No Spark after running out of gas
06-18-2015, 12:27 PM
#1
Junior Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 3
No Spark after running out of gas
Hi all,
I'm fixing up a 98 VTR1000 Superhawk that had been sitting for a few years. I went through the whole procedure: clean carbs, new oil, get rid of rust. I eventually got the thing running, so I went for a short test drive (4 miles) and ran out of gas just before the gas station (pushed it there). I filled up with gas, went to start and won't fire. Battery eventually dies. Try to bump start, get a jump off, and I can't get it to fire at all. I eventually get home (after pushing it 1 1/2 miles before a guy with a trailer helps out) and I yank the carbs out again, thinking it sucked up some gunk at the bottom of the tank. They look clean, but I clean the jets out again for good measure. Throw them back on, and nothing. I check the spark plugs and I'm getting no spark. Replaced the plugs, and still no spark at either plug. I still get power, it turns over, and the battery has charge.
So I'm stumped. I'm less familiar with tracking down electrical issues and I don't know entirely where to start. I have a multimeter, but I figured I would consult the all-knowing entity that is the internet before I started ripping into it.
I'm fixing up a 98 VTR1000 Superhawk that had been sitting for a few years. I went through the whole procedure: clean carbs, new oil, get rid of rust. I eventually got the thing running, so I went for a short test drive (4 miles) and ran out of gas just before the gas station (pushed it there). I filled up with gas, went to start and won't fire. Battery eventually dies. Try to bump start, get a jump off, and I can't get it to fire at all. I eventually get home (after pushing it 1 1/2 miles before a guy with a trailer helps out) and I yank the carbs out again, thinking it sucked up some gunk at the bottom of the tank. They look clean, but I clean the jets out again for good measure. Throw them back on, and nothing. I check the spark plugs and I'm getting no spark. Replaced the plugs, and still no spark at either plug. I still get power, it turns over, and the battery has charge.
So I'm stumped. I'm less familiar with tracking down electrical issues and I don't know entirely where to start. I have a multimeter, but I figured I would consult the all-knowing entity that is the internet before I started ripping into it.
06-18-2015, 01:25 PM
#5
Junior Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Kill switch was set to run, and both side stand and neutral lights were on, but I'll go double check to see if they work tomorrow. Will the bike still turn over with the kill switch set to not run? How do I test the neutral indicator and kill switch?
Assuming those are fine, where else should I look? I want to try to do as many tests as possible so I don't waste a ton of time going back and forth in the forums.
Assuming those are fine, where else should I look? I want to try to do as many tests as possible so I don't waste a ton of time going back and forth in the forums.
06-19-2015, 09:30 AM
#9
Retired- but not tired!
SuperBike
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 1,478
06-25-2015, 08:19 PM
#14
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 283
I was thinking about the kill and high beam switches. I do not use either one very much. The other day I went to a sport bike dinner meet-up and had to ride back in the dark. I hit the high beam and everything went black. It turns out I don't use it enough and the contacts got dirty. It cleared up after a few positive switches but I decided to use both the the kill and high beam switch, occasionally, just to keep them in good working order.
Last edited by Big_Jim59; 06-25-2015 at 08:42 PM.
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