Bike won’t start

334 Views 19 Replies 7 Participants Last post by SoakedKarma, 6 d ago

Rebel2503000

Discussion Starter · 12 d ago

Hi everyone,
I have a 2005 rebel 250, left it outside covered for winter, this is 2nd year doing that. I put it on the stands both front and rear. Someone hit the front stand and the bike fell from the stands but still upright. I’m not sure if something happened from that incident or why it won’t start. It cranks but won’t start. I replaced battery and spark plugs. Tank had been left full. Not sure what to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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01-7700

· #2 · 12 d ago

drain the old gas
drain the carb
maybe you will get lucky and not need to clean the carb

SoakedKarma

· #3 · 12 d ago

yea, it's likely gas is too old..
Unlikely falling caused a problem..

do you see a spark when a plug is grounded to side of cylinder and you crank engine?

Rebel2503000

Discussion Starter · #4 · 12 d ago

SoakedKarma said:
yea, it's likely gas is too old..
Unlikely falling caused a problem..

do you see a spark when a plug is grounded to side of cylinder and you crank engine?

How do I do that?

flitecontrol

· #5 · 12 d ago

Removing old gas: Close the petcock. Disconnect the fuel line going from the petcock to the carburetor. Attach a longer line to the petcock and place the other end in a gasoline container. Open the petcock and let the fuel drain out. Look to be sure the fuel doesn't have a rusty color. if it does, the tank may need cleaning.

Check for spark: Have the bike in neutral. Remove one of the spark plugs, insert it into the spark plug cap/wire and hold the base of the plug against the engine. Use insulated pliers to hold the plug to avoid shock. Crank the engine and look for a blue spark at the bottom of the plug.

countryboy

· #6 · 12 d ago

Could possibly be that your kill switch, red button on right above right handgrip, got turned on when it fell. If so, it will crank but not start. Has happened to me before since I never use kill switch so forget it's there!

Emil

· #7 · 12 d ago

countryboy said:
Could possibly be that your kill switch, red button on right above right handgrip, got turned on when it fell. If so, it will crank but not start. Has happened to me before since I never use kill switch so forget it's there!

We've all forgotten that once or twice. Simpler (possiblity of a) solution.
I always use the kill switch, unless I'm leaving it run until the carb is empty. I suspect that using it saves possible arcing inside of the ignition switch, but it is just the opinion of one troubleshooter.
But I do feel that the problem lies elsewhere.

countryboy

· #8 · 12 d ago

Emil, didn't know that about arcing...I'll start using it. Thanks!

Emil

· #9 · 12 d ago

I didn't say that it did arc, only that I felt that it may. Just my reasoning for using the kill switch. Not affirmed, just suspected.

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countryboy

· #10 · 12 d ago

Yep, I understood.

Reactions: 1

SoakedKarma

· #11 · 12 d ago

lowering your side stand is the same as hitting the kill switch..
Both switches ground out the CDI preventing it from creating spark..
those of us with 1st generation Rebels don't have a side stand switch..

countryboy

· #12 · 12 d ago

Good to know SK....thanks!

markwilliamson

· #13 · 6 d ago

SoakedKarma said:
lowering your side stand is the same as hitting the kill switch..
Both switches ground out the CDI preventing it from creating spark..
those of us with 1st generation Rebels don't have a side stand switch..

Not on mine (2005). Lowering the side stand only kills the engine if in gear.

SoakedKarma

· #14 · 6 d ago

markwilliamson said:
Not on mine (2005). Lowering the side stand only kills the engine if in gear.

Ya got a point there,, because when in neutral the neutral switch is grounded, completing the same ground circuit side stand uses..

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markwilliamson

· #15 · 6 d ago

What we're both describing is shown within the circuit diagram from the Shop Manual, but I don't see that as clearly on this diagram that you've attached. I can't make too much sense of it. Where does that come from, SK, and does it make more sense to you?

SoakedKarma

· #16 · 6 d ago

markwilliamson I don't remember exactly where I got that diagram.
Google image search only shows it's only been posted on this forum.
earliest link I have found is from 2016 thread, but that isn't the one I use/post as it's been edited.

www.hondarebelforum.com

No spark after sitting for 6 months, CDI box?

2002 CMX250, in Las Vegas, rode often and stored in the garage. I left it sitting from June until now while I went to try and drive from England to Mongolia (part of the Mongol Rally 2016). I really need to start this bike to be able to move it new my new house as its sitting in my parents old...

www.hondarebelforum.com

www.hondarebelforum.com

I use it because only the CDI circuits are shown..
circuit diagrams are easy for me to follow, often easier for me to explain with an image..

Other diagrams i use come from 1st gen oem Rebel shop manual, the 1988, 1995, 2004, and 2012 Honda Common Service Manuals which get into systems specifics as below.

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markwilliamson

· #17 · 6 d ago

SoakedKarma said:
markwilliamson I don't remember exactly where I got that diagram.
Google image search only shows it's only been posted on this forum.
earliest link I have found is from 2016 thread, but that isn't the one I use/post as it's been edited...

Yes, I can see that the diagram you use is taken from that original one. However, I think that the light-green/red wire is misrepresented in both, and doesn't agree with the full circuit diagram. The green/white wires also don't seem to represent what would work the way we agree they do. It appears to me that the clutch switch would be non-functional as shown, since it's wired in parallel to a direct connection. That diagram is much easier to follow than the full diagram, but I think it's probably wrong.

SoakedKarma

· #18 · 6 d ago

LtGreen/Red and Green/White circuits of CDI wiring diagram match up with 2nd gen wire diagram I have access to.
www.hondarebelforum.com/threads/honda-rebel-250-wiring-diagram-96-up.5644/#post-52820

markwilliamson

· #19 · 6 d ago

SoakedKarma said:
LtGreen/Red and Green/White circuits of CDI wiring diagram match up with 2nd gen wire diagram I have access to.
www.hondarebelforum.com/threads/honda-rebel-250-wiring-diagram-96-up.5644/#post-52820

Yes, you're correct. But the diagram is missing an interesting connection that's been edited out. Here is an expanded diagram. You'll see that, yes, the Ignition Control G/W wire is only grounded when the bike's in neutral or the kickstand is up. The clutch operation doesn't matter. But also the starter motor relay uses a ground available from this circuit when the bike's in neutral, or when both the clutch is operated and the kickstand is up. Almost as weird as the turn indicator grounding, but effective!

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SoakedKarma

· #20 · 6 d ago

Ah i see what you are getting at..
I prefer to isolate systems when explaining to those who ask about one problem or another..
No spark I'll use CDI electrical diagram, no Crank I use the starter circuit diagram found in 2nd gen shop manual.
(note 10A fuse) I changed it's location on diagram to reflect correct electrical influence.
Yes the two systems use the same ground circuit..
I created one graphic showing both systems isolated from one another..

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