'85 NH 650 no-start

[nh650il]

Well, its been a tough day.  Haven't ridden the 650 that much of late, pulled it out today to give it a nice cruise and it wouldn't even pretend to start - just crank and crank.  Didn't matter, full-choke, no-choke, in-between choke, no throttle, full throttle, in-between throttle.  Yes - by the way the fuel valve was placed to the "on" position and the kill switch was also set to "on" not "off."  I've certainly made each of those mistakes previously...

I mentioned in a previous post that the engine has been running a bit rough of late and requires some choke, even warmed up, to idle correctly.  Spoke with a shop locally and they indicated there are rubber intake parts on the carbs that may need to be replaced---at around $500 in parts & labor  

So...while my battery is on the charger, I thought I would ask, anyone have any good ideas for me.  Yes - the tank is full and the gas is new, by the way.  The temps were in the low 50's but it's been cool and rainy the past few days before this.  Sunny and dry today.

Thanks...

[ExTex]

Check the float bowls by draining them.  There may be no gas in them if the petcock isn't working.
The petcock may be nonfunctional because of (1) intake screen in gas tank is clogged or (2) vacuum line isn't supplying good vacuum.

If they had gas, then apply suction to the vacuum port on the petcock to refill the float bowls.

As experts say: "You need air, gas & spark"

If you have gas, then cheek for spark by attaching one of your sparkplug wires to a spare sparkplug that is grounded to the bike's engine. Check for a spark when you try to start the bike.

Once you get it running, you need to add Sea Foam or B12 gasoline additive to the gas tank to try to clean the carbs.
It will take a couple of tanks of gas to have much effect.

My Nighthawk doesn't like 50 °F days so hope for warmer weather.

Ride safely

 

[Munkey]

Check the float bowls by draining them.  There may be no gas in them if the petcock isn't working.

Yes, check this first. It may not be a matter of your petcock not working, just from sitting your float bowls are dry and it can take alot of cranking to generate enough vacuum to fill them again. I have this same problem on my 82 650 if it sits for very long. I always have to apply vacuum manually to fill the float bowls enough to get it to start.

I'm betting this is your issue also.

[m98]

Turn you petcock to reserve, it should put gas in the floatbowls, other wise check as
other posters suggests.

[Zugzug]

Turn you petcock to reserve, it should put gas in the floatbowls, other wise check as
other posters suggests.

doesnt work like that on the 650. On/reserve need vac, and the only other setting is off.

[JordanA]

I recently had this problem and it was the intake boots on the carbs.  They just weren't seated correctly AT ALL and it was causing all sorts of problems.

My carbs were also out of sync... the #3 and 2 were open always and the screws had rattled themselves loose.  I adjusted them from 5 turns out to 2 each, and it runs better than it ever has before.

[nh650il]

   Let the battery charge back up fully, gave it full choke, and it started in less than 0.5 Second.  Ran out fairly well also.

It really seems to me that this bike needs to be run quite often to keep it in good repair.  All the more reason for move to Portland and ride year round...(not in Illinois...  )

[Custom82Hawk]

i don't know if oregan's weather will be that much better ;) should come down to south texas for that ;)