Will not start.......

Hi All, i'm new to bergs and i need some help with my 05 FE650.

On the weekend i rode a lot of tight track stuff and the bike overheated and cut out a few times and became harder and harder to start. It eventually wouldn't start so we let it cool down for 15-20mins, it finally started and i rode straight back to the car. Once it was cool enough i checked the water level all good so we went for another ride on more open tracks this time to keep the airflow up. We did hit some tighter suff eventually and it overheated again and cut out, this time it would not start no matter what i tried. Pushed the bike back to a spot where i could recover it with the car and trailer (45mins later!!!) and its now home.

It still will not start, so far i've cleaned the air filter/box/rubbers, cleaned out the tank and fuel lines out so its definitely getting fuel to the carb. I've pulled the carb off and removed the float chamber and cleaned it. Unscrewed the jets and checked them and blown compressed air through to clear any blockages out. I've removed the plug and checked its condition, its all good and its sparking properly. I put a thimble of fuel in the head and it backfired but didn't start, any ideas apart from pouring petrol on it lighting it up and walking away......!!

Bike details:
2005 FE650e
4600kms and 87 hours
Only mod is half the muffler internals have been removed and its been dynoed by previous owner to suit.
Looks like its been well looked after, motor it tight and oil is clean etc.

I've only had the bike 2 months, i changed the oil, filters and coolant when i first got it and it was running perfect up until now.

Sorry its a long read but any advice would be appreciated.
Dave

I noticed you didn't mention the valves. Have they been checked to ensure they're in adjustment?

I have not checked them and don't really know how, i think i will have to get the local dealer to check the bike now and check the vales while its there.

But would overheating affect the valves so much as it will not start? The last 3 or 4 rides the bike has been running really well.

davecdp said:

But would overheating affect the valves so much as it will not start? The last 3 or 4 rides the bike has been running really well.

Click to expand...

Deterioration of engine performance due to improper valve lash is gradual. Saying that the bike ran great the last 3 or 4 times is kind of like saying that you don't need tires because they were fine a few months ago. Tight valves can cause loss of compression, burnt valves and obviously very poor performance. Loose valves can cause incredibly tough starting and poor performance when running.

Not to say that you have a completely different problem. I was only pointing out that others with identical symptoms found the reason to be the lash on the valves.

thanks,
json

Overheating...
When you changed the coolant did you bleed the cooling system properly. There is a current thread about this. Without bleeding the air from the cooling system you will have chronic overheating issues.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12046&p=101675#p101675

Yep definatley bleed the system fully. It was a 30 deg C day and there was no breeze all which wouldn't have helped. One of the guys on a WR250 started to stall because his motor was getting to hot. I'm going to look into a fan kit as well, should help the problem.

blocked tank vent and carb breather tubes have done that to me a couple times

I've removed the plug and checked its condition, its all good and its sparking properly. I put a thimble of fuel in the head and it backfired but didn't start, any ideas apart from pouring petrol on it lighting it up and walking away......!!

Click to expand...

I know a guy who had a similar problem, turned out the RHS crank mainbearing was gone and it developed so much play it eventually destroyed the stator while he tried to start it. somehow it caught fire in the middle of the dunes, some weird phenomenon about insured bikes doing that :evil:

Looks like i have 3 options then:

1. Get some insurance cover
2. Call my mechanic and book it in
3. Buy a WR450......

I thnik i'll take the 2nd option this time and see what happens.

if you take option 3 I'll buy the 650 as is

Wr 450 ? whats that for? you going to the sydney mardigras ?

$6k and its yours but only until tuesday, thats when i get it back from the shop and i'll love it again.

Hi Dave,

Just out of curiosity, who is your Canberra mechanic?

Cheers
Steve

Bruce's in Mitchell

Could do worse...

Do you know of any berg specialist apart from Gecko in the ACT?

davecdp said:

Do you know of any berg specialist apart from Gecko in the ACT?

Click to expand...

No, right now, if I couldn't handle it myself, I'd talk to OrangeBerg 6360 3800. He's in a state of transition at the moment, but can still help. I'm sure Bruce can handle the valves, the 1/6 turn method is easy and quick, and the symptoms do suggest a possible valve adjustment issue. Spark at the right time, fuel, and compression is all you need. Valve adjustment affects the compression, and also if its the inlets, mucks up the mixture because they allow compression to blow back through the carb. If the valve adjustment is going out quickly then the head will have to come off before it gets too bad. Can be tuliped valves, or disintegrating valve seats.

Dahlitz in Queanbeyan have a Husky history and generally seem to have a good reputation in the workshop. They did a cylinder head for my 1100 20 years ago to good effect, but that's my last personal experience.

If you wanted to come visit this way, pm me, I'm cheap, about a slab and hour :roll:.

Steve

Steve,
Are there good Husaberg mechanics closer to Sydney that know the 2009/2010 models well?

steve said:

If you wanted to come visit this way, pm me, I'm cheap, about a slab and hour :roll:

Click to expand...

If it becomes a bigger job in the future then your rates sound good!

Davo said:

Steve,
Are there good Husaberg mechanics closer to Sydney that know the 2009/2010 models well?

Click to expand...

Probably, but none that I know of at this time.

Steve