Starting issues

[deadeyedan]

Hi of course everyone knows there was a recall on the tip over switch?  GOOD IDEA TO CHECK IT .in the woods and you under it  FIRE FIRE    CRISPY CRITTER IN THE WOODS MINE MAY BE TOO TEMPERMENTAL    Will check it out

[pcarrell]

I told you up front I'd lie to you!

[Troll]

Old story...tripped the tip over switch while demonstrating an S turn in an MSF Experienced Rider Course, back in 2011...very embarrassing. Bike just stopped...right there in the turn....

[CDNRatMan]

  I would delete that post because as a man of the cloth you are allowed to tell tall tales but to out right tell a lie that is just not right, and I would say that that is not a tall tale but a out right lie, and not wanting to besmirch Nadine and all her ability as a Drifter 1500, there is no way on God's green earth that she could have the power to run up a set of ramps on a two tier car carrier, clear several cars, and land, without breaking in two, flattening the tires, bending the rims, and creating a huge hole in the ground with you on board,  most members have seen pictures of your frame and we know that it would take 4 Nadine's to perform such a feat............

[pcarrell]

Actually, the TRUE story involves a little old lady and Evil Knievel!

See, I was rolling up on this intersection one day when I noticed through the traffic ahead that there was this little old lady trying to cross the street on the other side.  As she slowly ambled into the roadway, I noticed a large truck heading right for her at a good rate of speed.  Clearly the truck driver did not see the little old lady!  A quick glance around showed that I could not easily move in to intersection as cars and a truck were in the way.  Then I noticed that the truck in front of me was actually a car carrier, and it's top ramp was down!  Remembering as a boy, watching Evil Knievel jumping everything known to man, I grabbed Nadine's throttle and gave her the beans!  Aiming for the trucks ramp, I roared skyward riding Nadine, flying over several cars, and landed in the intersection with all the grace of an angel (NOT a snow angel!).  This caught the attention of the driver of the truck heading into the intersection towards that sweet old lady.  His truck shuddered as he locked up the brakes.  Knowing that he may not make it, and wanting to protect that sweet old lady, I laid Nadine over onto her floorboard, sparks flying as it ground into the pavement.  I came to a rest inches in front of the bumper of the truck with the little old lady behind me.  Astonished, the sweet old lady gave me a kiss on the cheek, said her thank you's, and headed for the far curb.  With that, I stood Nadine up, waved to the truck driver, and rode off into the sunset, knowing I'd done my good deed for the day.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

[CDNRatMan]

 No we know fell asleep at the pumps again eh!

[pcarrell]

I once had my bike leaning all the way over with just the floorboard holding it up, and the tipover switch didn't go off.

Don't ask me how the bike got in that position, because I'll only lie to you...........

[deadeyedan]

May sound crazy  but do you park it on gravel  with the short jiffey stand on the 1500 just sinking in the soft earth will engage the fall over switch or whatever you call it  Stand the bike up straight. parking the bike with the stand in a gulley or left side facing doun hill same problem

[Troll]

How old/tired is the battery?

[chiefbodger]

Hi Guys
It does seem that there could a half dozen areas where there could be a problem, it rained all weekend so I left the bike out to see if any water got into the air filter side, the seal is good and it was dry. I wonder if water/ moisture is getting to some wire and shorting it so pulling power from the battery. It will turn over but a bit sluggish and maybe just not giving a fat enough spark. I guess a good tester on the battery to see if anything is drawing power when it's wet?
Drives yer nutz!
Thanks for all advise so far.......

[DC]

I got caught in a torrential downpour 2 summers ago.  Zero visibility and I was on a highway.  All I could do was follow the white line on the side of the road.  I pulled in to a park and waited out the rest of the storm.  When it was over, I got on my bike and it fired right up.

Now on the flip side. . . . . I never keep my bike out overnight.  The exception was at the Drift-In in Maggie Valley, NC.  One morning I came out and she just didn't seem to want to turn over.  I cranked it a few times and finally it fired up.  I'm chalking it up to condensation.

[JagLite]

I have had the moisture in the kill switch/start button problem on another bike.
It would crank over but there was no spark.
Cleaning the contacts in the start button/kill switch solved the problem.

[Bucko]

Does it crank over but not start or does it not crank over?

[richaud]

I agree!! I really drenched it when I got water in there But If there is a small hole it could trickle down and in... min really newer fired just made white smoke and misfired. .emptied a cupfull of water from  that area and she woke

[chiefbodger]

Hi Richaud
Hadn't thought of that one although I would have thought that just sitting out in the rain wouldn't allow moisture in there as there is gasket but well worth a check as i have been baffled by this.
Lot's have people have mentioned the ignition switch although if it turns over and has fuel and spark I can't see how it can be from there. Bad Air/fuel mix could be the problem.

[richaud]

had problems with mine after a wash.. a really soaking.. Next time.. remove the right cover of airfilter(right is the inlet side though) and see if you got water in the inlet area.. I happened to soak it to much and got air in the airduct so it sucked air and water instead of only air that way.. Worth a 2 min check...Otherwis.. invest in a small cover that you pull over her while parked....

[CDNRatMan]

  Pilgrim, it is US thanksgiving and you are not telling the truth here even on this holy American holiday........your Missus washes the bike so it is done correctly, and she wants to ride on a nice clean bike........

[Pilgrim]

mine has done that a couple times after I washed it...start right up after drying out. Dunno, ignition switch is a good posibility. Happy Thanksgiving

[pcarrell]

Seems to me that I heard of someone that described this exact problem and after much hair pulling it turned out to be the ignition switch getting moisture in it.

[chiefbodger]

I have the problem that if the bike is left out in the rain (it's my daily ride so it happens!) it won't start. Have replaced battery so i know thats good. It's charging properly. Starts first push in the morning when it comes out of the garage but if it's left out in the rain it won't fire. Last time this happened I had the recovery service out and we checked for spark..OK and fuel...OK , turned over OK but it just wouldn't fire. I suspect an electrical problem but there is nothing obvious. Anyone else had this problem and find the culprit.
Garry