View Full Version : She refused to start...
paologray
06-Jan-2006, 23:45
evening all!
took the duke into work today for a wee ride. Decided to nip home for a spot of lunch at about 2pm, the bladdy thing wouldnt start!
Now, I know that the battery is quite low, as it has been progressively slowing the starter (as its getting colder). suppose my question is, do you need to have a good battery on the ducatis? I know the answer will be "YES!!", but please just tell me off, and tell me to stop being tight and buy a battery....
Iconic944ss
07-Jan-2006, 00:08
Yes u do need a good battery - stop being tight...get an optmiser and start there. Too many short trips with lights on etc in winter ain good of course.
Also - I think there was a hint your bike was well over due a service?
Suggesting that the oil is probably past its best etc.
Getting a multimeter and checking the battery voltage and charging could be good ideas as well, sadly!
Frank
Its all about how much "Ooomph" you have crossing the cells that will give the power to turn over a Duke its not about Volts. As the battery gets old it looses the power to transfer that Ooomph. Flustrating as it is, a new battery is the only answer , about £40 for a good one . 4D
paologray
07-Jan-2006, 00:44
Fordie, I like your analagies!
It did start after about 30 seconds of jumping from a car battery, but seemed a bit, well, ****.
Moving into a new house next week with integral garage, so all the work you have been pestering me to do will be done (Frank-you know...)!!!
Another thing, is it typical for the 750 to be utterly un-rideable below 3000 revs?
I'd get your charging system checked out first before forking out on a new battery. If it isn't charging, the new battery will go the same way.
GsxrAge
07-Jan-2006, 00:53
Funny I got a 996 like that in the garage :lol::lol:
Hope to get some more AA duracell tomorrow :D:D
Originally posted by nelly
I'd get your charging system checked out first before forking out on a new battery. If it isn't charging, the new battery will go the same way.
Nelly, very true, as you no after refitting my fly wheel on the 996 It sounds a lot quieter too :lol: OOooooppps 4D
skidlids
07-Jan-2006, 03:44
Early 750SS's are easy eough to bump start, I know as thats how I was starting mine the other week due to it having a flat battery (Bl**dy alarms)
Alarm now junked, checked charging all Ok dispite the light on the dash, which is probably on because the new style japanese regulator/rectifier fitted to it doesn't cater for it.
Originally posted by skidlids
Early 750SS's are easy eough to bump start, I know as thats how I was starting mine the other week due to it having a flat battery (Bl**dy alarms)
I had to bump start mine a couple of months back and it nearly killed me. I bought an optimiser after that and have had no problems since.
Originally posted by nelly
I'd get your charging system checked out first before forking out on a new battery. If it isn't charging, the new battery will go the same way.
More good advice from Nelly.
Something else to consider is the fuel filter,when was it last replaced?Sounds ridiculous,but a partually blocked fuel filter can put a big strain on the electrics.I speak from experiance!:mad:
Another thing, is it typical for the 750 to be utterly un-rideable below 3000 revs?
Nope, with carbs balanced properly the 750 will pull from idle, but maybe not in 4th/5th!
Trust me, I had to get ours smooth as it was Kirsty's first bike.
paologray
09-Jan-2006, 17:39
paul, i was hanging around the bike with the air filter removed (we've all been there), i noticed a black slide over the trumpet to the carb... it didnt move when i gave it some throttle... what is it?
paologray
09-Jan-2006, 18:56
YES!!!!!!
Finally! got her to start! after days of re-charging and killing the battery turning over the starter, she gave me a shout!
i decided to remove the top sparky to make sure there was a spark... well there was, but it was arcing out straight onto the head and not to the electrode. so a simple wipe with the most oiliest of rags and back against the head to test the spark... it was like a 5,000,000 candle watt torch going off in me face!
brill!
Originally posted by paologray
paul, i was hanging around the bike with the air filter removed (we've all been there), i noticed a black slide over the trumpet to the carb... it didnt move when i gave it some throttle... what is it?
if the engine wasn't running then that is the carb slide which has the diaphragm above it and the needle poking out the bottom, and when you twist the throttle you operate the butterfly which is closer to the inlet (not like slide carbs on a 2-stroke when you lift the slide with the throttle).
If the engine was running, then f8ck knows!!!:P
Originally posted by paologray
YES!!!!!!
Finally! got her to start! after days of re-charging and killing the battery turning over the starter, she gave me a shout!
i decided to remove the top sparky to make sure there was a spark... well there was, but it was arcing out straight onto the head and not to the electrode. so a simple wipe with the most oiliest of rags and back against the head to test the spark... it was like a 5,000,000 candle watt torch going off in me face!
brill!
I had a similar problem with rough running and went and bought some new plugs which made no difference. Spent a while (!) sodding about and then decided to try some old plugs which I had lying around. She ran like a dream so I took the "new" plugs back and tried some NGK ones and all was fine.
