Bike will not start...

I am new to this forum and could use a little help. I have a 1987 VFR700f2 and it was starting just fine. One week ago, I was running the bike in neutral to "warm" it up with the choke on. I was going to take it for a short ride. Something came up and I shut the bike off. A few hours later, I went to start the bike again and the bike would not turn over. I put the trickle charger back on it and left it till yesterday. I tried to start it and again it would not turn over. Any suggestions?

 

Welcome to the, uhhhhh, VFR rehab center, yeah !! !!

Check your battery voltage FIRST

You're going to need a volt/ohm meter for this Honda , Bunky, just like everyone else.

And Good Luck :welcome: with your bike !!

 

Thanks..

Thanks for the reply...the bike starts...I guess meaning as in with the starter...it just won't turn over. How many times should I try to start it and how long should I hold the starter down for? Full choke, half choke? Give it some fuel with the throttle? This has never happened before...it has always turned over...it may take a while if the bike has not been riden for a while, but alway eventually turns over as long as the battery has been charged.

 

How can it start if it won't turn over????

You mean, i guess, that the bike turns over (on the starter) but won't run by itself ?? Yes ??

Starters can be ruined by excessive cranking time, cuz they have a "duty cycle" meaning that they should never be run longer than about 10-12 seconds before allowing another 20 seconds for them to cool off before trying again. If the bike won't start after a few tries something needs to be fixed, and more cranking is wasted effort.

You never need to open the throttle for initial start up; in fact, holding the throttle open may prevent it from starting.

Opening throttle is usually only necessary on a fully warmed engine on a hot day.

It's easy to flood an engine by using more choke than necessary, so begin with no more half the lever travel if weather is above 40 degrees.

On a properly tuned bike you should not need the choke after about 30 seconds.

Once sparkplugs have been flooded it may take 1/2 hour for them to dry off......or you can remove them and dry usung a lighter or match.

 

Thanks again

That is correct the starter works just fine and "cranks" but the motor won't turn over. The bike started just fine a little over a week ago and I have no idea what changed. Any ideas on what it might be or where to start?

 

Go to the basics, check for spark and fuel. Narrow it down to find a direction.......God I hate to ask.....but the engine kill switch is in the run position, correct?

 

Don't feel bad about asking toe... we've all done it. Make sure the kill switch is in the run position. Some of the older bikes would still crank from the starter when the kill switch was in the off position but wouldn't fire because it kills the spark.

 

Not at all, one should never assume anything. When I get home from work today, I will check to make sure that the kill switch is in the "run" position..