XJR 400 not starting :-(

[fray]

Hi guys.

My bike has been standing for 2 days as ive had the work van as been working away. I started it this morning to move it out the unit and it started fine but went to start it at about 4PM to ride home and it just kept turning over. It sounded slightly different as it turned over to normal tho i think!

It stank of fuel out the exhaust after trying it for a few mins. I removed the tank to check for spark which there was. Only tried 1 plug tho as didnt have much time. The spark plug was dry and a nice colour. I checked all fuses which were ok and also tried to bump it 4 times failing each time!!

Im gonna put the battery on charge for a few hours in the morning but apart from that need a few ideas for things to try please!!

Also my Dad seems to thinks its flooded hes a biker also but like me know a bit but not loads!!

Many Thanks for any help and sorry for the essay better for too much info than not enough!!

[MarJay]

If its flooded, you can remove the plugs and then turn the bike over on the starter and see if any petrol gets blasted out of the plug holes. If it is, then you were flooded. If not then it could be something else, but it could also be the petrol has run down into the sump...
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[fray]

[temeluchus]

Open the oil filler cap and sniff- if petrol is in there it will stink.

May be worth looking at new plugs
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[fray]

[temeluchus]

If it has a repeat performance you'll need a new battery, it shouldn't run down in 2 days.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[fray]

Ill have another poke around tommorow and see what happens once the batterys been on charge for a few hours. I thought 2 days wasnt really long enough for the battery to lose charge but im thinking the spark wasnt really bright and that maybe i just didnt get enough speed when i was trying to bump it. Dont really know if the spark should have been really noticeable or if you have to really look to see it?!

I dont think theres much wrong with it tho.

Cheers

[TUG]

I would say you're battery was too weak and you didn't bump it propperly as it's down to technique.

Reason I say this is because it sounds exactly the same as when I had my FZR 400 and the battery was goosed, stank of fuel, wouldn't start because it would lose it's charge extremely fast.

Losing a charge in 2 days means the battery is weak and coming towards the end of it's life, I would be looking for a cheap replacement if I were you.

This is purely going off my experiance and the description of events you have listed in you're OP, if the plugs are getting flooded then putting a lighter to them will burn off the excess fuel ready for a retry at starting. If the engine oil stinks of fuel which I doubt it will by the way then I would say you might have run into a bit of Hydraulic lock and damaged something, again, extremely unlikely.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[fray]

[fray]

Well I got her started. After the battery had been on charge for 4 hours I started cranking her over again and after about 5 mins she coughed into life but died seconds later. Kept trying and then she started revved very rough for a few seconds then cleared.

Dont really know what was the matter! Hopefully i wont have a repeat performance!

Thanks guys

[temeluchus]

Does sound like a new battery would be a good investment- will leave you stranded sooner or later.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[fray]

Cheers mate, if i have any more problems will invest in a new battery!