klr650 not starting - Page 2

Benjava · 01-04-2010, 08:45 PM

It's probably fuel like every one says. But I had similar symptoms. Cuttng out under load but would idle ok. Only happened when it was very hot. I replaced the coil and it has not happened since.

rivercreep · 01-05-2010, 12:06 AM

1. A fuel delivery problem could be caused by several common things and I'll ABC the things I've thought of that can cause intermittant problems.

a. sticky float/valve
b. a small hole in your diaphram
c. something residual in the bottom of your fuel bowl that keeps getting sucked up and then released once the bike shuts down. (although you've cleaned it already so I doubt this one).
D. vacuum operated petcock is going bad and keeping fuel from the carb intermittantly.
e. debri in fuel tank.

2. One thing that steers me away from some of my suggestions however, is the sooty plug. (incorrect ratio of fuel = check needle wear and slide wear too!)
I've had previous bikes act the same way and show a sooty plug by not burning off the gas (which will cause those deposits).

a. your coil is going bad and not delivering enough charge at higher rpms, fouling out the plug to the point where it wont start untill the plug dries out.
b. bad plug wire can do the same thing if it grounds out.
c. bad plug
d. any number of wiring/ground problems.

3. hows your doohickey? timeing can always screw things up.
4. how many miles since your last valve adj?

roadtripp · 01-05-2010, 04:50 PM

Good news! I brought it to a mechanic today, and together we disassembled the carburetor and cleaned it out again. He blew through one of the jets (I'm not sure which one it was) and cleaned out the float bowl, and presto - a working motorcycle! I'll keep a close eye on it for the next couple hundred miles, but I'm hopeful that this problem has been solved. I'm excited to continue my trip southward! Thanks to all your help, and thanks especially for helping me get over my fear of the carburetor - that thing always seemed very "spooky", but now that I've taken mine apart and put it back together, I feel like I have a better understanding of what exactly makes my bike tick. Onwards and upwards!

BC Brian · 01-05-2010, 07:04 PM

Glad you are back on the road
Looking forward to reading more of you RR

Brian

locorider · 01-06-2010, 03:24 AM

Does the KLR have a vacuum activated petcock? If there is a leak there, it may be intermitent too! Drain the carb and check for water in there! If so, drain the tank! Good luck Joe!

juames · 01-06-2010, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadtripp

Good news! I brought it to a mechanic today, and together we disassembled the carburetor and cleaned it out again. He blew through one of the jets (I'm not sure which one it was) and cleaned out the float bowl, and presto - a working motorcycle! I'll keep a close eye on it for the next couple hundred miles, but I'm hopeful that this problem has been solved. I'm excited to continue my trip southward! Thanks to all your help, and thanks especially for helping me get over my fear of the carburetor - that thing always seemed very "spooky", but now that I've taken mine apart and put it back together, I feel like I have a better understanding of what exactly makes my bike tick. Onwards and upwards!

Glad you're up and running again! KLR's have their own personality...maybe yours just didn't feel like moving for a few days!

Looking forward to the rest of your RR!

Be safe

dukedinner · 01-06-2010, 07:37 PM

A good tip I learned is to run some SeaFoam through the bike once a year..does wonders for engine performance and keeps everything clean. The first time I did it I thought I had a new bike...

MotoBoss · 01-07-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadtripp

Good news! I brought it to a mechanic today, and together we disassembled the carburetor and cleaned it out again. He blew through one of the jets (I'm not sure which one it was) and cleaned out the float bowl, and presto - a working motorcycle! I'll keep a close eye on it for the next couple hundred miles, but I'm hopeful that this problem has been solved. I'm excited to continue my trip southward! Thanks to all your help, and thanks especially for helping me get over my fear of the carburetor - that thing always seemed very "spooky", but now that I've taken mine apart and put it back together, I feel like I have a better understanding of what exactly makes my bike tick. Onwards and upwards!

