1986 VFR 750 fuel pump issue?

I just bought a VFR 750. Took it out for a long ride, everything was working perfect. Went to start it up the next day and it wouldn't turn over. When I hit the ignition it tried to fire but then stopped with a loud clunk. Hit the starter button again and I could hear a strange whining sound that went away after my 3rd attempt to start it. Lights turn on, lights dim when I press the starter button. I can hear the fuel pump try to engage when I cycle the ignition switch between oof/run. I've taken the fuel filter off and it seems to be clear. Battery has full power. Any help would be amazing.

 

It could be the mechanical clutch between the starter and the crankshaft. Are you able to jump start it ?

 

I tried rolling it down the driveway to jump it when I first thought it was the battery but got nothing out of it, zero resistance.

 

Strange whining sound, loud clunk and no resistance when you attempt jumpstart (did you engauge e.g. 2nd gear in the attempt?) and no correspondence with starter motor may mean that the primary drive or crankshaft has failed/is broken, maybe started by a failing starter clutch. Not good. Is there any oil in the crackcase? If so - how does it look?

 

Could be many things.
If a carbs overflowed and drain into a cylinder while parked you could have a hydrolock situation. I don't think that is likely with the 86 as the fuel pump won't allow gravity flow.
If the battery was failing then there may be insufficient power for the starter (I think this is most likely). Just because your battery shows good voltage, it may have so much internal resistance developed that there is not enough current for the starter.
If the starter clutch has cracked, the starter motor can whine but not turn the engine over.

Take the inspection cover off the engine and the plugs out and check that you can turn it over by hand. That rules out an major mechanical woe like a bent rod or hydrolocking.
Then try a fresh battery or a decent jumper off a car battery, that rules out the bike battery
If the bike won't turn over on the starter, then the starter clutch may be borked. I know my 86 starter clutch sounded terrible when the battery ran down making unhappy clanks and bangs.

 

I was asking a wrong question. What I meant was:
Did you try to push start it ?

 

I tried jumping it in first gear and got nothing.

 

Can you tell me where I can find the inspection cover? And can I hook my booster pack directly to the starter?

 

whoa !!

trying to start in any gear isnt good unless youre pushing. find neutral and verify with green light.

 

I tried to jump start it via a booster pack on the battery while it was in neutral. I tried to to bump start in 1st gear while rolling it down my driveway. no results for both.

 

have you checked for sparks ?

 

You can put 12v directly onto the starter solenoid outlet terminal and the chassis ground, which would power the starter motor and test that but it won't start the bike. The inspection cover is circled below, don't round off the nut! Inside is a nut on the crank end which allows you to turn the engine over with a socket and feel for any issues. With the plugs out it should rotate with only the resistance from the cams/ valve springs. Rotation clockwise keeps the starter clutch disengaged. Rotation counterclockwise will feel different as the starter clutch and starter motor are engaged.

 

its not ez in some cases. use a tight-fitting socket and long leverage, and check that nut isnt too rounded, first.

 

True...with the right tools. And if the previous "mechanic" was kind enough to put some grease on the o-ring. I have an impact driver and 6-point drivers for jobs like this.

 

thanks for your help. I'll try these tips out tonight and see what happens.

 

thats the best advice since the cover might not come off ez. use best tools first or risk rounding the nut. and ive seen a few.

true, its ez to remove if the last monkey in there used lube and diddnt over-tighten.

 

I took the inspection cover off and the cam turned pretty easy in both directions( I didn't remove the plugs. Trying the starter now