Not starting after riding 250 KMS ! .....it did start after 15 minutes

[slick72]

Hello Gurus,

Good evening !

Today had a 400 kms run to the hills and back with a bunch of riders ( mix of CBR600, R1, BMW1200 R, Concourse 1400, HD roadking & RSV4), this ride was after I had changed oil in my fork ( there was a slight leak from left tube and changed both oil seals, changed the oil as well ) the suspension settings were set to Hard and the ride was very good ( was able to go to the last 1/2 inch on the outer edge ......

, Really proud of myself !) after finishing 300 kms stopped for fuel , the bike refused to start and was a bit shocked

and the guys were pulling my leg by saying that the oil change has caused the starting problem

, I checked the battery (Odot told me so last time I had a problem ) , the bike has done 5000kms after change of engine oil and spark plug change , cleaned the airfilter ( the present ODO reading is 15009 kms , do i need to change the airfilter ?) and on a coulpe of times I filled up to the brim and there was some fine dust in the neck of the tank (did some dust get in? will it cause this problem), the raditor fan was working and the reading on the temp bar was 3 above the half mark ,and it started after 15 the temp bar came to half mark , took it of the side stand , pulled in the clutch lever and it started with oout a fuss .

What could be the problem ? I will be changing the oil and spark plugs tomorrow should I also change the air filter , do we have a fuel filter ? should it also be change you inputs please .

PS . it true that if you have ABS one of the tubes will hold little less fork oil?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200285440570154&set=oa.436155639794338&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200285438050091&set=oa.436155639794338&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

 

[ahchiu]

How old is the battery? if it's the original it may be going bad, battery life around 4-5 yrs

 

[slick72]

Hello ,

The battery is 12 months old and had it checked found it in good condition three days ago.

Ride Safe ,

Slick 72

 

[SkooterG]

None of what you describe would have caused the starting issue. And ABS has no effect on the amount of fork oil.

 

[John d]

Check to make sure the battery terminal screws are clean and tight.

 

[ahchiu]

Check to make sure the battery terminal screws are clean and tight.

+1

 

[slick72]

Hello,

Will check battery tomorrow , during the engine oil change , What is the life of Spark plug ?

Ride Safe,

Slick 72

 

[SkooterG]

Spark plugs have nothing to do with it.

That being said, Yamaha specifies to replace them every 8,000 miles, but most of us don't do that as that is ridiculous. I ran my last set of plugs 38,000 miles with no ill effects.

 

[slick72]

Hello,

Thanks for the help and I was very skeptical to post today as it was friday and dint want to become friday fodder , lucky its bit early and atleast -10 hours .................

Ride safe ,

Slick 72

 

[wfooshee]

Starting after sitting for 15 minutes indicates a hot-start issue. 99% of those are battery. The rest are starter.

Checking that the battery has at least 12 volts at rest is NOT a battery test. Eight AAAs in series will have 12 volts, but they won't start a motorcycle! The battery has to be load-tested to be sure it's a good battery.

 

[slick72]

Hello Wfooshee,

I will be checking the load of the battery tomorrow it was tested 3 days ago I will still do it ( They dont ask for money to load check......... El Chepo Indian

) .

Ride safe ,

Slick 72

 

[mcatrophy]

"Bike refused to start" - did the starter turn the engine? Since you say it started when you took it off the sidestand and pulled in the clutch and it started, was it an interlock preventing the starter motor from turning?

If the starter turned the motor, was it a normal cranking speed? If it was sluggish, it's an electrical problem (battery, connections, starter solenoid or whatever).

It sounds as if your engine had soaked up to a highish temperature. I'm not aware of any particular problems in hot starting, but that's a possibility, consistent with starting after 15 minutes.

 

[slick72]

Hello Mactrophy,

Before stoping was riding very hard for close to 100 kms and for speeding at indicated 230 km/h for 7 to 10 minutes

and then came in to a fuel station for a nicotine fix as others needed fuel , the motorcycle was parked infront of a couple of HD roadkings and when they staryed to I went to move mine out of the way it dint start , the first crank was good and came to life for a second and cut off then tried four more times and with same result , all my fellow riders suggested to let it cool and then try to start it again.

After 15 minutes I took it of side stand and pulled in the clutch to elminate the switch issue and it started with out any problem and rode it for close 100 kms home and no issue and before going on duty I started it it started fine I normally press the starter switch for 2 seconds and it fired kept in idle for 7 minutes and switched it off. Am taking it to workshop tomorrow to change oil and spark plug will try to check the electricals aswell, and thanks for your inputs - much appriciated.

Ride safe,

Slick 72

 

[mcatrophy]

Sounds like the engine would have had a lot if heat in it after your little(?) run. I would suspect fuel vapour lock, although I've never heard of it before on an FJR. But then I've never heard of running at such a high speed in (presumeably) high ambient temperatures, stopping, and trying to start before the engine heat has had time to dissipate.

But that's a pure guess on my part. And, if that is the case, there's probably nothing you can do other than wait for it to cool off a bit, as you did.

 

[slick72]

hello Macatrophy,

I did open the petrol tank cover to release any vapour .......... did a lot of things to make sure I dint have to travel back in a recovery truck.............. and the ambient temperature was around 25 to 30 centigrade was cool ( UAE standards it gets very hot for close to 6 month touching 50 degree centigrade .

Ride Safe,

Slick72

 

[SkooterG]

Sounds like the engine would have had a lot if heat in it after your little(?) run. I would suspect fuel vapour lock, although I've never heard of it before on an FJR. But then I've never heard of running at such a high speed in (presumeably) high ambient temperatures, stopping, and trying to start before the engine heat has had time to dissipate.
But that's a pure guess on my part. And, if that is the case, there's probably nothing you can do other than wait for it to cool off a bit, as you did.

I've done your high speed run in relatively high ambient temps with shut-down followed closely by re-start many a time with never any issues. Don't think an FJR can vapor lock with a fuel pump sending putting the fuel under some decent pressure.

This could have been just a one time anomaly. Or something simple like battery, or one of the safety switches.

 

[mcatrophy]

Slick -

We're not talking about vapour in the tank, but in the fuel lines, where the petrol vaporises due to excessive heat. I suspect Scooter is right, that vapour lock is most unlikely in a fuel injection system because of the high fuel pressure used.

But, starting then cutting sounds more like a fuel issue than an electrical problem.

I also notice you say you press the starter for 2 seconds. If you always release the starter after 2 seconds, then maybe the engine simply hadn't caught properly? I press my starter button untilthe engine has definitely caught. That's usually about 2 seconds, but sometimes it's less, occasionally it needs more than 2.

 

[Chuck35]

If the ethanol content is to high I have seen vapor lock issues on EFI vehicles.

 

[slick72]

Hello Gurus,

Good evening!

I had my FJR serviced changed the oil and whilst opening the Spark plugs 3 were loose !!! and I kinda think that was the problem , Now does it happen if not what is the schedule to check (if any !) any ways I think the culprit was the spark plugs , I added new oil - photos https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=630861083596039&set=a.260868820595269.89630.100000164604344&type=1&relevant_count=1.

Thanks a lot for all you suggestions !

Ride safe

Slick72