Bloody bastid bandit

[baldrick]

Ok my little 600 was put back together about a month ago. At the time I fired it up. Sounded a bit rough but it started no problem. I just presumed it wS a bit rough as it hadn't been used for a while. Went to start it today ......nothing. it's cranking but not firing, checked fuses. Carbs were thoroughly gone through during rebuild, cleaned etc. Checked fueling...tank off, Petcock works when I suck on it, all wiring looks ok. Ignition key is different to other keys, but when switched on it lights up the dash. I know some ignitions don't have the relay but surely wouldn't light everything up if it didn't.....plus.....it started before

Tomorrow I'll check plugs and coils, but don't you just hate it when it works one minute and not the next....bloody frustrating, especially when it's like 2 degrees outside

[wraith]

Yes, you are right it's a pain in the arse.

My gsx1157et has a habit of not starting if the battery is down just a little bit. It will crank over but not fire up, the battery might be reading 11.8v or there about. Put the battery on charge and within a couple of hours on charge the bike will start first push of the button. 

Bloody bikes we have to love them 

[baldrick]

Yeah I thought it might be battery but charged it up to 13.6v from 12.5......

Maybe the plugs or coils, I hope. 

I never changed the plugs, they looked ok tbh.

Any other common faults? It's spinning over fine but gawd knows, it's not even offering to start. Just hope I dont have to strip those carbs again......bah!!!!

[Enjoythesilence]

They kill plugs a lot,those cr9ek`s are bloody expensive and fail regularly for me,it even happens on my 12 blandit if not used for a couple of weeks,i get the gas bottle and wire wheel on them,that and the battery thing.

[baldrick]

Ok cheers, I'll clean them up, can't afford to replace them, I'm skinter than a skint thing, with extra skintness hopefully it will help. 

Suspect maybe the coils aren't the greatest but I'll test them with multimeter tomorrow 

[Dezza]

Try some fresh fuel  and check if the choke mechanism is working correctly. Remove plugs and give them a blast with a blowlamp, replace when still as hot as you can manage, and then try again.

[baldrick]

50 minutes ago, Dezza said:

Try some fresh fuel  and check if the choke mechanism is working correctly. Remove plugs and give them a blast with a blowlamp, replace when still as hot as you can manage, and then try again.

It's got fresh fuel. The good stuff as I refuse to run bikes on that E10 pish. Choke is working too, I checked it earlier. Vacuum pipe to carbs was a bit hard, could probably do with replacing. All fuel pipes are new and nothing obstructing them. Vent pipes routed properly too.

I think it can only be an electrical issue or carbs need another clean. Put a new diaphragm in the tap and tested it. It's working. 

See what tomorrow brings, with a plug clean, check of the plug leads and check of coils.

I guess if that doesn't work, it must be crap in the carbs

.......echtttt, it's too cold for this s#1t

[bluedog59]

Have you actually checked to see if you're getting a spark ?

[Swiss Toni]

Clutch/propstand inhibitors?

[Captain Chaos]

4 minutes ago, Swiss Toni said:

Clutch/propstand inhibitors?

It wouldn't crank then

[bluedog59]

I'm suspecting there may be an issue in the lock/key department.

[wraith]

2 hours ago, Swiss Toni said:

Clutch/propstand inhibitors?

I was going to say the same thing, but couldn't remember if it would crank, the kwaks I've had will crank with the side stand and/or clutch, but wouldn't spark 

[Swiss Toni]

2 hours ago, Captain Chaos said:

It wouldn't crank then

Ah! Didn't see that! My bad!

[baldrick]

12 hours ago, bluedog59 said:

I'm suspecting there may be an issue in the lock/key department.

Surely it wouldn't crank if there was hho, or would it?

[Swiss Toni]

20 minutes ago, baldrick said:

Surely it wouldn't crank if there was hho, or would it?

Bandits are notorious for ign. sw. problems.

[fatblokeonbandit]

6 hours ago, Swiss Toni said:

Bandits are notorious for ign. sw. problems.

only if the wrong ones are fitted, this did start so must have the resistor in the switch.,

What I would do in this order, 

check plug leads are correct, change plugs, check battery voltage drop when cranking, check small loom earth cable next to the main earth, fit a external fuel supply to by pass tank and tap, give it a squirt of easy start or brake cleaner, then think carbs.

