Bike turns over but won’t fire

[Motorhommie]

‘98 Valkyrie. Stored in Yuma for 4 months. Put in Stabil but didn’t run the engine. Upon getting ready to ride, the engine cranks well but will not fire. I could smell fuel. Let it sit and repeated several times with no luck.

I have to eliminate battery, fuel probably varnished. Tried starting in neutral and in gear w/ kick stand up-same result (yes the kill switch is not engaged.

I am thinking opening the choke, maybe add some B-12, and pull a plug to read it. Any suggestions???

[Hook#3287]

First suspect would be battery.

A battery will have enough charge to turn the motor over, but not enough to fire also.

[Jess from VA]

A battery will have enough charge to turn the motor over, but not enough to fire also.

If the ignition doesn't get X amount of electrical power, it will not fire up.

And when a battery is low like that, but still turns the motor over well, if choked and gassed well, will often fire up when the start button is released.  And if it stumbles to life, pushing down on the choke lever is better than blipping the throttle.

And do not hold that start button down for very long, it's hard on things.  Better to hit it a few times in succession (after a 10 second wait) than one time for 5-10 seconds.  If it isn't firing up, there's a reason.

Classic sign of a low battery.  May be a failing battery, or just low. 

[da prez]

Put jumper cables to a non running vehicle battery.
 If it starts , you found the culprit.  It would be best to clean all connections,  including the grounds.

           da prez
 

[gordonv]

I know you smell fuel, but a classic problem is not knowing how to use the choke.

Be sure that the levers are moving on each carb bank.


With the smell of fuel, my first thought was that you have flooded it. Turn the throttle, leave it open for a minute or so, just let it sit for a little while. Try to restart with no choke. Do like Jess suggested.

Then try the choke again. Not for long. Then again with the throttle.

I used to have to use both choke and throttle to get my bike to start, then off with the throttle and back off on the choke fairly quickly as I listen to it try to run.

The low battery and getting a jump is a safe/good way to do it.

4 months isn't long enough to bugger the carbs.

[TTG53#1717]

I went through that scenario on Sunday. I haven’t been able to ride for a while and made sure my little battery maintainer was hooked up. When I tried to start it, the motor just didn’t seem like it was spinning fast enough. I took off the trickle charge and put a 6 amp unit on for a half hour or so and that got the motor spinning faster and it fired right up. You also have to spin fast enough to get a good vacuum to open the petcock and fill up those dry carbs.

Good luck.