6th gen hot/cold hard start

I have a 2003 with about 72,000 miles on it. I commute daily about 32 miles each way. Just recently I have encountered an intermitent hard start issue.

At first it would take a few seconds longer then normal, and it wouldn't do it every day. The engine would crank over, just wouldn't fire right away (sometimes). Once running, there have been really no other issues. It hasn't had any power loss or any other running issues.

Last night leaving work, it just would fire at all. I did so many 4-5 second bursts of the starter that my fully charged battery lost it's charge. It took my three laps of my parkinglot to bump start it. It does not seem to matter if the bike is hot or cold either. If I shut the bike off after riding it and try to start it I still get a hard start.

I think I can rule out fuel as this has happened over several different fuel tanks. The spark plugs are about a year old, and when I pulled the last set out with about 45K on them they looked fine. I'm pretty sure it isn't spark plugs.

What else could it be. I would think if i have a fuel pressure regulator going out I would have other running issues once it started. Any idea? I have 8 hours before I need to get it started again to get home.

 

Check your Stator and R/R...................I am so afraid. There are thread all over regarding this issue.

 

Here is one of the link out of hundreds :tongue:

http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gene...how-fix-common-regulator-stator-failures.html

 

I don't have a battery problem. The battery charges fine and holds charge. It isn't a low battery issue. As said above, the battery only lost charge after several minutes of trying to start the bike. The battery had no issues turning the engine over and over and over and over..... The bike simply wouldn't fire up.

 

Next time that happens try to unplug the o2 sensors and see if it makes a difference

 

She will fire up when you push start so it is not fuel pump. Randy have the same issue as your and his Stator were toast. I would check all the connector and the stator to make sure.

 

Check out port #123
His bike got new R/R, VFRness.........and having hard time to start. We repalce the battery and it fry after the ride. We founf out it was the Stator. Hope this help.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/usa-west/38398-adventures-canuck-5.html

 

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The bike will crank over no problem. It just won't fire. It is not a battery, stator, RR problem. The bike cranks. The starter will turn the engine over. It just won't fire up. It took 4 to 5 minutes of near continous starter use to drain the battery. So it isn't a battery issue.

It doesn't seem to matter if the bike is cold or hot, and it does not do it every time I try to start it. Sometimes it starts on the first crank of the engine, like it did last night, twice (I had to stop and get gas to make it home). This morning it wouldn't start at all. So I was religated to driving my cage to work. Great way to make me grumpy all day.

 

Sorry about your issue, let me try to squeeze my little brain to see if I can come up with any other ideas. Stay put I will make some call and get back with you.

 

Have you try to perform any of this step?

 

Check your sidestand switch........?? Or neutral switch ?

Problem seems electrical as in no sparks for some reason.

Save yourself time and trouble by checking for sparks next time. Carry an old sparkplug with you and pull the wire to any plug so you can determine whether it's electrics or something fuel-related.

 

That's a good call Squirrelman! The fact that this is an intermittent issue had me thinking about the same thing.....

 

When it turns over and doesn't fire, have you verified that the plug is sparking by popping one out viewing the spark?
My CB1 did the same thing as you describe, it was the pulse generator. I never bothered fixing it because it was easy to bump start.

 

I have to agree, I am starting to think electrical as well. The fact that one day it starts no problem, and the next with no changes it won't. Sounds like either a short somewhere or some component going bad. I was already going to do an oil change this weekend, so I will just extend my time working on the bike and go through everything. I'm positive the spark plugs are good because I replaced them less recently, and yes they are the correct spark plug. Expensive little irridium buggers. However, using a spare plug to check for spark is quite brilliant. I will post up Saturday or Sunday and tell you what I find (if anything). Thanks for the help guys.

 

If you have not already, I would suggest an owners manual, as you do not sound like you are familar with mechanics. You have three ingredients for combustion: AIR, FUEL, and SPARK. If any of the three is lacking, or non-exsistent, you have starting or running issues. Start by process of elimination and work on down. Spark is very easy to check. I think I was 9 years old when I learned to check for spark with a sparkplug against metal from my pops on my Suzie TS 90 so I guess I was brilliant at 9 yrs old! :nerd:

Good luck!

 

So I have solved one of two problems. During my attempt to start the bike I lost all power to the dash. With the key on, the fuel pump cycled, lights came on, dash lit up. I hit the start button and everything turned off. Including the clock. I ran out of time as life had been busy lately, so this last week I finally had time to revisit the bike. First place I looked, starter solenoid.

So I've ordered a new one. I also checked with Honda. The recall on the electrical system was performed in 2008. So I am hoping that is not RR/ over charging the electrical system problem. What I am hoping happened, with me trying to start the bike for so long (several minutes off and on in 20 second bursts) until I drained the battery the heat draw caused by that much current flowing through it melted it.

So with a new one on the way I am now hunting for a new clip from the wire harness. The local motorcycle salvage yard says they don't have one, I've checked ebay, and the local dealer says they can't get me one without a full wire harness. I'm not going to buy a whole harness for one tiny clip. I also tested the rest of the electrical system with my meter. Everything had good continuity, and nothing that shouldn't be grounded was grounded. So I just need to splice in a few inches of new wire and find a new clip. With that fixed, then I will readdress the hard start issue.