Sad Story 2 – Falco problems.

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HowardQ · #1 Post by **HowardQ** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:21 pm

Sad Story 2.
Just to make me feel worse, following the recent expensive car problems I have had issues with my normal super reliable Falco!

Just at the same time as I was up to my neck in it with the car problems last October/November the 20 month old £65 Yuasa battery decided to give up the ghost.

I have used a Ring battery conditioner for a few years, (also sold under the Halfords name), and switched it between the ZX9R which has a Datatool S3 alarm, and the Falco which does not. Both wired up just swap a plug over in the middle to link to unit.

Then suddenly the Falco battery went flat quickly, would charge enough to fire up the bike, but was flat again the next day if unplugged it from the charger.
Charger also showing unrecoverable.
I ran the Falco pretty exclusively through last summer but in October ran the Kwack for the last few runs before the 3 to 4 feet snow came in early November. I use cooking unleaded in both bikes but always use super when winter is coming in as this does not go to sludge if the bike is off the road for a while.

Sadly this year the snow came as a complete surprise, (especially for the 200 plus "Ice Road Truckers" stuck in four feet of snow for 3 days on the A57 through our village of South Anston in early November).

So I ended up with both tanks left with normal unleaded.

Snow lasted until after Xmas when I went on holiday to Spain and still there when I came back in January. When weather did finally clear up I used the Kwack, until could sort the battery on the Falco, as all spare funds were used getting the car sorted after Christmas and holidays.

Recently bought a Dynavolt gel battery at £63 with more cranking power than the Yuasa and thought the Falco would now be OK as it has always started first time with a good battery.

Sadly no, I could not get it to start, often did fire up then 5 seconds later spluttered and died. First thought was that the unleaded that had been in since October was probably gunge by now, so could be blocking up injectors and fouling plugs.

I also decided to order one of the Scooter Assasins 100amp relays, after good comments from Andy, to help starting.

Put 6 litres of Super UL in the tank and some injector cleaner and thought I would try again last night whilst I waited for the above to be delivered, and it quickly fired up, for about 15 seconds, then just stopped when I released the throttle and would not start again, with “No Start” on the display.

My head was still thinking plugs and injectors.

(I had only been riding the Kwack recently, which is on flat side carbs, more on that later).

Went back in the house and the wife asked if it was OK and my reply was “No, it ain’t goin’ nowhere!”

Then it suddenly twigged, this statement is not really correct, - no not the double negative bit.

It should have been ”it ain’t going, .......... no whirr!”.

Must be getting senile, but having been riding the Kwack lately, I had become accustomed to silence when turning the ignition on.

Hadn’t noticed that there was no whirring from the fuel pump!

DOH !!

So it may be this that is blocked or just died.

Can only get very limited access to internet at work so not managed to check in any detail, but seem to remember a few RSV units on Fleabay recently, am I right to think they are the same?

Will check with Ultimate Parts when I get home.

Also what sort of job is it?

Seem to remember somebody had some problems re-sealing after a recent replacement.

P.S. Had just typed all this and then Pete phoned and we spent around an hour on the phone, discussing first the car problems then this one etc. etc..
Very many thanks for the advice on the car. I will go down that road, and the reminders of a few different areas to look at on the Falco as I seem to have been a bit blinkered, I will have a lot better look in a few areas this weekend, your advice is very much appreciated.

Falcopops · #2 Post by **Falcopops** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:28 pm

I feel your pain Howard, I'm having a few starting issues too, but that's for another thread.

Apparently you can swap the lights relay with the fuel pump one to test that. Also there are reports of the fuel pump wiring breaking where it pases through the plug of sealant into the tank.

Good luck

HowardQ · #3 Post by **HowardQ** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:46 pm

Thanks Dale, that's a good quick swap.
I remember a recent thread about the wiring through the tank as well (now you mention it!), will have a look at that as well.

Help very much appreciated on my recent posts re car and bike problems, I really do love this site at times like this!

Falcopops · #4 Post by **Falcopops** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:45 am

you can also just wire 12v straight to the pump by joining a piece of wire to the battery + and in to one of the pump lead at the connector, can't remember which one, but the wiring diagram should help

just had a look and it's the green one.

back_marker · #5 Post by **back_marker** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:16 am

If it says NO START on the the dash, check the tilt switch next to the battery (small rattly box if you don't know).

If the bike thinks it's been tipped over, the engine will turn over but get no fuel.

HowardQ · #6 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:53 pm

Thanks again Dale, I will try that this weekend.
Had originally ruled out the tilt switch, as it has been sat in the garage for some time in this postion, and I had regularly started it and run it for a few minutes until I had the battery problems. It has been flat a few times since, before I recently fitted the new Dynavolt battery and then would not start. Never thought about the tilt switch as the bike hadn't moved but could have thrown a wobbly or something whilst flat I suppose.
Will try Dale's idea first, wiring the pump direct and if it does run OK fine, then check the relay and if fine in both those areas, the Kill switch has to be the next favourite.

Many thanks to everybody, very much appreciated.

Pete also mentioned the Kill switch last night, he had carefully suggested that I don't want to teach you to suck eggs but .......... have you tried the Kill switch.
Sadly at my advanced age I did always know how to suck eggs but tend to have lost a taste for them!
Seriously, I do have a lot less patience when a problem is not what I first assume it to be and reminders from people on here do help an old fart like my to get his act together!
Not always easy though cos the weekend before last I had the rear wheel out of the Kwack for the first time to get a new tyre fitted. As it was the first time I had put it back in, I had the usual fun with the spacers, knock one side off then the other and the job took me a couple of hours before sorted. Sadly kneeling and laying on the garage floor, with my old arthritis ridden joints meant I couldn't bloody walk the next day.
Serious pain does tend to destroy patience very quickly I find.

Aladinsaneuk · #7 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:15 pm

Remember what I said about that bike lift!

HowardQ · #8 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:19 pm

I certainly will !!

HowardQ · #9 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:24 pm

Thinks

How can this old Yorkie do one on the cheap.

Seem to remember somebody tried to make one from an old hospital bed once, can't remember how he planned to get the bike into the hospital bed though?
The Dark Side has never paid NI.

HowardQ · #10 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:28 pm

Sad Story 3.

Dumb and Dumber.

I did all the usual stuff this weekend, opened and cleaned the engine kill, checked the side stand switch plus a few others.

Then I got to the silly bit.
Now silly me had always thought the Tipover switch was something in a small alloy box attached to the rear sub frame under the rear panels. (DUMB).
Whilst looking again through the 330 page CD manual I have for the Falco, I found this section about the tipover switch showing it attached to the side of the battery cover.
Dooooh!
I thought of that little thing that looked like a relay that clips on the little plastic bracket, that I had just clipped back on without thinking any more, when I replaced the battery.
Oh dear!

Went and checked, and ..............
(Even DUMBER).
You can guess the next bit ...............
I had clipped it on upside down .............

Turns it over, and it fired up first time on the button like it always does!
Not sure where I got the picture of the tipover switch I had in my head, must be off another bike.
The only other excuse I have is my excessive age!
Thanks to all who offered help and advice.
Not even got around to fitting the 100A relay yet.
Then again, I'll settle for being called a dickhead, if I've got the Falco back running.

Samray · #11 Post by **Samray** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:35 pm

dickhead

HowardQ · #12 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:38 pm

As he said,
As I said!

Aladinsaneuk · #13 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:15 pm

And I was the one who made a bike lift from a hospital bed :)

Olig7475 · #14 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:18 pm

Just glad it wasn't anything more serious Howard