A really bad no-no

Hi; I havent been on this forum or any bike forum for ever so long, but now I have a problem
and need your help. About 3 years ago I stored my 2000 VFR 800 in my back yard shed.
The only maintaince that I did to the bike in that time period was to keep the battery charged.
I used a good Honda charger and made sure the charger always said good before disconnecting it.
Anyway I charged the battery yesterday and tried to start it. The only thing that happens when I push
the starter button is a momentary whine,very brief,no engine movement. The battery seems fully charged,
it operates all the lights and turn signals,it has a crisp horn note,but the motor wont crank. At first I thought
the pistons had seized to the bores,but I put the bike in high gear and was able to turn the rear wheel ,but
still the engine wont crank. I could kick myself in the butt for letting this happen,anyway I would appreciate
any suggestions that you guys may have. Also the battery was brand new just before I stored it.
Thanks ed

 

I am no mechanic but am an electrician from way back. I suggest that for that long a period of time with no use, some contacts somewhere have become oxidized. Look for the simple solutions first. I bet all you have to do is clean some contact somewhere.

 

Have you actually measured the voltage at the battery? Just to be sure. If you have and you've got 12 volts, then the starter relay could be stuck and you're not getting juice to the starter. You could try a quick jump across the starter relay terminals to see if the motor turns over. That would tell you that the relay is FUBAR.

But first of all check the actual voltage of the battery.

The whine is probably the fuel pump pressurizing, if the battery voltage is good.

 

Remember that if the big red kill switch is in the off position, it won't crank. Also remember that if the sidestand is down, it won't run when in gear.

Jose

 

Jump it with a car battery. Indeed...get rid of that gas.

 

Change the gas pull the spark plugs clean them, the air filter too there might be chipmunk net in there.

 

Sure sounds like the starter clutch rollers are stuck and not engaging around the gear shaft. Typical problem with older VF's. Put the bike in gear and rock it back and forth several times hard. This will hopefully break lose the rollers. From sitting in the same position as long as they have oil and varnish will stick the rollers to where the little springs can't push them out so they can grab the starter gear shaft.

Or just go out and bump start the bike. Once the gear/rollers get fresh oil and heat they should be fine after that.

 

Thanks to all who replied. ed

 

Grey VF750F- Thanks for your suggestion about rocking the bike back and forth. Now I have spun the rear tire with the bike
in high gear for possibly one engine revolution. Wouldnt that do the same thing as you are suggesting ,or is
it the quick back and forth motion that does the trick? ed

 

as suggested change out the fuel before you try to fire it off... check all your safety switches, and you can try jumping the solinoid and bypass your starter switch.. turn the key on before you try this (been there forgot to do that).. hopefully that gets it done if not I will be over to pick up the rotted corpse of a motorcycle and get rid of it for you...as painful as it will be I will take one for the team...(

 

Just turning the rear tire probably won't do it because the trans and clutch basket etc turns slow and smooth. It needs to be rocked in gear back and forth quickly and hard to shock all the gears that connect to the starter gear to shock it. Kind of like tapping something with a hammer to free it. Got any hills around. Have you ever bumped started a bike?

 

To all who helped, it was a bad battery,very low CCA. ed

 

its always the little things. glad to hear you're back on the road.