Bugger , Hornet won't start

I'm about to sell the Hornet now that the weather is picking up so I thought
I'd start it up and take some pics.
I'd tried it last week and the battery was flat so it had been on charge for
a while, and though it turns over it won't play nicely.
Last night it ran briefly on two or three cylinders then died after about
twenty seconds and today it's not having it at all. It will occasionally
cough and almost catch but that's it.

I'm guessing shit in the carbs is a likely cause here as it's only been
started a few times over winter but it's really not what I wanted at all,
just as I'm about to get rid of it..
I'm not sure I have the motivation to start pulling it to bits so it may
mean paying a dealer to have a look.

Any suggestions before I reach for the phone book?

 

I'll give you a tenner for it.

Failing that, try some Ez-start.

 

Forgot to say , I've tried some Ez-start......

 

Ok, give me a fiver and I'll take it off your hands.

 

Sounds like my Suzuki GN250 when we got back from Chile. It was a bugger
to get started, and when it did, it didn't tick over, revs wouldn't
drop, and it was generally a nightmare.

That was my guess with the GN. Carb off, all jets out, loads of carb
cleaner, high-pressure air on and through everything, and that sorted
it.

If you can get the bugger to run on all four, it might flush through
whatever's nixing it. I'd try four new plugs, as a cheapo means of
kicking the bastard up the arse, and then thrash the tits off it for 50
miles. But if if it doesn't run on those, then chuck it at a dealer.

 

Do the carbs have drain screws? I'd start there. Let a little clean fuel
flush through. While you are at it have the plugs out and clean them. Then
try again.

When you do try and start it again run some jump cables from a (running)
cage to give it some extra go juice and preserve your bike battery.

 

I shall consult the Haynes BOL and have a look

Noted , ta.

 

Looks like that's saturday afternoon's job then.

It's always been a bit lumpy for the first couple of miles after it's stood
for a couple of months (even though I try and remember to start it up
occasionally) but with the snow and cold weather I think I've pushed it a
bit too far. When it ran for a while on monday I hoped that I could do just
that , but apparently not.

 

My veefer sometimes refuses to start after being left too long. Four new
plugs fixes that, but I have no idea why a plug should go 'off'.

 

H2O + O2

 

<Ducati memories>

Nor me.

 

If you're implying they oxidise, there's no sign of that.

 

In cold weather they get damp, expecially if the exhaust valve happens
to be open. No need to buy new, just roast them for a few minutes.
I usually balance them over the flame on the gas stove.

While they are off give the carbs a good clean to make sure the cylinders
are sucking petrol rather than accumulaed water, crank to blow any
damp out of the cylinders, then refit the plugs.

 

Well , it's now running even though it didn't all go entirely to plan.

I'd ordered some spark plugs on tuesday as they were due for a change this
summer and they have so far failed to turn up , so I had to settle for
cleaning the old ones.
The carb cleaner spray worked wonders , as did a quick rub with fine wet and
dry then a bit of heat.

Then came the carbs themselves which just would not come off the bike no
matter how hard I pulled , and yes I am sure I'd undone all the clamps and
so on. As I couldn't get them off I had to settle for hosing carb cleaner in
through the intake and opening all the drain screws but it's done the trick
and once the battery was charged again it started pretty much first time.

There does seem a bit more induction noise so I've got a bit of checking for
misplaced hoses before I finish off putting it back together tomorrow. It
could just be because the side panels are off and it was in my shed though.

Thanks to those who replied :0)

 

And this morning it won't start again!
A couple of impressive backfires woke the neighbours , but no signs of it
running.

<mutter>