. thursday and Friday didn't use the bike, today was going to start her up but it doesn't :S early morning, very cold, choke on, hit the start button, crank crank crank but didn't fire up! Now I've been reading and from what I read we should open the throttle when starting the engine, which I did. My guess now is that it is flooded, how to unflood it?
Bear in mind I'm a complete noob with bikes :/

[ms51ves3]

It should start without you opening the throttle so yes it could be flooded. You have to learn your bike because all bikes like to be started differently.

Next time, try choke on full, no throttle.

[oldbiker]

Handy hint

to clear a flooded engine;

remove spark plugs(),
with the ignition turned off (new bikes automatically turn the ignition off untill the side stand is raised),
choke off,
open throttle wide,
then press the button or use kick start for a few seconds.

that clears all petrol from the barrel(s).
dry the plug(s) and check the gap(s)
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[Vincent]

If you think it is flooded, to dry it out, you need to take the plugs out, (can be fiddly on fours), and turn the engine over with the fuel off and no throttle for a few seconds then let the fuel evaporate for about an hour. You could try heating the ends of the spark plugs on the cooker before replacing them too.
As Ms5Ives3 says, some bikes need the right settings to start. My Honda starts straight away for me everytime but if someone else tried from cold, there's a good chance it won't fire. Even when it's cold, I hardly ever use the choke and just open the throttle a small amount.
There's a few bikes that will bump start very easily while been a bit temperamental on the starter.

[Artur]

thanks for the reply's. Tried again and nearly started... arrgh!!!
Now the engine starter is giving up! Think it will not start from now on. Question is, will it be the engine starter on battery now? (apart from the flood problem)

[Vincent]

It's not a good idea to use the starter too much. How are you at bump starting?

[Artur]

[ms51ves3]

[Artur]

Hang on, just remembered when I rode home on Wednesday, when stopped, the headlight would lose intensity (engine idling) and when I revved the headlight (and the lights of the clocks) would gain intensity. Is this normal or a sign of battery low?


PS. sorry about the newbie questions... and thanks for answering