SuzukiSavage.com - After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start

raydawg

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After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
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 Angry

Thanks

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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18099 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #1 - 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.
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raydawg

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Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Reply #2 - 01/03/16 at 15:25:22

Dave wrote 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.

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 Grin

Thanks Dave!

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pg Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 5273 In Transit	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #3 - 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,
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28663 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #4 - 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...
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raydawg Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 11551 pacific northwest Gender:	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #5 - 01/03/16 at 18:15:22 Serowbot wrote 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... No piggy bank, I am praying for you to hit. Forget the battery, just get me a new bike
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #6 - 01/03/16 at 22:24:57 Voltmeters take the guesswork out
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Rodger

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Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Reply #7 - 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.

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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18099 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #8 - 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).
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Rodger Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 256	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #9 - 01/05/16 at 17:38:36 Good suggestion, Dave...I should have put that as #1, ahead of voltage & hydrometer checks.
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raydawg

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Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Reply #10 - 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 Grin

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“The biggest big business in America is not steel, automobiles, or television. It is the manufacture, refinement and distribution of anxiety.”—Eric Sevareid (1964)

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Kenny G Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com The Singles Club...LOL Posts: 1754 Robson Ranch, Denton, Texas Gender:	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #11 - 01/06/16 at 20:09:38 RayDawg, Good Luck! Kenny G
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Art Webb Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3007 columbus, Texas Gender:	Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start Reply #12 - 01/07/16 at 08:10:43 good luck
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Drey

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Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Reply #13 - 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=...

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Dave

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Re: After sitting 2 weeks, she won't start
Reply #14 - 01/07/16 at 10:42:39

Drey wrote 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=...

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

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