Not sure what the moral is, but hey.....
skidlids
10-Jan-2006, 00:15
Originally posted by paologray
i noticed a black slide over the trumpet to the carb...
New one on me if it was under the trumpet then as Paul says it would be the slide, but if its above the trumpet ?????????????????????????????????
Originally posted by paologray
Another thing, is it typical for the 750 to be utterly un-rideable below 3000 revs?
What do you mean un-rideable paologray? The reason I ask is that my 750 Sport is a bit ... erm ... awkward under 3000, probably best to describe it as a bit 'over-responsive'.
kwikbitch has the same bike as I do, and she's suggested a mod she did on hers, which was a change of rear sprocket. Apparently that smoothed things out a bit.
Not sure if your problem is the same, but thought it might be worth a mention.
Cheers,
- bambam
Originally posted by bambam
Originally posted by paologray
Another thing, is it typical for the 750 to be utterly un-rideable below 3000 revs?
What do you mean un-rideable paologray? The reason I ask is that my 750 Sport is a bit ... erm ... awkward under 3000, probably best to describe it as a bit 'over-responsive'.
kwikbitch has the same bike as I do, and she's suggested a mod she did on hers, which was a change of rear sprocket. Apparently that smoothed things out a bit.
Not sure if your problem is the same, but thought it might be worth a mention.
Cheers,
- bambam
All of the carby twins can get lumpy below 3k.
1. Throttle synchronisation is _really_ important.
2. Std idle mixture is _way_ too lean - you need to run about 4 turns out - cos weak mixtures at idle produce uneven firing.
3. The ignition advance curve is too aggressive really anyway, and can cause poor sparking under low-rpm-load, and makes all of the above worse, but you cant do much about it, except fit expensive coils so you get a better low-rpm spark.
Work on the first two and you will get it in better shape.
The 750's are smoother than the 900's, believe me.
My wife doesnt like the way the 900's develop power low down cos she says it makes it very jerky to ride, so I tell her to ride faster :D
paologray
10-Jan-2006, 18:14
well, yeah... its just really jerky. one minute your fine, then the next it feels like its going to stop and get on top of you!
Im goin to try the oil change on the clutch tonight... lets hope it sorts the slip-out...
how do i adjust the idle mixture? does some one have a diagram? or what page in the WSM is it on?
paoaloaaoaoaoaoajshsdhdhrfjkhkfhwhwcnlcna;fhqiw;!
paologray
10-Jan-2006, 19:56
okay... this is the story!!!
Recharged the battery all night 2 days ago, refitted it and it fired up fine, revved her up for a couple of minutes just to get her warm then retired for the night...
Just been out to start her up again and she wont start... grrrrr
so I took out the top plug, checked spark against the head and it was rubbish. so i clean the plug, test the spark again and its sparking fine. put it back in the head. wont start. still!! took plug out again, same problem, crappy spark (sparking out on the engine-not on the electrode), clean it, put it back in. hit the starter and ****KKKING BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
the loudest backfire ive ever heard!! considering im in my garage too. my ears are still ringing!
so, I eventually killed the battery trying to start her after 40 minutes, bugger.
It did flutter once right at the end of the batterys life, only to die cos i wasnt quick enuff on the throttle. shite!
Is this mainly to do with the battery?
my garage stinks of fuel so it cant be a fuelling problem...
And I tell thee what... Its ever since i decided to put that rubbo 97 octane stuff in her...
Your bike needs a damn good service Paulo.
Do what you can yourself, like the clutch, but it sounds to me like it could do with a good going over, carbs balanced etc etc. It will cost but I know you got the bike for a good price and it is basically sound. You will just have to stay at your parents for a while longer (I know I should have, the food was better)
I changed the gearing on mine (14T on the front) and it has made it much more rideable at low speeds. When I am on IAM rides I still have to use first gear in 30 limits to get the responsiveness I need.
Iconic944ss
10-Jan-2006, 20:43
Not sure about the 750's but I seem to remember the Haynes manual saying to NEVER spark the plugs against any part of the bike on the 900ss because it can result in damage to the electronic ignition.
Good luck - Frank
paologray
10-Jan-2006, 22:35
Originally posted by Iconic944ss
Not sure about the 750's but I seem to remember the Haynes manual saying to NEVER spark the plugs against any part of the bike on the 900ss because it can result in damage to the electronic ignition.
Good luck - Frank
but its doing the same thing, just inside the head, not outside... probably just scared of setting fire to the fuel/air mix as it leaves the plug hole...
Iconic944ss
10-Jan-2006, 22:47
Try some new plugs....no need for anything fancy...here is a source:
http://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/pages/pricing/applications/ngk_bike_applications.asp
Frank
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