my damn bike won't start

[mikk]

my zzr250 wouldn't start this morning

tried starting it for about 15 minutes and flattened the battery. i'm at work now, i have to go back home and fix the bugger later

the bike was off overnight outdoors and this was at about 7am...

i 1st tried to start it by putting the choke on all the way and pressing the starter while turning the accelerator a tiny bit. clutch in and bike in neutral. the engine turned over a couple of times then it stopped.

i know that if the bike has has been running recently and i try to use the choke it won't start (floods it i guess?).

so anyway then i turned off the choke and tried to start it without choke. then tried lots of starts doing all sorts of stuff like turning the accelerator all the way (i heard somewhere that u do this if its flooded), part way, tried some choke, even flicked the fuel tap to "prime" for a second. a few times the engine turned over a little but it didn't catch on and start running

oh and the tank is 3/4 full.

anybody got any ideas?

usually my bike starts first time every time. the only time it won't is when i use the choke when its already been running recently, when that happens i can usually get it to go after about a minute.

[seraph]

Um... battery? I dont know... the only time my zzr wouldn't start is when I discovered the hidden kill switches on first gear (won't start if you are in gear unless clutch is in) and side stand down (kills engine if side stand down) Maybe check your manual if there are any other secret hidden kill switches of doom. I am no help. Sorry.

[MickLC]

The only similar problems I used to have with the old GPX250 (similar engine) were around this time of year as it started to cool down overnight the battery would die and I'd have to roll start it until I got a new one.

[Glen]

Don't know if the engine is anything like the EL250, but we used to have a few of these on training ranges and they hated turning the throttle with the choke on. It was either full choke, no throttle or full throttle no choke.

As Mick C said when that failed it was typically because the battery didn't have enough juice for starter and spark and we clutched them.

Sounds like your battery might have been on the way out.

[Colette]

What about the kickstand thing - doesn't it disengage engine if not in place correctly?

[Damon Z1000]

Maaate, you never know when your battery is on its way out, then the first cold night they encounter, that's it buggered!
You know anyone with a battery you can use to check off against first........
if the batts not holding charge and its a good batt then check alternator/generator.
Good luck bud.

[mikk]

Maaate, you never know when your battery is on its way out, then the first cold night they encounter, that's it buggered!
You know anyone with a battery you can use to check off against first........
if the batts not holding charge and its a good batt then check alternator/generator.
Good luck bud.

hmm how do i know if the battery is bad? the voltage is still fine according to my shift light. the starter motor still runs and sounds normal...

a month ago i had the valves and carbies adjusted and the sparkies replaced. the bike has been running fine though so i dunno if its anything to do with that.

i'd better check the stand and clutch switches.

also, does anyone have any tips for making the bike easier to start from cold?

[Nanna10r]

If you messed with it for 15minutes trying different ways to start it then it aint your battery or charge circuit. Sounds more a fuel/spark drama. Your plugs will be buggered now anyway so buy some newies on the way home n jump start it. I'd also check your fuel tap n fuel filter as it sounds more like the problem since it started & then STOPPED.
my 2cs i aint no bush 'canic. Thats Felix's job.
Cheers Brett
PS i slip a bit of octane boost in the fzzzr every coupla tanks helps start it cold in winter.

[I-K]

hmm how do i know if the battery is bad?

Well, one symptom is difficult starting.

the voltage is still fine according to my shift light.

The total charge in the battery might still be low.

the starter motor still runs and sounds normal...

Yup, but there's no guarantee that there's enough power in the battery to drive both the starter motor and the ignition coil.

i'd better check the stand and clutch switches.

If the starter engaged, there's no need. Dodgy clutch, stand and gear cutouts manifest themselves as the starter motor failing to engage when you hit the stater button (you just hear the click from the relay, then nothing). They break both the ignition and the starter circuits.

When you get home, paddle it down the driveway and try to clutch it.

[red_dave]

Mikk

I'll PM you my mobile number and talk to you about getting your battery checked... Any of my stores can do it...

[MickLC]

also, does anyone have any tips for making the bike easier to start from cold?

Well your definition of cold in Brisbane will be different from my definition in Canberra but with the GPX I always used to put the choke on full and try to start it with no throttle. If that didn't get it going then a tiny bit of throttle would sometimes help.

[Neka79]

i had Laines zzr here for a few weeks....its a bitch to start too!!...the day it was left out of the shed, it wouldnt start-was bloody cold morning too...so i replaced plugs, cleaned air filter etc, gave it a minor service...then flattened the battery trying to start it....got it goin (jumped it from a charger) and it was fine for abt 3 days..then another really cold morning..same problem....i dunno wot the cause is, but i kno the bloody thing wont start on cold days!!

[decoy]

happened a few times with my across, couldn't figure it out when it kept happening. Eventually my step dad figured it out. After it turned over and died the first time, pull the choke on all the way and start with no throttle then let it go. might die a few times while doing it, but it cranks over and starts, then eventually choke idles it

[mikk]

so i went back to my bike...

about 9pm on a very cold and wet night...

bike started first go even though the starter motor was spinning a bit slow

*sigh*

i'm pretty sure my battery is good (i work in a battery shop )

i guess there was some kind of fuel problem. i bought new sparkies anyway. will investigate more on the weekend cos i don't want this happening out somewhere like pine mountain :O

thanks for all the help everyone

[Barrabob]

It goes again now thats a good thing, when i had my 250 it was also funny about full choke no throttle till it catches and then once it fired up a little bit of throttle and disengage the choke.

We dont really have cold mornings in queensland but it might be time for a service or at least a new airfilter and cleaning all the chasis earths can do wonders for a older live outside in the cold comuter. (you cruel bugger)