03 RC 51 not starting

onealrc51 · 04-17-2007, 3:27 PM

Hello everyone. After a short ride to friends house saturday, my bike will not start it. I've charged battery, replaced battery, added fuel, and nothing. The bike is trying to start, but it won't. Smells of gas after the attempts at starting. I just purchased the bike and am a complete newbie when it comes to motorcycles. Any ideas??? I have not dropped the bike, gotten anything wet, or any other malfunction due to physical abuse to the bike. Kill switch is not on, the fuel pump sounds on when turning the key.

Gaunty42 · 04-17-2007, 4:04 PM

Take out and clean the plugs. Check if there is spark. Engines need 3 things to run. Spark, fuel and air. If you smell fuel it has to be one of the others. Once done switch your choke on if you have one, ignore this if you don't.

onealrc51 · 04-17-2007, 5:10 PM

i will check on the plugs asap. i checked all fuses i could find and also checked for loose wires, grounds, etc and could not find anything that seemed to be wrong. My apologies for bringing up an issue that has been solved many times over i'm sure, but i'm completely new at this and don't really know my way around the motor/bike yet.

Gaunty42 · 04-18-2007, 2:57 AM

No worries. Take out the plugs one by one. Hold (with pliers) the electrode near the engine case and crank the starter. Check if there is spark. It would also be a good opportunity to ensure that gap is set correctly. If there is no spark you may need to check a few other things like the coils and ignition.

kelleyj · 04-18-2007, 5:55 AM

ok.....go to an auto parts store and get 2 new plugs. i highly recommend AGAINST trying to clean them OR gapping them! they are irridium tipped plugs and you will damage by trying to do either of those 2 things. try ( if you have one close) ADVANCE AUTO PARTS stores...you can get the exact factory plugs for about 1/2 the cost of buying them from the bike shop. and dont forget to use antisieze on the new plugs' threads!
you DO have a "choke", but it really isnt a choke due to the fact that you have fuel injection, it is on the left side of the bike behind the side fairing. ( look in about the middle area of the bike for a small black pull knob sticking out ( barely visible, but its there) about 5/8" in diameter. after you have the new plugs, then check to make sure you have spark. if you do, put them in and try to start it ( at this point give it no "choke", see if it will fire up, if your smelling gas, you have more than enough fuel in the cylinders, it should start) also, again your bike is fuel injected, no need to give it any gas until its started. also, at times when you do use the choke. dont leave it on for more than 10-15 seconds. it works by dumping more fuel in the cylinders to keep t running when its cold. this "can" wash your cylinders of the needed oil/lubrication and damage your engine.
does the bike have a power commander installed? if your not sure, take the rear truck cover off and look to see is it does ( it SHOULD be mounted to the top of the ECU. if there is, make sure the green light turns on when you turn the key on)

also, as stated if you DO NOT have spark. you have a problem with the stator or possible the rectifier ( never heard of one of them going out on the RC51s though, at least not that i can remember) the RC51 loves new spark plugs. you can notice a big difference by changeing them about every 3,000 miles, but i change mine once a year ( which i guess is about every 4,000 miles) also, change your oil and filter. if you smell gas, chances are you have gas in your oil as well.
to get to the plugs, for the front one. drop your oil cooler from the front of the bike and you can get to the front plug, for the rear plug, take the 2 bolts out at the front/top of the tank and tilt the tank up ( it pivots on a bolt at the back) and block it with a piece of wood or have your buddy hold it up as high as you can go ( take the tail section off, so the tank can tilt as high up as it can) and you can get to the rear plug, its right behind the air box.

sorry this is so long. but i hope it helps

rokitt51 · 04-18-2007, 6:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelleyj

ok.....go to an auto parts store and get 2 new plugs. i highly recommend AGAINST trying to clean them OR gapping them! they are irridium tipped plugs and you will damage by trying to do either of those 2 things. try ( if you have one close) ADVANCE AUTO PARTS stores...you can get the exact factory plugs for about 1/2 the cost of buying them from the bike shop. and dont forget to use antisieze on the new plugs' threads!
you DO have a "choke", but it really isnt a choke due to the fact that you have fuel injection, it is on the left side of the bike behind the side fairing. ( look in about the middle area of the bike for a small black pull knob sticking out ( barely visible, but its there) about 5/8" in diameter. after you have the new plugs, then check to make sure you have spark. if you do, put them in and try to start it ( at this point give it no "choke", see if it will fire up, if your smelling gas, you have more than enough fuel in the cylinders, it should start) also, again your bike is fuel injected, no need to give it any gas until its started. also, at times when you do use the choke. dont leave it on for more than 10-15 seconds. it works by dumping more fuel in the cylinders to keep t running when its cold. this "can" wash your cylinders of the needed oil/lubrication and damage your engine.
does the bike have a power commander installed? if your not sure, take the rear truck cover off and look to see is it does ( it SHOULD be mounted to the top of the ECU. if there is, make sure the green light turns on when you turn the key on)

also, as stated if you DO NOT have spark. you have a problem with the stator or possible the rectifier ( never heard of one of them going out on the RC51s though, at least not that i can remember) the RC51 loves new spark plugs. you can notice a big difference by changeing them about every 3,000 miles, but i change mine once a year ( which i guess is about every 4,000 miles) also, change your oil and filter. if you smell gas, chances are you have gas in your oil as well.
to get to the plugs, for the front one. drop your oil cooler from the front of the bike and you can get to the front plug, for the rear plug, take the 2 bolts out at the front/top of the tank and tilt the tank up ( it pivots on a bolt at the back) and block it with a piece of wood or have your buddy hold it up as high as you can go ( take the tail section off, so the tank can tilt as high up as it can) and you can get to the rear plug, its right behind the air box.

sorry this is so long. but i hope it helps

onealrc51 · 04-18-2007, 9:15 PM

i got both plugs out, they are completely covered in black and smell like gas. i went to advance auto but they did not have any on hand, so now i have to wait until tomorrow to go to the honda dealer in town. hopefully this solves the problem as it is supposed to be gorgeous here this weekend!!

kelleyj · 04-19-2007, 7:11 AM

if you had ordered them they could have had them there by tomorrow (today now)....i know this for fact. i work ( or should say i use to work) at our local advance auto parts here. but thats the prob. its flooded. just a tip......order an extra set from advance just have on hand. whatever you do! DONT FORGET THE ANTISIEZE!!!!