VFR 750 86' won't start..

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by Andrei, Nov 16, 2014.

  1. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    Bought the bike about 3 weeks ago, rode it home, but i had a holiday booked, so i haven't been able to start it for 2 weeks, got back home, tried to start it, battery is low, connected it to the car, for a kick start,but the engine won't start, was thinking maybe it's the spark plugs? But for some reason the whole battery is drained, and i am unable to get the bike started, haven't tried jump starting it in 2nd gear pushing it yet, really weird since it was working when i bought it, now the engine won't start not even some backfire.
    Any ideas what's wrong with it? I am a beginner when it comes to the mechanics of it, but i know the obvios stuff, really don't want to spend money getting it checked by a mechanic since when i bought it it was working.
    Any tips/idea on where the problem is?
     
  2. rjgti

    rjgti New Member

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    use a charger to charge your battery. measure battery voltage
     
  3. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    I don't have a charger, i also changed the water in the battery, really having trouble getting the engine to turn over since it's raining and cold most of the time here
     
  4. rjgti

    rjgti New Member

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    omg, how did you change the water in the battery
     
  5. 74ullc

    74ullc New Member

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    You need a good battery to get any spark. If the battery has just enough to turn over the motor, but just barely, you may not get spark. Well....that's the case on most old bikes I've worked on.
     
  6. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    so you're suggesting buying a new battery?
     
  7. rjgti

    rjgti New Member

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    you do realize that is acid in that battery
     
  8. rjgti

    rjgti New Member

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    yes, get a new battery now
     
  9. 74ullc

    74ullc New Member

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    Also don't use a car to jump a bike, you can fry stuff doing that. It's ok to use a car battery, but not a running car. But yes, what did you change the water with?
     
  10. rjgti

    rjgti New Member

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    wowzer first time i have heard of changing water in a battery:distress:
     
  11. 74ullc

    74ullc New Member

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    I've done it on batteries that have sat, but added in fresh acid, not water. Been able to get another year or two out of batteries like that. Friend of mine used to drain his boat battery every year and refill after storing dry over the winter. Seemed to work for him. Not recommending it, just saying I've heard of it.
     
  12. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Hi Andrei and welcome to the MadHouse:welcome:!

    When you get a chance please swing by the introductions forum and say Hi to the rest of the folks on here. They really like pictures so make sure you include at least one photo of your VFR (click on the insert image icon and follow the prompts) or it won't be long before people will be raggin on you. You may also want to update your forum profile (forum actions + Edit profile) to include the specs of your VFR and a rough location - town/city is fine - so they appear automatically alongside all your posts.

    :focus:

    As for the starting issue - you need to be methodical.

    First off I hope we can assume you checked the basics - the kill switch was set to run and the bike was in neutral when you tried to start the bike, also there is ample fuel and when you turn the key to the ignition on position, the usual lights display on the instrument panel and you can hear the fuel pump priming?

    Hopefully the problem is just down to a drained, dead or dying battery? Have you any idea how old it is?

    A word of warning - it is OK to use a 12 volt car battery as a booster to start the bike BUT the engine on the car must not be running - or as this article explains it can rapidly kill components in the bike - http://www.shadowriders.org/faq/jumpstarting.html

    Inherently we can't do much until you have a healthy battery. So as a first step put the old battery on charge overnight ideally using one of those digital maximiser type motorbike chargers which will diagnose the state of the battery and won't overcharge things. (Beware the charge rate from many car chargers is far too high for a motorbike battery and can potentially kill a serviceable battery).

    Hopefully by morning you will have a fully charged battery and the bike will start fine. If the battery cannot be recovered or after an overnight charge is totally dead then buy a replacement ( Note most new batteries are only 80% charged when supplied, so even a brand new battery should be put on a trickle charge for a couple of hours (by you or the retailer) before being installed on the bike. Hopefully fitting a healthy battery is all that will be needed to get the bike running OK.

    If the bike starts up, then it is up to you whether or not you want the added peace of mind of running a set of diagnostic checks (AKA the drill) to assess whether or not the charging system is in good order. See post #9 in this thread -

    http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/39277-How-to-fix-common-regulator-Stator-failures

    Hope that helps - Let us know how you get on.





    SkiMad
     
  13. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    I jump started it from the car and the engine still didn't turn over..
     
  14. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    Hello and thank you for greeting me, i will surely do that, but i'm in a really bad mood and really annoyed, spend most of my weekend trying to get this fuxed..as you can imagine. buying a 'new' bike just to end up not working..

    Yeah, i will have to buy a new battery since i don't have a charger+ thanks for the advice on the jumpstarting from the car
     
  15. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Ok so lets get this straight, you jump started it from the car and it didn't turn over, what do you mean by this, the motor would not turn over or it wouldn't start? big difference, if it didn't turn over we are looking at starter issues, if it cranks but didn't start that is another issue
     
  16. rjgti

    rjgti New Member

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    You can change electrolyte or rebalance it
     
  17. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    No worries Andrei - fingers crossed installing a new battery is all you need to get the bike running OK.

    If you don't have a charger - and funds are tight - then maybe its time to ask a neighbour if they have one you could borrow. If that draws a blank then perhaps have a look at the forum map - it may show another VFR owner living nearby who you could contact by sending a Personal Message to see if they have one or can come over and help get the bike running.

    Yes it can be very annoying and stressful if something does not work and you are not entirely sure how to fix things.

    Good luck



    SkiMad
     
  18. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    This whole thread is an amazing demonstration of the sort of practical help and support available from all over the globe from the folks on here. Keep it up - makes me proud of VFRWorld!
     
  19. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    it does crank but it doesn't start.
     
  20. Andrei

    Andrei New Member

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    Thank you for your positivism and great way to make me feel welcome
     
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