bike doesn't start

joeykcp

New Member
Hello everybody,
I'm new to this forum, today is my second day registered.
In any case, I have a somewhat technical question on bike.

My bike doesn't start
here's a little background info:
I have a 1998 Suzuki Katana 750. At the end of the fall and beginning of winter, I decided to put my bike to rest because I want to sale it and upgrade to a Hayabusa. Little attention that I paid to, I didn't start the bike for 3 weeks, and when I cranked it to warm up the engine, it wouldn't start.
I think it's somewhat a common problem for bike not to start on the cold day or during the winter, but I've tried all the setting on the choke and still wouldn't work, so I don't know what the problem is.
Does anybody know what the reasons might be??

By the way, I'm still looking for a Hayabusa (or an R1).
 
joeykcp said:
Hello everybody,
I'm new to this forum, today is my second day registered.
In any case, I have a somewhat technical question on bike.

My bike doesn't start
here's a little background info:
I have a 1998 Suzuki Katana 750. At the end of the fall and beginning of winter, I decided to put my bike to rest because I want to sale it and upgrade to a Hayabusa. Little attention that I paid to, I didn't start the bike for 3 weeks, and when I cranked it to warm up the engine, it wouldn't start.
I think it's somewhat a common problem for bike not to start on the cold day or during the winter, but I've tried all the setting on the choke and still wouldn't work, so I don't know what the problem is.
Does anybody know what the reasons might be??

By the way, I'm still looking for a Hayabusa (or an R1).
Is that the extent of the troubleshooting? Trying different choke settings?
 

joeykcp

New Member
ahhahaha
I did put the key in
and I turned it to the "on" position too

but yeah, I've tried different choke setting.
the next step would be getting a blow dryer and warm the engine up
maybe for 10 minutes :D
 

Roughidle

New Member
joeykcp said:
Hello everybody,
I'm new to this forum, today is my second day registered.
In any case, I have a somewhat technical question on bike.

My bike doesn't start
here's a little background info:
I have a 1998 Suzuki Katana 750. At the end of the fall and beginning of winter, I decided to put my bike to rest because I want to sale it and upgrade to a Hayabusa. Little attention that I paid to, I didn't start the bike for 3 weeks, and when I cranked it to warm up the engine, it wouldn't start.
I think it's somewhat a common problem for bike not to start on the cold day or during the winter, but I've tried all the setting on the choke and still wouldn't work, so I don't know what the problem is.
Does anybody know what the reasons might be??

By the way, I'm still looking for a Hayabusa (or an R1).

Weeeell...lets start with the basics.
1. Does engine crank or turnover?
2. If engine turns over:
a. Gas in tank? Gas turned on??
b. Check choke as previoulsy posted.
c. Is battery weak? (if so, it won't give you the amps needed to fire that puppy off, regardless of the volts even if it turns the bike over).
3. If engine isnt cranking:
a. Make sure switches are in correct position.(kill switches,ignition etc)
b. Check battery for proper charge.(refer back to 2a above).

Check these first then we'll dig deeper if need be.
 
Roughidle said:
Weeeell...lets start with the basics.
1. Does engine crank or turnover?
2. If engine turns over:
a. Gas in tank? Gas turned on??
b. Check choke as previoulsy posted.
c. Is battery weak? (if so, it won't give you the amps needed to fire that puppy off, regardless of the volts even if it turns the bike over).
3. If engine isnt cranking:
a. Make sure switches are in correct position.(kill switches,ignition etc)
b. Check battery for proper charge.(refer back to 2a above).

Check these first then we'll dig deeper if need be.
:lmao: That kill switch has gotten me more than once.
I'd get some starter fluid, pull the plugs and squirt it in. Then try it. Also make sure there's no water in the gas.
 

