problems with my skorpion traveller

[flybynight]

i am having problems with my mz skorpion 660 traveller. she wont start, she has always been a bit iffy about starting if she has been left for more than a week or two, however this time she was laid up for 6 weeks  ( i broke my wrist) and will not start at all. i thought it was the battery, so put a new battery (fully charged) on her, but this did nothing. i checked the plug for a spark ( not an easy task on the traveller as the tank has to come off) and i have a good strong spark. i am getting fuel through( i sniffed the exhasut while trying to turn her over). in the end i called out my roadside assistance and we managed to start her, she then started on the button for the next 1/2 hr or so no problems ( she sounded a bit throaty). i went out to go to work this morning ans she just woukld not catch , until the battery wnet flat again. any suggestions guys as i am at a complete loss.
cheers

[Steve H]

Did you go for a ride after starting the bike ?. My SZR660 would do the same thing after a couple of weeks laid up. The only solution I found was to drain the carb before I tried to start it, usually fired up pretty quickly after that. SRX is much the same, but my DR has never been a problem.

[Steffan]

Charge your battery, drain the carb bowl, then choke and no throttle and hit the button - she ought to start fine then. Then a good warm up ride followed by a thrash followed by a tankful of new fuel with a dollop of redex or dry fuel.  It may be that your main carb is a bit rich too but that is a different story. Otherwise there is always 50 quid here if you get sick of trying lol

Steffan

[flybynight]

hmmm
i will give that a try, my Choke doesn't seem to be working, the lever seems very stiff all of a sudden, i am thinking this is unrelated, but am beginning to wonder

[Steffan]

I would wonder a bit harder on that one..

good luck

Steffan

[andy230]

i am having problems with my mz skorpion 660 traveller. she wont start, she has always been a bit iffy

I think its a bit of a common problem.  My garage is fed off a 12v system using a 110Ah battery.  After a few weeks off, I have to crank it for a seriously long time.  Connecting the 12v "garage battery" gives a noticably quicker spinning-speed and it usually starts immediately.

Not that this helps you, its just an observation!

Choke sounds like a likely candidate to start with.  Then maybe a new battery.  Or you may get away with just a charge.

Oh!  And make sure your lights are off...

good luck

a

[bullet350]

drain the carbs (or just the big one) and stick some new fresh petrol in it.
modern petrol seems to go off quite quickly.
my bsa b40 wouldn't start on old petrol, but once it was running it was ok on old petrol. weird considering its not exactly a highly strung sports bike.

smelling the petrol can often tell you if its 'off'. it should have a smell that goes right up your nose and gives your brain a slap.

350bullet

[flybynight]

ok battery is on charge ( the new one) im gonna take the choke apart and look and see if that is me probelm, then i will mostly be spending the weekend sniffing petrol.

[Steffan]

Whoe there whoe!!
Take the cable at the handlebar apart first clean and lube and try again - no need to dive in the deep end when it may be something as simple as crud at the handlebar end - it has to be done sometime so it is not wasted.  If that doesn't cut then you'll need to look deeper.

I think it's shame that they weren't fitted with a Bing - simple and effective. Ah well!

Steffan

ok battery is on charge ( the new one) im gonna take the choke apart and look and see if that is me probelm, then i will mostly be spending the weekend sniffing petrol.

[guest18]

My Mastiff (same engine/carb) is often reluctant to start after a few days... normally my quick and dirty fix (late for work as usual!) is to lean the bike over until fuel drains out of the carb overflow, then full choke no throttle clutch in and short 2 - 3 second bursts on the starter. Oh and as someone already mentioned make quite sure the lights are off That normally puts some freshish fuel in the carb and is enough to do the trick

Having said that she's improved of late, don't know if it's a fresh battery or if T**co's have improved their bargain bucket petrol any...? Either way I'm not complaining!!

[ken]

Try putting a spare plug on the lead and see if it sparks while spinning over with compression. If thats OK try a small amount of petrol ( Don't go mad) direct into the carb and see if that starts it Or get someone to hold their hand over the carb intake. If it starts then it looks like the choke is duff.

Ken

[flybynight]

just thought i'd update you all.
i put a new fully charged battery on her and removed all the fairings, i then chased the choke down and manually moved the lever, she started first time. i have since fitted a new chokle cable ( it was really snagged up) and she is running as good as new.
cheers for the help guys

[themoudie]

There you go, another satisfied motorcyclist. Grins all round and are you going to join up!! ;-)