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Sudden Weird Starting Problem


rockgardener
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My new-to-me 2001 315R has been starting FIRST kick every time since I got the carb sorted a few days ago. I've still only been able to putt around the yard with it so far, but it's been running fine. I put it up on a work stand for the first time to lube the chain. The bike was at a bit of a nose-down angle, with the rear wheel off the ground. After lubing the chain, I realized a big puddle of fuel was forming under the bike. There was no sign of any fuel leak before this, so I can only assume that the fuel was coming from the carb vent tube. (It was dark, the light was poor, and I had to rush out soon, so I couldn't thoroughly examine it.) Once the bike was back on the ground fully, the leak ceased.

I tried to start it, just to make sure everything was okay, and it wouldn't even begin to start. I kicked it many times with the choke off and zero throttle (it had been running a short while earlier and was still slightly warm). Then I tried kicking it many times with the throttle wide open to clear it out, in case it was flooded. Nothing. Then I tried kicking it many times with the throttle shut and the choke on. Under no condition did it give the slightest hint of firing. I let it sit for several hours and tried again - still not so much as a cough. Just sounds totally dead.

What happened? What's to be done about it?

My two-stroke woods bikes will leak fuel through their carb vents when tilted far enough to the side, but it doesn't effect starting unless they've fallen all the way to the ground. Even then, a few kicks with the throttle pinned will get them running again. Are trials bikes so different?

Many thanks for any help.

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About 50 more kicks with the throttle wide open finally brought the engine to life, so there's no question about what happened - the bike was severely flooded. I wouldn't have thought such a small pitch forward would have created such a dramatic problem. Is this normal for these bikes?? Is there a better way to get them started after such a flooding?

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So I need to be more careful to turn off the fuel petcock when working on the bike. And I could have removed and cleaned the spark plug. But I don't know of a bolt to empty the crank case. Do you mean that fuel could have actually poured through the carb and reeds and collected in the crankcase? Where would this drain bolt be? I only know of the gearbox oil drain bolt.

Thanks.

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Not sure if Montesa's have them, but they should be on every bike IMO

Yes, if your floats are sticking, or not set correctly, or the needle in the carb can have dirt stuck in it, the petrol can go straight into the crank case. Not leaving any sign of a spillage on the outside.

Edited by b40rt
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Montesa's don't have a drain bolt on the crank case.

But always close the petcock when you're not riding. (I made a small extension on it from a steel wire to make it easier to open)

When I transported my 315R on the trailer, with the petcock open, it also wouldn't start because it was flooded.

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Thanks for the replies. I've fitted my petcock with a little chain (loose end anchored with a zip tie to the clutch line) so that it's now very easy to pull down and push back up. Good to know this is something to watch closely, and that my bike isn't the only one.

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The reason most bikes don`t have a drain is because an air leak would be quite expensive. Years ago when we had deep water sections they where a life saver to get going again!.

Rotax motors have them, not aware of any air leak issues.

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