How fast does hydrolock occur

[Sergeant D]

So here's my situation...rode the bike home after work, stopped to talk to a neighbor for 30 seconds, turned off the bike, made a quick comment and then hit the starter button.  Nothing, first thought was starter switch or nuetral switch or even side stand switch.  Didn't have time to look too deeply at it last night, putting my hopes on the starter relay switch.  So, question is, can hyrolock occur in less than a minute?

[Valkorado]

If you didn't hear a clunk, I'm guessing it is your switch.  The real experts will have more suggestions on what to look for.

[Patrick]

Sure, a fuel-lock can happen that fast. But, like Valkorado said, it sounds like something else. The fuel-lock will show itself as a 'CLANK'. If nothing at all happens, it sounds as though you may have 'bumped' the kill switch.

[Chrisj CMA]

First do the starter button maintenance, thats what it sounds like to me, the starter button.  You can try getting ready to start and if nothing happens then hit the starter button several times in a row, it will usually work like that intermittenly as it starts to go bad

[ptgb]

The starter button is probably the culprit. It is not uncommon with the Valk as power to the headlight run through the starter switch. Here's some reading on it:

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/VSGPages/starterbutton.htm

[R J]

I'll put my $$$$$ on the Bay Nag in the 5th race, with 22 to 1 odds.

Bay Nag = KILL SWITCH.............

[da prez]

  J I C (just in case) , remove the spark plugs. It is cheap insurance JIC.

                                 da prez
                                                 

[SpidyJ]

  J I C (just in case) , remove the spark plugs. It is cheap insurance JIC.

                                 da prez
                                                 

+10,000!!

[Rio Wil]

RJ's got it.....KILL SWITCH

[salty1]

  J I C (just in case) , remove the spark plugs. It is cheap insurance JIC.

                                 da prez
                                                 

Absolutely, then you can follow through with the other suggestions. FWIW

[Patrick]

Rio Will, do you read all the responses ?

[Hoser]

Has anyone looked at the kill switch?  I think it's a good chance, like RJ and Rio and Patrick.  Come on, fess up, we've all done it.  Hoser    hoser

[dreamchaser]

I am sure I am the only one who has spent 1.5 hrs trying to get my bike to start only to find out that it wasn't in neutral.  I was really humbled and my wife laughed on and off for 2 hrs

[vanagon40]

I am sure I am the only one who has spent 1.5 hrs trying to get my bike to start only to find out that it wasn't in neutral.  I was really humbled and my wife laughed on and off for 2 hrs

I hate to hijack a thread, but I spent days and weeks trying to start an old Honda with no key in the ignition switch.  DOH!!!

[salty1]

I hate it when sheeeeet happens!     

[Rio Wil]

Rio Will, do you read all the responses ?

Chuckle......sometimes yes, sometimes no      Ya gotta admit RJ's was more creative.....just like a politician  you can assign credit to whom ever you want and that's what history see's!!

[Sergeant D]

Update, it was and is the starter switch.  Did the Rattlebars maintenance thing, worked for a second, but it sticks awefully bad, so I will be ordering a new one.  $80 for a ten cent switch...disgusting!

I will kepp the old as a spare, "just in case".  Had to cancel my ride to pick up my new Black Powder revolvers...bummed all around but sure glad it wasn't hydrolock.  BTW, the Valkyrie Service Manual doesn't account for a bad starter switch other than it may be faulty.  Thanks for the help and suggestions everyone.  I may even do the whole bypass thing, but the old one lasted 16 years, so replacing it isn't all bad.

[Bigun]

Mine took about 8 hrs. parked at 10pm horrible clank and wirring sound at 6 am

[Patrick]

If the kill switch has been bumped then nothing happens when punching the starter switch. Generally if the start switch is going to give problems, it'll just work erratically[sp] which then requires the cleaning to get back to normal. A start switch just up and failing is kind of rare, but, strange things can happen.
Just as an aside. I just tap the start switch just in case a cylinder has decided to fill itself with fuel. That'll let you know without damaging anything.

[Chrisj CMA]

Update, it was and is the starter switch.  Did the Rattlebars maintenance thing, worked for a second, but it sticks awefully bad, so I will be ordering a new one.  $80 for a ten cent switch...disgusting!

I will kepp the old as a spare, "just in case".  Had to cancel my ride to pick up my new Black Powder revolvers...bummed all around but sure glad it wasn't hydrolock.  BTW, the Valkyrie Service Manual doesn't account for a bad starter switch other than it may be faulty.  Thanks for the help and suggestions everyone.  I may even do the whole bypass thing, but the old one lasted 16 years, so replacing it isn't all bad.

Or use an exacto knife and a pic to clear some plastic away so the contact bounces up an down by the little spring.  The new one will probably be just as bad, a waste of that money if you ask me.  I had to fix my old one and my new one (replaced because of a crash)

[Sergeant D]

Or use an exacto knife and a pic to clear some plastic away so the contact bounces up an down by the little spring.  The new one will probably be just as bad, a waste of that money if you ask me.  I had to fix my old one and my new one (replaced because of a crash)
[/quote]

Tried the plastic shave thing, actually made it worse.  Already ordered the parts on Friday, but on the plus side, I can get the old girl to start when the switch is seperated from the casing, then pull the button back out and reassemble the casing, then take my ride,  disammble, restart, reassembe ect.  At least I can still ride while I wait on parts.