Starting a bike that doesn't want to start

KIDS, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

"You have been warned"

Before I got my Doc Z Solo Starter



(starting rollers), I had a sure-fire way of eliminating all possible reasons for an engine not starting due to my physical weakness, or some particular bike's penchant for start-up routine particulars:

Needed items:

1. Bike that won't start, but with good battery and plenty of gas, spark, flow through carbs, etc.

2. Tow vehicle with driver who has demonstrated at least medium intellect.

3. 30' length of sturdy, thin diameter tow rope.

4. Helmet and gloves, and other protective wear as you personally believe is prudent.

5. Nearby open road of at least 1/4 mile of right-of-way space.

I think everyone can see where I'm going with this?

KEY ON

FUEL TAPS ON, carbs tickled

ENRICHER SLIDES LOWERED

Set up the tow vehicle & tow rope, align the bike, wrap the tow rope around the left handlebar, taking care that it can freely slip off when you release it, then place the bitter end (no knots) over the left grip.

Get a firm grip, gather your wits, shift the bike into SECOND gear, and nod to the tow driver to indicate ready to go.

Remember, you will need to be pushing pretty stiffly on the right handlebar to offset the tow forces.

Maybe do a practice take-off to get the feel for it before attempting a start in earnest.

Tow driver only needs to start very slowly, pick up gradually to 10 MPH, and maintain speed; the hard part is all on the rider.

As the tow vehicle takes off, you "walk" the bike to avoid a starting jerk.

Once the tow driver reaches 10 MPH, he should signal (with a short honk?).

Drop the clutch and HOLD ON TIGHT. * * * (see bottom of post after reading the following section)

Bike should start straight away. If it doesn't immediately start, feed in a slight twist of throttle.

AS SOON AS BIKE STARTS, release the tow rope by lifting your left palm (don't let go of the grip).

Blip the throttle, gas it, or do whatever the heck you think you ought to do, but keep it lit!

If the bike doesn't start after releasing the clutch and towing it more than a couple hundred feet, IT'S NOT GOING TO START.

Oh, yeah, you did have the key & fuel taps on, right?

If the key & fuel taps were on, and it didn't start, go back to the garage and figure out what went wrong.

* * * The other possibility is that, at this point, you totally miscalculated this entire process and are only recently waking up in hospital or picking bits of pebbles out of your kneecaps, elbows and palms. Go back and re-read the FIRST two sentences of this post...

My wyfe and I have successfully employed this method several times, with very good results and zero visits to the emergency room.

Method #2,

Purchase a house at the top of a hill.

Follow previouse instructions with the exception of the truck and tow rope.

Select 2nd gear

Start pushing the bike down the hill

Jump on the bike

Hope it starts because pushing it back up the hill sucks.

This is How I got my 850 Norton started on it's first build.

You learn a lot about getting everything set just right, and you get one heck of a work out.

Your first step is a LOT harder than my first step...

True, or find a Local hill.

Unless you live in a barren wasteland with out hills :roll:

You could always bribe some local youths to push you.

yeah yeah yeah, electric starters and tow ropes are all well and good when planned for but I've gotten going a number of times by hanging on to side of PU's or cars taking off rather slowly till about 30 let go and snick 2nd or 3rd and run on home or make a call if that don't do it. You can tow bikes for many miles but real easy to run over and tangle in the strap or rope going slack.

hobot said:

You can tow bikes for many miles but real easy to run over and tangle in the strap or rope going slack.

Click to expand...

I once towed my nephew all the way across town, even on the interstate at about 55, it all went perfectly till we crossed through our cattle guard where there's a bit of a downhill then our driveway about 150 feet later; for some still unknown reason, he just lost it as he hit the downhill at about 10 MPH...

I only ride mine when my 22 year old son is home. He can start her up 1st kick. Cold.

I thank my son then I yell obscenities at her 45 times and then ride.

then our driveway about 150 feet later; for some still unknown reason, he just lost it as he hit the downhill at about 10 MPH...

Click to expand...

Ugh Paul that sounds exactly like my Gravel lesions after perfecting all 5 phases of loose as a goose handling at corner school, SPLAT! going so slow its too fast to know what even went wrong, so knowing a handful more to face before innate reflexes built in that go against all regualar survival riding safe skills.

I wonder how long I can handle kicking mine off, but have a couple of ideas to try, compression release design and cordless power tool spinner. I've done my share of push offs but some times its so muddy or dry loose no traction no matter the speed.
One of my foundess memories was stuck in village so about to push off when a cluster of 4-6 year olds ran out form the sidewalk to get me going with lots of hollowing and laughing from all of us. Squeech, pop ZAROOMmm...

grandpaul said:

Your first step is a LOT harder than my first step...

Click to expand...

In pancake land, that is so true

Jean

I found the easiest way to start the bike when I was 9. Though I was not old (long)} enough to ride the bike, I always found a fun to let the bike start for hours and run away without turning off the ignition (Indeed it was foolish deed). I used to start bike just by rotating the rear wheel forcefully when bike parked on main stand. It would get started with minor efforts.

If the bike won't start with a run and bump of a few steps, it is back to the drawing board. The only time my commando engine won't start is after letting it stand for a very long time. The carbon on the plugs then seems to conduct electricity - no spark even though you might check by looking at it. Usually if you have spark and fuel the thing must at least cough and fire up unless you have stuffed up the timing.