Not starting

[edb]

Hi all,

Apologies for yet another thread about a bike not starting. I've searched on here and other forums but so far haven't had any luck with a solution

My bike:
2004 Honda Hornet

My problem:
It wont start!
Bike hasn't really been sat over winter, just hardly ridden.
I took the tank off so that I could adjust the throttle return cable, and other than that (which started sticking out of the blue) I've only had a problem where it wasn't holding charge.

What I done tried:
- Took the tank back off, checked everything was plugged in to all the right places. No kinks in any hoses, tank wasn't resting on what I believe is the breather hose? I had forgotten to connect the electrics up from tank to bike before trying first time, could this cause a problem despite being reconnected now?
- I thought maybe I'd knocked the idle speed adjuster? Can't see how though now I look at it.

- Topped up with petrol thinking maybe I'd drained it all by trying to start it. No change.

- Drained the float bowls. Honestly no idea what this is for, but a total of about 10ml petrol drained out altogether.

- Had a go at checking the plugs. They look right according to Mr. Haynes. I could only check 1 and 4 because I can't reach 2 and 3, but they're sparking.

- Battery was fully charged and any attempts to start I've done whilst connected to a Datatool

So I'm stumped. I'd be really grateful of any help!

[mentalboy]

What do you mean when you say 'battery isn't holding charge'?
Despite all of your tinkerings the simplest answer is going to be a dead battery. A battery can hold a charge and even sound like it's turning the starter over, how old is the battery - on a bike used daily I'd expect about 4 years out of a battery, I've a mate with one that does very little for 8 months a year and he's replaced the battery every Spring for the last three years.

The reason you'd drain the floats is twofold - condensation can accumulate and make starting a beggar and fuel (especially modern ethanol fuels) go stale very quickly, I've had fuel sit in a bike for three months and it wouldn't start until it had a fresh tank.
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[edb]

Thanks for the reply.
It's just what the RAC man said. The bike cut out whilst going through some traffic. Wouldn't even bump start. This followed on from a few months of occasionally having to bump it, then charging every night.

So when it did die, he put some charge in it and did some electrickery which he said shows it's "not holding charge". I've read that the reg/rec is a common Hornet problem, so it might be this?

I've had the bike for coming on 4 years, and not replaced the battery. I don't know if it has ever been replaced.

I'll give it a shot with a new battery then. I just thought that especially being fully charged (and connected to a charger) it wouldn't be a battery issue...

Thanks for the help

ETA - I forgot to mention that it sounds like it's turning over, and once it even sounded like it was briefly about to burst into life. Usually just ends up draining the battery though.

[mentalboy]

[P.addy]

Got a car battery you can try using with jump leads? If she cranks and fires up, new battery time brah.

[edb]

Sorry to sound ignorant, electricals really aren't my thing, but would it still be the battery even though it's fully charged and connected to a charger?

[edb]

[mentalboy]

Can I ask how long ago it was that the RAC man told you the battery was knackered?

Why would you think that you could start a machine with a battery charger - the clue is in it's name!

You can do whatever anyone else suggests but you've already been told by someone who's tested the battery that it's knackered, quit farting around and get a new battery.
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[P.addy]

Wouldn't attempt a bump start, I'd definitely start with the massive power from a car battery first. I am getting fat however.

[edb]

[mentalboy]

[P.addy]

National grid said no

[Skudd]

What people are trying to say is................. NEW BATTERY TIME.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Ariel Badger]

If only 10ml of fuel came out of the carbs then you have a problem with fuel delivery.
And you need a new battery.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[edb]

So genuine ignorance and many lolz aside, I just thought it might hold the charge while I tried starting. Live and learn

I'll get myself a new battery then. It had been mentioned to me that the reg/rec was the fault, could a new battery be damaged if it was the reg/rec?

[Baffler186]

[Skudd]

[edb]

Thanks so far guys. Unfortunately still no luck.

I've put in a new battery. One of the DIY acid ones, filled (tiny bit of brown trousers when I took the empty acid bottle off and spilt a bit), charged overnight with a Datatool and then left for 6 hours off charge.

After the 6 hours it was still at 13V. Installed with headlights on it drops to 12.2V, drops to 10.6V when pressing the starter.

So back to square one. Can a problem with the side stand switch cause it? I've had it on a maintenance stand, side stand up, in gear with clutch in. Nothing happens. I'm sure I can normally start it in gear but I might be misremembering.

[mentalboy]

Have you tried to start it in neutral?
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[edb]

[mentalboy]

Back to what Ariel said:- fuel delivery issue.

Not familiar with the Hornet but you need to check that fuel is leaving the tank, if it has a vacuum operated tap then make sure that the vacuum hose is connected and not perished.
Check that the fuel pump is actually delivering
Check condition of all fuel delivery hoses - I'm not sure if yours will have upgraded hoses but ethanol fuel trashed the hoses on my '94 machine, they went all gooey.
Once you've done those checks if nothing is improved then you'll be needing to get into the carbs.
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[edb]

It lives!

So it turned out to be a fuel delivery issue, as suggested. The issue being that I'm an idiot that it turns out hadn't plugged it all back in. The vacuum hose was loose

Thank for all the advice though guys, really appreciated