Suzuki FZ50 (Suzy) won't start.

ninja_butler · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Oct 2011 Karma :

On the plus side it went through the MOT retest, but it was cutting out on the way there and completely gave up on the way back! I don't know if it's related, but I noticed that the headlight pilot light isn't working - I was lucky it went through the MOT retest; it was working before; it's a new bulb so it must be a wiring issue. Is it a clue?

I've checked the fuel tap diaphragm (and now I stink of petrol and I can't remember if I put the rubbers in the right way round) and it looks fine, I also opened up the carb; I haven't done a proper inspection but the bowl looks clean enough, a bit of staining but no gack in there.

Tomorrow I'll try squirting a bit of petrol direct into the sparkplug hole to see if it starts up, I don't know much about fixing bikes but I'm guessing either the fuel isn't getting to the engine or the spark plug is bad. The previous problems I've had with the FZ have been down to broken wires and bad earths so I'm wondering if that could still be an issue?

I know the engine should be okay because it was just fitted with a new piston and rings, and the oil pump was fixed. The ignition coil is new too. Also I've just fitted a new exhaust.

Meatybeaty · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Apr 2016 Karma :

Could be dirt in the fuel line and blocked,light could be a side issue or like you say a bad earth somewhere, back to investigating Thumbs Up

bypass2 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Sep 2013 Karma :

fuel cap vent maybe blocked. see if it will start without the fuel cap on

ninja_butler · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Oct 2011 Karma :

Well, it's not running with the petrol cap off, but I will check the fuel lines aren't blocked. They're not blocked between the fuel tank and the fuel tap, but I haven't checked from the fuel tap to the carb. Something to put on the to-do list.

Thumbs Up

edit* Correction: I just remembered the carb was full so that rules out the fuel pipes. Could it be that the carb needs adjusting? I can't imagine that the bike would go from running intermittently to suddenly not running at all but I guess it's possible.

bypass2 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 12 Sep 2013 Karma :

sounds like to much petrol. float height may need adjusting or float sticking.

ninja_butler · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Oct 2011 Karma :

I think I might halve solved it! I don't know yet because I have to wait for a new spark plug to arrive in the post, but the spark plug on the FZ is an NGK B6HS; I happened to look up the price of a new spark plug and the result I got shows "BPR4HS" for the Suzuki FZ50.
Wrong spark plug.

I feel rather pleased with myself at the moment. Smile

edit*
Yep, it was the spark plug. Thumbs Up