Bike not starting.... electrical?

ATXBacon · 10-11-2004, 12:51 AM

Bike cranks but won't fire up. Running brake light/head light/guage lights stopped working as well. Turn signals and brake light works fine though. Checked the fuses... all good. Tryed shooted starting fluid through the carbs but still wouldnt fire. Any suggestions? Its a 1990 Yamaha Fzr by the way.

-Jared

Jackal79 · 10-11-2004, 11:08 AM

I just had the same sort of problem with my 88' fzr the other day. Not exactly though. It wouldn't crank and the headlight would go on and off sporadically (not the gauge lights though). Turns out it was the starter switch.

But first you need to check to see if you have spark (which you probably don't). Take a spark plug out and plug it into the plug boot. Hold a metal part of the spark plug against a clean part of the frame (clean so it will ground properly) and and crank the bike over as if you were going to start it. Look for the spark as you crank.

If it dosen't spark, then back track from there and back track from your headlights/gauges. They'll meet up somewhere and eventually you'll find your problem (a manual would be real helpful in backtracking, in fact it might be necessary).

edit: don't assume switches work until you test them haha.

grasshopper · 10-11-2004, 11:16 AM

Keep it simple at first. Check fuses, killswitch operation, ignition key assembly, wires, possible short to ground, battery condition. You definitely have an electrical gremlin. Good luck!

KatanaMike · 10-11-2004, 05:24 PM

how old is the battery? I just had a similar condition with my bike and had the battery load-tested and they said it was OK. But it would not start the bike. Push start the bike and it would run fine but not start again next morning.

Put in a new battery to replace the two-year old one and now all is well.

Bottom line - most bikes need a good battery to get them going.