Bike wont fire up

[Shane54]

Hi guys

The great day arrived and it was all systems GO to hit the starter button and hear my little beast bark into life.....but it WILL not fire

There's definitely spark at the plugs....fuel in the bowls...got compression....the starter spins the crank but its stone dead (like the kill switch is off kinda dead). It sounds very much like the valve timing is 180 degs out despite my meticulous setting up of the cams etc. I'm doubting myself now

If anyone can help please i'd appreciate it

[Evilchicken0]

The coils are plugged into the wrong connection ?

[Shane54]

Ok its not the cam timing....#1 piston is at TDC....'T' on the rotor is level with the split line on the engine casing....marks on the cams line up with the pips on the caps....lobes in correct place for compression stroke. I've been racing cars and bikes for close to 30 yrs and this has me stumped

If there's spark, compression and fuel it should fire.....yea right

[Evilchicken0]

How are you trying to start it ?
FZR engines don't like to sit and restarting them can take a bit of doing. If you're pressing the starter for a second or so it won't fire. Add a second battery (a car battery or a running bike) on jump leads. Airbox off chuck some carb cleaner down the sniffin bits (lift the carb slides) and then lean on the starter. Begin with a bit of choke but not full, add some carb cleaner over the intakes occasionally. As the engine is spinning you should hear it get a bit quicker before it begins to fire, you'll need to try and feed it some throttle or choke don't use big amounts but keep your thumb on the starter until it's fully running then use the choke to hold it's revs before you take your thumb off.

It's not for the mechanically sensitive

[Shane54]

Pressing the starter button for long periods of time. Tried part choke, full throttle etc etc...all combo's you can imagine. Even tried pouring a teaspoon of fuel down into each carb throat to get some kind of reaction. I bought the bike for R5000 rands (approx 350 pounds) which is CHEAP, coz the guy said he couldn't get the bike to start after it stood in a garage for 3 & half yrs.

Everything on the bike is as it came from the factory (amazingly) so clearly the previous owner never fiddled or butchered any components. So that rules out any foul play in terms of something being connected/fitted arse-about-face.

Thanks for your advice Evil. I'll try the starting procedure you suggested.

[Evilchicken0]

OK - try that. If it doesn't fire then let us know what you've done to recommission the engine and what kind of mileage its done

[dobbslc]

Have you tried turning it over in the dark with the tank off?
Look for HT leakage from the coils then down the plug leads to the caps. If there's something amiss you'll see it sparking away down to the frame or engine cases.
Are the plugs new? Old plugs even if they look good can cause trouble.
Are the coils plugged in the right way ie 1&4, 2&3 the right way round.

[Shane54]

I haven't tried that trick yet no....DAMM good idea. Didnt think of HT leakage. Will try that right now.

Plugs are new and coils are connected correctly. Even tried swapping the white plug with the green plug to get a reaction. It backfired and sneezed thru the carbs a few times so at least SOMETHING is happening in there

Thanks guys

[Shane54]

Ok its not HT leak but it was worth a try

[Evilchicken0]

I think it just needs a firm hand ... or thumb