QuestionQUESTION: I have a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard C50. In November of 2013 I became ill and didn't feel comfortable riding my bike so I parked it. I Live in Southern California and the bike has been outside but covered. About 2-4 months ago I cranked my bike after trickle charging the battery. It fired right up and I let it idle for a while. It didn't have much gas (about 1-1/2 gallons) in the tank. I put some Sta-Bil in the tank and ran the bike for a few more minutes. Three days ago I went out and tried to start my bike after putting the trickle charger on to get a full charge and it wont start. I siphoned as much gas out of the tank as I could and put a fresh gallon of gas in with an ounce of Sea Foam mixed in. I've tried cranking it for the last 2 days thinking that the new gas with Sea Foam needed to work its way down to the EFI before it would fire off but with no results.
Do you have any suggestions on what I need to do next? Do I need to remove the fuel tank and drain it and refill it? Would the plugs be the problem? The engine cranks fine but it just wont fire off.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
ANSWER: Hello Van,
You almost answered your own question...
Most probably, the additives you used, fouled and shorted the plugs.
So, the way to go is, fresh clean fuel and plugs, as you already suspected.
Best Regards,
Lazaros.
P.S.: Get back any time, if the above don't work.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Mr. Ampatzidis,
I removed my fuel tank and changed the spark plugs. The fuel was new. I reattached the fuel tank and hooked everything up. I tried to start the bike and it wouldn't start. I took the air filter off and used some starter fluid to try to crank it. It will start to catch and then dies. Some times it fires for a couple of seconds and other times it fires once and dies.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Van
ANSWER: Hello Van and welcome back,
Please open the fuel tank cap, turn the ignition switch on and listen if you can hear the fuel
pump working. Then press the starter button and check if it works while the engine is cranking.
The next steps are more complicated, since there are special tools involved.
Fuel amount and pressure should be measured. These procedures should be left to a professional,
but if you can get a fuel pressure gauge, I can guide you through.
For now, check whether the pump works or not and get back to me.
Best Regards,
Lazaros.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Mr. Ampatzidis,
Thank you for your follow up suggestions. I turned the key on while holding in the clutch and could hear the pump "initialize" (for lack of proper term) for a second or two. I then tried to start the engine while I held my ear to the open gas tank opening. I didn't hear any thing that sounded like a fuel pump working but I'm not sure what that should sound like.
Can I remove the tank and keep the electrical harness attached, then attach a hose to the fuel connection and try to crank the engine to see if there is fuel being delivered by the fuel pump? Or should I consider tanking the fuel pump off and taking it to a mechanic to have it tested?
Thanks for your time, patience, help.
Van
AnswerHi Van,
Spot-on! That's exactly what you have to do next. Just lift the tank only enough to get access to the fuel line, attach a hose, turn on the ignition key and see if fuel is delivered. Then crank the engine. Fuel should also come out.
If there is no fuel delivery, first check the electrical connection to the pump and next the fuse box.
If on the other hand, there IS delivery, then you have to check the amount of fuel discharge.
You will need two pieces of wire, long enough to connect the pump to the battery. Two crocodile connectors/terminals would help a lot. You will also need a graduated container (an empty engine oil one will do).
The following can be done with the tank, either on or off the bike.
Place the container next to the tank and run the hose (previously attached) inside.
Disconnect the pump connector and attach a piece of wire to the Y/R (yellow with red stripe) wire coming from the pump. If you don't have a crocodile connector, you can use a household needle. Run the needle through the Y/R wire and twist the spare wire's one end around it. Connect the other end to battery's positive (+).
Connect the second piece of wire to battery's negative (-) and attach the other end to pump's ground. This can be either the casing or the B/W (black with white stripe) or black wire.
The pump should start working and deliver fuel.
Now for the main measurement. Actuate the pump for 30 seconds. The amount of discharged fuel should be at least 600ml.
If not, then remove the pump, and pay the local moto-workshop a visit!
Looking forward for your results...
Best Regards,
Lazaros.
P.S.:You can call me Lazaros. "Mr Ampatzidis" is nice, but reminds me of my age!
