Bike starts 2nd attempt not 1st/any ideas guys?

When cold fully charged battery bike always lingers,starter cranking but not firing and after 4 or five starter rotation I stop and try again and it starts fine.
I just can't understand what the problem is.
In my novice thinking (I am not a mechanic) I am thinking the gap in spark plug is too wide and therefore not firing at 1st but then again why is it firing in 2nd attempts.
Ironically when the bike is hot it does start in 1st attempt but not when cold.
Plugs were replaced 7 months ego.I bought used 3 weeks ego but the old owner gave me the receipt for the plug work so I know its new.
Any ideas guys? I am really perplexed.
1998 VFR

 

it sounds like it could be a fuel problem...the fuel system is not holding pressure...it could possibly be one of two things the first may be a fault with the fuel pump itself. the second and in my opinion more likely cause is that the fuel injector is leaking gas down into the cylinder and flooding it out. After a few cranks, the fuel is blown out and then it starts. Just a thought. I'm no mechanic but I have had issues similar to this with other vehicles. Good luck and ride safe

 

Fuel Pump

I agree on the fuel pump. I am not as hot on the leaky injector. When you turn it on do you hear the pump run for a little bit then stop? It may be that the pump is weak or dead and it takes a little cranking to get the fuel pressure up with the engine driven fuel pump.

 

I hope its not pump itself but why does it start after a ride in 1st attempt.
thanks

 

I will check that out thanks for suggestion.

 

Great question. I "choke" med way no throttle. Am I suppose to open the throttle?
I operated like most bikes little choke and engine switch on and press the starter.
If it is the fuel pump then why does it start right up after a ride?

 

the fact that it starts right up after riding it is what made me suspect a leaky injector. If it is a slow leak then it takes time to flood the cylinder with fuel. This is why it will start right away when it has just been ridden. I do not know off the top of my head if the gen 5 vfr has a clear flood mode but many vehicles do. Try starting it with full throttle. In many vehicles, this shuts off the supply of fuel and will allow the cylinders to be blown out quicker. If this works, you can pretty much confirm an injector problem.

Good luck. Ride Safe.

 

if you have carbs.........no injectors are on that bike... choke it, one twist before you start it then hit the button..

 

Waitwaitwait:

Carbs on the '98?

I'd be happy to hear that but I thought that mine was fuel injectored.[Achievement: Coined new word]

My '98 also shares this problem, but like MD I'm thinking that it's less of a problem and more of a characteristic. If it happens once it's a bug, if it happens twice it's a feature, if it happens three times it's a design philosophy, that sort of thing.

Mine also fires up the first time when warm.
And I choke the heck out of my other Honda (which is carbureted) each day, they may just be kind of cold blooded that way.

Sure would like the viffer to start the way the PC does, though, just to save the starter.

 

I talked to Car mechanic (brother inlaw) and he told me without hesitation that fuel filter is clogged up.
I did mention how that is no factor when engine is hot like after a ride and he told me something about fuel pressure when hot but when cold fuel just does not flow fast enough to fire up.
I like his theory considering its 11 yr old bike and fuel filter probably has not been cleaned at all.
I am going to check this out and if its true then you may do the same and fix your bike as well:thumbsup:

 

I wanted to add I asked about faulty fuel pump and he told me if that were true then I would not be able to start at all.

 

That's a may as well do whether it helps this problem or not, considering the likelihood that it's so old.
Thanks.

 

I just wondered....... does FI have a manual choke?

 

Try turning the ignition on and then wait a few seconds before hitting the starter. On the sixth gen. you wait until the FI light goes off before you hit the starter. The system has to build pressure first.

 

Yes I waited longer then that and same issue

 

Guys Do I have to replace my fuel filter like oil filter or I should be able just to open up and clean.
Based on manual image it looks like cylinder much like oil filter.
thanks