Dakar engine problems

[stef25]

My '07 Dakar has been acting up a bit recently.

It's been used much less than usual due to the winter weather but the bike is stored dry and indoors. I've done maybe 150Km the past 4 weeks and it has low mileage.

The first symptom was that the bike would not start after standing still for just 5 min after a 30Km ride. So the engine was still warm and functioned fine until then. When I tried to start it, the engine would "turn over" but never "catch". I pushed in to the garage, left it for 2 days, it started up fine and then ran ok for about 2 weeks (little use)

Now I've been riding a bit more and yesterday the engine would die as soon as I'd stop giving it gas (at a traffic light or even when still rolling along). If I just opened the throttle a little bit (clutch in) it would keep running. I stopped at a shop and then it again refused to start (turning over but not catching). Eventually it started up again but then this morning again it took a few tries to get it going.

So there is definitely something going on and since the bike is nearing the end of its guarantee and I'm going to morocco soon I'm eager to get this fixed asap.

Of course I'll ask the shop for advise but was wondering if anyone knows what the cause could be? fuel pump, spark plugs?

 

[Timolgra]

Try.

Ignition on.
open and close throttle SLOWLY twice
turn ignition off.
try and start with NO throttle

 

[stef25]

Would this just help diagnose the problem or is this what you recommend I do next time it doesn't start up?

Could it be that the problem is caused by the fact that sometimes I can't resist to go sit on the bike and open the throttle a few times with the engine off?

 

[Timolgra]

Could it be that the problem is caused by the fact that sometimes I can't resist to go sit on the bike and open the throttle a few times with the engine off?

Well don't do it then

 

[stef25]

I can't resist!

It's completely died now. As I hold the ignition in everything on the dash turns of (lights, mileage counter) and then briefly comes back as I let go of the ignition. Nasty noises come from underneath. Not cool

 

[john_aero]

dead battery.

bet you have an alarm on you bike????

 

[stef25]

No alarm, just a cigarette lighter plug I installed myself and is dangling in the cockpit somewhere.

I like the sound of dead battery, won't cost too much to fix.

 

[john_aero]

i had same with my bmw the standard batt just went and even when chareged it wouldnt turn.

new batt and no prob. i find i have put trickle charger on mine after a week or so if not used and batt drains away with alarm

check voltake on batt with multi meter.

anything below 10v and thats the prob

 

[andy123]

(question for the fonts of wisdom out there) Do the rectifiers ever cause problems on F650's?

 

[Timolgra]

http://faq.f650.com/GSFAQs/HardStartingFAQGS.htm

 

[DrFarkoff]

(question for the fonts of wisdom out there) Do the rectifiers ever cause problems on F650's?

YES Occasionally But more prevelent on the F650ST rather than the monpoint injection bikes

Put a Good Multimeter on the 20 ish volt scale on a sidelamp bulb or tail lamp bulb and read the volts before you start then start and see what hey are once running

More than 15.8 for a very short period (like 10 seconds till it sorts itself out) is bad

Then again check your cars output to make sure ya haven't a dodgey multimeter! Before ya make a decission NOrmal after starting is 14 ish volts dropping down to 13.5 ish for running

Below 13 something needs investigated

 

[andy123]

Thanks 'Jaythro', very useful for future reference.