possible ignition problem... how to tell?
 

I have a 97' Yamaha FZR. Just bought it friday. The dealer drove it to my house and here's what's happened since. I'm new to bikes so I didn't know to turn off the fuel switch(it'sa been on since friday untill about an hour ago). A few hours after he dropped it off it started right up when I tried(it ran fine for him and when he left the dealership it started right up). About 7 hours after that time starting it up I tried again- ran for a second and died multiple times in a row but then started eventually. By the next day (sat)it wouldn't start at all and today (sun) it's worse- there is backfiring and a strong gas smell. Could it be that leaving the gas switch on flooded it? When I try to start it it turns over beautifully but doesn't seem to be getting spark. What does it sound like to you guys? Thanks so very much.

Pat

These Bikes do not like to sit , if it had sat around for any period of time at the dealers prior to you buying it , chances are some components will have shrunk and stuck .

The bike probably needs a quick overhaul and tune of the carbies . Wouldn't pannick too much you cannot kill these things with a stick ! .

Any clutch problems ? . This is another give away that the bike has sat .

Good luck , let us know how you go .

Mick .

Just speaking in general terms, modern ignitions only very rarely fail when just sitting around. Carbs, on the other hand, fail to carburate readily and frequently after a period of disuse. Other than no spark due to fouled plugs (which is still really a fuel issue, not an ignition one) I'd place my money on the carbs.

What's the fuel in the bowls like? Has it been drained? Petcock flowing fuel? Age of fuel?


Good luck
Roger

Rog and Gixer , Didn't mean to confuse . I had already discounted ignition , I referred to components within the fuel side . Although with repeated cranking you can get problems associated with lack of resistance and hi-tension due to the wiring being a little lite-on .

I had to baby sit a mates almost new, first model FZR 600, when he had to return to the other end of the country following a family emergency . Around 1990 from memory. If I didn't give it a run at least once every 3 weeks , I used to have heeps of dramas freeing the clutches , getting the front brake to work , and it would never idle off the choke without a severe '2nd gear tune up'. That was despite it being undercover and on concrete .

Still think you chose well Gixer , get it sorted , learn to ride well (you never stop learning) buy your dream bike later on .When you have moved on , keep this one as a track bike .

Mick .