Troubleshooting a Motorcycle That Won’t Start After Falling Over
Our bikes are our pride and joy, but sometimes we can be pretty hard on them. Whether it’s opening up the throttle on the highway or eating dirt for breakfast on a motocross bike, wear and tear is part of the experience. Sometimes we have to lay down our bikes to avoid a bigger accident. And sometimes our bikes just get tipped over because we get clumsy and forget to lock the kickstand or the center stand in place before we park. Whatever the case may be, there are a few common reasons for not being able to start a motorcycle back up after laying it down. Here’s how to troubleshoot during those times when your motorcycle won’t turn over after you turn it over. For more information, come see us at Interstate Cycles in Lake City, Florida. We serve motorcycle lovers in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida.
Fuel Delivery Problems
If your bike has a carburetor, some of the fuel can splash around and get into the cylinders. Flooding can create problems because the spark plug’s connections get wet from the extra fuel. Gasoline evaporates pretty quickly, and you usually just have to wait for a minute for gravity to run its course and crank the bike up again. If your motor is fuel injected, you won’t encounter this problem because your bike’s computer has to signal fuel to be delivered to the cylinders.
Kill Switch Malfunctions
Your kill switches and sensors are an important safety feature, and newer bikes have more sensors than ever. The kill switch will sense if the bike has been tipped over and shut down the engine right away to avoid additional injuries or damage. A kill switch is also a great theft deterrent, because it delays would-be thieves. Familiarize yourself with the location of all kill switches and sensors in case you need to reset them after an accident.
Electrical Issues
The last thing to check out are your electrical connections, particularly the battery. Battery terminals naturally accumulate corrosion, and the problem can be hastened in our hot and muggy Florida climate. All you need to do to clean corrosion is to mix some baking soda and water and pour it onto the affected terminals to clean it off. You can also use those old half-empty sodas you have laying around the floorboards of your car. If you continue to have electrical problems and your battery is still pretty new, it might be worth replacing the cables.
Visit Interstate Cycles in Lake City, Florida, serving Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida, for more information and to see our current inventory of new and pre-owned motorcycles for sale.