K75 won't Start

[NickW1]

Need a little help, my trusty 1992 K75 would not start yesterday, here’s what I have checked.
· Battery: great shape, cranks the engine like a banshee.
· Fuel: Filter changed last year, tank nice and clean, good gas.
· Plugs: four months old gaped properly.
· Kill switch in correct position.
SO, I pulled a plug and the plug had fuel on it, though I may have flooded it; however, I grounded the plug against the engine and cranked her over….yep… no spark. Checked engine ground that was good, checked the other plugs and they too would not spark. So that leaves the coils or the ignition control unit. My money’s on the ignition control unit; however, is there something I’m missing, something really simple? Many thanks in advance.

[Boon Booni]

Does this bike have clutch and sidestand safety switches?

[bmwrench]

If the plugs in a K-Bike are wet with fuel, they often will not spark. Try it again with a fresh plug or a screwdriver in the cap. Use sensible precautions.

What was the ambient temperature?

[Zagando]

Originally Posted by Boon Booni

Does this bike have clutch and sidestand safety switches?

Boon Boon read my mind........had the same problem one time...

[Paul Mihalka]

When it gets close to freezing, the K75 will flood at starting. If you have a fully charged battery, you can try this: Hold the throttle almost full. While holding the throttle, with your left hand push and hold the starter button. While cranking slowly close the throttle. If it starts firing, hold the throttle there and keep on running the starter until the engines runs clean. Unless it is super flooded, this will work. Next time for starting in cold weather hold the throttle a bit open while you crank.

[blaine.hale]

Originally Posted by Boon Booni

Does this bike have clutch and sidestand safety switches?

You can't even turn the starter over with either of those going on, so that's not the issue.

[NickW1]

Yes, the bike does have clutch and side stand safety switches; also, although my bike is in the garage it was very cold. I work long hours so I will try Paul Mihalka starting method asap. Dirty or broken switches??? Many thanks guys.

[El Hombre]

This is why Airheads, points ignition and carbs are so popular. You can actually fix the MFer.

[NickW1]

Originally Posted by El Hombre

This is why Airheads, points ignition and carbs are so popular. You can actually fix the MFer.

Thanks El Hombre, that helps miles

Well, grounded a new plug and no spark at the plugs, any ideas other than the ignition module?

Thanks.

[fastblast]

Originally Posted by NickW1

Need a little help, my trusty 1992 K75 would not start yesterday, here’s what I have checked.
· Battery: great shape, cranks the engine like a banshee.
· Fuel: Filter changed last year, tank nice and clean, good gas.
· Plugs: four months old gaped properly.
· Kill switch in correct position.
SO, I pulled a plug and the plug had fuel on it, though I may have flooded it; however, I grounded the plug against the engine and cranked her over….yep… no spark. Checked engine ground that was good, checked the other plugs and they too would not spark. So that leaves the coils or the ignition control unit. My money’s on the ignition control unit; however, is there something I’m missing, something really simple? Many thanks in advance.

i had a similar problem on a '95 k75. turned out to be a loose coil wire.

[NickW1]

Checked the coils with my meter, they read correctly according to my manual; however, the plug wires show no continuity; how is this possible? All three wires show an open circuit, the wires should read 1 ohm max. What gives?

[Boon Booni]

Originally Posted by NickW1

Checked the coils with my meter, they read correctly according to my manual; however, the plug wires show no continuity; how is this possible? All three wires show an open circuit, the wires should read 1 ohm max. What gives?

A small open circuit in the wires can usually be easily jumped by those 10,000+ volts coming from your coils, but not so much by the 9volt from your meter.

...but since you have no spark, maybe your wires are shot.

[WeazyBuddha]

I'm not a guru in the mechanical arts but I once had a K100RT that would not start, intermittently. Turned out to be the ignition/key switch--just needed a cleaning.

[Uncle Pollo]

Originally Posted by El Hombre

This is why Airheads, points ignition and carbs are so popular. You can actually fix the MFer.

i can push start mine ... but i need to move to a hill

Check your ignition switch it might be dirty.

[NickW1]

Well I broke everything down, disconnected everything from the plugs to the ignition module, switch, battery, load shedding relay, you name it it came apart and was cleaned and put back together. I did not notice anything that was dirty or loose; however, after I put it all back together she fired-up on the first try and ran like she was new, I don't understand it but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, thanks for all the help.