Won't start after long winter in garage

Ok need a little help.... Have spark put dry gas in tank battery is charged and nothing but a few back fires. I made sure gas is flowing and the plugs are cleaned and gapped. :x Any have any ideas on where to go next. Thanks in advance.

 

You might have to take out the carbs and clean them. When gas sits it start to break down and gets really nasty. That is what I had to do with mine. Sounds like you aren't getting gas to the cylinders. No gas, no fire. So clean the carbs and give me a shout back.

P.S. Before I store my bike for the winters I use stable (fuel stabilizer) It helps to keep the gas from breaking down when it sits for a long period of time.

 

The plugs are wet and smell like gas

 

Did you try quick start in the air box???

 

yeah just made it back fire more and louder

 

only thing i can think of is try draing the gas and add some fresh gas

 

You need four things for combustion: spark, air, fuel, and compression. You've covered the first three. Run a compression check.

There are some other possibilities as well. For example, you might have intermittent or weak spark (e.g. not enough for good combustion). Even if it *looks* like your battery has charge, try jump-starting the bike from your car. If it starts, your battery is shot. This has happened to me.

DO NOT RUN THE BIKE WITH NO BATTERY OR YOU WILL FRY THE ICU. If your battery is shot, leave it on there anyway. It will still stabilize the electrical system.

Another spark-related possibility is bad coils. Again, may fire sometimes, but not reliably enough to get the engine running. Same story with plug boots.

There's an outside chance that you've slipped a notch on your timing chain, but I think you'd hear the pistons banging against the valves if that were the case.

How does the XJ react when the kill switch is faulty? Will it crank, but not fire? Or will it not crank at all? Same question regarding other faulty failsafes like the clutch perch switch and the sidestand switch. (Workaround for the switch on the clutch perch is to make sure the bike is in neutral when you try to start it.)

 

Tried new gas same result, nothing.

Ok i will work on suggestions above, Thanks.

 

Dumb question, but how do i test for compression?

 

I had a similar problem last year with backfiring. New plugs solved it even though my old plugs weren't very old or dirty. Might be worth a shot

 

use a compression test gauge from auto parts store, it screws or plugs into the spark plug hole and tells how much pressure the pistons and rings are making. should have a reading of apx. 100psi I think. But if it was running when you parked it, it shouldn't have developed a compression problem on it own.

 

REPLACE YOU PLUGS, Then check and see if the pet cock failed and filled the crankcase with fuel. You plugs are more than likely fouled.

 

Thanks for your help i will try and post next week

 

what plugs are recommended for the colder weather up here in maine?

 

I would use the good old NGK plugs. Some also say the iridium plugs work well also. I just can't see spemding the extra money for them

 

Thanks to ALL it was the plugs. Last year (1st yr i owned it) I ran NGK BP7ES i believe that is whats in the book and i was hard to start on cold maine mornings. My brother (a Harley owner) suggested BP5ES. I put those in yesterday and it started first try and never started that easy last year. Is it OK to run those 5's all year? Or are they to hot.

Again thanks to all>> What a ride yesterday first of many this year!

 

2 numbers difference in the spark plugs is a big difference in my opinion.

If i was you i'd check again the carbs float valves to make sure that they do move and are not stuck and, i would also check the air jets to see if they are dirty and almost clogged.

You said that you cleaned the carbs. Did you make sure that all jets are clean?
Double check you float valves again.

Did you remove your newly installed NGK BP5ES to check if they are still somewhat wet of petrol?

They are much hotter than your previously installed plugs and it MIGHT be possible that although rich because of air jets clogged or float valves stuck, these plugs are able to burn the rich mixture.