help bike wont start after a week

parked my xj 650 last week, it ran fine, went to start it today and it cranks, and then fires right off the bat, but it will only run for a max of like 2 seconds before it dies with the choke all the way on.

i'm getting plenty of fuel into the carbs from what I can tell, could the jets maybe be clogged???

im not to familliar with, this kind of setup.

 

So what happens why you try to re-start it? It just cranks away and won't start? Are you sure the choke slides are all the way open? Check the carbs themselves, not just the lever at the handlebar.
Also, do you have fuel? I know, sounds dumb but everyone's done it at least once.
As they say, you need fuel, air and spark. Make sure you've got all three. If it still isn't starting, try a simple plug test.
There's plenty of explanation for non-starting on this forum. Do a search and you'll get plenty of hits. Read up on those, especially the ones written by RickOMatic. He is the resident XJ expert.
good luck and let us know how you do.
thanks,
baz

 

Plugged gas cap vent.

Petcock problem (put it on PRI and see what happens.)

 

Make sure your battery is good and strong. Put a charger on it over night and try it in the morning. Or, put a booster on in for several minutes then try it. If your battery is weak, you will not get a good spark. Also, if you turn the key on and get a brief start or even just a "prpbprbbb", your headlight will kick on and pull juice. Turn the key off then back on. Now the headlight is off=more juice directed toward the start circuit Finally, these can also be a little cold-blooded. If possible, leave it overnight in a warm garage. then:

having a warm bike
having a good strong charged battery
set the petcock to prime, making sure in advance that there is fuel in tank
wait a minute for fuel to get into the carbs again
try it.

Once it starts you may have to adjust choke til it warms up a minute, and there's an art to that sometimes.

Tries to start once or twice, but won't catch?
turn the key switch off and back on to disengage headlight
try again. key off and on, try again, key off and on, try again. etc......
battery going down? hook up the booster again.

Once its running, make sure to set the petcock back to "run".

Good luck, this is the procedure that I use whenever it's really cold, or it hasn't run for a couple weeks, etc...... and, yes, my carbs are very clean.

Dave