Won't start on choke!

Ali J · Post by **Ali J** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:51 pm

Hi folks,

Iâ€™m new to your forum and due to my ZXR L5 (UK) having a hard life prior to me getting it, I think may need your help on few occasions.

Hereâ€™s the problem Iâ€™m having. My bike will not start at all when I put the choke on regardless of whether it is hot or cold.

To start the bike you have to hold throttle fully open and keep winding the starter a few times after the engine starts. With the throttle still wide open, it takes two or three seconds before the engine responds normally. After that yer away!

Iâ€™ve also noticed that when riding, and at any revs, if I hold a constant throttle the engine sounds like it is spluttering. When you increase the revs it pulls fine until you hold it constant again.

Iâ€™ve tried a few things to cure the problem like new plugs, new battery and carb cleaner sprayed into the air box.

Iâ€™m thinking that the carbs may need stripped down and cleaned but I wanted to check before going ahead. The bike has done 26000 miles and has no service history. Does anyone have any ideas?

Cheers

Ali

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:04 pm

in no particular order!!......

have you got a petrol can? goto the garage, fill it up, pour over bike and light a match

alternatively, unscrew the screws at the bottom of the float bowls and see what crap pours out.

start the bike with no choke and progressively give it some, check for signs of head gasket buggery!, sounds like your carbs need balancing, check for oil contaminants, have you got sparks from all 4 leads? have you got all 4 leads??

once running does the clutch rattle ( this will determine you have a zxr400 or not) then we all know we are on the same wavelength.

could be fuel gone off in the carbs and turned to jelly (warning do not eat this jelly)

cut your losses and give me the bike

as i said in no particular order so if you could give me the bike after you have checked everything and before you torch it, much appreciated.

sorry if i've confused you i've had a beer or 2 and my minds not quite what it should be

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:06 pm

Oh sorry you came here for help??? i've been looking for it for 35 years and still not found it

Post by **Bozzie** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:21 pm

you knwo that chartity ride? can we do it to raise cash to get baz help. Hes scaring me, and i can't sleep at night. I have dreams of the devil....wich is what i imagine baz to be like

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:27 pm

mmm i've just spent the last half hour pmsl at myself now i'm pmsl at bozzie!

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:51 pm

really guys, thi man needs help

Welcome to the forum mate

As baz said really, minus one or two points. Definately sounds like a carb problem.

Has the bike been standing? If it has it might account for the rough running and the crystalised fuel. In which case get the carbs off and give em a good clean with some carb cleaner. Also might be worth giving the air filter a clean or replace it while its all apart. Not sure how the element will cope with the cleaner, may have even cleaned the oil off of it.

Give that a go and see how you go mate.

In fact before you do any of that, try running some Redex through and see if that sorts things out. 99p bottle from halfords will go in one full tank of petrol and cleans all your carb inards, its pretty good stuff, see how it goes.

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:54 pm

robB do you work for redex or something?? any free samples ?? as robB says running carb cleaner through the filter may be a bad thing as the carb cleaner is pretty good stuff for shifting grime it may have moved the crap from your filter into your carbs and made things worse.??

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:01 pm

:Lol: work for redex? not at all

It just seems to be great stuff for sorting carb problems, no one can complain, its worked so far.

check out my sig

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:05 pm

nice sig robB but have you discovered whisky it works better than redex!

oooerrr d'ya think we've scared him off???

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:11 pm

Hopefully he'll see if for the pissed banter that it is

Never tried whisky, but sure to let us know if you try it on the Gixxer

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:12 pm

i'll tell ya mate a few drops of whisky and it seems to go a lot faster!!

can't wait to get the engine back in!

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:14 pm

Wonder how the old bill would breathalize a bike? We have totally

ed this thread!

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:22 pm

they wouldn't need to they make their own rules up.

Ali J · Post by **Ali J** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:23 pm

Cheers for that, I'm none the wiser for it though!!

I had cleaned the air filter and whilst it was out I sprayed the carb cleaner in so I don't think I would have forced any shite through it.

Mr Redex, I'm on yer wave length cos I've given that a bash as well!!

My clutch doesn't rattle so I'm thinkin the petrol over the bike and lighter seems the best option as it can't possibly be a ZXR!

I'm on holiday next week so won't need the bike for a few days. I'll get the carbs oot for a look and let you know what I find.

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:40 pm

nice one dude, welcome to the forum by the way and nice avatar!!