my bike won't start!!!!!!!

just bought this 82 xj 650. it would start as long as you pulled the choke, but you only had 2 tries after that you had to push start. if you don't pull the choke it does nothing it won't even try to turn over. now it won't start at all even with a push start. what is wrong?"

 

Hey 82bad.
Do you mean the clutch?
If the bike is in gear it will not turn over if you don't pull the clutch in, it is a safety, so you don't start in gear.
I would say your battery is dead, that's why it won't bump start now.
Fully charged battery is important.
You may even have enough power to turn over the motor but, not enough to fire the coils.

Get a charge on that battery and try again.
If you are in doubt about your battery have it tested at your local parts store, if it's beat get a new one.
If still no luck come on back and tell us more.

 

no i mean the choke, i don't think it's the battery because the lights come on just fine not dim at all.

 

I'd say your chasing two different problems here.
Choke's got nothing to do with the bike turning over.
Having to use the choke for the bike to run is a sign of to much air or not enough fuel.
Could be anything from leaking boots to the enrichment circiut being clogged.
If you could explain in a little more detail we may be able to help you out.

 

YO 82badbob
It seems to me that your battery might be part of your problem. Just because the lights are working doesn't mean that there is enough power to turn over your engine. Check your battery to see if it is fully charged.

 

These XJ's are cold blooded, meaning that you'll likely need to use the choke to keep it running and allow the engine to get up to near operating temperature in order for it to stay running.

I open my choke up all the way, get the bike started, give it a few seconds, then reduce the choke to half open and let it run for a few minutes while I button up the garage, check the lights/signals/tires/etc, and put my gear on. Unless it's really cold out, that's all it needs, I turn the choke off and go.

 

let me explain a little better, lets say one morning i walk out to my bike sit down, stick the key in, switch it to on, pull the choke, hit the start button, she starts let it warm up everything is fine and i'm off. the next day i go out do everything the same, the bike starts it dies for whatever reason, pull the choke, hit start, and i get nothing, i mean nothing at the most a click, now i have 2 options push start or wait like 20 min try to start with the ignition, keep my hand on the throttle to make she it doesn't die, and again im off. you see if i forget to pull the choke i get nothing, if i forget to pull it get nothing, try to start it again pulling the choke still nothing, i have to pull it the first time. now it won't start at all, pull the choke, push start, scream, cuss, cry, doesn't matter anymore i still get the same thing. nothing.

 

i have similar problems that are hard to explain in text, where the starter seems to be dependent on the choke position, where i would get nothing, like nothing happening at all - no voltage to the starter motor, if the choke wasn't in

but a clicking and no 'spinning' is a starter motor problem or a battery problem - with my strong guess being voltage - check voltage at the starter motor terminal with the start button pressed, should be very close to full battery voltage

i'm planning on shorting the dummy relays this spring to help with my electric gremlins, in addition to a fresh battery and a new style fuse box

 

I think I would check the area where the choke cable and the starter wire cross for an exposed conductor

 

got it running!!! turned out i had to rewire the switch. thanx 4 the help