Fantastic! Glad to hear your problem is resolved. As most of us listed the carb or electrics are about the only thing that can put a KLR down. Now you have a little more KLR education and have gained confidence along the way. Fantastic.

Keep the RR coming and up to date on your trip. Be Safe

rawdog · 01-07-2010, 06:03 PM

Great support system to have here.

XDragRacer · 01-08-2010, 02:51 AM

+ 1 on the advice on the thread so far. Diaphragm air-tight fit is critical, and the "choke" (enricher) plunger must seat fully for proper carb operation.

A desperate measure sometimes effective is STARTING FLUID. A whiff of this ether-based sure-thing combustible mixture into the carb will sometimes kick off a balky engine, later picking up on its own and running on its gasoline fuel supply.

Have a fire extinguisher standing by if you try this, and--oh, yes, "Do not try this at home!"

With compression/spark/combustible mixture; oughta start! A long tow or push at a pretty good clip, and easing the clutch out in 3d or 4th gear might kick it off, if the electric starter won't.

piratehood · 01-11-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukedinner

A good tip I learned is to run some SeaFoam through the bike once a year..does wonders for engine performance and keeps everything clean. The first time I did it I thought I had a new bike...

What is "Seafoam"

subybaja · 01-11-2010, 06:28 PM

Snake-oil-in-a-can that actually works.
Found at most NAPA/Schucks/PepBoys.

RandyLove · 02-24-2013, 05:30 PM

I thought I'd add my experience with a very similar sounding issue while I was riding through Argentina. I pulled off at a fuel station to get off the bike and grab a drink. 15 minutes later, after not fueling or making any changes to the bike, it began to stutter above 3.5 - 4K RPM.

Issue: I could start the engine and rev it up as high as 4K RPM while in neutral and it would run fine. Then throw a leg over her and try to ride and it would stutter at about 3.5K - 4K RPM then pop back up and give me power for a second, then drop off again. I was traveling at about 55MPH, which was all she could muster.

I pulled off at a safe shaded area and started to review what I had worked on recently. I had removed the fuel tank to repair some chaffed wires (another post altogether) and recalled the vacuum hoses from the carburetor could cause a similar issue. I inspected the connections and found that one in fact had backed off, presumably when I pulled off the highway into the fuel station's bumpy potholed parking area. Once all snugged up, I was back on the road w/o issue.

Hope this helps someone.

Randy

01-04-2010, 08:45 PM	#16
Benjava ? Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Location Location Oddometer: 1,920	It's probably fuel like every one says. But I had similar symptoms. Cuttng out under load but would idle ok. Only happened when it was very hot. I replaced the coil and it has not happened since. __________________ "Limbautomy" what's the Rush?

01-05-2010, 12:06 AM	#17
rivercreep Banned Joined: Feb 2007 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania (Reading) Oddometer: 3,155	Things I'd check. 1. A fuel delivery problem could be caused by several common things and I'll ABC the things I've thought of that can cause intermittant problems. a. sticky float/valve b. a small hole in your diaphram c. something residual in the bottom of your fuel bowl that keeps getting sucked up and then released once the bike shuts down. (although you've cleaned it already so I doubt this one). D. vacuum operated petcock is going bad and keeping fuel from the carb intermittantly. e. debri in fuel tank. 2. One thing that steers me away from some of my suggestions however, is the sooty plug. (incorrect ratio of fuel = check needle wear and slide wear too!) I've had previous bikes act the same way and show a sooty plug by not burning off the gas (which will cause those deposits). a. your coil is going bad and not delivering enough charge at higher rpms, fouling out the plug to the point where it wont start untill the plug dries out. b. bad plug wire can do the same thing if it grounds out. c. bad plug d. any number of wiring/ground problems. 3. hows your doohickey? timeing can always screw things up. 4. how many miles since your last valve adj?

