Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight!

JerseyMitch · 10-14-2013, 09:57 PM

Okay, so I didn't know any better and left my bike's fuel valve in prime position overnight for, like, 12 hours. It has a new battery and new plugs (just put them on today.) As soon as I realized what I'd done I changed it to the proper position (as per the manual.) But the bike won't start.

How bad have I screwed up? How do I fix this so I can actually ride this bike?

A little background info: It's a 2004; I bought it for $1,100 from a guy I know. He told me it would need a new battery. It worked great yesterday, the first day I rode it. Since I'm a new rider I rode with some more experienced friends. One of them fiddled with the engine for me, making the fuel mixture a little richer. We filled it with mid-grade fuel, not premium. And left the fuel valve in PRI position overnight.

Today it started, but then quickly stalled out. I replaced the battery & plugs. All this time the fuel valve was in PRI. This evening I looked at the owner's manual (better late than never) and saw the warning about the fuel valve positions. I changed the position to ON, but now the bike won't kick over.

JWR · 10-15-2013, 12:06 AM

If the float works ok, then no problem.
First check the oil level.
Take out the air filter and check inside the air box.

alantf · 10-15-2013, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyMitch

We filled it with mid-grade fuel, not premium.

Yes....Just go for the lowest grade (and cheapest) you can find. This bike's made for third world countries, so it'll run on cats' piss if need be.

**jonathan180iq** · 10-15-2013, 09:47 AM

It won't start because it's flooded.

-Drain the airbox via the tube that hangs down under the bike.
-Take out the air filter and let the thing air out for a bit.
-Remove the spark plug and turn the engine over a few times to expel what might be in the chamber
-Check your oil level.
-Pull the oil fill cap and see if it smells like gas. (If it does, drain and refill oil)

Put it all back together and enjoy

**jonathan180iq** · 10-15-2013, 09:49 AM

Mitch, I just read your introductory post too. Was the bike running before you bought it? Is leaving the petcock in PRI the only variable between having a running bike and now a non-running bike?

JerseyMitch · 10-15-2013, 05:40 PM

Hey, thanks so much for the replies!

So, I read all your suggestions and went to look at the bike in the daylight. Guess what? There's not a drop of oil in that sucker---mystery solved. The previous owner said he'd just changed the oil a few days before I picked it up. Which leads to two bigger mysteries:

1. Okay, there was oil in it when I got the bike; so where did it go and why? Do I have a blown engine?
2. If the engine is blown, or seriously damaged, did the guy who sold it to me (someone I considered a friend) know it was like that? (And if he did, do I break his left or his right leg? Just kidding. Mostly.)

Man, please tell me this engine isn't ruined. How much would a new engine cost?

Water Warrior 2 · 10-15-2013, 06:01 PM

The bike must be upright to check the sight glass. Never ever check the oil with the bike leaning on the sidestand. You will get a low or empty result.

JerseyMitch · 10-15-2013, 06:30 PM

Hey Water Warrior,

Very good point! But no worries---I checked it standing straight up. Not that it matters, after filling up the oil (again, with the bike sitting straight up) it still won't turn over.

Water Warrior 2 · 10-15-2013, 11:38 PM

Is your battery fully charged? A slightly discharged battery will not have enough power to run the starter and ignition system. Does the starter turn over the engine slowly/barely?

**jonathan180iq** · 10-16-2013, 11:18 AM

Mitch, you can boost these bikes off from a car as long as the car is NOT_RUNNING. Just straight hook up the battery via jumper cables. This will at least let you thumb the starter and see what happens.

Most people selling vehicles will tell you they just changed the oil and that "everything works good". Are you certain there was oil in it when you bought it? Did you check? How many miles have you put on the bike since then? Like, if it was full, how quickly did all of the oil vanish?

None of this was caused by leaving the petcock in PRI. You may need to go back and break this guys left leg.

10-14-2013, 09:57 PM	#1
JerseyMitch Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4	Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Okay, so I didn't know any better and left my bike's fuel valve in prime position overnight for, like, 12 hours. It has a new battery and new plugs (just put them on today.) As soon as I realized what I'd done I changed it to the proper position (as per the manual.) But the bike won't start. How bad have I screwed up? How do I fix this so I can actually ride this bike? A little background info: It's a 2004; I bought it for $1,100 from a guy I know. He told me it would need a new battery. It worked great yesterday, the first day I rode it. Since I'm a new rider I rode with some more experienced friends. One of them fiddled with the engine for me, making the fuel mixture a little richer. We filled it with mid-grade fuel, not premium. And left the fuel valve in PRI position overnight. Today it started, but then quickly stalled out. I replaced the battery & plugs. All this time the fuel valve was in PRI. This evening I looked at the owner's manual (better late than never) and saw the warning about the fuel valve positions. I changed the position to ON, but now the bike won't kick over. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-15-2013, 12:06 AM	#2
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! If the float works ok, then no problem. First check the oil level. Take out the air filter and check inside the air box. __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..."
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10-15-2013, 09:47 AM	#4
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! It won't start because it's flooded. -Drain the airbox via the tube that hangs down under the bike. -Take out the air filter and let the thing air out for a bit. -Remove the spark plug and turn the engine over a few times to expel what might be in the chamber -Check your oil level. -Pull the oil fill cap and see if it smells like gas. (If it does, drain and refill oil) Put it all back together and enjoy
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10-15-2013, 09:49 AM	#5
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Mitch, I just read your introductory post too. Was the bike running before you bought it? Is leaving the petcock in PRI the only variable between having a running bike and now a non-running bike? Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-15-2013, 05:40 PM	#6
JerseyMitch Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Hey, thanks so much for the replies! So, I read all your suggestions and went to look at the bike in the daylight. Guess what? There's not a drop of oil in that sucker---mystery solved. The previous owner said he'd just changed the oil a few days before I picked it up. Which leads to two bigger mysteries: 1. Okay, there was oil in it when I got the bike; so where did it go and why? Do I have a blown engine? 2. If the engine is blown, or seriously damaged, did the guy who sold it to me (someone I considered a friend) know it was like that? (And if he did, do I break his left or his right leg? Just kidding. Mostly.) Man, please tell me this engine isn't ruined. How much would a new engine cost?
	0

10-15-2013, 06:01 PM	#7
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! The bike must be upright to check the sight glass. Never ever check the oil with the bike leaning on the sidestand. You will get a low or empty result.
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10-15-2013, 06:30 PM	#8
JerseyMitch Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Hey Water Warrior, Very good point! But no worries---I checked it standing straight up. Not that it matters, after filling up the oil (again, with the bike sitting straight up) it still won't turn over.
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10-15-2013, 11:38 PM	#9
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Is your battery fully charged? A slightly discharged battery will not have enough power to run the starter and ignition system. Does the starter turn over the engine slowly/barely?
	0

10-16-2013, 11:18 AM	#10
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Mitch, you can boost these bikes off from a car as long as the car is NOT_RUNNING. Just straight hook up the battery via jumper cables. This will at least let you thumb the starter and see what happens. Most people selling vehicles will tell you they just changed the oil and that "everything works good". Are you certain there was oil in it when you bought it? Did you check? How many miles have you put on the bike since then? Like, if it was full, how quickly did all of the oil vanish? None of this was caused by leaving the petcock in PRI. You may need to go back and break this guys left leg.
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