Very frustrating weekend

[Lamonster]

I've been busy adding chrome to the RT and it looks great. The last thing I had to add was the chrome windshield mount. I have to raise the windshield to do that and to raise the windshield I have start the RT. It had been a couple of days since I last started the the Rt and that was after I put the chrome handlebars on. Everything was fine then. The only other thing I did after that was add the chrome foot peg mounts. You have two plugs you have to undo for that.

So now I go to start the RT and the battery is a little weak and it didn't start. I had a new battery I got last year and decided it would be a good time to install it. The battery is a pain to get out but I got it and installed a fully charged battery and hit the button. Turned over fine but still won't start. I got a little popping like it wanted to but ran the battery down a few times trying to start it.

So now I'm going through my head what I may have left undone while working on it. I've gone over everything a hundred times and there is no reason for it not to start as far as me unhooking something. The next thing to check is to make sure I was getting spark and fuel. I pulled the rear plug and it's looking fouled so I knew I was getting fuel. I went ahead and checked spark and I had good strong spark. The plugs I had in it were 9's and I had some replacement 8's here so I decided to change plugs.

Before doing that I thought that maybe my Juice Box Pro might be giving me trouble so I decided to pull it off and put it back to stock. That's didn't help so it was time to change plugs. The front jug is a real pain to get to so I thought I would go ahead and just pull the airbox out so it was easy to get to. After fighting that for over an hour I just gave up and moved it enough so I could get to the plug. I don't know what the trick is to getting that thing out but my hat is off to anyone who can with taking a sawsall to something. :gaah:

I check the front plug and it's wet too but I'm getting good strong spark. I change out the plugs and figure this is the trick, hit the button and it just cranks, will not fire off at all. I pull the plugs and they are getting fuel and I still have good spark.

By this time I am out of ideas. There are three things that make a motor run, fuel, air and spark. I have all three of those but it still won't run. I can't hold the throttle plates open because this is fly by wire and the servo takes over but I did try dumping a little fuel in the throttle bodies and a little bit of starting fluid and I still can't get it to pop. I make some phone calls to guys that are a lot smarter than me and they don't know what to tell me. I even had Ron come over with the timing light to see if I was getting spark under compression and I am. He's not sure what's going on either, it should fire, it's got everything it needs to do so.

My dealer isn't open till Tuesday so I guess I'll haul it down to them and see if they can figure it out. I'm use to be the guy with answers and now all I have is questions. I know one thing for sure, I'll learn something new when this is all said and done. :helpsmilie:

 

[spyryder]

First I'd try holding it wide open anyways. It should go into drowned engine mode and shutting off the fuel. If that won't work I'd try a push start or get someone to pull you.....if your's is an SM5 that is. :f_spider:

 

[NancysToy]

I wish I had an idea, but it seems to make little sense. Only thing I can figure is either the injection is adding excess fuel for some reason, or more likely the throttle plate is not actuating due to an electrical or component problem. I suppose it could also be a disconnected MAP sensor or throttle position sensor. Are you sure you did not knock off or disconnect a wire when wrestling with the airbox?

I agree as to the insanity of getting the airbox off completely. I changed the front plug a half dozen times, and all I could manage to do was loosen the top section, remove the screws holding the bottom, then make a space wide enough to sneak in a socket on a pair of extensions with a universal in the middle. It certainly isn't like swapping out a set of plugs on your old Triumph!

 

[Lamonster]

Just tried holding it wide open. It didn't fire when cranking but when I went to closed throttle it did try and start but not quite. It is an SE so that's not a option but thanks for the advice. I'll keep trying.

 

[jwfranklin]

I'm sure you checked the kill switch.

 

[IWN2RYD]

Any chance you dislodged the Brake sensor just enough to keep it from allowing the starter to function? :dontknow:

 

[Lamonster]

I looked at all the sensor connections and they are all good. The starter is working fine and it won't crank if the kill switch is flipped.

 

[Mo Lee]

Maybe bad fuel or the cylinders are not drying out enough during plug changes and fouling the plugs as soon as you turn it over. I have had luck on small engines by either spinning the starter a little with the plugs out or just leave the plugs out for a couple of hours so excess fuel can evaporate.

 

[spyryder]

Just tried holding it wide open. It didn't fire when cranking but when I went to closed throttle it did try and start but not quite. It is an SE so that's not a option but thanks for the advice. I'll keep trying.

I just read up on the drowned mode. It kills both fuel and ignition at WOT, so I guess it wouldn't fire at all until you close the throttle a bit. :dontknow:
Oh, this is from the RS manual so I'm not sure if it works the same for the RT.

