Bike won't start? here's something to try-

[grandpaul]

KIDS, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

"You have been warned"

Before I got my Doc Z Solo Starter

(starting rollers), I had a sure-fire way of eliminating all possible reasons for an engine not starting due to my physical weakness, or some particular bike's penchant for start-up routine particulars:

Needed items:

1. Bike that won't start, but with good battery and plenty of gas, spark, flow through carbs, etc.

2. Tow vehicle with driver who has demonstrated at least medium intellect.

3. 30' length of sturdy, thin diameter tow rope.

4. Helmet and gloves, and other protective wear as you personally believe is prudent.

5. Nearby open road of at least 1/4 mile of right-of-way space.

I think everyone can see where I'm going with this?

KEY ON

FUEL TAPS ON, carbs tickled

ENRICHER SLIDES LOWERED

Set up the tow vehicle & tow rope, align the bike, wrap the tow rope around the left handlebar, taking care that it can freely slip off when you release it, then place the bitter end (no knots) over the left grip.

Get a firm grip, gather your wits, shift the bike into SECOND gear, and nod to the tow driver to indicate ready to go.

Remember, you will need to be pushing pretty stiffly on the right handlebar to offset the tow forces.

Maybe do a practice take-off to get the feel for it before attempting a start in earnest.

Tow driver only needs to start very slowly, pick up gradually to 10 MPH, and maintain speed; the hard part is all on the rider.

As the tow vehicle takes off, you "walk" the bike to avoid a starting jerk.

Once the tow driver reaches 10 MPH, he should signal (with a short honk?).

Drop the clutch and HOLD ON TIGHT. * * * (see bottom of post after reading the following section)

Bike should start straight away. If it doesn't immediately start, feed in a slight twist of throttle.

AS SOON AS BIKE STARTS, release the tow rope by lifting your left palm (don't let go of the grip).

Blip the throttle, gas it, or do whatever the heck you think you ought to do, but keep it lit!

If the bike doesn't start after releasing the clutch and towing it more than a couple hundred feet, IT'S NOT GOING TO START.

Oh, yeah, you did have the key & fuel taps on, right?

If the key & fuel taps were on, and it didn't start, go back to the garage and figure out what went wrong.

My wyfe and I have successfully employed this method several times, with very good results and zero visits to the emergency room.

* * * The other possibility is that, at this point, you totally miscalculated this entire process and are only recently waking up in hospital or picking bits of pebbles out of your kneecaps, elbows and palms. Go back and re-read the FIRST two sentences of this post...

 

[keystiger]

* * * The other possibility is that, at this point, you totally miscalculated this entire process and are only recently waking up in hospital or picking bits of pebbles out of your kneecaps, elbows and palms. Go back and re-read the FIRST two sentences of this post...

I resemble that remark. Still have the scar on my right knee to prove it. To be fair I was 17 at the time. Don't know I would try it now.

 

[The Seeker]

Ahhhh.....the merits of living in Appalachia! We've got hills to replace the tow vehicle and avoid hospital emergency rooms! That is if your heart survives pushing the bike to the top first. I always buy property at the tops of hills for that reason as well as not having to buy flood insurance. It sucks though if you break down away from home and have to push it home on top!

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[grandpaul]

Heck, when I was a kid, it seemed like EVERYWHERE we had to push our bikes was UPHILL BOTH WAYS, and Laredo is FLAT!!!!

 

[keystiger]

:y24:

 

[hemibee]

Heck, when I was a kid, it seemed like EVERYWHERE we had to push our bikes was UPHILL BOTH WAYS, and Laredo is FLAT!!!!

 

[keystiger]

Boy do times change......I had a Honda trail bike with no brakes for a time......S.O.P. was
#1. down shift to first
#2. drag feet (remember to wear shoes)
#3. Find a shrub.....tree.....or grassy area to slide/drop the bike in..

Hop up and go about your business......

And I wonder why my back, knees,wrists, and fingers are all SHOT at this point in life.........hhhmmmm just can't figure it out.

 

[hemibee]

Rode a lot with Barney did ya. . .

 

[keystiger]

Yep.....Rubble Rubble Rubble not rumble rumble rumble

 

[harper6t]

Heck, I ride a Velocette too - so I am well practiced in the art of bump starting my bike on my own.
In Aus we also have aerostart (or the fantastically named alternative "Start ya barstard") - a quick squirt down the carbies and if it won't start then its time to put it back in the shed and find something else to do.

 

[CarlS]

Heck, when I was a kid, it seemed like EVERYWHERE we had to push our bikes was UPHILL BOTH WAYS, and Laredo is FLAT!!!!

I can certainly relate that!!!!

Paul, your starting post is excellent. I have seen several suffer misfortune from TYING the rope to the handle bars. I have never done this myself - and I don't think I'm gonna start now!

 

[grandpaul]

I have seen several suffer misfortune from TYING the rope to the handle bars.

Severe physical and mechanical/cosmetic injuries just waiting for the proper moment to happen!

 

[CarlS]

You nailed it! I witnessed a broken knee and road rash.

 

[The Seeker]

You nailed it! I witnessed a broken knee and road rash.

I had a dirt bike break down on me when I was a teenager.

My buddy was towing me the 7-8 miles home with a rope tied to the crossbar between the grips of a dirtbike handlebar.

We made all the way to my driveway when he slowed faster than I did, the rope went slack and my front knobby tire picked it up and quickly tangled in my spokes.

I went over the bars spread eagle and did a belly smacker. Broke two ribs on each side.

I suffered for a couple weeks like that, afraid to tell my parents for fear they'd take my bike away. Eventually, I had to because I couldn't bear the pain any longer.

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[CarlS]

That hurts just thinking about it!

 

[grandpaul]

I almost laughed, but then I remembered...

Yeowch.

(okay, I laughed a little bit)

 

[harper6t]

As a teenager I was riding a TX500 Yamaha up to see a girlfriend at Quirindi in country NSW, fell off about 30 miles out and smashed the alternator cover, pushed the bike for a couple of miles until I came across a local farmer that said he would tow me to town. So not knowing any better I tied the rope to the handlebars and was in for the wildest ride as this young guy towed me on dirt and tar at 50 to 60 mph. somehow I managed to stay on, fortunately he stopped at a small store after about 10 miles, I thanked him for the lift that far and decided to call ahead and get the bike picked up. Never been towed since. This whole story is a lot longer and is one of inexperience and lessons to be learnt in dressing for the ride, knowing when to stop and planning the route. I learnt a lot that ride.

 

[keystiger]

As did I. Of course back in "the day" no one had proper riding ATGATT--shorts tennis shoes t-shirt---and sometimes a helmet. When my Kawasaki 90 gave up the ghost on a hot July day. A friend agreed to tow it back to his house to "repair" it. So he tied the rope to the back of his Honda "BIG RED" 3 wheeler and off we went. On a long straight somewhere in the 45 mph range the Kawasaki which was in neutral decided to slip into gear (I contest I touched NOTHING) and the resulting tank slapper found me being drug (right leg UNDER THE BIKE) down the road till the rope snapped after about 50 feet (thank Goodness.) I wear the scar (and ATGATT) to this very day. And will NOT tow a bike, period. I have to many friends/neighbors with trucks-trailers or at last case the old AAA card and a cell phone. I will leave that to the youngsters.....we all must "learn" from our mistakes.