Went out the other morning to start my bike to go out for a cruise.
98 cbr 600 f3
crank...cranking...cranking....cranking. stop
crank...cranking...cranking...cranking. stop
by now I can start to smell the fuel and the battery is starting to get a little weak. so I put the battery pack on er and crank it some more. this goes on for about 3-4 minutes before it finally starts. it was a battle to keep it idling, but once the bike was kind of close to running temperature it stayed running perfectly fine on its own. could shut the bike off and it would fire up damn near right away. let the bike cool down and it would be another couple minute session of cranking to get it started. I'm wondering if anybody has had issues with valves sticking open and cause a cylinder to lose compression,but once its warm said valve begins to operate normally? or am I over thinking things here?

 

kind of sounds like it could be a choke issue.

 

well I don't think its the choke, because there is a clear difference when I pull the choke, and let off of it. btw my choke is a loop that I pull and hold onto with a finger. haha

 

I see, some people customize their bike by special paint schemes, others make them fighters. You chose to create a custom clutch cable. :-)
It could be your valves but I honestly don't think so. When warm, what are RPM are idling?

 

I cant remember. last year was the last time I had the bike running. when you turn the key on should you be able to feel/hear the fuel pump running?
also checked the coil packs with a test light. on both connections before the coil there is power, yet when I stick the test light into the coil pack and turn the bike over the light doesn't come on. I think I might be in for headache on this one.

 

only reason it got a custom choke was because i broke the switch and really wanted to go riding yet. haha

 

the fuel pump won't make any noise until the bike is running. The F3 isn't like a car in that it doesn't kick in when you turn the key over. it waits until the bike is actually running.

 

hmm well thanks for the insight on this, i should have listened to you in the first place. upon trying again there isn't a noticeable difference when I pull the choke. so i guess something must have come loose on the carbs.

 

Well that's pretty good news. That should be a pretty easy fix.