 

[Al Bragg]

Lamont, have you looked at ground wires on block and computer?

 

[mvengineer]

Start, put in neutral, a couple of full throtles, release, wait three seconds. Crank start button. Good luck

 

[boborgera]

Maybe bad fuel or the cylinders are not drying out enough during plug changes and fouling the plugs as soon as you turn it over. I have had luck on small engines by either spinning the starter a little with the plugs out or just leave the plugs out for a couple of hours so excess fuel can evaporate.

I agree;,
I do have have another way to dry out flooded cylinders in a split second, But sometimes it involves burnt eyebrows.:yikes:
So maybe just leave the plugs out like Mo Lee said.

 

[G-Man]

"There are three things that make a motor run, fuel, air and spark."

You forgot computers. Ever since they added those onto the mix, I'm done.

The solution, at this point is; step out of the garage, face to the west, have a beer (or warm tea) and watch the sun go down. Then wait on Tuesday. :doorag:

 

[Lamonster]

Well guys it's running right now, not sure why but it is. I do think holding it wide open helped. It didn't start when I did that but when I released the throttle and cranked it it wanted to start. After about 4 or 5 times of doing that I got to to start. I let it idle for a bit and it died but now that's I've got it back to operation temp it seems to be fine.

The rub is why did this happen to start with and will it happen again :dontknow::lecturef_smilie:

 

[TicketBait]

I've been busy adding chrome to the RT and it looks great. The last thing I had to add was the chrome windshield mount. I have to raise the windshield to do that and to raise the windshield I have start the RT. :helpsmilie:

After you and Dabusses added your chrome handlebars,you inspired me to get them. However you both said it was a really long job, something like 10+ hours So it looked like no way @ $105 per hour, I was gonna be shinny there.. So I checked with my Dealer and BRP says handle bar swap 4 hours, My mechanic has done one on an RS and one before on an RT. He says it is just labor intense. so I am gonna go ahead and have them do it, in the next few weeks. The windshield I am gonna just paint Black- no chrome, but have it blend in with bike. $3 can of spray paint vs $300 chrome part. Just not sure if shinny black or flat black will work better. I am just rambling to get your mind off of your non starting bike.

Hey maybe try your back up key. I once had one of mine not read by the computer.:dontknow: As I was typing this I see you got it running. I am a slow typer

Well guys it's running right now, not sure why but it is. I do think holding it wide open helped. It didn't start when I did that but when I released the throttle and cranked it it wanted to start. After about 4 or 5 times of doing that I got to to start. I let it idle for a bit and it died but now that's I've got it back to operation temp it seems to be fine.

The rub is why did this happen to start with and will it happen again :dontknow::lecturef_smilie:

 

[Lamonster]

After you and Dabusses added your chrome handlebars,you inspired me to get them. However you both said it was a really long job, something like 10+ hours So it looked like no way @ $105 per hour, I was gonna be shinny there.. So I checked with my Dealer and BRP says handle bar swap 4 hours, My mechanic has done one on an RS and one before on an RT. He says it is just labor intense. so I am gonna go ahead and have them do it, in the next few weeks. The windshield I am gonna just paint Black- no chrome, but have it blend in with bike. $3 can of spray paint vs $300 chrome part. Just not sure if shinny black or flat black will work better. I am just rambling to get your mind off of your non starting bike.

Hey maybe try your back up key. I once had one of mine not read by the computer.:dontknow: As I was typing this I see you got it running. I am a slow typer

I'm sure I could do the bars faster now that I've done one but I'm in no hurry to see. I think 4 hours is fair for that install.

As far as the bracket goes I would paint it flat or semi gloss black. I've seen a gloss black and it looked out of place.

I did try my spare key too with no luck. It's running now and I'll check it again in the morning. ray:

 

[Lamonster]

I just read up on the drowned mode. It kills both fuel and ignition at WOT, so I guess it wouldn't fire at all until you close the throttle a bit. :dontknow:
Oh, this is from the RS manual so I'm not sure if it works the same for the RT.

I really think this is what fixed it. Thanks :thumbup:

 

[spyryder]

I really think this is what fixed it. Thanks :thumbup:

Glad I could help!:2thumbs:

 

[MouthPiece]

This did start occurring after you installed the throttle grip?

 

[CyncySpyder]

So much for the learning moment :hun:

But at least you got it running :2thumbs:

Ive said it many times, but its worth repeating

I LOVE THIS WEBSITE !!! :firstplace::bowdown::yes::firstplace: