Won't start

[deckerjr]

I'll give you the full story. Dad's bike, he's finally succumbed to the cancer and I need to get his bike to the funeral home Saturday. Probably not started in a year. Hooked it to a charger, got it started but was running rough. Left it charging and got some Berrymans. Then wouldn't start even with the charger attached. Only rapid clicking. Went to get a battery. He has 5 terminals stacked and I forgot to attach the actual positive cable. Tried to turn it and got some sparks at the cable and battery terminal (stupid!). Attached properly now I get 1 click. Help...

[deckerjr]

I did check all the fuses and I also own a Valkyrie and have fixed it many times with the assistance of this forum. Thanks for any help.

[Hook#3287]

Sorry for your loss.

I would pull the plugs first, just to make sure something hydrolock like didn't happen while you were swapping the battery.

Are you sure the new battery is completely charged?

[Chrisj CMA]

Sparks... probably blew the 55A fusable link

[deckerjr]

Pulled a plug, looked dry, do I need to check all? I did check the fusible link and it looks whole. How would it look if Blown? 2 pieces?

[Chrisj CMA]

Pulled a plug, looked dry, do I need to check all? I did check the fusible link and it looks whole. How would it look if Blown? 2 pieces?

Yes, I would remove all six plugs and turn the motor over either with the starter or manually. Yes two pieces on the link, it would be obvious.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I would start with the simple stuff first. Full of gas ? Petcock on and functioning ? If so, jump with a car battery. But definitely pull all plugs to make sure of no hydrolock.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Never jump a bike from a car.The only way to see sparks is to connect cables backwards,probably fried battery.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Never jump a bike from a car.The only way to see sparks is to connect cables backwards,probably fried battery.

I've jumped from a non running car many times.

[John Schmidt]

Never jump a bike from a car.The only way to see sparks is to connect cables backwards,probably fried battery.

I've jumped from a non running car many times.

Me too, just don't have the car running, too strong an output from that alternator. Just last week a Korean friend up the street came by the house all upset because his bike wouldn't start, then in his broken English proceeded to tell me what he had done to try and start it. First mistake...he hooked it to his car while it was running and blew the main fuse. I checked everything out, then showed him the blown main fuse, told him the car shouldn't be running. His battery was down so after installing the new fuse, I demonstrated. Worked fine, he was surprised....had never heard of that.

The funny part....his sweet wife insisted on payment of some sort. First, she insisted on "giving huggie, huggie."  Then before I could leave, she comes out of the house lugging a huge watermelon they had grown in their backyard garden. They would not take NO for an answer....so we had melon for a few days, even after I shared half of it with the couple across the street with two little girls. 

[deckerjr]

So I pulled all the plugs. Lights come on and dim when I press the starting button, but I get no other sound or response. I think I was mistaken about the 1 click.

[deckerjr]

Double checked all fuses and battery as good. How can I check the starter?

[The emperor has no clothes]

So I pulled all the plugs. Lights come on and dim when I press the starting button, but I get no other sound or response. I think I was mistaken about the 1 click.

Sounds like your starter switch needs cleaning. As far as checking your starter. You can jump the terminals on your starter relay. Key on, in neutral, kill switch in run position. Sounds like a switch cleaning is order to me though. It's in shoptalk if you haven't done it before.

[deckerjr]

Man, I go for long periods of not wrenching and forget basic stuff. After putting it in neutral instead of just pulling the clutch, she turned and gas everywhere! Yaaaaaaay! Cranked til it started and it's running with choke on. Put about a quarter can of Berrymans in and it's still running a bit rough, getting some white smoke. Won't stay running without the choke though. Any suggestions? Just let it run longer? If I know my dad, it probably had some stabil in it too.

[Harryc]

Gas everywhere? Do you mean it shot fuel out of one or more spark plug holes? If yes, you need new float needles, and while you are at it check your petcock for leaks  and since you need choke all the time, clean and rebuild your carbs. Normally I'd say let the Berrymans work for a few tanks, but you'll need to pull the carbs anyway to replace those needles...might as well clean and rebuild them at that time.

