Member Contributer JPmoller Posted June 8, 2020 Member Contributer Share Posted June 8, 2020 Guys - have feeling its simple, but making it complicated. I had water in my fuel.. tank drain line clogged - I drained and clean the tank, replaced fuel filter and hoses. Bike was up and running - all good.. maybe a little uneasy on low rpm. I read about the flapper mod in this forum, so decided to give it a go and also removed the snorkel. Seem to remove the un-easiness in low rpm, so happy with this. Next step was flushing hydraulics.. which is a task for a first timer on VFR, but its done. I had started the VFR a few times during service to make sure fuel was circulating, but one day while running idle... she coughed and stopped, and she still will not start. 1. Battery is new and fully charged 2. I hear fuel pump prime, so the flow chart I saw from Grum on relays should be ok to Fuel Pump 3. Checked for spark.. and saw spark plus got shocked, so seems electric works 🙂 4. Did check all fuses and cleaned them with contact cleaner. 5. Also noticed fuel on the plugs, not a lot but take fuel is flowing.. I am just not sure how to verify fuel flow other than drain tank (again), wrestle the fuel pump out and test externally? Side note.. 6. Working outside on the VFR but under cover - did have lot of rain and its humid tis time of year in South Florida.. suspected maybe an electric issue from moist, so jumped the service switch to check PGM-FI... this turned out to be learning experience. Found some old error codes, which i started troubleshooting (8 blink saying TP sensor, which I checked using ohm meter (OK) - pause then long blink being code 10 and BARO sensor). During the process I found out how to reset error codes in the ECM, so tried this and errors did not re-appear .. sooo putting air filter and all goodies back. Still no start. 7. As for the flapper mod, I did forget at first to plug the vacuum tube and bike has been outside, so I am sure there is some dirt on the bike, but if anything made it in there in the very short time, don't think it can prevent VFR from starting, right? Also, have a power commander, but now disconnected and wiring back to original. Where do I go from here?.. want to learn and too stubborn to throw in the towel... yet. Unexciting film on no start here . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Madfox Posted June 9, 2020 Member Contributer Share Posted June 9, 2020 Easy thing to check is sidestand relay.... bike wont start if it thinks the stand is down. Sometimes its the easiest solutions if you're lucky. I've also had issues from corroded electrics... triple check all the connectors are cleeeeeaaaaannnnn. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Grum Posted June 9, 2020 Member Contributer Share Posted June 9, 2020 7 hours ago, Madfox said: Easy thing to check is sidestand relay.... bike wont start if it thinks the stand is down. Sometimes its the easiest solutions if you're lucky. Bit of clarification, there is no Sidestand relay, just a switch. And yes it won't start if the Sidestand is down AND you're in gear, and it won't crank over as well. (clutch must be pulled in). Sidestand has no effect on a normal Neutral start. BUT let's say your ECM for some reason is not seeing the Neutral Switch input, then the ECM will only enable Ignition and Injectors IF it sees the Ground input from the Sidestand (UP position). If the ECM does not see a Ground Input from either the Neutral Switch OR the Sidestand Switch you'll be able to crank the bike (If in gear with clutch pulled in) but it will NOT fire up. So, even in Neutral try raising the Sidestand and try a start - does it fire up? As for the Fuel Pump, the Service Manual explains how to flow and pressure test the pump. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer JPmoller Posted June 9, 2020 Author Member Contributer Share Posted June 9, 2020 Thanks guys - I will check sidestand tomorrow, but not too hopeful. Bike was idle on centerstand when she coughed for 10 sec and stopped running. Suspect fuel flow trouble, but checking all options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Grum Posted June 9, 2020 Member Contributer Share Posted June 9, 2020 4 hours ago, JPmoller said: Thanks guys - I will check sidestand tomorrow, but not too hopeful. Bike was idle on centerstand when she coughed for 10 sec and stopped running. Suspect fuel flow trouble, but checking all options. Wonder if the tank vent hose is kinked or blocked? Are you fighting against strong vacuum to open the fuel cap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer JPmoller Posted June 9, 2020 Author Member Contributer Share Posted June 9, 2020 43 minutes ago, Grum said: Wonder if the tank vent hose is kinked or blocked? I shall check that too. Service Manual has a special gauge for fuel pressure and requires engine to run, so will start by checking flow like below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Grum Posted June 9, 2020 Member Contributer Share Posted June 9, 2020 2 hours ago, JPmoller said: Service Manual has a special gauge for fuel pressure and requires engine to run, so will start by checking flow like below. Just a word of WARNING if you do the above test be careful to make sure you are jumpering the Blk/White wire to the Brown NOT the Brown/Black or you will seriously damage/destroy your ECM! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer JPmoller Posted June 10, 2020 Author Member Contributer Share Posted June 10, 2020 Just to finish this 'mystery' then as I said.. i changed the gas cap since original cap had frozen up and deteriorated. Got a key-less cap via eBay - so all good, however looks like its not watertight. Likely I pinched the drain hose or there was some crud in drain tube leading out from overflow by gas cap - nevertheless - fuel was badly contaminated with water, which became obvious when I ran the flow test - looked like a milk faucet. Here my small hook up and test result... good thing, fuel pump works as per design. Got my 5 oz in 10 sec :) With a good flush and fresh fuel, bike is starting. Thanks for the input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Grum Posted June 10, 2020 Member Contributer Share Posted June 10, 2020 Never tried running a VFR on cows milk! Glad you have an answer and all sorted. Never seen fuel look like that, may as well pour it on your favourite breakfast cereal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer JPmoller Posted June 10, 2020 Author Member Contributer Share Posted June 10, 2020 3 minutes ago, Grum said: Never tried running a VFR on cows milk! Glad you have an answer and all sorted. Never seen fuel look like that, may as well pour it on your favourite breakfast cereal Yes - maybe I stumbled on new green technology. If I could make a VFR run on cow milk... and avoid a long methane cow fart out of the exhaust - then possible this patent could give me a happy retirement 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.