Suzuki Bandit 400 wont start please help

[Dantheman7]

Hello, i recently bought a Suzuki Bandit 400 to fix up .I found out it needed a new starter motor and changed it as the last one was broken inside and the bike had just been clicking when i tried to start it. After that, although the starter motor turned it wouldn't start, and so i topped the petrol up to the top (just in case) and changed the fuel knob to PRI, it then started strangely but wouldn't run properly, also it had trouble when in the ON position and every time i tried to ride it it cut out, the next day it took a long time to get it to start and would only rumble in a low tone. Since then it hasn't run at all, i have tried all of the spark plugs and they all spark, and various other things with no success. I have added a video on youtube in case this helps? Thanks for reading and i'll be very greatfull for any feedback

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXoOIO0nSXk

Thanks
Dan

[SW Motech Shop UK]

Dont bother trying to clean the plugs, change them.
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[P.]

the fuel tap on my suzuki gs was fudged when on it repeatedly went to stall. PRI sorted it.
Im thinking wind your idle screw in 2 or 3 turns, put the choke on, charge the battery completely and then crank the bike over again without twisting the throttle.

Failing that pour a small amount of petrol down each bore through the spark plug hole, see if it ignites happily, if not you might want new plugs? They may spark, but could be a crap spark.

[Blau Zedong]

New plugs, and do the HT leads and caps while your at it. Also clean the carbs. Then come back to us.
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[Dantheman7]

Thanks everyone for replying, i changed two of the spark plugs as i could only get two from the shop when i tried to start it at first, also i checked them today and they all give blue sparks, could it still be them? Also i took the carbs out and cleaned them (to the best of my ability) a couple of days ago and still no luck. I just tried adding a little petrol down two bores and starting, exactly the same. One more thing, the spark plugs do spark blue, but are also black and wet. I'll try turning the idle screw a bit later but the battery is charging at the moment. Petrol is also definitely coming out of the tank on pri, as i found out earlier... all over my feet. Any other thoughts please feel free

[Dantheman7]

The idle screw didn't seem to do anything, i also tried taking the plugs out and letting the petrol evaporate from inside the holes as i thought it might have been flooded as the spark plugs were petrol fowled but this was no good either.
Any ideas?

[P.]

black and wet... sounds rich to me.
Maybe too rich to start.. although i'd expect atleast some detonation somewhere!

[Vincent]

I would recommend joining a dedicated Bandit Forum. The 400s were well know for their "quirks", (in other words - they were bloody unreliable). Previous owners will know all the right fixes.

Or buy a CB-1

[0l0dom0l0]

from the video its consistantly firing on one cylinder, but not the other three! a couple of sugestions.

Bump it down the road, which usually works if the bike is full of crap!!

Check the choke is working properly

plugs will be fine if you have replaced them.

next thing is mixture, but you cant really set that up without the bike running.

i would defo find a big hill, get going at like 20mph and just let the clutch out to be honest . make sure you use like 4th gear though, or you will be sure to lock the back wheel up!

hope this helps

[Dantheman7]

Hello sorry i haven't replied for a while, after extensive trial and error the bike started again when i sprayed carb cleaner in the air box (i know thats not good for it), which only worked a few times and then just stopped completely again and wont start with or without it although it fires on some cylinders with the carb cleaner in it sometimes. I thought there might be something wrong with the carbs then as it seemed not to be getting the right mixture and after trying to clean them for ages just bought another set from a bike being broken, but it is exactly then same!
I really don't know what to do
Any help?
Thanks
Dan

[Pete.]

Dan I have a set of Bandit 400 carbs, all cleaned out and fitted with new seals. I put them in the forsale section about a week ago for £30.

The 400's can be a total bitch to get going if they've stood for a long time. My sister's 400V was troublesome until I unblocked the choke jets in her carbs. This is something you might want to look at on your own set:

If you take the bottom off one the carbs you'll find a plastic tubular housing the plugs into the main body and seals with little o-rings. there's a small brass jet set in the housing that meters fuel to the choke (fuel enrichment circuit actually). If this jet is blocked, you'll get no fuel when trying to start the bike on chokke. My sister's bike was so clogged up there was no evidence of the jet at all and I found it by digging all the crap from the end of the plastic tube. There's one in each of the four carbs.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[joan33987]

definitely something to do with the carb. If fuel is definitely coming out from the fuel tap and there's spark, then it has to do with the wrong fuel mixture OR check throttle cable, make sure it's not stuck to half open which is easy to make it happen because of frequently removing the carb. Check the sleeves and cables to the carbs and wiggle those throttle cables.

Check how many turns of Pilot screw to a workshop manual.
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[mr-inteligent]

you have a fuel problem..

Check for air leaks and inject fuel directly into the carbs then that bike will start!