Won't start, at wit's end

Alright.. now i'm at a lost... All weekend long my bike started up no problem, went on rides all weekend long, sunday night, into the garage for the next two days cuz i was at work (my work schedule is a lot like a fireman's) and so my bike sat for two days, then this morning go out (nice a little chilly) try starting her up, nothing she's crack'n but not turning over, so i put her on the charger thinking oh that might be it, been on for 5hours, just went out to try it again, nothing but crack'n.. now what is going on!! i just replaced the spark plugs this past friday, there's gas in my tank (as i filled it just before i put it in the garage) I'm at a lost.. why does it do this,

so many times this happens to me and i'm getting frustrated and its taking the fun out of having a motorcycle, i love having one, but so many problems since i have gotten this bike.. i'm at my wit's end with this.. please help me!!

 

Turn your petcock to PRI for a few minutes to make sure the float bowls are full then give it a go.

 

And could you define "crack'n" a little more? Is the engine turning over, or are you just getting a clicking sound? Are you hearing it fire at all? Can you smell gas?

Give us a detailed description of what it's doing...

 

Its trying to turn over, but won't actually turn over..

as for smelling gas i can't remember let me go check..


OK.. so its hard to tell, but i'm pretty sure i can smell gas..

 

Check your oil level to make sure that it's not mixed with gas and filled to the brim. (I think it's called hydro-lock).
If the oil in the crankcase is good to go, check your battery terminals, the connections on your starter silenoid <sp?> and the connection on the starter to make sure that they're clean and corrosion free.
If all of the connections are good, then you can check your starter silenoid <sp? again> to see if it's good.

 

First place to check (you did say trying to turn over) would be your battery. How old is it and what shape is it in? Are the cells properly serviced? Use distilled water to top off the cells if any are low. Have the battery load tested.
If your battery is good, check out the connections to the solenoid, battery, and the starter. Clean and tighten as needed.
I'm with Altus on this one, we need more details but first make sure you battery is up to scratch.

 

ok this what i have done so far.. (i'm not exactly mechic savy here)
I have replaced the battery, changed the spark plugs ( this was on friday) started up no problem what so ever, ran all weekend long, then i stored it for the next two days cuz i was at work.. now it won't start.. i tried maybe changing the spark plugs again, cuz it sounds the same from when it wouldn't start like last time on friday..

I have drained the gas out and put new gas in, i have checked to make sure the carbs are getting gas, by checking the flow from the drain screw(?) on the bowl.. i have checked the oil and i have oil in there.. changed the spark plugs..

Now i'm lost on where to go from here and i just going to take it to the dealer, i don't know enough about engines to figure out on where to go from here..

I not sure on where some of these things you guys are saying.. and like i said i'm not mechinic savy here.. so thanks for the advice... i'm hoping its nothing major.. and not to expensive.. although my dad is willing to help out with that part..

 

hi coastie,
Try this,
Take gas tank off,drain the carbs(so it wont try to start on u), take out the spark plug from no 1 cylinder, put it back into the plug cap and rest it on the cylinder head
so that it will ground out without u holding it, turn the engine over on the starter a couple times, is there a spark, ( orientation, with the gas tank off and looking forward as if ur sitting on the bike no1 is on the left then no2,3,4) if there is a spark put the spark plug back and replace the cap then check for spark on no2, and so on till u know for sure all the plugs are sparking, another trick is to leave the gas tank off, wait till its dark Really Dark with no lights on,roll it outside ,turn it over and look for shorting ( sparks where there should'nt be any).
c ya
(ps,dont hang on the starter just a couple of turns of the engine should do)

 

I worked on my bike couple weeks ago. Finally got it to turn over but it wouldnt start. I had taken the carbs off and cleaned them so figured it should start up. No luck, so for some reason I decided to take out the air filter and stick my hand in the air box while trying to start it. There is a hose that comes up form the engine to the air box and i put my finger over that while trying to start. When I took my finger off a bunch of air would come out. So I just tried it again and it tried to fire up. Took my finger off and hit the start button again and it started and has been for the last week now that I have been riding. Don't know if covering that hole was why it started but worked I guess.

 

Hi Bryan
What area of the engine did the hose come from?

 

Coastie,

I might not be understanding your symptoms very well, but. If you just get a clicking sound when you hit the starter button, it's likely that your solenoid is bad. Cheap and really easy to fix.

Of course, if the bike it turning over, then you have a different problem.

Greg

 

I just found this pic of engine on ebay but circled the hose I was talking about.

 

If I read correctly, it sounds like you're referring to the crankcase vent, and it should remain vented.

The issue you describe - problem starting the bike after a carb rebuild - is not uncommon. Things settle down and just work after several attempts. It's also better to break in on PRIme after a rebuild or long parking spell.

Z

 

That vent tube should be able to breath, blocking it isn't going to be related to an engine starting problem. As an engine runs and the pistons go in the downward direction, it will cause engine block pressure, every engine has this, and it needs to vent it, the stock setup runs that breather tube to the airbox, it also helps to cut emissions, reburning that block pressure. You don't want to block that off, you can over pressure the engine and you will start having oil etc. pushing out every seal on the engine.

 

When my bike would crank and not spark, it turned out that the kill switch was gunked up. MiCarl and I solved that in an afternoon, and it cost me $4 for electronics cleaner. That 4 hours of labor at the shop (assuming they'll touch a bike over ten years old) would be around $260.

Check your electrical connections first. Make sure they're clean and tight.

Also, as is my understanding the starter on the 550's is a bit weak, and tends to fail over 20k miles.

 

Lets start all over, just for clarification.
When you try to start the bike, is the starter turning the engine over, or do you just get a click?

 

Ok, the XJ550's can be notorious pigs for starting if everything is not spot on. Dodgy starters and bad carbs will give you no end of grief.

Check for spark as per previous posts. If it's a dull spark then check the brushes in the starter first. If it's a good spark then remove the air filter and spray some gas in there. Use an old spray bottle. two or three good squirts aimed in the direction of the carb throats.

Try starting. If it tries to fire then it may be time for a good clean and sync.

BTW, in the first post I interprete "crack'n" as cranking. Eg, turning over but not firing or catching.

 

ok so weird thing.. wonder if this happen to any of you with your bikes...


Runs great for a weekend, then won't start for the rest of the week.. then today the day before i take it to the shop to get it fixs, i go out on a whim and try to start the bike up.. and instantly starts right up.. no problems went out on a ride around town.. no problems not even a hic-up..

whats up with that.. still going to take it in.. my dad thinks it might be electircal.. i think it might be that it was cold out, and a friend thinks it might of been the carbs.. any thoughts?

 

Sounds like your bike has the same gremlins as mine. It wouldn't start, I look it over, then it works. Go figure. Don't lose faith.

 

Abbra ... Ka-dabbra ... please and thank-you.

Maybe this little trick will be a step in the right direction.

Pull-back the dust cover boot and give the internals of the side-stand switch a healthy dose of WD-40.

Move the actuating rod back and forth, through the travel it needs to operate.
If that rod is hanging-up at the switch ...

OR ...

In the grungy guide hole that that rod moves in ...

Remove the rod. Clean the opening. Grease it up with fresh synthetic waterproof grease.

That actually might do the trick.