Hey all, I've owned my 96 F3 for about 5 months now. And a couple days ago, managed to lay it down... doh! [:@]

Well, now it wont start, so I want to take the gas tank off so I can poke around in there and check the plugs and all that. I'm fairly good with cars, but motorcycles are a new thing for me! Anyone know of any good walkthroughs or DIYs with pictures on how to take the tank off? Snuck a peek down under there and there seems to be alot going on, thought i would check with you guys before i did anything i could live to regret!

Thanks in advance!

 

what does it do when it wont start? Has it every started since it was layed down? One thing you need to check is that when you dump a bike, the bank angle sensor cuts the ecu. It has to be reset before the bike will start again. I cant remember the exact sequence, but flip the kill switch on/off a couple of times then restart.

 

if all you want to do is check the plugs, taking the tank off won't do you any good.
I gotta walk the dog right now, but do a search, you'll find plenty of advice here.

 

Sorry to hear about the spill - hope you are alright! In terms of checking the plugs, it is a pain in the butt! Take off the maintenance covers (small panels on side of bike). You will most likely need an extension bar on a ratchet to get at the plugs. I can usually get the socket dropped in into the plug hole, then can get the extension onto the socket, then can get the ratchet fitted onto it all. once you get the plug loosened, you should be able to do it all in reverse get the ratchet off the extension bar, hold sideways tension on the extension bar while pulling up (to keep the plug mounted on the socket), and extract everything. That will get the plugs out so you can check on them! Good luck!

 

Pretty sure my bike doesn't have one, its a 96. But i may be wrong...

And, ill be taking the tank off for other reasons besides just the plugs, i have all the fairings off and im just doing a full look over of the whole thing.

 

Got the tank off, not nearly as hard as it first looked (kinda feel dumb now) its all of 3 hoses...

 

i had the exact same deal happen just a few weeks ago. it would turn over but not crank. A new set of plugs and i was back on the road.

 

get the haynes manual for your bike i picked mine up on ebay for $25. MSRP is around $40.
since your good with cars you should know how well a haynes manual is put together and
helps out.

 

Mine kinda did the same thing.. All i did was take out plugs, wipe em off pretty good & check the spark, crank the engine over a little & put them back in & crank w/o gas on to clear the carbs (yours might be flooded) and it should kinda have a low pop pop down deep in the exhaust & turn fuel back on and it -should- work.. Hope it helps!

 

if you have plastics off..remove 3 bolts from rad and the fan connect ..rad is now hanging on a slide pin on left and hook top right..than lower it no hose removal needed...way easy to get to plugs from front