Didn't want to start on Saturday after sitting for a couple of weeks???

[Wesley G]

My 04 RSV sat idle for about 2 weeks while I waited on a new seat that I traded my old one for. Once I finally got my new seat installed I started her up no problem and rode about a mile to Lowes to pick up some bolts and whatnot. I was in Lowes for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and I come out and I can't get the bike to start. She just cranks and cranks with no firing. I let it sit for a few minutes and tried it again with the same result. Then I flipped the kill switch a couple of times (I leave it in the run position and kill the engine with the kick stand) and tried it again. After that it started up just fine. I rode about 70 miles, hung out for 4 hours or so and rode 70 miles home yesterday and all was well. Any ideas why I had such trouble getting her started on Saturday??? I'm planning an iron butt ride in about 4 months and just want to be sure I have all the kinks worked out by then. Thanks.

[Flyinfool]

If exercising the kill switch fixed the problem, it may be time to disassemble the kill switch to clean the contacts.

 

After all an 04 RSV is now officially an old obsolete bike........

[Flyinfool]

Not yet, an 88 is a collector bike, it wont be an antique till 2028, another 13 years.

 

ob·so·lete ˌäbsəˈlēt

 

adjective: obsolete

 

1.

 

no longer produced; out of date.

synonyms:outdated, out of date, outmoded, old-fashioned, démodé, passé, out of fashion;

 

verb

 

verb: obsolete; 3rd person present: obsoletes; past tense: obsoleted; past participle: obsoleted; gerund or present participle: obsoleting

 

• 1.
  cause (a product or idea) to be or become obsolete by replacing it with something new.
  "we're trying to stimulate the business by obsoleting last year's designs"
  

 

You do know we are just:stirthepot:

[yamagrl]

Maybe you ain't holdin' your mouth right!

[djh3]

I would look at fuel pump first probably. Mine was kind of like that. Most times I would have problems was when gas ran out and I swapped to reserve. Almost acted like pump would get hot when it ran out and had no fuel trying to pick up from reserve. Bike would sit a few minutes, pump cool and away I would go and may not have problems for weeks or longer. I swapped to the Mr Gasket m 42 I think it is. Ther is a write up in the 2nd gen tech section.

[Wesley G]

Ok so the clicking when I turn the key on is the fuel pump then right? Seems to do it for longer the longer the bike has sat (about 5 seconds or so). So this is normal right?

[Brake Pad]

My fuel pump did the same thing, the next day I rode it 205 miles no issues, then it did it again, started next day, rode it home 205 miles, let sit all weekend, Monday the bike would not start at all, trailered it to the shop, new pump

[Du-Rron]

Ok so the clicking when I turn the key on is the fuel pump then right? Seems to do it for longer the longer the bike has sat (about 5 seconds or so). So this is normal right?

 

Yup. Absolutely.

[Wesley G]

Well I've been researching for a little while and it seems like the points are the problem in most fuel pump failures. Is there a way to clean the points? Also, is it difficult to replace the points? I read somewhere that you have to solder them, I'm no good at soldering... I also saw a thread that said most fuel pump failures occur in 2006 and new models, they suggested a possible change in manufacturing. I also read that if you replace the fuel pump with a cheaper option than stock like an ebay one or Mr. Gasket that you MUST shutoff the fuel or you could end up having hydrostatic lock (or something like that) and engine damage. (I'm not exactly sure what that means...and I never shutoff my fuel so that would be a hard habit to start). I have 4 months until my trip so I have time to play with it and figure things out. I just know I DO NOT want to get stranded. Any suggestions on things I could do to give myself a little just in case insurance?

[djh3]

Well there may have been a change in manufactures of pumps, but the same pn fits all second gen. I installed a Mr Gasket and didnt put any kind of additional valves or anything. The fasuet or whatever the name is of aircraft rated pump has a check valve or something in there. But I know several folks using the Mr Gasket pump and no issues. I dont shut the petcock off either.

[Condor]

Then I flipped the kill switch a couple of times (I leave it in the run position and kill the engine with the kick stand) and tried it again.

