K11 Owners Group

[dave.thorburn]

Ok, so what is it that is giving all these won't start topics?

And yes mine is different! How many ways are there that a K1100 won't start?

Went to start it at the weekend, needed some space, so planned on a ride.

Got the bike out, sitting on it, side stand was up, turned the key, all the normal dash lights came on. Checked it was in neutral (sic) . Pressed the start button. Turned over nicely. And kept turning over. Let button go. Tried setting the choke. Pressed the starter button again. Turned over, not a single sound of any of the cylinders firing, not even once. Left it a bit in case flooded. Tried it all over again, nothing.

The only thing that I can think of is that the ignition circuitry has been isolated by something specific, like the foot stand. Only it was up. So unless the foot stand switch were malfunctioning I don't know what it might be.

Any clues? Please! I really need the bike sometimes.

Dave

[drikko]

There's only one way a K won't start, press the button and it doesn't....

OK so if it was the side stand switch it would even turn the starter motor or fuel pump. Sounds more like the kill switch, if it's off or broken, it does let it wind the starter but the ignition is off, lights are all on as if it's OK, just no sparklers. Not sure why they did it that way but it's different to the clutch of side stand switch.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

[Number 6]

Does it smell gas at the exhaust? Do you hear the gas pump?
_________________
I am not a number, I am a free man.

94 K1100LT

[robleyd]

I'm with drikko on the kill switch as the problem. I've managed to do this in traffic after hitting the kill switch on a hot day whilst waiting at the lights, then forgetting the kill was off as the starter churned, and churned, and ....


_________________
David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

[Flying Duck]

The starter will spin with the side stand down.

First thing i'd try is shorting the side stand switch at the connector.

Make sure the fuel tank wiring is connected.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[2xcelr8]

The side stand switch will not allow the brake light to work. That is a quick easy check.
_________________
Doug
'96 K1100RS, '94 K1100LT, '84 Honda VF700F Interceptor (4 sale)

[Flying Duck]

[drikko]

[dave.thorburn]

Thanks for your replies guys.
Will check some of the things when I get home tonight.

Pretty sure I smelt petrol, that's why I thought it was flooded, but would need to double check.

The handle bar kill switch was definitely set correctly to on, as it won't show any lights on the dash or turn the starter when it is off. So i'm a bit puzzled rob, as when my handlebar kill switch is off, nothing works. Have I had a mental breakdown and forgotten another kill swtich?

Will check the brake light for the side stand switch.

How do you short out the sidestand kill switch? Which connector? Is it quite common to do that? I would prefer to not have it cut out on the side stand being down.

Dave

[Flying Duck]

[jim'sbeemer2]

Yep the stand down and or kill swith in off position, my 94 will spin the starter. All lights work including the breaks. How do I know this? Cause you all are not the only ones who left the stand down or the kill switch in the off position. But have no fear, It sounds silly, it even is described in the manual, check thobvious first.
ignition key on
switch in on position
side stand up
fuel in the tank
fuel pump opperates
air lock/ vapor lock
spark to the plugs
did you remove the tank? kink in the fuel line or pinched off? (happened to me)
battery at full charge
after all this...
air intake clear? mouse house or some kind of debris inside yep me too.
air flow modual functioning
some thing not grounded properly.
The last three items should allow the bike to start but run like crap, except the ground problem, this may allow the bike to crank but not start. Be cautious about this issue cause if it is a faulty wire issue it can be dangerous, will melt the wire. happend to me also but on my LTD.
Good luck
_________________
Live free and ride hard. 94 K1100RS Brick rider

[dave.thorburn]

Thanks for all your help - so far!!

I did checks last night, and need to close this topic - and, after reading some other topics, may neeed to ask for other help.

Tried starting it last night, after checks from your posts, lights etc in relation to the kill switch.

Still didn't start. However I did sort of notice that I thought it caught a few times, but after a while it stopped doing that and just turned over so I wasn't sure. So to be sure, I left it overnight and tried again this morning. Same behaviour, tries to cacth then soon stops.

I also listened for the fuel pump. I hear nothing when I turn the ignition on. And I realised this morning that I used to hear a whirrring sound for a second when I turned it on.

So I assume that there is some trickle down from the tank into the carbs, which is enough to fire a few times at start but without the fuel pump running it soon drains that drop dry and turns over without any firing.

So I will move on to researching the fuel pump posts, and see what I come up with, and any questions will ask later.

Thanks again for your help.
Dave

[Flying Duck]

Before you run off buying a fuel pump you should know that the wiring connector to the fuel tank may also be at fault as these have been known to fail.

If you're careful not create any sparks then you can jump it in the fuel tank to see if it's the pump or the connector. The smaller terminal with the yellow wire is 12V, the other is ground.

If you're paranoid about starting a fire then test it on the workbench.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[dave.thorburn]

Thanks FlyinDuck, Yes, I am paranoid enough not to dare creating a spark in the fuel tank.

There's no clunk as in an earlier post, so it couldd well be the wiring.

Now I need to get my hands dirty and take it apart and figure out how to fix it.

Dave