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Message started by raydawg on 01/03/16 at 12:45:58

Title: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by raydawg on 01/03/16 at 12:45:58

Drained the battery almost trying to get her to go.
Seemed good, but no catch.
Plenty of crank, etc.
Tried a squirt of starting fluid into the carb after I pulled the tank, nada.
Pulled the plug, looked good, spark, shot some starting fluid in there, put back, cranked, nada.....
I am thinking its in the carb, gunk from this ethanol, but I woulda thought the starting fluid would have got a cough or sumtin?
Want to ask the wizards first before I go any further.
It has been freezing but is warming enough to ride to work, well, that is if it runs >:(

Thanks

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Dave on 01/03/16 at 15:14:38

Two weeks is too fast for a fuel problem I would suspect, and the bike should have coughed with starting fluid.

I would charge the battery and see what happens.

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by raydawg on 01/03/16 at 15:25:22

63585542535F444259515C43300 wrote:

Two weeks is too fast for a fuel problem I would suspect, and the bike should have coughed with starting fluid.

I would charge the battery and see what happens.

I did get sorta of cough, when I tried again later.
My battery is original from when I bout it 4 years ago new.
I am beginning to think that might be the culprit as it only takes 10 to 15 minutes to put a charge on it before the charger shuts off claiming the battery is charged.
With only a few attempts, careful to avoid causing starter problems, she labors to crank up enough RPM where she normally fires.

I read some of the "help/tech" stuff already provided/shared here, and it said I need a consistent 10V to get spark enough to light, that is what I think I am not getting....

It started to snow, the weather man was wrong, so I won't be riding for a few days anyways, but hey, the lil' ranger 4X4 fired right up ;D

Thanks Dave!

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by pg on 01/03/16 at 16:05:55

My battery is original from when I bout it 4 years ago new.

Wow, I've ever got more than two years out of a battery.

Best regards,

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Serowbot on 01/03/16 at 16:11:54

+1 on the battery... even if it ain't stone dead, it's due...
So, it'll be letting you down again at more inconvenient moment...

Time to break open the piggy bank... :-?

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by raydawg on 01/03/16 at 18:15:22

4D5B4C51495C514A3E0 wrote:

+1 on the battery... even if it ain't stone dead, it's due...
So, it'll be letting you down again at more inconvenient moment...

Time to break open the piggy bank... :-?

No piggy bank, I am praying for you to hit.
Forget the battery, just get me a new bike ;D

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/03/16 at 22:24:57

Voltmeters take the guesswork out

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Rodger on 01/04/16 at 10:54:18

Is your battery an OEM-style "flooded" lead acid battery or a replacement sealed unit?

There are two DIY ways to check a flooded-cell battery. Check the voltage with a voltmeter; a fully charged battery should show about 12.6-12.8 volts. Then use a hydrometer to check the specific gravity of the liquid electrolyte in each cell. I use the small hydrometer with 4 little, color-coded spheres. No spheres floating = dead cell...4 spheres floating = 100% charge. You might find 5 good cells & one weak/dead cell.

A load test of the battery would be good, too, but most auto repair shops or parts stores will have testers for car batteries. Our little cycle batteries don't have nearly the cold cranking amps of a car battery.

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Dave on 01/04/16 at 12:55:27

And....you might just hook the bike up to your car battery with jumper cables and see if the bike will start with the extra power provided by the car battery (Don't have the car/truck running when you do this.....on some bikes the electrical system can be damaged when the car/truck is running).

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Rodger on 01/05/16 at 17:38:36

Good suggestion, Dave...I should have put that as #1, ahead of voltage & hydrometer checks.

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by raydawg on 01/06/16 at 17:45:40

Napa had the exact battery I needed. I bought it for 60 bucks, looks to be the same as OEM. Came with a new vent tube, hardware, and the chemicals to fill it. I am charging it now at 1.5 amps.
Won't get around to installing it till the weekend.

Just for giggles I tried to start her again, she seems to want to go, but the crank dies off within a few seconds.
I don't think it matters, but, I have the tank off, the bowl should have enough in it to get her to start, right, just not run very long?

Wish me luck ;D

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by KennyG on 01/06/16 at 20:09:38

RayDawg,

Good Luck!

Kenny G

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Art Webb on 01/07/16 at 08:10:43

good luck

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Drey on 01/07/16 at 10:39:42

Hey guys. I'm having essentially identical problems. I'm sure it's the battery but want to be sure before tearing apart the bike (why is the darn thing buried so deep?) on the side of the road (no garage).

I'm wondering what you think of a voltmeter that attaches to battery tender pigtails? I don't have a battery tender or a way to plug it in if I did but the previous owner had it installed. Thought it might save me some trouble... thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DJ5KE9A/ref=s9_simh_gw_g263_i1_r?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1VZRE5XPQAH15Z00CG4M&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Dave on 01/07/16 at 10:42:39

5659584745564F170 wrote:

Nothing wrong with that Voltmeter method.....it would give you an idea if the battery is holding a charge.

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Rodger on 01/07/16 at 13:51:51

@Drey

First thing I did after riding new S40 home was to install a battery tender pigtail. My multimeter doesn't have a matching plug in, but I connect it to the pigtail with 2 alligator clip leads...works fine.

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by Drey on 01/09/16 at 10:57:51

Thanks, guys! I was about to ask for battery recommendations but see it's in the tech docs.

Title: She lit w/ a new battery....
Post by raydawg on 01/09/16 at 15:12:11

Put the new battery in, and she fired up.
The only problem is the vent is on the neg side, arg.
Keeps it from pushing all the way in.
I can do a little mod for it, no biggie, just glad she is running again.

His is my original post: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1451853958/15#15

Thanks for everyone's input ;D

Title: Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Post by raydawg on 01/10/16 at 11:13:39

Got her all back together and took her for a chilly ride ;D