This is my first bike and i love it. So i got the bike back from the shop and had a little tune-up and it was running great. It's been cold out so i had it out the other day just so it was not sitting and i had it running but then it cut off...But i figured this was because i had the fuel on reserve...but then i found out that it shouldn't matter if the fuel was on reserve or ON that it shouldn't of just died. I put new gas it and fully charge my battery via a flow charger. I just cant get the dang thing started. It just had all the spark plugs replaced when it was in the shop as well. I know it's getting fuel because i can get the thing to backfire....all the neighbors came out wondering who was shooting a gun in the parking lot...but i was just my bike backfiring. I am not sure if i need a new fuel pump or if its the contacts on the pump. So i figured maybe some of you guys could help me out. Thanks a lot.

 

You had the bike running but weren't riding it? For how long? The bike doesn't charge the battery while idling. So depending on how long you had it running, that's why it cut out: battery lost too much voltage to keep the engine running.

How much did you try to crank her before charging the battery? Too much and you prolly fouled the plugs trying to start her with a weak spark. Pull the plugs and clean them. Then give a shout

 

Thanks so much for you reply, you make great points, i will def. be checking the plugs again. I know the bike does not charge the battery while idling, but i think it was maybe for about 6-8 min idling before it died. Fouling the plugs seems like a really probable problem. Thanks a lot ill check those and then ill post an update. If you or anyone has any other ideas it would be great to hear them. Thanks a lot!

 

Cold weather coulda weakened your battery. Mine is here under the dining room table atm. Figure it's quicker to pop it in than to charge her back up.

Well we're gonna go with the assumption the shop knew what they were doing. So let's not go thinking anything is seriously wrong. If the plugs are fouled you prolly haven't done any real damage to them that quickly. So just give them a once over and give her another shot

 

Yeah i am hoping the plugs are fouled up to the point that nothing more than a simple cleaning can cure. I mean even at the worst i am hoping that i just need some new plugs. I do remember that when i tried to crank it i couldnt get it going with choke on and with giving it gas but that i could sometimes maybe only like once or twice it felt like she was almost about to start but nothing. So makes me think even more that your right about the plugs. Could you explain maybe a little more about how trying to crank your bike over too much could foul the plugs? I just dont know much but i wanna learn. Thanks a lot i really appreciate it a lot man.

 

Well I'm no expert either. IDoDirt or someone else can prolly explain it better. What I can give is the circumstances why the plugs might foul.

• Full choke on, creating a fuel rich environment
• Weak spark due to a weaken battery from the cold / low voltage
• Opening the throttle

Too much gas on the plugs causing it to ground out instead of igniting properly. Especially if the spark is weak. Don't give the bike throttle when trying to start it. And don't lean on the starter either. You don't want to saturate the plugs in fuel from failed attempts. That could leave a residue on the plug, further inhibiting future attempts to start the engine.

You do want to use the choke. Quick presses of the starter, with time between to give the fuel a chance to clear out of the carbs a bit.

 

All the F3's will have a slightly different starting ritual, mine was a bastard till I figured it's procedure. Mine is from cold, I don't turn on the fuel, I don't touch the throttle, I just turn on the choke & hit the starter button. Anything else & it used to take me a while.
Trust the choke for a cold start, leave the throttle alone till it actually fires.

 

Under about 30F your bike is going to be a bitch to start. Under 20F, don't expect it to start at all.

Pacemaker, I think it's that way too for all F3's. I do the same thing with mine since I ride it to class every day

 

My bike's pretty finicky with it's starting ritual when it's cold out as well. Just the nature of our (old) carbed bikes... like pace, I just give her full choke and nothing else until she can idle around 1k and then let it run without choke for about 5 min until she's warmed up and idling full and I can ride off..

Let us know what you come up with when you pull the plugs.

 

Wow...such great information. Thanks a lot guys for the tips and ideas. Ill def. be pulling the plugs and letting you know whats happening. Really good starting techniques for the cold as well. Thanks a lot.