I screwed up and flooded it

[racer]

I returned from a two week trip on the FJR, no problems. Washed the bike, and not thinking, started it up and rode it into the garage. Now four weeks later, classic symptoms, turns over great, won't start, smell of gas. WFO on the throttle has not worked. So, having this happen a couple years ago, I replaced the plugs, and the two year old battery. It almost fired off, but its still flooded.

So now, I've removed the plugs again, dried them, and pushed the bike with the plugs out and in gear for a couple hundred feet to try and purge the cylinders of excess fuel.

So my question, when I try again to start the bike, should I open the throttle WFO from the beginning, or leave it closed?

 

[Geezer]

I would charge the battery fully, open the throttle all the way, then try the starter.

 

[JR'SFJR]

I recently did the wide open throttle without success when it smelled like gas. I cycled the inition coils and spark plugs, getting a "woof" sound by lighting off the flooded cylinders and then it started!!!!. Don't know if it will work next time, but it only takes a couple of mins. to try. It's easier than letting it sit a while or pulling the plugs. To do this, enter diag codes(push in the two dash buttons for a few secs. after turning the ign. key on, then push the buttons in again for a couple of secs.) Toggle to #30(cyl 1 +4) and fire the spark plugs with the kill switch(go on and off). Toggle to #31(cyl) 2 +3). Repeat. Unless you lift the tank up and disconnect the fuel pump, the pump runs while doing this, so you can't hear the spark plugs, but I heard the "woof" in the exhaust. Worked for me.

 

[radman]

Hold throttle WFO, but ALSO do not cycle the key between starting attempts! You just re pressurize the rail and you begin anew. Crank for 15 seconds, stop and release the throttle, but leave the key on. Wait a minute (at least, for starter cooling) then crank WFO again for 15 seconds. He'll go.

 

[S76]

When I had this problem I unpluged the wires to the fuel pump and cranked with throttle open. It started quickly then died of course. I plugged the pump back in and it started right up.

 

[radman]

When I had this problem I unpluged the wires to the fuel pump and cranked with throttle open. It started quickly then died of course. I plugged the pump back in and it started right up.

Accomplishes the same thing, denying fuel to an already flooded engine. WFO throttle, lacking a crank signal, shuts down injector flow. Key cycling though keeps running the pump for 2 seconds each time, complicating the attempt.

 

[racer]

She lives! Fifteen seconds into the WFO procedure, and she fired right up. Thanks Geezer and Radman, you guys are the best when it comes to FJR's. Thanks also Jr'sFJR and S76. Those two ideas would seem to work without pulling the plugs to dry things out. Should I ever be this stupid again, I'll either unhooking the fuel pump wire or firing the plugs on the diagnostic screen.

 

[Geezer]

She lives! Fifteen seconds into the WFO procedure, and she fired right up. Thanks Geezer and Radman, you guys are the best when it comes to FJR's. Thanks also Jr'sFJR and S76. Those two ideas would seem to work without pulling the plugs to dry things out. Should I ever be this stupid again, I'll either unhooking the fuel pump wire or firing the plugs on the diagnostic screen.

Cool. Glad your FJR is happy again.

FWIW, I only had this happen to me once. I suspect that it was from starting a cold engine and then shutting it down before it warmed up.

 

[johndaub]

Cool. Glad your FJR is happy again.
FWIW, I only had this happen to me once. I suspect that it was from starting a cold engine and then shutting it down before it warmed up.

That explains what happened to me recently. My Garmin on charging (which should stop when battery charged) drained my battery in 3 days. Then I trickle charged the battery and, to make sure all was OK, I started the bike and immediately shut it down. The next day, it took a lot of cranking to get it started and I could smell gas. I also figured that starting it and immediately shutting it off flooded it.

 

[DonRed7]

My 07' did the 2 second run and stall thing today after sitting for 3 weeks at colder temps. Kinda' scared me at first hearing the cylinders do that.. woomp...woomp...woomp noise. Let it sit for an hour or so and then got it going with the perscribed WFO method. I think that short bursts followed by waiting for 10 or so secs seems to be more effective than cranking for longer periods. Heard lots of popping and farting between attempts but when she catches you better be ready to get off the twister. THANKS GUYS!!

Cheers

-Don