My F2 sat for 2 yrs. We got a new battery, cleaned the carbs, changed the plugs, drained the gas tank & filled it back up w/ 92 octane....but it still won't start?!?! I bought the bike from someone else, who kept it in immaculate condition. The bike has turned over a couple times and once or twice actually started, but it sputtered NASTY smoke out the muffler & ran horribly. We wet fouled the plugs trying to start it a couple times, but took them out & let them dry.

The battery has been charged multiple times (and it's brand new). It started my bf's bike, so we know it's not the battery. All the cylinders are getting fuel. We're checking the plugs right now (1 & 4 are getting a spark) we're checking 2 & 3 now. When we drained the oil, it drained out 5 quarts of oil (a F2 only need 3.5). But it's all out now, with 3.5 quarts of new oil in & a new filter. Still not firing though

Anyone ever had problems w/ the fuel filter?

 

When you say 'cleaned the carbs' how intense of a cleaning was it? Did you actually remove the carb bank and disassemble or just run carb cleaner through it? My best guess is that you have fuel delivery issues. If you haven't already done so, take the carb bank off and run carb cleaner through it. Wear gloves and do this in a ventilated area -- real carb cleaner is some nasty stuff. But soak the things in the cleaner for an hour or two then rinse everything with carb cleaner and reinstall. This should get any gummed up gas out of the bowl and needles. If it still won't crank you might have to completely tear down the carbs and clean. Not a hard thing to do. Just make sure you keep every thing in order (which carb it came out of) and record on paper how many turns the needles were seated -- ya know, from where it's at run it all the way in and count how many turns.

While the carbs are off you can squirt a tiny bit of gas in the intake manifold and see if the bike fires for a sec. If it does then you know for sure that it's fuel issues. Caution -- just a squirt of gas and be careful of backfires through the manifold.

 

We took the carbs out & cleaned them. We're now in the process of doing it all again. We're checking the floats right now...

 

I have a similar issue. I just purchased a bike that when I purchased it I heard it run. Now that I have it home it doesnt want to. I thought that the plugs needed replacing so I just did that....they looked pretty black so it was not wasted time. Now when I try to start it it doesnt want to turn over. It cranks and then back fires. I know that I need a new air filter...but my friend said that this wouldnt cause a backfire and lack of starting. Anyone have a suggestion to do besides replacing the air filter. Put new gas in it....think changing the oil would help?

Steve

 

MY FRIEND HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM, I THINK IT WAS A VACUM LOCK,OR SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD TO DO TO THE EXHAUST. SOMETHING TO DO WITH PRESSURE. JUST MY 2 CENTS..

ROB

 

Did you get your f2 running...it seems you have a similar problem as mine. My bike seems to want to start but just backfires. I just changed the plugs and it didnt do anything. What got your bike running if it is...if not what are you doing next?

STeve

 

I'm thinking it is the carbs. I'm not sure. I'm taking it to a shop! We've done everything we know to do w/ it. The ONLY thing that got it running (poorly) was starting fluid directly into the carbs (ya I know BAD idea). But it did run, just very bad.