The other day I ran out of gas and had to haul her back in the back of a truck. She wont start. Wont even turn over. This means gas isnt getting to the carbs right? I'm a newbie here and don't know what to do now. Battery is fine. Help? ???
Many thanks, DMF.
Wont turn over doesnt mean gas. Its an electrical issue. Are your lights on?
Yes. I have lights, horn, the whole nine yards. When I tried starting her, it didn't even turn over... I will put the battery on a trickle charge, though.
Does anything sound like its clicking? do the lights dim when you hit the starter?
You positive it ran out of gas. If it won't turn over, it could be that the battery wasn't charging and thats way it stopped running.
Check the wires coming from the alternator and their connections to the wiring harness.
I am pretty darned sure that I was out of gas. I had been running on empty tryin got get back home. However, I did have to jump my battery earlier in the day because I had left my key in the ignition (smart, huh?). It dosent sound like anything is clicking.
I will check the wires.
What year is your bike? if have the older carbies, the regulators suck and it probably isnt charging your battery, and the lights just kill the battery more and more when you try to start it.
Quote from: robartlum on August 10, 2008, 07:59:23 PM
I am pretty darned sure that I was out of gas. I had been running on empty tryin got get back home. However, I did have to jump my battery earlier in the day because I had left my key in the ignition (smart, huh?). It dosent sound like anything is clicking.
I will check the wires.
Not to sound like a dick, but you did check the kill switch right? I've had it engaged before and not realized it for a minute or two.
And if it is the kill switch, just make something up that you "fixed." [laugh]
Since you had to jump the battery, it could still be dead if you didn't ride long before you ran out of gas.
I don't think his bike died b/c it wasn't charging.
If that were the case, it wouldn't have enough juice in it to run the lights, horn, etc.
Did it ever crank for you after you put gas in it or was it dead the first time you hit the starter button?
No clicking makes me think it's either the kill switch or the solenoid. Try jumping the solenoid and see what happens. (Just make sure it's in neutral before you jump it.)
First do what Rameses said.
How do you know the battery is fine? It takes a lot more current to crank the bike than to run the lights. Your first step should be to fully recharge and load test the battery or substitute or jump with a known good battery. Then check your charging system for output, basic check is 13.7-14.7 volts at the battery at 3K rpm.
QuoteDid it ever crank for you after you put gas in it or was it dead the first time you hit the starter button?
No clicking makes me think it's either the kill switch or the solenoid. Try jumping the solenoid and see what happens. (Just make sure it's in neutral before you jump it.)
When i firsst put gas in, she did crank a little but nothng after that.
How do you jump the solenoid?
Quote from: robartlum on August 11, 2008, 06:20:48 PM
When i firsst put gas in, she did crank a little but nothng after that.
How do you jump the solenoid?
Pull back the rubber boots covering the two large cables' terminals on the solenoid.
Then just jump one terminal to the other. You can do that with anything conductive (a piece of wire, two screwdrivers touching the terminals with the shafts touching each other, whatever you have handy).
Again, make sure it's in neutral before you do that.
If you get something out of the starter by doing this, but not by hitting the starter switch (and the kill switch isn't in the off position), then it's most likely your solenoid.
Let us know what happens.
Quote from: robartlum on August 11, 2008, 06:20:48 PM
When i firsst put gas in, she did crank a little but nothng after that.
How do you jump the solenoid?
Have you tried jumping the battery since you ran out of gas? I'd almost bet on it that it is completely dead. It is easier to jump the battery than it is to get to the solenoid and test it. So try a jump and then try the solenoid if that doesn't work.
Those are 2 different issues.
1) If you had to jump your battery to start your bike, your battery was weak.
a) Do you ride your bike often?
b) When was the battery last changed/tendered?
2) Once your engine is own, the idle will generate enough power to run the headlights. If your bike is old, your battery will drain eitherway when idling. your engine must be atleast 3,000rpm to charge the battery. If you ran the bike till it was out of gas, the bike would of cut of and the battery would of been to weak to turn the bike over, but still have enough power to run the lights.
Older ducatis are well known to have shitty regulators. If your regulator feels like hell is about to open a portal with it, then its likely its on its way out.
Jumping the bike will defintely start it, if the solenoid isnt broken. If the solenoid is stuck, then the bike would be turning over until the battery was completely dead. If the solenoid is broken, then jumping the bike wouldnt help since power is still not getting through to the starter.
Step 1 would be to jump the bike, if you dont have the stuff to jump it, bump start it.
Step 2 would be to jump the solenoid.
Step 3 if all else fails is to get the battery cehcked out. Though this should be step 1.
the solenoid is on the right side of the bike. It has a wire directly from the battery and another wire to the starter that is in front of your oil filter. When eveyrone says wire, we arent talking about a pussy 16 gauge wire. You'll toast your fingers. Grab something nice and thick. If you touch a 16guage wire, if the solenoid is broken, it will turn over, but that wire will heat up pretty damn quick. so dont hold onto it for more than a second or 2.
Well guys, it was much simpler than it looked. [laugh]
I had her on a trickle charge and put in it and it started right up! Holy Cow I was so happy. Tomorrow I ride up to Athens GA to start my junior college year on my stylish, chick magnet DUCATI! WHOOOHOOOO! I started hooting and hollering hearing her roar back to life.
Thanks very much, guys! You were all correct in recognizing that it was an electrical problem! Much bacon for all of you!
[bacon] [bacon] [bacon]
Dont ever leave me, DMF. ;)
That's great man, glad to hear it was a simple solution.
And I'm envious of you for going to UGA. There's some absolutely incredible umm, scenery there. [evil]
Id keep an eye on your battery and carry that tender with you. Theres no reason a battery should fall flat on its face, other than its dying, or your bike isnt charging it. just a warning before you venture to far.
Quote from: He Man on August 13, 2008, 12:45:27 PM
Id keep an eye on your battery and carry that tender with you. Theres no reason a battery should fall flat on its face, other than its dying, or your bike isnt charging it. just a warning before you venture to far.
+1...
I'd throw a voltmeter on the battery with the bike running about 3K
13.5-14.5 volts is what you should see.
Quote from: ducpainter on August 13, 2008, 04:37:40 PM
+1...
I'd throw a voltmeter on the battery with the bike running about 3K
13.5-14.5 volts is what you should see.
+1
Do this to make sure your charging system is in good working order. It is not uncommon for a motorcycle battery to go bad, especially after sitting for an extended period of time with no charge. Buy a Battery Tender Jr. and keep it on that whenever possible.
9 times out of ten, maybe more, when a bike won't turn over it is the battery. Batteries can be dead even when they show 12 v using a voltmeter. That's why I suggested trying to jump it again. Glad the problem was simple. Wish my problem was. :-\
And in case you dont heed our warnings. Learn how to bump start a motorcycle.