 

I don't know how this evolved into a bad fuel pump thread, but the key here is that the kill switch is always left on. After cycling it a few times it fired up and ran fine the rest of the day. Ergo, dirty kill switch contact. One good reason to use the kill switch to turn the scoot off, and keep the contacts cleaned off. Use it or loose it....

[djh3]

Here is write up. Here is the listing for the facet aircraft pump. You would need PN#40163 I believe @ $46.50 aprox + shipping

[Condor]

If it were the kill switch the bike wouldn't crank. Same with the kickstand cut-off. Looking at other possibilities.

 

I'm still thinking it is the pump...and like you mentioned the points could be worn out (there is a kit recommended that replaces the points).

 

Intermittent issues are fun.... start with the inexpensive, easy to verify possibilities.

 

Very true...forgot about that. Pump could be a possibility, but if it clicks 99 times out of a 100 it's OK. The part number for the point kit is

 

[Wesley G]

Yeah I figured if it was the kill switch then it wouldn't turn over at all. I just went for a short ride to the beer store and came back 5 minutes later and it acted like it didn't want to start again. This time I put it in neutral and it fired right up. I also turned the fuel off 1/2 mile from the house to drain the bowls. When I turned the key back on it clicked much more than usual so who knows... I just gotta figure this out cause I'm going from Mississippi to Colorado (1500 miles each way) and I sure would hate to be stranded... Thanks for all the help and hopefully I can start troubleshooting as soon as I get some time.

[Wesley G]

When it happened on Saturday and I was worried I wouldn't get it going there was probably a little less than half a tank. Today the fuel light will be coming on in 15 miles or so. Anyway it could be a clogged fuel filter? I've only had the bike a couple months so I'm not sure if its ever been changed. Heard its a pita to get to though... Also, from day 1 I've noticed that this bike is just harder to start. I've often had to hold the starter button for 2 or 3 seconds before she fires up.

[Wesley G]

Thanks a lot for all those links and the other information. It will definitely help once I can find the time to start and finish this project. I just got to thinking and I realized I probably have a half dozen projects around the house that are half done...

[Seaking]

When it happened on Saturday and I was worried I wouldn't get it going there was probably a little less than half a tank. Today the fuel light will be coming on in 15 miles or so. Anyway it could be a clogged fuel filter? I've only had the bike a couple months so I'm not sure if its ever been changed. Heard its a pita to get to though... Also, from day 1 I've noticed that this bike is just harder to start. I've often had to hold the starter button for 2 or 3 seconds before she fires up.

 

Based on my own past experiences, a clogged fuel filter will not make a difference on your fuel light. In my case, it did cause other problems (used bike was new to me at the time, with a very dirty fuel filter). When the fuel got below a certain level, it would cause fuel starvation problems, almost like it had run out of fuel. Put it on reserve it would start and run until the fuel level got to certain point. The filter was so clogged that it required a certain amount of head pressure from the weight of the fuel to assist the pump to suck the fuel past the filter. Once the fuel got below a certain level, not enough head pressure. Once I replaced the filter, all was good.. Until the fuel pump died later on from being overworked by the clogged fuel filter. I since then I relocated the fuel filter to under the seat so now there is no excuse not to change it every year.

[djh3]

I would tend to agree on the filter causing the pump to work harder. So I have a question maybesomeone can answer. We have all heard and some of us have seen what the current 10% ethonol fuel can mess up. So how disasterous is this stuff to the filter? Should we maybe be looking at more frequent changes on them? Sorry dont mean to hijack.

[bongobobny]

Hey Wesley G, time to renew, your membership is listed as expired...

[Seaking]

I would tend to agree on the filter causing the pump to work harder. So I have a question maybesomeone can answer. We have all heard and some of us have seen what the current 10% ethonol fuel can mess up. So how disasterous is this stuff to the filter? Should we maybe be looking at more frequent changes on them? Sorry dont mean to hijack.

 

Good question, I have noticed my fuel filter being cleaner when I change it each year since I started burning premium gas (no ethonol in premium gas over here, generally speaking). Premium only costs 50 cents more per fill up and I end up going a tad further on that tank so the extra cost engates itself.