Engine can't start! Please help me....

I did man! This morning I cleaned up the air-filter, added gasoline, and took off all the spark plugs for about 20 min. But, it's not working at all. ><..

Have you done what Patton and kano suggested ?
Then maybe it's not a gas or carb problem afterall and we are back to basics. To run you need spark, fuel and compression.
Do you have spark ? With the plugs removed from the cylinders and with the plug caps attached and the tip of the plug resting against the engine do you see spark when you press the starter ? Do this in a not to brightly lit place.

Recall you put in new spark plugs and later removed them for awhile and replaced them. Are you absolutely certain the spark plug wires from the coils are now attached to the correct plugs? The outside plugs are wires to the left side coil (clutch lever side) and the inside plugs are are wired to the right side coil (brake lever side).

While attempting to crank, is there any firing at all or is it just cranking over as if the spark plugs were not connected?

I concur with JR about the basics: spark, fuel and compression. Just sitting a few days should not affect compression or the ignition system, which leaves fuel as the likely suspect. Fuel includes an adequate supply of clean fuel to the carbs and proper carb functioning to furnish a correct fuel mixture to the engine.

For the moment, let's concentrate on the fuel.

Remove the air filter. Open the gas cap and leave it open. Remove the fuel line hose from the petcock. Place some rags under the petcock to catch gas. Turn the petcock on (or on prime if applicable) to determine whether fuel flows readily from the petcock. Hope for a good full flow. Turn off the petcock. Close the gas cap
and turn on the petcock to test again for flow with gas cap closed. Hope for a good full flow.

Next check to assure the in-line fuel filters are not clogged and that fuel is freely passing through the filters.

At this point, let's say ample clean fuel is reaching the carbs.

It seems doubtful that just sitting a few days leaking gas out the float bowl overflows would disrupt internal carb functioning.

Back to JR's advice -- Assure you have spark at the plugs (do you know how to check for this?)

Now back to Kano's advice about trying starter fluid.
Wear safety glasses. Remove air filter. Attempt to crank in regular manner while spraying starter fluid into air intake. What happens?

Awaiting your report with any further info and test results.

Don't despair -- it may yet turn out being something embarassingly simple. :laugh:

If my engine can't start, I would of gotten a new engine or a new bike. Sorry I don't have any advice to your prob but your post topic makes it look like we are giving you advice for something thats impossible

Don't we have any members that live near you. Maybe you can bribe one of them to come over and give you a hand (beer usually works quite well)

Post edited by: austin3119, at: 2007/01/20 19:56

haha, Thanks a lot, but I will try one more week. If still can't start I will ask someone for help. Also I found out that my spark plugs has some kind of liquid on it. Therefore, I will keep the spark plugs out and keep dry.

Toge wrote:

...spark plugs has some kind of liquid on it. Therefore, I will keep the spark plugs out and keep dry.

Does the liquid smell like gas? Am guessing gas, but the liquid almost has to be either gas, oil or water.

Suggest squirting a quick little spray of starter fluid into the spark plug holes which will help dry out the cylinder combustion chambers.

Then replace spark plugs and repeat cranking proceedure outlined in previous posts.

By the way, when the bike was unattended for three days with petcock left on, was the bike in a gargage or under cover or left outside unprotected in the weather? Was it possibly left outside exposed and unprotected during a storm or other severe wet weather conditions? Have presumed the bike was in an enclosed area because of the strong gas odor detected.

Also, what is the source of the gasoline being used to fill the tank? Are you certain the gasoline is fresh and clean? And hope you didn't use the diesel or 2 stroke mix by mistake.

What were results of the spark check suggested by JR -- are the spark plugs sparking?

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2007/01/21 10:29

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2007/01/21 10:40

Patton,
Thanks a lot. I tried this afternoon, but I found out that one of the spark plug has the liquid- smell not like gas, not oily, it might be water mixed with gas and oil, also the color is light brown with transparent color. I spried some jet cleaner to the place which set the spark plugs, does it work? All the spark plugs are new. My bike always keep in the indoor.

Which cylinder had the liquid on the spark plug?

What color is the liquid on the spark plug?

Have you tested for spark at the ends of the spark plugs with the spark plugs out of the engine?

Are the spark plugs sparking?


When looking through the round oil level sight glass in the clutch cover, what do you see?

With the bike standing level, what is the oil level in the sight glass?

What does the oil look like through the sight glass?

What color is the oil? Does it look like normal oil color or is it a tan color or a milkly brown color?

With engine completely assembled (spark plugs screwed in and wires connected) have you tried to crank the engine while spraying starter fluid into the air intake? What happens?


When was the oil last changed?


The bike ran before you left it for three days with the petcock open. Please describe how it was running. Was it running good?


I am worried that the overflow drain in one of the carbs (the one with liquid on the plug) may be clogged and has allowed fuel to pass through the carb and into the cylinder combustion chamber (but it should smell like gas).

1. It used to be 4 of them, but after I leave them open for one night, the liquid are all gone.

2. The color was sort of brown with trasparent color. I looked like oil. At first time, I thought it was gasoline but I don't smell a lot of gas.

3. How can I test the spark plugs with out of the engine?

4. I believe it is working, I just bought them new.

5. My oil drain was totally rounded so I drained my oil from the oil- filter plug about 10 times...>< I changed to Castro 4 cycle Motorcycle engine oil in 2 month ago.

6. The level is "Up"

7. After I changed them, I could successfuly start the engine. Also the color was light brown with a little green..?

8.Yes, it is milkly brown...

9. I tried hundred times to crank the starter. It sounds almost started but it just never start.

10. Before I left my bike, I ran a cercal around my apartment, everything was fine. Then I changed the cafe race handbar after I had run with my bike. At the time, the gasoline in my tank was very low, almost cannot see the gasoline, but when I shake the bike, I could hearing some gas inside the tank.

11. Yes, I was thinking the same thing as you. But the liquid doesn't smell like gas, and there are no liquid now. Ummm...

May I ask you one question. If one of the spark plug doesn't work is any possibility that bike can successful ignition?

Toge wrote:

If one of the spark plug doesn't work is any possibility that bike can successful ignition?

Bike should start and run with only three cylinders firing. But more difficult to start and runs weaker.

Thanks for the answers and information.

Does fuel still drip from the float bowl overflow tubes with free flow of gasoline into the carbs? Which carbs are still dripping out the overflow tubes?

After the occure, there was no gasoline dripping from the carb. but I could smell some gas after I came back from 3 days trip. I am really appreciated your helping, if we can meet some day in the future, i will buy you a beer man!!