Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

So, bike has been sat for no more than 2 weeks, its been sat for longer before and started fine in the past.

This morning went to start it, turns over at what seems its normal speed but not sparking into life. My thoughts are that I'm gunna charge the battery over night tonight see if thats it but considering its turning over pretty well I am skeptical but its the cheapest and easiest thing to check 1st, If not that Ill check the plugs, and then if not ill check the fuel pump, anything else you guys can think of think of.

Im certain its not the side stand switch or clutch as it wouldnt even turn over if these were the problems

What work have you done to it?

Is there no spark at all?

How old is the battery?

Ive not touched anything that should affect it starting since the last time I rode it, just had it on a stand with the rear wheel out so Im pretty confident its not me, I was maybe going to try and put fresh Petrol in as I did wash it and wondering if water could have got into the tank somehow (im not convinced my fuel cap is air and watertight as I can often hear air escaping)

I didnt get time to take her apart to check as I had to give up and get to work this morning so I dont know if it is sparking, and Im not sure on the age of the battery, I would guess the original one as the previous owner just left it on a trickle charger at all times

Did you hear the fuel pump prime when you switched it on?

Yeah all the normal sounds and whirring that I normally get just this time no BOOM after I pushed the button

Cavetroll87 wrote:Yeah all the normal sounds and whirring that I normally get just this time no BOOM after I pushed the button

can you hear he starter solenoid click when you push the start button ?I bet its a duff battery the same happened to me

I'm going for the battery. Give that a top up. Given its age it might be worth thinking about replacing the battery at some point.

Yea cheers guys battery is my intial though as I had the same thing with my CBR just seems weird as it hasnt been standing all that long in the grandscheme of things and seems to be turning over ok, but ill keep you guys posted

If it's spinning at what seems like normal speed (1st post) then it's either fuel or sparks. If you were riding it until 2 weeks ago I'd think duff petrol is unlikely and if the pump is priming (normal sounds) the injectors will have juice. My money would be on a faulty cam position sensor or crank position sensor, with an outside bet on the TPS (throttle position sensor) or the tilt switch. It's also possible that the wiring for any of those could give issues if there's a poor connection somewhere.

I was also going to suggest tilt switch - sounds like the issue I was having after I fitted the track fairing to the zx10. Once I located said switch and fixed it into position the correct way bit started fine.

I thought about the Tilt Sensor but from what I can find out that stops the engine from even turning over completely, I suppose my 1st port of call is battery

When mine was just flapping around under my race fairing the bike was turning over at normal speed, just no spark. I rectified it and the bike started.

Ok cheers mate I'll have a look, seems weird that it could just go tho considering the bike hasn't been dropped like I say not even been touched apart from removing the rear wheel and a wash

That's exactly how my lads CBR went, rode it to work, then wouldn't start at going home time. Was the cam position sensor, went through everything, replaced it and bingo, it ran fine. There should be an ohmic value for the two position sensors on line or in the workshop manual somewhere, if they aren't in that specified zone the sensor is normally toast.

Btw you can normally find a manual on fleabay cheap.

Cheers mate I've got a manual, I've put it on charge for now, I tried bump starting it and had a weird experience, it seemed to almost kick it into life as I lifted off the seat and seemed to cut out as I sat down on it, that struck me as very weird, and it wasn't a 1 off

Sorry to try and hammer home a point but I think the tilt sensor is located under the seat unit.

Yeah I've had a look at that, I'll see if it's faulty in a sec

Rob you are a genius my friend, I owe you a beer

Glad to be of assistance matey