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Falco won't start

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:28 pm
by barking frog
Need some help guys.
The bike has stood for just over a week, today I can't get it to start.:smt010

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.

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:43 pm
by Firestarter
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

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:06 pm
by barking frog
Side-stand switch was bypassed the second time I took it out as a wire came off the switch body.

No ECU messages displayed.

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:29 pm
by DavShill
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

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:02 pm
by barking frog
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 :smt053

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.

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:50 pm
by Thumper
Just use the fast idle when cold leave the frigging throttle alone...... :smt003 :smt006

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:09 am
by scorpio24v
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 :smt003

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:21 pm
by joecrx
Thumper wrote:Just use the fast idle when cold leave the frigging throttle alone...... :smt003 :smt006
thats what i do starts every time

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:28 pm
by D-Rider
joecrx wrote:
Thumper wrote:Just use the fast idle when cold leave the frigging throttle alone...... :smt003 :smt006
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 :smt053 ... 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.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:14 pm
by Falco9
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 :smt006