Bike won't start after lay up

[Wanderer]

1150GSA. I knew that I wouldn't be getting much time to ride. So last September I topped the tank up. I'd intended to put in some preservative, but forgot. Battery on intel' charger.

Today, I tried to fire her up for the first time. Nothing doing. Was trying to fire. Battery OK. Checked spark plugs - seemed OK. Not wet after trying to start.

I know that petrol goes off, but I didn't think it'd go entirely off. I could drain the tank, using the return hose method. But to do that the engine needs to be running.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[JonF]

Petrol in a full tank wouldn't go off in that time. I recently started up my CB500 spare bike after a four year lay off and it ran on the fuel from the tank. What I did have to do, though, was drain the carb bowls. The much smaller volume of fuel in there had died. Once I did that it started in about half a minute. Try draining down the fuel lines to the injectors, and give it a damned good crank over to force some fuel from the tank through and it'll probably go.

The other thing to think about (and this has happened to me before, although only on old knockers, not my GS) is that leaving it standing had allowed some shit in the tank to settle and block, or at least partially block the fuel filter. Gives symptoms of fuel starvation.

Jon

 

[Wanderer]

Thanks Jon. Much appreciated. Will give it a go.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Inejctors could be a little gummed up....
My tip would be 3 cc of fuel in each inlet trumpet and spin it over !! nice flames and it'll blast the injectors clean .

 

[Pukmeister]

Some redex and an "Italian tune-up" wouldn't go amiss.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Some redex and an "Italian tune-up" wouldn't go amiss.

Yup
Thats the other name for it, only diff is, my version don't involve valve bounce in first 3 gears

 

[JJH]

petrol put fresh juice in and it will/should go modern petrol can go off in 2 months JJH

 

[Wanderer]

Thanks all.

Disconnected fuel line to left hand injector, turned bike over a couple of times to pump some petrol through, reconnected fuel line and up she fires. Went for 12 mile ride to bring up to full temp, circ. oil etc. Yahoo!

Given that the tank is full, I thought I'd syphon it off, and put fresh petrol in (even though the petrol evidently still 'works'). I went to use my old trick of using the return fuel line as a syphon point. I've used this method a few times before. Piece of fuel hose connected to QR on return line, run the engine and hey presto. However, this time the bike would not fire up. Reconnect the return line, and she fires up. Disconnect and connect syphon line, won't fire up. Reconnect return line and she fires up again. Anyone any ideas

Given that the petrol is 'working', is it worth changing it at all?

Thanks for the help.

 

[motobiker]

Thanks all.



Given that the petrol is 'working', is it worth changing it at all?

If you're really concerned then a dose of wynns dry fuel will go a long way to sort the petrol - it has other effects too. halfords sell it.

Absorbs water from the fuel tank
Cleans fuel injectors
Protects against rust and corrosion
Prevents carburettor and fuel filter icing
Provides a better cold start performance
Improves fuel economy
Restores lost power

snake oil? maybe.

 

[Dragon Master]

Hi Wanderer; thanks for this thread, it's given me some ideas about mine, which has (or at least had) a similar problem when I last tried it. That was last August, and it had been standing since the previous November with a tank half full of French petrol. Never did get it to fire, but it's coming time t try again.

You mentioned that your plugs were dry. Did you take your injectors out to see if they fired? I ask that because I can't get my plugs out (can't get a socket/plug spanner in; I know why) so took th einjectors out. Nowt. I got peed off with trying in the end.

I'll give your trick as try though, see if it works.

Cheers,

Dave.

P.S. Maybe I'll wait until I put my 'new' tank on, filled with fresh English petrol...

 

[Wanderer]

Did you take your injectors out to see if they fired?

P.S. Maybe I'll wait until I put my 'new' tank on, filled with fresh English petrol...

When turning the bike over with left hand injector out (injector came off with fuel line, I then took the injector off to pump petrol through), the cylinder fired, so I knew the plugs were OK.

I tried to see if I could blast air through the injector whilst off, but didn't manage (possibly not enough sealed pressure). I did give it a quick clean with carb cleaner though.

How will you empty your old tank, so that you can take it off to fit the new one? Just an old fashioned syphon approach?

 

[Dragon Master]

How will you empty your old tank, so that you can take it off to fit the new one? Just an old fashioned syphon approach?

Ah... now ther's a question I haven't figured tat one out yet. I've tried a standard syphon, but can't get the pipe in the top. I'm not sure just how much fuel is left in it; a lot (5l) did drain out when I first disconnected it, but whether that's enough to allow me to take the pump off with tank on its side I don't know.

I could say 'I'll let you know how I did it', but it could be a couple of months before I get round to that. Still if you're interested, I'll let you know how I did it...

Dave.

 

[JonF]

petrol put fresh juice in and it will/should go modern petrol can go off in 2 months JJH

????

Different standard of petrol in Ireland perhaps? In my various bikes I've had petrol still absolutely fine after years in the tank. As long as the injectors or carbs don't get gummed up it holds its bang as well as petrol ever did.