Falco won't start

Message

barking frog · #1 Post by **barking frog** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:28 pm

Need some help guys.
The bike has stood for just over a week, today I can't get it to start.

Turns over with no problems, but won't catch. I'm paranoid about the sprag clutch thing exploding.
The battery is ok and fully charged as I have in on a battery optimiser.
And yes it does have fuel in the tank, the pump runs at switch on and then cuts out I presume on pressure.

I did have a problem with the side stand switch, so i remade the joint but still no go.

Any clues please, it ran fine the last time I took it out.

Firestarter · #2 Post by **Firestarter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:43 pm

Any messages on the dash, like "NO START" - check your tipover switch under the seat.

Killswitch
Side-stand switch still fitted? Try bypassing it, by jumping the outside two wires (just next to the left-hand frame spar)

Then, I guess it's onto more detailed checking, like sparks etc

barking frog · #3 Post by **barking frog** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:06 pm

Side-stand switch was bypassed the second time I took it out as a wire came off the switch body.

No ECU messages displayed.

DavShill · #4 Post by **DavShill** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:29 pm

froggy - there's a few threads on this. It happened to me only last week - first problem in four years of ownership.

It could be flooded. Open the throttle fully with no fast idle. Spin the motor and after a few cycles it should fire up. Quickly close the throttle and steady her on the fast idle as usual.

It worked for me.

https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=flooded

barking frog · #5 Post by **barking frog** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:02 pm

DavShill wrote:froggy - there's a few threads on this. It happened to me only last week - first problem in four years of ownership.

It could be flooded. Open the throttle fully with no fast idle. Spin the motor and after a few cycles it should fire up. Quickly close the throttle and steady her on the fast idle as usual.

It worked for me.

https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=flooded

I must have flooded it

Must pay more attention to the starting procedure in future.
The Falco is the first EFI bike I've had, I assumed it would be easer to start than a carbed bike unless I have a problem somewhere.

Thumper · #6 Post by **Thumper** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:50 pm

Just use the fast idle when cold leave the frigging throttle alone......

scorpio24v · #7 Post by **scorpio24v** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:09 am

I always use the fast idle lever full on and no throttle, from cold and also hot after a refuel ect and drop the revs as soon as she fires down to 2 ish K RPM when cold till the "cold" cation goes out, and drop the revs to idle when hot, never had a "reset" after using that method. There used to be a knack to starting both my Laverdas, so I guess its an Italian "character" thing

joecrx · #8 Post by **joecrx** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:21 pm

Thumper wrote:Just use the fast idle when cold leave the frigging throttle alone......

thats what i do starts every time

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:28 pm

joecrx wrote:
Thumper wrote:Just use the fast idle when cold leave the frigging throttle alone......
thats what i do starts every time

Me too .... but once or twice I've been a bit hasty and let go of the starter button before it's fired

... then trying again sometimes won't do the job and it floods.
This calls for the "throttle wide open" trick which always seems to sort things out.

Falco9 · #10 Post by **Falco9** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:14 pm

I always keep the clutch pulled in whilst I thumb the starter as well, especialy if the bikes been stood a while, just takes a bit of load off the starter motor

I've no real evidence to prove this actually helps, but its a habit I've always had and even now on the T I still do it.

Clutch in , full cold start and NO throttle and my Falco started first time , every time for 5 yrs (I always used a batttery tender and Iridium plugs though)

If flooded as everyone has said; same routine but full throttle and not for too long....the starter sprags can break on these motors if they are kept churning over for too long

F9