Honda hornet starting issues wanting to sell

[tomf05]

Guys and girls,

Time has finally come to sell my 98' Honda hornet. I have had it for about 4 years and it's been my first big bike. I have used the bike fairly regularly in summer months and have generally laid it up over winter.

In truth it's not had a huge amount of use and having moved up to london for work living in a flat it not really feeling viable to maintain and use.

So I want to sell and have bought the bike up to do so, however it now isn't starting. I suspect due to the lack of use a carb problem although I suspect new fuel and plugs may help too. Problem is in th flat there's not really opportunity to do a lot of work in a clean sheltered environment with lots of tools. But I also don't want to shell out cash if I'm going to sell.

Does anyone have any advice either how to fix or best way to sort it? Bike is a great runner once it's going and don't want to undervalue it just because I don't have the resources for it!!

Cheers

[Bezzer]

Charge the battery and treat it to some new plugs along with some fresh fuel probably just wants a decent run if it was alright before.
____________________
I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite so sure.

[Scotsman37]

How long did you have it sitting on it's side stand without the engine being turned over the winter period? Sometimes if you stood for far to long then your carbs may need to be cleaned due to it clogging up in causing fuel starvation!

You could try some fuel treatment into fuel tank maybe even spraying some carb clearner into the air intake by removing air filter to get at it, and do a run & start on a sloped area except there isn't that many in London area.

Like the person mentioned do give the battery good charge up because even with them if you leave it discharged for far to long then you may end up needing a possible replacement battery, as it can no longer hold a charge properly!

Otherwise if after volt meter check on the battery shows the battery to be good and maintains greater than 12v when trying to start the bike then you need to possibly start looking at the carbs and maybe even new plugs for good measure, as you already know the carbs maybe the culprit if you've left it on it's side stand for far to long...!

WD40 your connector blocks for good measure for a possible dry connection just in case of electrical problem, and DOUBLE check your fuses!

[tomf05]

Thanks for the responses guys. It was stood for probably around 5/6 months as I moved up to london and didn't have anywhere for it. I then rode it up here a week or so ago it was a bit difficult to start but I thought nothing of it as it sometime is after a long period and it rode fine on the trip once it got going.

I topped up the fuel and rode about 100 miles so wouldn't really expect the fuel to be dodgy, it's since had another full tank too. It's now been stood a week again as I couldn't get it to start. All signs kinda point to carbs, battery was recently replaced last summer but I spose over the winter and with the starting efforts since may need a change again unfortunately.

Tried spraying in some Wynns carb cleaner earlier and although it did kick in once I think it was just due to the solvent as it immediately died. So I'm clearly getting some spark, hence me thinking its carbs. I'm just hoping it does start again so I can add some additive in the tank and take it for a blast to avoid shelling out a load for a carb overhaul as with no inside space and a tiny toolset anything like that would be tricky myself.

All this in mind with the fact I'd like to sell it, bit of a pain

[Llama-Farmer]

Definitely spray some carb cleaner in. The fuel has most likely turned to gel and blocked the carb jets.

I found that when I went to New Zealand and left the bike for 5 months... battery was fine when I got back, but just wouldn't start, or jump start, or bump start.

In the end just trailered it to local bike shop as it needed an MOT anyway and paid them a very reasonable amount to strip the carbs and clean them, clean the inside of the tank and get the MOT on. Oh and replace the front tyre valve and re-balance the wheel.
____________________
Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[69.9mph]

Whereabouts in the country are you?

[tomf05]

Thanks all very much for your responses. I went back out determined that Sunday wouldn't be spent grumpy. And low and behold bump it running down the road.

The carb cleaner has definitely helped, may well bung some additive in the tank too so this week on the way to work it cleans out proper.

That said, bike is still for sale. Looking for £1500 for W reg 2000 hornet with 17k miles. Good offers will be considered. Please note although picture shows bike is stored outside has only been for past two weeks has been in the garage when it's not being ridden for past 4 years.

69.9 I'm in South West london.

Cheers all again for your help.

[tomf05]

Managed to bump it*

[69.9mph]

Not too far from me then.

I may be interested if there's some movement on the price.

[Scotsman37]

Still looks good for not being used that much!

[tomf05]

It is! It was when I got it and if tried to look after it as much as poss and keep on riding. Unfortunately the realisation of how little I do use it has prompted me to sell so someone can make use of it and not waste it.

But generally it's Avery neat little bike and will do someone very well

[Llama-Farmer]

A bottle of Putoline fuel stabiliser will treat about 3 tanks of my Hornet... although I only really use it if its gonna stand for more than a couple months.

Even though I've not been riding much the last couple of months, I've still been here so every week I've been plugging in the Optimate and every other week I've been starting up the bike and warming it up, getting oil/water circulating and fresher fuel through the lines.

(It's not so much "old fuel" that does it, its that in the carbs the fuel can oxidise and go all manky, apparently its to do with the ethanol content of fuels now, bike shop near me say they never really saw this problem several years ago unless the bike had literally been sat for years.)
____________________
Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R