01-05-2010, 04:50 PM	#18
roadtripp ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 113	Good news! I brought it to a mechanic today, and together we disassembled the carburetor and cleaned it out again. He blew through one of the jets (I'm not sure which one it was) and cleaned out the float bowl, and presto - a working motorcycle! I'll keep a close eye on it for the next couple hundred miles, but I'm hopeful that this problem has been solved. I'm excited to continue my trip southward! Thanks to all your help, and thanks especially for helping me get over my fear of the carburetor - that thing always seemed very "spooky", but now that I've taken mine apart and put it back together, I feel like I have a better understanding of what exactly makes my bike tick. Onwards and upwards! __________________ -Joe Seattle -> Ushuaia on an '05 KLR 650: November of '09! Blogging my ride at http://tdf.joepemberton.com and on advrider at http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...php?p=11295681

01-06-2010, 03:24 AM	#20
locorider Loco, pero no estúpido! Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Puerto Rico, U.S.A. Oddometer: 2,266	Does the KLR have a vacuum activated petcock? If there is a leak there, it may be intermitent too! Drain the carb and check for water in there! If so, drain the tank! Good luck Joe! __________________ Carlos locorider 1989 Honda XL600V Transalp, slightly modified! *1974 Catalina 22....sailing, mi otra pasión!* "If you don't follow your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable", Burt Munro, The World's Fastest Indian "Avoiding danger is no safer than outright exposure. Life is a daring adventure, or nothing" - Helen Keller Longaniza Ride Ruta del Café

02-24-2013, 05:30 PM	#28
RandyLove Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Marin County, CA Oddometer: 14	2007 KLR650 Starts But Stutters/Dies Under Load I thought I'd add my experience with a very similar sounding issue while I was riding through Argentina. I pulled off at a fuel station to get off the bike and grab a drink. 15 minutes later, after not fueling or making any changes to the bike, it began to stutter above 3.5 - 4K RPM. Issue: I could start the engine and rev it up as high as 4K RPM while in neutral and it would run fine. Then throw a leg over her and try to ride and it would stutter at about 3.5K - 4K RPM then pop back up and give me power for a second, then drop off again. I was traveling at about 55MPH, which was all she could muster. I pulled off at a safe shaded area and started to review what I had worked on recently. I had removed the fuel tank to repair some chaffed wires (another post altogether) and recalled the vacuum hoses from the carburetor could cause a similar issue. I inspected the connections and found that one in fact had backed off, presumably when I pulled off the highway into the fuel station's bumpy potholed parking area. Once all snugged up, I was back on the road w/o issue. Hope this helps someone. Randy __________________ "Take calculated risks." - General George S. Patton, Jr

01-05-2010, 07:04 PM	#19
BC Brian Studly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Fraser BC Oddometer: 544	Glad you are back on the road Looking forward to reading more of you RR Brian

01-06-2010, 07:37 PM	#22
dukedinner Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Northern B.C. Oddometer: 322	A good tip I learned is to run some SeaFoam through the bike once a year..does wonders for engine performance and keeps everything clean. The first time I did it I thought I had a new bike...

01-07-2010, 06:03 PM	#24
rawdog Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Oddometer: 721	Great support system to have here.

01-08-2010, 02:51 AM	#25
XDragRacer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Oddometer: 2,022	+ 1 on the advice on the thread so far. Diaphragm air-tight fit is critical, and the "choke" (enricher) plunger must seat fully for proper carb operation. A desperate measure sometimes effective is STARTING FLUID. A whiff of this ether-based sure-thing combustible mixture into the carb will sometimes kick off a balky engine, later picking up on its own and running on its gasoline fuel supply. Have a fire extinguisher standing by if you try this, and--oh, yes, "Do not try this at home!" With compression/spark/combustible mixture; oughta start! A long tow or push at a pretty good clip, and easing the clutch out in 3d or 4th gear might kick it off, if the electric starter won't.

01-11-2010, 06:28 PM	#27
subybaja Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Anchorage (Spenard) Oddometer: 2,875	Snake-oil-in-a-can that actually works. Found at most NAPA/Schucks/PepBoys.

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