Bike won't start

[mgherman]

Tried to start the 2003 GZ yesterday. Last time I started is was 2 weeks ago. Won't start, the battery was dead. I charged it, then I tap the honk, the honk was working. Still it won't start. After few failed attemps it started, then shut it off, tried to start again, but won't start.
I checked the battery connections-they are clean and free of corrosion and are on tightly.
Next step is buying a new battery, but still the starting issue is not solved.
Could be a faulty contact. I am thinking of buying a new starter switch.

Any help is appreciated.
Thank you.

[JWR]

Try this, use the red kill switch a couple of times.
Rock it back and forth, then try to crank the bike again.
Remember the GZ can turn over good and not crank, it must turn over 100 percent fast.
Hook jumper cables to a non running auto and try.

It is usually the simple things, not the starter.

[mgherman]

Thanks, I'll try that.

[jonathan180iq]

When you say that it won't start, do you mean that it won't even turn over the engine, or that it's just won't stay running?

After a long break, I resorted to a rolling start just to get the gas flowing again. Varnish on these carbs is an issue if you don't ride very much or use a semi-consistent fuel cleaner. Use some carb cleaner regardless.

If you need more juice to get it fired up, boost it off of a NON-RUNNING car or something else. That should give you a few more tries to get it to crank and then immediately take it out for a spin and stretch her legs again.

[Water Warrior 2]

I'm still trying to figure out why Lynda's GZ could sit parked all winter and start right up after priming and run like a champ. Wasn't using fuel stabalizer either. Just made sure the battery was charged up.

[jonathan180iq]

Did you drain the carb before storage?

[mgherman]

jonathan,
it won't turn over the engine. I checked the battery connections, charged the battery (the honk is working), all seems to be fine, but still nothing. It has half a tank gas, the fuel vale is on.
I'm thinking it might be the starter button, it doesn't respond when I hit the button.

Thank you.

[mgherman]

Just bought it 3 weeks ago, it was starting fine. I did not clean the carb or drain the gas fom the tank. At some point when I shut off the engine I tried to start it again, but it wouldn't start. The previous owner told me that the battery was the problem, I pushed it, then it started. So I charged the battery and still won't start.

[jonathan180iq]

Ok, that narrows down what we are looking for.
If you can roll start the bike, you know it fires and mechanically it should be fine.

The kill switches on these bikes are known to wear down and lose contact. If you feel mechanically inclined, you can pull the housing apart and clean the switch plates. This would also give you an opportunity to check the starter button, though the kill switch it more common. You should be able to test voltage at the starter motor itself, if you feel like the switch is working. I haven't had this bike in quite some time, but there have to be some leads to can slap a voltmeter on to and see if it's getting juice.

There are only two known instances on the motors crapping out or of the starting gear blowing itself up. So you should be able to track this down fairly easily.

If you pull apart the kill switch housing, be cognizant of any little springs that may be in there. I don't recall that there are... only the throttle cable guides, I think. But someone with a better memory would have to verify.

[Water Warrior 2]

I'd bet money on the starter button having a spring just waiting to pop out. The kill switch is a likely candidate too.