[baldrick]

3 hours ago, fatblokeonbandit said:

only if the wrong ones are fitted, this did start so must have the resistor in the switch.,

What I would do in this order, 

check plug leads are correct, change plugs, check battery voltage drop when cranking, check small loom earth cable next to the main earth, fit a external fuel supply to by pass tank and tap, give it a squirt of easy start or brake cleaner, then think carbs.

sounds good to me shipmate.

what would a battery voltage drop indicate? poor battery  or starter, or a fault in the charging circuit? did i mention i hate electrics

was actually thinking about replacing fuel tap with a non vacuum one as i dont like vac taps, they always seem to cause trouble.

was also thinking about just bypassing the sidestand switch. save any future possible grief. 

didnt get a chance today, got to print out bank statements for department of misery and pensions, and act as sons personal  taxi.....as you do. 

Edited December 29, 2025 by baldrick

[fatblokeonbandit]

if the battery voltage drops much under 12 volts when cranking then the cdi might not fire as it needs a full 12 volts. that's caused mainly by a wanked battery, had several 1200's like that, easy was to check the side stand switch is to put it in gear, with stand down, no cranky, stand up it will crank, also cable tie the clutch lever in so the switch is made, saves bypassing it.

if it fires on easy start its a fuel/carb problem if not its sparks

[baldrick]

thanks mate, ill have another go tomorrow if its dry and not sub zero.

bikes outside at the moment......., garage, sheds and living room are full so theres no room at the inn for it . 

[fatblokeonbandit]

Sub zero!! I though you rufty tufty Jocks like the cold, it’s only us southern shandy drinker who stay in doors

[TonyGee]

the B600 is well known for the plug issue, no matter how much you clean them they just won't work, I can't remember how many times ive seen this, new plugs and it fires up straight away. 

[fab]

21 hours ago, TonyGee said:

the B600 is well known for the plug issue, no matter how much you clean them they just won't work, I can't remember how many times ive seen this, new plugs and it fires up straight away. 

I have always wondered why you can't clean an old, fowled plug up.

I put them in the ultrasonic cleaner and most of the time they work but some don't.

[Dezza]

1 hour ago, fab said:

I have always wondered why you can't clean an old, fowled plug up.

I put them in the ultrasonic cleaner and most of the time they work but some don't.

A blast with a blowtorch often works wonders on sparkplugs.

[baldrick]

well, quick update. 

checked coils with meter.....all ok,

checked battery for voltage drop when cranking,.....nope it was all good at 12.6v even after ive been cranking it a good bit.

(battery back on charge now tho)

checked clutch switch to see........ its not there,.......... oh dear.

How unusual.....i never touched the clutch other than to replace the bars, so thats weird. theres a space for one but...

spent a good 15 minutes looking for it under the fairing.....nothing, so fugggittt,  out with the plugs, ......................on the basis of if it sparks the clutch switch has been bypassed.and the electrical side of things, starter motor, relay etc is good

so took out plugs 12&4, which were not that wet tbh... and after a quick clean they all showed a healthy spark. my big fat hands barely fitted the gap between the head and underside of the fairing, was a squeeze....

still not firing tho.......or offering to .......so i suppose its down to the fuel system eh?

 

i might try a non vacuum tap, if i can find one first, just in case its not pulling enough vacuum, or check the diaphragm on the vac hose connected carb for damage, just in case

 

 

bugger........looks like the carbs are coming off again, but its started raining so it will have to wait, im soaked enough. i did clean them and check the settings,  other than the mixture screws which were seized, but it ran fine like that when i picked it up so.......they should be ok

Edited December 31, 2025 by baldrick

[baldrick]

17 hours ago, fab said:

I have always wondered why you can't clean an old, fowled plug up.

I put them in the ultrasonic cleaner and most of the time they work but some don't.

you can. when my old boy had the garages he had a fancy looking machine which kinda blasted them,

you stuck the grotty old plug in switched in on for a few seconds, and they came out like new.....wish i still had it