BS Gal

Voted Nicest in 08
desertrat said:
:lmao: That kill switch has gotten me more than once.
I'd get some starter fluid, pull the plugs and squirt it in. Then try it. Also make sure there's no water in the gas.
I was just going to suggest the kill switch. That happened to me on little bike. And then I was going to suggest what I always do when there is a problem. I go in the house and yell for hubby. :lmao:
 

aps45819

24/7 Single Dad
joeykcp said:
At the end of the fall and beginning of winter, I decided to put my bike to rest ... I didn't start the bike for 3 weeks, and when I cranked it to warm up the engine, it wouldn't start.
How long has it been sitting?
Did you put StaBil in the gas tank
Could be any number of reasons why a neglected engine doesn't run


joeykcp said:
I think it's somewhat a common problem for bike not to start on the cold day or during the winter.
That's called pansy azz when your bike doesn't get started just because it's 40 degrees
 

Roughidle

New Member
Heh...hey, that damn kill switch has gotten me before as well.
More often than not it's a simple fix. Good luck.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
joeykcp said:
Hello everybody,
I'm new to this forum, today is my second day registered.
In any case, I have a somewhat technical question on bike.

My bike doesn't start
here's a little background info:
I have a 1998 Suzuki Katana 750. At the end of the fall and beginning of winter, I decided to put my bike to rest because I want to sale it and upgrade to a Hayabusa. Little attention that I paid to, I didn't start the bike for 3 weeks, and when I cranked it to warm up the engine, it wouldn't start.
I think it's somewhat a common problem for bike not to start on the cold day or during the winter, but I've tried all the setting on the choke and still wouldn't work, so I don't know what the problem is.
Does anybody know what the reasons might be??

By the way, I'm still looking for a Hayabusa (or an R1).

Carbs or FI??

Check the spark plugs for spark??

Are you pulling the start rope hard enough??
 

joeykcp

New Member
Roughidle said:
Weeeell...lets start with the basics.
1. Does engine crank or turnover?
2. If engine turns over:
a. Gas in tank? Gas turned on??
b. Check choke as previoulsy posted.
c. Is battery weak? (if so, it won't give you the amps needed to fire that puppy off, regardless of the volts even if it turns the bike over).
3. If engine isnt cranking:
a. Make sure switches are in correct position.(kill switches,ignition etc)
b. Check battery for proper charge.(refer back to 2a above).

Check these first then we'll dig deeper if need be.



the kill switch was on
there's plenty of gas in the tank
the engine cranks
the battery is not an issue 'cuz I charged it fully before started again ( I have one of those electric charger )

I haven't dig into the engine yet (spark plugs and all those good stuff).


BS Gal
can I call your hubby now??? :jameo:
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
joeykcp said:
the kill switch was on
there's plenty of gas in the tank
the engine cranks
the battery is not an issue 'cuz I charged it fully before started again ( I have one of those electric charger )

I haven't dig into the engine yet (spark plugs and all those good stuff).


BS Gal
can I call your hubby now??? :jameo:
Any other kill switches on the bike? Like kickstand? Or not in Neutral, you may have to put in gear then hit neutral again..
 

BS Gal

Voted Nicest in 08
joeykcp said:
the kill switch was on
there's plenty of gas in the tank
the engine cranks
the battery is not an issue 'cuz I charged it fully before started again ( I have one of those electric charger )

I haven't dig into the engine yet (spark plugs and all those good stuff).


BS Gal
can I call your hubby now??? :jameo:

Sure.
 
joeykcp said:
the kill switch was on
there's plenty of gas in the tank
the engine cranks
the battery is not an issue 'cuz I charged it fully before started again ( I have one of those electric charger )

I haven't dig into the engine yet (spark plugs and all those good stuff).


BS Gal
can I call your hubby now??? :jameo:
That would be next, I'd say. I was off my bike for two weeks and for some reason the plugs had to be replaced. Made no sense to me, but that's what fixed it. Someone mentioned the water "remover" additive. Wouldn't hurt. Check your spark. Been pretty humid lately.
BS Gal's hubby. By the way I'm strictly in grade school compared to these guys that take their bikes apart every weekend to admire the oily parts.
 

Roughidle

New Member
In all seriousness starter fluid can really damage an engine.
Check them plugs for carbon, oily build up and if they smell like raw gas.
A bike should be able to sit for that length of time with no problems if it was running good before hand, well maintained and taken care of.
 
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