Took my 2004 749S for M.O.T this afternoon. The tester used an ABBA stand, whilst myself and a mechanic pushed down on the rear of the bike to lift the front to enable the tester to check the steering head bearings. Everything in order, then the tester tried to start the bike to move it forward ready to test the rear brake on the rollers, and embarrassingly; after telling the tester that I have never had any problems with my bike in my 3 years of ownership, it refused to start. I did notice the tester using a bit of throttle whilst attempting to start it so I informed him of the correct starting technique, and he tried again, and again. By this time I could smell fuel so I suggested we wait a bit allow any excess fuel to evaporate. No problem, said the tester, would you like me to make you a proper cup of tea whilst we wait? That we be great I replied, so he made me a very welcome excellent cup of tea, and we chatted for a while about bikes. After about 10 minutes I tried to start it again, but It just didn't seem to want to go, engine spinning over fast enough as I had put a new battery in only last week. I asked him how about using the brake test rollers to attempt to start the bike , but he said we will probably break them. He then suggested that we try bump starting the bike, so with me on board, and him and another tester pushing we gave it a good go but still no luck. At this point I started wondering if there was any kind of tilt switch in the alarm system which might have been activated as a result of lifting the front of the bike to check the steering bearings, so we fiddled about with the alarm buttons in an attempt to do something. Still no joy, so I thought I would call my breakdown service with Carol Nash, where I was dealt with very efficiently by a pleasant female who informed me that a breakdown unit should be there in less than 50 minutes. The manager then asked if I would like to wait in his office and read some bike mags' until the breakdown chap arrived. After getting stuck into a Ride mag, I thought I might give it another try, so, of course the bugger started first go, and I then phoned Carol Nash to cancel the appointment. At all times I was treated really well by the staff and Manager who tried everything they could to help me out so a big thanks to Kevin Griffin cars, Horsham , West Sussex, and now the point of this post: Is there anything that could have influenced the non starting of the bike as a result of lifting the front up? How long does does it take on average to get any excess fuel in the cylinders evaporated.
can't believe it was more than flooding, then the battery recovering if it had been given some stick? All ended OK though. In response the the 'point of this post' - not a clue
Don't know if yours is the same, but on my 998 if the ignition is turned on and you wait too long to start it, the Ecu shuts down to save batt, the bike will turn over but not fire, this can result in flooding. Maybe the tester turned yours on whilst moving it, hence it wouldn't start, after that just a case of waiting until plugs dried out.
First of all...the tester had no requirement to start your bike AT ALL.....whats wrong with pushing it forward to the rollers? They cant have been too far away ? Now you'll need to have the plugs out to dry and heat them....and what a ball ache that is.......seat and tank lifted, front wheel out to get along enough thin socket down the front plughole.......you should charge the twat the same rate his garage charges labour at......
John may I suggest you give Rob a try, he is at the rear of New Street Motors but is not open on a Monday, he had done all of my MOT's and all has been O.K. Fred
+1 My carby is going in for its MOT tomorrow to the usual place - bloke has done all my bikes since childhood, used to go riding with my Dad back in his youth! Doesnt bother to start the bike as there is no need... any blowing exhaust will leave telltale blacking & he doesnt mind loud cans either... winwin.
Thanks for all the replies chaps, much appreciated. I wasn't aware that there is no requirement to start the bike, I do have Termi's fitted and they could probably do with repacking as well, at least I didn't get a failure on that. Fred, thanks for the heads up on Rob, in New street, wasn't aware. Still curious about a 'tilt switch' possibly fitted to the alarm system though, anyone know if they are fitted as part of the alarm circuitry, and could this have been the reason for non-starting, and then starting after elapsed time reset? Seems that 30 mins is enough to allow excess fuel in cylinders to evaporate, obviously that process could be speed-ed up by removal of plugs but I only have room for a wafer thin mint, no tools, in the pouch fitted inside the fairing! David, I can remove my front plug without resorting to front wheel removal.
Keith Good point, I only have to breath on the bike and the alarm goes off, but I was turning the alarm off as soon as it went off when the tester was sitting on the bike.I am familiar with the alarm, but the tester was stabbing away at the buttons trying to turn it off when it was activated, and I thought maybe the thing had shut itself down rather like when you have 3 attempts to enter your banking passwords and get them all wrong, you have to wait 24hrs until you can have another crack at it.
Did the prime go with the ignition . Because if it didnt then its no starty. It sounds , from your diagnostics , that you may have an intermittent fuel pump relay problem. Bugger to get at but easy fix.
Ducati 2242 When you say "Did the prime go with the ignition?" Is that the whirr of the fuel pump you are referring to? I could smell plenty of unburnt fuel, so I presume the pump was working o.k.
Yeah thats it the whirr. If you dont hear it its not going to start. If you do hear it and it cranks for more than 4 seconds switch the engine kill off then the ignition cos its still not going to start . Leave it for a minute or two and try it again from ignition on . Like you said dont touch the throttle or fast idle just let it crank. If it wont go then switch the engine kill off again , ignition off , and leave it for a while again . They can be fickle .
John, you have to have a thin socket long enogh to get to the plug, and on my 999 the ONLY way to do that is to have the wheel out......the other thing you need to watch for on these engines in the rocker cover gasket leaking oil into the plugholes........ it can be 1/2cms deep in that hole !
David I'm surprised that you can't remove your front plug without removing your front wheel, as I can; using a thin walled socket, and an extension bar about 9" long, I thought the 749/999 were the same, except for the obvious. It's not ideal this way, with the forks positioned to one side, but, nevertheless possible. Good tip about the leaking rocker box gasket,Thanks.
