Vfr 400 nc30 wont start - no faults

Hi,
I recentely (1 and a half months ago) bought a vfr400 and due to not beeing able to ride it yet it has been sat in the garage over winter.
It started fine, no problem when i bought it.

Ive tried to start it up again and just cant get it to start
Here is what I've done:

1.Starter motor sounded weak, no high beam - assumed battery was dead/dying so hooked it up to another and charged it up whilst trying to start as the other vehicle was ticking over. Still nothing

2.Thought it was flooded and maybe damaged the spark plugs so removed the two easiest to reach spark plugs and they were slightly dirty but nothing major and after replacing them there was no difference to trying to start the bike.

3.Checked the fuel tank and put a little more fuel in to make sure it had enough, removed it to make sure fuel was running through the fuel lines. (it was)

4.Checked the Air filter when we took off the tank, it wasn't clogged/blocked.

Cannot for the life of me find out why it won't start and dont really have the funds at the moment to take it in to a garage.

Like I said, it was running fine before being left in the garage for about 1.5 months over winter (which was a bloody cold one) but now it just wont start.
When cranking the starter motor I can hear it trying to kick in, which pops ever so often and sometimes almost ticking over at about the speed the starter motor is cranking. Also ive tried different levels of choke etc & fuel tap is open.

Has anyone had the same problem/ know what the problem could be?
All help greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance!

no real way to be sure but sounds like your carbs are gummed up. Todays gas can do just that in 1.5 months. Also, some bikes will not start with a weak battery. They will spin, but if there is a weak or shorted cell, it just wont crank. If your battery went flat, make shure it is good before continuing, so you can eliminate this from the reasons.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 18 January 2010 - 05:29 PM, said:

no real way to be sure but sounds like your carbs are gummed up. Todays gas can do just that in 1.5 months. Also, some bikes will not start with a weak battery. They will spin, but if there is a weak or shorted cell, it just wont crank. If your battery went flat, make shure it is good before continuing, so you can eliminate this from the reasons.



Battery is definitely charged,could be that the carbs are blocked yes, possibly the worst thing to fix though, I'd rather stick red hot pins in my eyes!

anybody else got any ideas what the problem might be?

You can try this, but some frown on it:

Open up the airbox and remove the filter. Squirt some brake kleen (or suitable cumbustable)down there and hit the sarter. If it runs for a second, you have confirmed that the pilot and or main jet is gummed up.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 20 January 2010 - 11:14 AM, said:

You can try this, but some frown on it:

Open up the airbox and remove the filter. Squirt some brake kleen (or suitable cumbustable)down there and hit the sarter. If it runs for a second, you have confirmed that the pilot and or main jet is gummed up.



Alright mate, I'l give that a go if all else fail (others have said check the killswitch & make sure ive got a decent spark etc)
Will save me taking it to a garage to get the jets cleaned if they arent the problem though, thanks mate.

Pull a plug wire and ground a spark plug in it,make sure there is a good blue spark at the plug , then try spraying soem quick start or ether in the carb box and see if it will run for a short time on the alternative fuel source.

I'll say it sounds like the carbs to me too, my 700 doesn't like the cold very much and is a bit harder to start. I sometimes give it some extra throttle when I crank it over and it will light up (I probably really need a good tuning and sync though), you can try that, just don't want to flood it...

THERE'S a drain screw on the bottom of each carb, and if they're opened b4 storage or prolonged inactivity, the carbs won't clog !!

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This thread was passed to me by a board member(tharkun). I've owned one of these and rebuilt the bike to near factory condition. I have pretty much encountered every issue / condition one could have with these little wonders. A couple of things, the bikes will not or I should say will hardly run without the air box. They will not or again will be very hard to start with throttle input. I doubt seriously that having it sit for a month or a bit more will cause the carbs to gum up and I would not take them off unless you have a new set of carb isolators (rubber boot from carb to engine).

With all that said here is what you should try.
the vac line from the fuel tap to the tank, pull that off and make sure you can feel vac when you push the start button. If it does that will rule out a common issue in that the diaphragm fails often on these bikes.

Next if the tank is off, take a small piece of fuel line and attach a funnel to the end of it. Pour about 2-4oz of fuel into the main fuel line. Unscrew all air box screws 6-8 cant remember how many. Shoot a small shot of starter fluid down each carb throat, put the air filter back in along with box lid. Pull the choke all the way to full and hit the button, DO NOT give throttle input. If it acts as if it will start which it should add a touch more fuel the bowls will hold about 2oz each. The idle screw next to the choke, advance it as if you are trying to advance the idle. Turn the screw about 2 full turns. This should start the bike. You can run it off of the funnel pouring in small amounts of fuel until the motorcycle comes to temp. Only then should you turn it off. NEVER start the NC and turn it off before the engine comes to temp or you'll be buying 80-120 bucks worth of spark plugs.

Do a search and see if any of my old threads are still around from my build. I think I had a few posts about how to start one of these little temperamental high strung beasts. If not you can post here or mail me direct at FLYONWALL9@AOL.COM good luck.

did she ever start?