Need help, my BRP won't start

Need some help over here
Put the XRR away for the winter.
Brought it out, set the valves, cleaned and oiled the air filter, new spark plug and fresh gas.

Fired it up in the laneway, idled for a minute then out on the street to do a short turn around. Back in the laneway, idled for a minute then out to the street where I cracked the throttle to wheelie. Instead of a wheelie, it stalled.

It will not start now, just the odd backfire.

Have rechecked-
-all connections from stator to harness.
-valve clearance
-throttle setting
-float bowl

I'm going to put another new plug in, as the new one I installed had been rattling around in my tool kit last trip to Baja.

Ideas??

I'll note the obvious...

Does it have a street kit (like Baja Designs)...If so is the switch in the correct position?

Is there a big hill close by that you can push it down and pop the clutch?

Park in front of something reflective (or use a buddy) to see if the running light flickers when you kick it (I'm not positive but maybe that bulb has to be in good working order, seems like a weak link though).

Use a spark plug tester to see if your getting a spark.

Choke position?

Do you have a fuel filter...Is it plugged? Oh...Is the gas ON?

The good news is you'll have a monster calf when your done trouble shooting.

Sounds like the carby has a piece of shit stuck in a jet or port. Don't take much to cause problems. My $.02 and I've rebuilt hundreds of carburators from lawnmowers to power boats.

stroupdog wrote:Sounds like the carby has a piece of shit stuck in a jet or port.

Oh yeah...That too.

If your BRP is gonna sit for more than three weeks then you should drain the carb. There's a drain screw on the right side, bottom left, open it two turns I think and it will drain out the hose -or more. Then kick it over several times to clean out the jets. Personally, I try to drain it after every ride. It's just become a part of my routine. Why? Because I paid a mechanic to tell me what he did to get my bike running properly and had to stand there while this guy droned on about why I was an idiot and didn't deserve the bike ... He being the correct one in the dialog (and half my age) I shut up and took it.

Also, you shouldn't store gas in plastic for more than three days. So the bike's tank and the ubiquitous 5gal. plastic jugs /cans are all problematic. I carry 10' of gas line with me and hook to my petcock and drain into my dually when I'm done riding. The bike in the pickup bed helps with the gravity flow. I've gone to all steel jerry cans as my plastic Trick Racing plastic cans have worn out. A few years ago I sat on the plane next to a guy who was an engineer at the Unocal Race gas plant and I closed my laptop and he was willing to give me the short course on all things race gas. Fortunately I already knew some from growing up around some racing in So Cal and watching my dad and others experiment with mixes of Race gas, Av Gas, Toluene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene) and so forth in the 1970s. So I had something to offer him as well.

I'm also going to (on my list ...) hog out a good portion of my float bowl bolt and glue a neodymium magnet in the bottom like the trick ones Ty Davis sells.

My three year old daughter is in my chair and wants all the emoticons in my email ...

Thanks for the words of wisdom guys , I'll be focusing on the dirty carb thing. I'm 'sure' I drained it last fall, but it had just come from 10 days in Baja so perhaps there was residual.

Let us know the result. And remember to kick it over to clean the jets.

Well......IT'S RUNNING!!!!! Thanks to perseverance and my buddy Cameron and Jim's tireless efforts!!

It is at this juncture that I must award myself the most supreme bonehead award....




When I did the post Baja service, I pulled out the air filter and cleaned out the compartment. While I was doing this, to be on the safe side and prevent anything getting carb side, I stuck a hand towel into the airbox and.....Yup, you guessed it....I wonder who forgot all about that lil ole towel?? It allowed the bike to start once, then choke itself.


So....I now know that all the wiring and electrical components are 100%, I know the valves are spot on and the carb is spotless. Thanks to my buddies and to you guys for your advice. Time for a shakedown or two, then off to Moab.

Good deal!

Kudos to you for having the courage to admit it!

Truth be told that's one of my favorite pranks to play on someone ...

Johnny Rocco wrote:Well......IT'S RUNNING!!!!! Thanks to perseverance and my buddy Cameron and Jim's tireless efforts!!

It is at this juncture that I must award myself the most supreme bonehead award....




When I did the post Baja service, I pulled out the air filter and cleaned out the compartment. While I was doing this, to be on the safe side and prevent anything getting carb side, I stuck a hand towel into the airbox and.....Yup, you guessed it....I wonder who forgot all about that lil ole towel?? It allowed the bike to start once, then choke itself.


So....I now know that all the wiring and electrical components are 100%, I know the valves are spot on and the carb is spotless. Thanks to my buddies and to you guys for your advice. Time for a shakedown or two, then off to Moab.

I read a thread were some one else had done this but theirs got sucked through the carb and spit out the exhaust

Glad to hear the bikes running.