What think youse guys?

[Chrisj CMA]

So a friend brings his bike over for some minor work. Choke cable and air cleaner.

First of all he dropped his bike in my driveway.  Not a real big deal the highway peg on the crash bar held it. No damage except a corner of the highway peg mount.

After installing the choke cable and servicing the K&N we put the tank back on, rolled the bike outside and it wouldn’t start. Classic turn over strong but no fire. So after he protested that it was a brand new battery fully charged. I put a volt meter on it and sure enough 12.8 V

To be double sure we jumped it to my SUV. Still strong turn over no fire.

Nothing was done to affect starting and running except the drop but many of us have done that before and the bike started perfectly after the drop.

We could smell gas, so just in case it was flooded we let it sit while we cleaned up.

After 30 minutes it still wouldn’t start but it sounded like it wanted to.

After prolonged cranking it started but seemed like only 3 cylinders. Then after a couple minutes of running the rest of the motor kicked in and all was good. Runs perfect again. What could have caused a no fire after a mild drop like that?

[MarkT]

Is the tipover relay loose or otherwise unmounted? Perhaps stuck/failed internally? That affects the bl/wh coil circuit; could check with a meter if there's 12v on that circuit.  In any case I'd look for a spark.

[Chrisj CMA]

Is the tipover relay loose or otherwise unmounted? Perhaps stuck/failed internally? That's on the bl/wh coil circuit; could check with a meter if there's 12v on that circuit.

Well, I unbolted the left side center cover to get a look at the tip sensor. It was secured properly so I tapped on it thinking maybe it was somehow stuck. No change. But that brings up a question. When the tip sensor is activated will the engine turn over or not?  I thought not.

[Hook#3287]

  I thought not.

You are correct.  It is in a circuit with the kill switch, ignition switch, neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch lever switch and starter.

[Chrisj CMA]

Thanks Hook. That sounds right but it leaves me not understanding why the no start yesterday. I changed out the broken choke cable cleaned the air filter and of course r/r the tank. None of that should have affected the engine starting.

Many of us have dropped our bike like my friend did onto the engine guard then back up. Has anyone had trouble  starting their bike after that?

[Steel cowboy]

Just a thought, but do you think the jolt of it being dropped on to its guard could have jolted one or more carb needles to get stuck slightly open or allow the float to stick. If the exhaust valve was open at the time on that cylinder, that could be the reason you were smelling gasoline. I wonder at what lean angle the floats don’t let the needle seat to shut off the fuel.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Many of us have dropped our bike like my friend did onto the engine guard then back up. Has anyone had try starting their bike after that?

Yep.

Fired right up.

I put a big piece of carpet down on the driveway when Blondie first started riding (a GL1100). Gently laid her bike down on its side and told her to pick it up.

Repeated the exercise with a new-to-her Tourer, which I'm riding now. It fired up after being uprighted.

As others have said: Bank angle sensor. These are fluid damped and it's possible the pendulum inside has become lodged due to fluid loss or contamination.

[Gryphon Rider]

Sounds like a fuel issue to me.  Maybe dropping the bike dislodged some crud somewhere in a fuel passage?  If it runs well now, it could be one of those things that you'll only ever be able to guess at, but never know for certain.

[9Ball]

Did you try cycling the on/off key 3 times?

[Chrisj CMA]

Did you try cycling the on/off key 3 times?

Hmm. Right after we righted the bike. The key was still on.  So I turned it back off then on and tapped the starter. Since it cranked I thought the tip over relay was ok. Interesting. If I had done it three times it may have been a different story?

[9Ball]

Just trying to reset the bank angle sensor....also, drain the dragon drool tube...sometimes it fills up after a drop.

[Dusty]

My no start problem  after air filter maintenance was too much oil on the filter . Bike turned over fine but wouldn't catch. I wore the battery down and decided to push start it. I pushed it  to the hill in front of my house. I got it to fire up going down the hill but it was only running on a couple of cylinders. It stopped running as soon as I pulled the clutch lever. Wife had to tow me back up the hill with my truck. Took the filter out ,rewashed, re oiled with less oil and bike fired right up. Sure sounds similar  to your issue.

Dusty

[Oss]

Someone gave me the same advise with my amsoil air filter
Make sure not too much oil on the thing,
Also when I went down in 2003 I did have to cycle the key on off a few times to get the bike started.  Of course also had to move the shift to get the bike into neutral from 5th gear as I was at highway speed when it happened

[tonybluegoat]

After installing the choke cable and servicing the K&N we put the tank back on, rolled the bike outside and it wouldn’t start. Classic turn over strong but no fire. So after he protested that it was a brand new battery fully charged. I put a volt meter on it and sure enough 12.8 V

Exactly describe "servicing the K&N" it may have had nothing to do with the drop.

[Chrisj CMA]

After installing the choke cable and servicing the K&N we put the tank back on, rolled the bike outside and it wouldn’t start. Classic turn over strong but no fire. So after he protested that it was a brand new battery fully charged. I put a volt meter on it and sure enough 12.8 V

Exactly describe "servicing the K&N" it may have had nothing to do with the drop.

I sprayed it with the cleaner rinsed gently with water and let sit outside until dry then oiled it and put it back in. Just like I have done many times.

What are you getting at?

[tonybluegoat]

After installing the choke cable and servicing the K&N we put the tank back on, rolled the bike outside and it wouldn’t start. Classic turn over strong but no fire. So after he protested that it was a brand new battery fully charged. I put a volt meter on it and sure enough 12.8 V

Exactly describe "servicing the K&N" it may have had nothing to do with the drop.

I sprayed it with the cleaner rinsed gently with water and let sit outside until dry then oiled it and put it back in. Just like I have done many times.

What are you getting at?

I haven't done it.  I was curious.