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New Battery, No Start

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Omobono View Drop Down
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    Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 11:16
Hi all,

perhaps you can help me on this little mystery.

Bought new battery and installed yesterday on my Moto Guzzi 1000 SP.

Battery kicks like a mule but engine does not start.

I have checked the spark plugs, which were very dirty (last time, two weeks ago, I had made many attempts to start bike with old battery).

Two new spark plugs installed and still no results.

The battery kicks and I have also tried with my monster jump starter, which would awaken the dead, but no result.

Some more information that might be useful or not:

Fuel tank is full.

Several attempts made with and without starter, with and without fuel tap open (to avoid flooding)

Bike not used for two weeks (otherwise I am on it every weekend).

Yesterday it was extremely warm.

New cables and new electronic ignition installed last year, all worked flawlessly up to now.

I know I am doing something wrong, and it must be something very little/stupid, but what might it be?

Many thanks to all who can help!

Omobono
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George S View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote George S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 11:32
Have you checked for good spark both plugs. Plug resting on cylinder to earth
George

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Jim Mac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jim Mac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 11:47
not intended to offend - is your kill switch in the 'on' position - does the SP have a side stand switch ?
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Barry View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Barry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 11:47
Just to state the obvious - but it does catch us all sooner or later - check that the 'kill switch' isn't deployed.

Edit:   Ah, snap!
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Omobono View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Omobono Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 11:55
Hi,
You do well to remind me as I am just the type of guy who could forget the kill switch! Smile
 
Yes, I have checked. With the kill switch on "kill" the electric is dead and the gauges do not go up in the first place, with the kill switch on "ride" the gauges are lit and the starter engine "kicks".  
 
I forgot the test with the spark plugs. Am I supposed to do it just switching the key on "on" and see if I have the spark, or does the spark only come out when I push the starter Button? I would not want to flood the cylinders again... 
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George S View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote George S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 12:28
You need to push starter leave petrol taps off 
Good luck 
George

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c13pep View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote c13pep Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 12:48
If cylinders are flooding then that suggests no spark, have you connected all wires back onto battery as mine has several wires onto the + pole.
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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 17:45
Using same carburettors, after I cleaned mine and put in new jets (old ones blocked), I was then reminded why MUST NOT use the 'chokes' in Summer, just instantly floods and will never start.

If when you take the plugs out they are very wet with petrol (BUT plugs will spark in open air), that may be it.





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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 17:58
I might be wrong but I have never known Guzzi where the kill switch cuts all electrics. The ignition switch does of course.
Brian.

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Barry View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Barry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 18:02
I took "Battery kicks like a mule but engine does not start" to mean that he starter was turning, but the engine not catching.  That could have been a mistake on my part.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jul 2018 at 18:07
I have known cases where the kill switch kills the ignition but still allows the starter to operate. Either way it doesn't normally kill the instruments.
Brian.

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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 20:08
Yes, although I have done that as a modification. Idea was borrowed from my BMW, where dashboard don't light up and starter don't work if 'off'.

Not normally on a Spada though so sounds like a similar modification?



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jog53 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 21:22
Fuses?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 23:59
Originally posted by Brian UK Brian UK wrote:

I have known cases where the kill switch kills the ignition but still allows the starter to operate. Either way it doesn't normally kill the instruments.

Yes, my Spada caught me out like that. The potential customer was stood next to the bike as I tried to start it but to no avail. As he drove off I clicked the kill switch and she fired up. I'm not really used to bikes with kill switches.
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Omobono View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Omobono Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2018 at 17:27
Hi and thanks all for the many answers.
 
Kill switch: this is not the original one, but the "made in china" one copying the "lego" style. It can be that it is wired differently.
 
I have *not* checked the fuses, many thanks for the suggestion!
 
I will then try with 1. no starter and 2. fuel taps closed. I can confirm that the spark plugs were actually "wet". I would hope fuel would now bloody evaporate with this weather?  
 
To confirm: with kill switch on "engine off" nothing happened. With "engine on" everything happened but the engine waking up ( = starter engine working fine, but the twin cylinder engine does not start). I can actually see the energy with which the starter engine "kicks" so it's not that the starter engine does not generate enough push to start the real engine.
 
Wires: I have connected all the wires as I remember them to be connected, I was surprised there are, apart from main cables on positive and negative, two other minicables on negative but only one mimicable on the positive. Is this normal? Am I missing a cable somewhere below the battery? Shall I try with only the big cables to see whether it starts?   
 
Finally: if I have the cylinder flooded, what remedy do I have that does not involve dismounting things?
 
Thanks a bunch!
 
O
 
 
    


Edited by Omobono - 11 Jul 2018 at 17:30
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