After shipping...wont start! help!
 

Hi there,

This is actually a question about an XTZ750, but im hoping anyone can help me! We have just recieved our bike after shipping it fom Vancouver to Wellington. Prior to shipping, we did all the usual..drained oil and petrol, disconncected the battery etc. It was in freight for at the most 4 and a half weeks.
It arrived on the weekend, my partner put it all back together....and she wont start. The engine turns over, but just wont kick in. Weve charged the battery in a battery charger, but because we keep trying to start it over and over, the battey keeps dying and its juices are never really at its maximum.
We checked the spark plugs, the oil is full, full petrol.
Has anyone had this problem after shipping? And can anyone lend any advice on what this could be? It is an old bike, 1990, but the motor has been so strong. We had some problems in Mexico with the voltage regulator, so maybe this has had a lasting effect on the battery??
Please help!
Thanks.
CM

If the engine turns over and plug is sparking maybe its a petrol problem? Is the bowl of the carb full of petrol? Maybe theres a blockage somewhere? You could try removing the plug/s turning over the engine with your thumb over the hole and seeing if it gets wet from petrol. This is a trick used on Bullets to make sure the carb jet ain't blocked, wether it would work on your bike I don't know but it might be worth a try?
Matt

check all the basics. you say you have checked the plugs, but have you checked for a spark itself? - take the plug out, fasten it back in the HT lead cap, and gently hold the electrode aagainst an earth on the bike (usually the metal cylinder head is fine) - turn the bike over and watch the plug, there should be a strong, fat, blue spark. (DONT hold onto the metal bit of the plug! i use insulated pliers to hold the HT cap. the shocks not dangerous (heart conditions excepted), but is unpleasant)

if you have a good spark it will almost certainly be the petrol / fuelling. carefully look over the whole system for leaks, clean your airfilter etc etc. i suggect running half a litre of the freshest, highest grade petrol you can get your hands on through each float bowl (there will be a nozzle next to the drain plug you can plug a hose onto, easier to catch!). this will wash out any lose dirt or gum.

if it still doesn't start, then it maybe a tad more serious... my money would be on a combination of the below...
a) gone off petrol having left gum in the pilot jets... you need the carbs off, and ideally ultrasonically cleaned - modern fuel is crap, goes off quick and leaves a very sticky, insoluable gum. sadly pilot jets are small, delicate inacessable holes...
b) its the yamaha 5 valve (per cylinder) head on the xtz isn't it? notorious for the inlet valve clearences closing up, which causes difficult starting. if this is the case, then the valve clearences MUST BE DONE or its goodbye head (and wallet). they should be dome about every 16K miles, but personal experience with that head design on several bikes (tdm, trx, yzf) makes me advise check them every 10!

good luck, hope it helps!


dan

Firstly check for a spark at the plug(as described above),if ok then;

Check valve clearances;

Remove carbs and clean out float bowls(an old toothbrush and a bit of fresh petrol will do the trick).

I assume you've got fresh,new petrol in the tank(not the old stuff you had in the auxilliary tank(s)).As mentioned before modern petrol goes off very quickly.

If you had to remove the handlebars to get it in the crate,maybe the engine kill-switch isn't plugged in/has a dodgey connection?



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Just going for a short ride on my bike....

When checking for spark be carefull, if engine is flooded petrol can come out through plug hole right next to where you are holding spark plug checking for spark resulting in FIRE.
If possible I would try bump starting your bike may have to find a hill or get someone to tow you.
Good luck

Re: towing above,
heres a good tip for towing a motorbike, pass the rope a turn or two round the handle bars and hold it in place rather than tieing it in place. If it all goes pear shaped you might want to get rid of that tow rope sharpish!
Matt

Thanks for your tips everyone,

It turned out to be some of the wires from the battery were a bit freyed and werent totally connected...just as well we didnt take the whole thing apart!!!

ahhh, so good to have two wheels again!

I hope that's your bit of bad luck out of the way for the journey(there's always one).Enjoy your trip!

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Just going for a short ride on my bike....