Choke related incident (I think)

Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

Started the bike this morning, ran it for 30 seconds or so with the choke. Then rode off, all ok for about 50m, until I got to a t junction, then tried to pull away and I there wasnt really any fuel coming through and it stalled.

Tried to restart but nothing, just the sound of the battery trying, but only for a second or so, and now the red light is on the Bandit permanently.

My thoughts are:

1. did i leave the choke in long enough and has it now got its knickers in a twist? (Hoping when I go home tonight it will magically started).

2. was this just a cold engine stall and now I have done something to the battery?

Thanks

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

What red light is on? I assume you mean the oil pressure light, which isn't a problem on a stopped engine (it'll go out when it starts).

Sounds like it may have just stalled because it was still quite cold, did you try and restart with the choke on or off?
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

The red light that is on when the stand is down.

Tried to restart but the battery was barely kicking in either, with the choke on or off.

Seperately, how long should I be leaving it running through with the choke on and at what revs prior to setting off?

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

What bike is it?

Normally you will have a red light for the oil pressure warning light. Oil pressure will drop to nothing very quickly when the engine stops (ie, the pressure light will come on a fraction of a second after the engine stops). You might also have a charging light, which again will come on when the engine stops and the battery isn't being charged. You might also have a light for the side stand.

Choke just richens the mixture. I would say to use it as little as possible, and if the bike will start without it then do so. Back it off as soon as you can(*).

The choke won't stop or help the bike cranking over on the starter. On that it sounds more like you have a pretty flat battery (it takes a massive amount more power from the battery to crank the engine over than it does to illuminate the lights).

All the best

Keith

(*) - Eg, my RS125 will start without the choke normally and ride fine, while when standard my 1200 Bandit would need the choke to start but would need it knocking off within about 200 yards otherwise it would stall at the first junction, although it would start again without a problem.
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

Its a Bandit, original 600.

All I know is that when the red light has been on before, it is only when the stand is down, sorry that is not more helpful

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Normally no side stand warning (just kills the ignition if the stand is down and the bike is put into gear).

Possible I suppose that someone has wired up the side stand switch to illuminate the oil warning light which would stop it running in gear if the switch played up.

All the best

Keith
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

In that case I think I am getting confused! I will ignore the light. What do I do if it doesn't start when I go home tonight?

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Need to know why it isn't starting.

If it is cranking over really slowly for a short while then stopping then the battery is probably flat. Might be a knackered battery (cold weather kills them), or might be that the bike isn't charging the battery. First thing to do would be to charge the battery.

If it is cranking over at a normal speed for a reasonable length of time then that suggests the problem is elsewhere. Could be a fueling problem or a lack of spark problem, but would need more details to make any suggestion on which.

All the best

Keith
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weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Sounds to me like:

(1) stalled on over-rich mixture
(2) coincidentally the battery is low
(3) won't start now because of (2)

Try bump starting it and see if that gets it going.

As for choke, this is a thing of myth and legend, the use of which has become lost in the mists of time as cars now no longer have them. Back in my day we all used chokes on cars (and bikes) and you just 'knew' when to use them and for how long. There are quite a lot of "how to I use the choke?" posts on here as bikes (and possibly lawnmowers) are the only places people will come across them these days and there are many misunderstandings about what they actually do.

General advice is not to ride with the choke out at all. On mine, I use the choke to start it - after a few seconds it'll settle to a high idle, so I gradually put it in (say every 10-20 seconds) to maintain a semi-high idle speed as I am doing up my jacket, putting on my helmet and getting my gloves on. By the time I am ready I can put the choke fully in and ride normally.
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

Thanks Guys.

What do you mean cranking over? That sound it makes when you press the ignition? It only lasts for about a second, no more, however long I hold it. Does that mean its a battery issue?

Presumably to charge a battery I need to buy a battery charger? Which is best?

Unlikely to be a spark as they were just done at a garage about 2 weeks ago, as part of a bit of an overhaul when I bought it

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

I should add I live in Guernsey and its not particularly cold here, never really going below 8 degrees even at night at the moment.

Come home and it is just turning over, only this time it does it for as long as I hold the ignition switch down for. Though it does sound lethargic still

HD · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Karma :

Drain the carbs and try to bump it?
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

Right tried to bump it but now the engine isnt even turning over. Presumably that is dead battery then?

HD · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Karma :

Do you know how to bump a bike properly?

(that sounds sarcastic, not intended to be)
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

I watched a quick youtube video? Smile

Ran down a hill in first gear then dumped the clutch while holding the ignition switch?

HD · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Karma :

Yeah pretty much, minus the ignition switch. The keys need to be set to on and your killswitch in the off position so it will start. Then run down said hill with bike and stick it in first. Climb on and as you dump the clutch, jump on your seat to give the rear traction and turn the engine over.

Did you have the killswitch on? That would stop it from firing, as it would if it was working normally.
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

killswitch is not on.

So just to confirm I dont touch the ignition at all - just get it to a speed and then dump the clutch?

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Yes. Kill switch and ignition switch as they normally would be when riding. Run along with the bike and jump down onto the seat as you dump the clutch (or just knock it into gear from neutral, can make it easier to put if it is in neutral).

Although it is probably easier to just charge the battery or jump start the bike.

All the best

Keith
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truslack · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Karma :

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Just to be clear, the ignition switch is where the key goes. The starter button is what you push to start the engine.

To bump start, put the key in and turn it on. Make sure the red kill switch is in the 'run' position. Sidestand up. Push bike along, jump on, clutch, into 1st, release clutch, be ready to then pull the clutch again if it starts, to stop you racing off down the road.
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HD · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Karma :

Sorry, I said ignition as I thought you meant starter but didn't want to get you confused.

As you were.
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Lupine Lacuna · Scooby Slapper Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Karma :

Tried again unsucessfully tonight - when in gear even with the clutch in it won't budge, I can't push it forward at all.

Now if I press the starter button it only lets off a high pitched ticking sound like a cricket, the engine doesn't turn at all.

When I started pushing it down the hill in neutral as that was the only way I could get it moving, before wacking it in gear, it then suddenly made the cricket sound again but nothing else happened.... what do you reckon that means?

Seperately, I have ordered myself an optimax charger as I will probably end up using that for other things anyway....

cheers chaps

HD · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Karma :

Have you tried running while in neutral then jumping and knocking it in gear?

I normally go in gear then push and drop clutch but you could try the way above I think? Doing the same thing, just a bit harsher on your gears. Maybe run, clutch gear and jump and release all as quick as you can instead?
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