my first issue..... Help!

[P_easy]

Hey all,

I've been off my bike since my speeding ticket, and I pretty much neglected to start the bike in the two weeks since that happened. I went out today to just start the bike and clean her up a bit as I'm getting a new front tire for it, but she won't start!

The specifics,

the bike is my '84 VF500 Interceptor. I haven't had any issues like this so far as far as starting the bike goes, except for maybe giving a bit of throttle to get the bike started. Anyway, I did the routine, and tried the electric starter, and the bike will crank but won't turn over. I sat there for a bit and tried different amounts of choke, throttle, to no avail. It sounds like the bike is cranking slowly, not the normal quick starter noise I normally. I initially thought it might be the battery, but I took a multimeter to it and the battery is reading 12V. I'm gonna go back out and see if I can work my way down the wire to find any faulty connections or something.

thanks in advance,

P

[Doc]

Call me. You still have my number right?

[richw]

12v at the battery does NOT indicate how much cranking amps when turning over nor does it indicate voltage when starter engaged.

Most electronics are dead below 10 volts so no spark

JUst jump it from your car or charge it and bump start it

[Doc]

Before you do that come get my battery charger.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maintenance/battery.htm

[P_easy]

Ok I have replaced the battery with a fresh one, which was clearly overdue. After just giving it a quick try, the engine is trying but cant seem to turn over into idle. I tried different combos of Choke and Throttle, but couldn't even seem to make a difference as to the sound the engine was producing. Does anybody have some preliminary suggestions as to why this is happening? I'm guessing that the carbs may be dirty or something because the bike was basically just sitting outside under an overhang with a cover over it. Then again, I have no idea, as this is my first time having the bike not start on command!

Thanks in advance,

P

[butcher bergs]

Dirty carbs, sticky floats, residents in the air box, water in the fuel...shall I continue?

[Stiggy]

I suggest the ol' tapping of the float bowl trickery.

[richw]

Could gas be getting into/past the carbs so motor is flooded

Air cleaner off

Starter fluid INto carbs with raised slides

full throttle cranking check e stop please

tell us what happened.

[P_easy]

looking into possibility of carb floodage now.....

[Doc]

Call me. You still have my number right?

erhmmm....

[j4eric]

i hear flood.....

[GNTurbo6]

Does your petcock have a prime setting? If so, use it.

[OreoGaborio]

Could gas be getting into/past the carbs so motor is flooded

Air cleaner off

Starter fluid INto carbs with raised slides

full throttle cranking check e stop please

tell us what happened.

Never been a fan of starter fluid..... if it's not starting right it's not starting right. Starter fluid may get it to start but it won't fix the problem.

[SVRACER01]

kill switch?

[richw]

Starting fluid

it will run if the ignition works... no pop ignition problem

If everything is gas soaked then the fluid pops will help clear it.

If this has it run for a second a couple of times and then dies its fuel.

It isn't going to damage anything

[butcher bergs]

^^

It certainly can damage things, Rich. It strips the oil from critical parts such as cylinder walls and valves (which can mean seals and/ or guides, possibly rings too)

I'm with Pete on this, if the thing ain't starting it's time to zero in on the issue. Diagnosing whether it's fuel or spark related is easy.

[richw]

Well if your worried about oil being dissolved I would put any other solvents in there either ...like say Gasoline ?

just squirt squirt is all

[butcher bergs]

Gasoline is petrol-based....starting fluid is not. There's a "slight" difference.

As a fun test, put a drop of oil on some metallic surface. Now put a drop of gas on that oil...watch what happens.

Do the same thing with starting fluid. You'll see a difference.

[richw]

I can't I snort it

[P_easy]

I have just managed to pop off the air cleaner, since i have been so busy recently with classes starting and everything. Surprisingly enough, the carbs ARE NOT flooded, as far as I can tell at least. everything looks dry in there, and there is no overpowering gasoline smell.

P

[dontpanic]

I used to have a VF1000R that developed a hard-starting problem. Turned out to be the choke cable having gone out of adjustment. Even when I thought it was engaged, it wasn't.

[DuncanMoto]

I have just managed to pop off the air cleaner, since i have been so busy recently with classes starting and everything. Surprisingly enough, the carbs ARE NOT flooded, as far as I can tell at least. everything looks dry in there, and there is no overpowering gasoline smell.

P

Now it sounds like the float bowls are stuck closed or you're out of gas. Tap the bowls. Or make sure you have enough gas. Probably turn it to reserve instead of on. Check for kinks in fuel line. Check for lose or popped off vacuum line. There may be a vacuum fuel pump on that model.

[P_easy]

Now it sounds like the float bowls are stuck closed or you're out of gas. Tap the bowls.

I was just about to ask if it is possible for the bowls to be stuck in the closed position, allowing no fuel through. This would make sense since it seems like my throttle is not doing anything when I crank it.

hoping to put in some time on this in the next few days.....

thanks

P

[DuncanMoto]

I was just about to ask if it is possible for the bowls to be stuck in the closed position, allowing no fuel through. This would make sense since it seems like my throttle is not doing anything when I crank it.

hoping to put in some time on this in the next few days.....

thanks

P

I would say rare, but possible.

[P_easy]

When I am looking down from this angle into the carbs, and I roll on the throttle, should I be seeing moving parts? Currently rolling the throttle does nothing, and I can't see anything inside the engine moving. I can see the cable is being actuated at the throttle, but I am uncertain as to whether or not the part of the carbs I am looking at is the fuel/air mixing component.

-P