1992 Bandit GSF 400 won't fire

[Indianapolis]

Hello folks!

I also posted this on the Bandit Alley discussion forum today, no you aren't seeing double

I'm new here, I've been reading lots of posts on the GSF400. Great info! I am by no stretch of the imagination a mechanic. I'm more suited with welding and fabrication.
I just purchased a 1992 Bandit 400. The bike has 6,200 miles on it and looks nearly new. VERY little wear. Bad news is that it won't run.
Here is the story from the second owner: Bike purchased from original owner with 4,000 miles in 2011. Ridden for 2,000 miles in summer of 2011 until on day while riding in a sudden rain the bike ran rough and stalled out. Carbs were gone through and cleaned at this point and bike still refused to run so it was put in the corner of a garage and left until now.
Fast forward 4 years...I come along and buy the bike for not much money. I have the bike at a mechanic shop that specializes in Suzuki and is really experienced with fuel system, carbs and such.
He put a new battery in, cleaned the carbs entirely (pointed out that they had been drilled, he said the screws were backed out quite a bit, four turns I think) new spark plugs. He has an IV bag hooked up with fuel and the engine cranks strong but won't fire. He will clean the tank when he gets the bike to run and will change oil and oil filter. With starting fluid (ether) still nothing. He says the plugs spark against the block but not as bright blue as he thinks they should. He is stumped and asked that I look up some info on the web.
Using the search function here I came across a few posts that make me think that it may be the CDI. I can get capacitors and have an IT guy at work that can easily swap them out, he is great with circuit boards and such . I'll wait to do this until I for sure know it is the problem.
I keep thinking back on what the guy said about it stalling out in the rain, anyways, can anyone help troubleshoot this?

Thanks in advance, I know a heck of a first post

[bradh511]

I would suspect rain got into somewhere and caused said problem.. has he tried new plugs tested the coils.. and test the pickups ( magneto ) then it most likely to be cdi check and the kill switch

Also has anyone done a compression check ?

Also are the plugs getting wet when being cranked ?

All the best

Brad
____________________
Theory 11-10-12 lets hope i get mod 1 and 2 done by the 18th of jan 2013

[doggone]

It seems a bit odd a Suzuki mechanic asked you to look for advice by searching online forums.

If not fuel it will usually be electrical, usually if there is a spark it would at least attempt to fire.
If the mileage and history is genuine it's probably unlikely the timing has been interfered with but that's something else which could be mucked up by earlier attempts to fix it.

[bypass2]

Maybe a faulty side stand switch if it as one fitted. Faulty kill switch spray some WD 40 in it.

[Fisty]

Classic bandit 400 CDI symptoms I am afraid.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Indianapolis]

[Indianapolis]

[Indianapolis]

[Indianapolis]

[Indianapolis]

[Indianapolis]

UPDATE!:

Here is the deal. I got all the 5 big capacitors and the two transistors for the CDI and gave it to the IT guy at work. After a week he brought it in today and and I went straight to the mechanics after work tonight and plugged it in. wewewewwewehVRRRRROOOOOOMMMM! Fired up in about 5 seconds. Last time it ran was 2011. It blew out some smoke for a minute but settled down. Purred nicely, engine ran smooth.


Now for the bad. Mechanic had a spray bottle of water and 3 of the 4 pipes were crazy hot the one on the right was hot, but obviously not as hot as the others. Maybe the carb has a clogged jet, valve stuck? Where do I go from here?