[Chrisj CMA]

Gas everywhere? Do you mean it shot fuel out of one or more spark plug holes? If yes, you need new float needles, and while you are at it check your petcock for leaks  and since you need choke all the time, clean and rebuild your carbs. Normally I'd say let the Berrymans work for a few tanks, but you'll need to pull the carbs anyway to replace those needles...might as well clean and rebuild them at that time.

I agree with HarryC.  If gas shot out of the spark plug holes THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING It means the bike was hydrolocked and it will happen again if you don't fix the carburetors and the petcock.

[Squirrel]

Sorry to hear about your Dad.  That sounds like a lot to do by Saturday.  I hope it works out for the best.  Good luck.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If gas was shooting out the plug holes, definitely do as Harry says. If it was gas dribbling down from the fuel rails, they might seal up on their own in a day or two.

[deckerjr]

It's running and the petcock is functioning. Won't idle and rough running. Going to try fresh gas. Tried to run it up and down the street, it really was trying to die the whole time and I really had to Rev it to get it to move.

[deckerjr]

I am using the throttle lock to keep the idle up and it stays running like that. I know I might need to adjust the idle(stretched cable, etc). Hope new gas and Berrymans will stabilize it. It ran like a top just a year ago. Only 35000 miles and garage kept.

[Hook#3287]

I am using the throttle lock to keep the idle up and it stays running like that. I know I might need to adjust the idle(stretched cable, etc). Hope new gas and Berrymans will stabilize it. It ran like a top just a year ago. Only 35000 miles and garage kept.

If the amount of gas thrown out of the cylinders was more than just a squirt and you put her back together and let her sit, then try and start her, you have the possibility of doing serious and expensive damage.

You need to examine both the petcock and the float valve/jets. 

To see if you're getting gas flow when you're not supposed to, open all the carb drains (put a drain can under the bike at the drain hose end) and shut off the petcock, if gas still flows, you've got issues. 

That is just one check, there are others to help you nail down whats going on, but if that one fails, you'll know you need to fix the petcock and the float valves/jets.

The throttle cable is probably not an issue.

[deckerjr]

I checked the petcock and it functioning properly. I drained the tank and the carbs, then gave her 2 gallons plus 4 oz of seafoam. So far ran maybe a gallon through. It won't idle without extra throttle. Runs rough, little popping, has the 6 into 6 pipes so has always been noisy, not sure if it's more than before. I think I'm past the hydrolock problem. I have to keep revving it to ride it but she has no power.

[Chrisj CMA]

I checked the petcock and it functioning properly. I drained the tank and the carbs, then gave her 2 gallons plus 4 oz of seafoam. So far ran maybe a gallon through. It won't idle without extra throttle. Runs rough, little popping, has the 6 into 6 pipes so has always been noisy, not sure if it's more than before. I think I'm past the hydrolock problem. I have to keep revving it to ride it but she has no power.

The only way past the hydrolock issue is to repair the floats/float valves and petcock.  Even though the petcock flows gas and appears to shut off.  It can (and probably is) dripping a slight amount of gas while sitting (not running) to contribute to the hydrolock.

I fixed a bike that did just like yours and both needed to be fixed, until then you would need to remove the spark plugs that gas shot out of everytime you get ready to crank it to see if gas comes out.  Plus after a lock (especially more than one) gas gets into the oil.  So while an oil change is probably needed now.  If it keeps on locking the new oil will need changing very soon as well.

[Houdini]

I checked the petcock and it functioning properly. I drained the tank and the carbs, then gave her 2 gallons plus 4 oz of seafoam. So far ran maybe a gallon through. It won't idle without extra throttle. Runs rough, little popping, has the 6 into 6 pipes so has always been noisy, not sure if it's more than before. I think I'm past the hydrolock problem. I have to keep revving it to ride it but she has no power.

Seafoam will do nothing to improve the idle issue, When one of mine sits for too long and gums up I put a full can of B-12 in a full tank and run it out.  Doing this once or twice has always cleared up the rough or inability to idle problem.  You could use the throttle lock to get the bike where she stumbles and let her run for a while but make sure you have a fan blowing over the radiator and exhaust or you'll end up over heated and with blue pipes.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Try running the bike with the choke fully on,push it all the way to the stop.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

I run small amounts of k1 kerosene through the tank to resolve the crud.If the bike runs on choke,run that thing on a high speed run to clean the carbs,and check your air filter.