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No start solved, but why did this fix the problem?

1MoreProject

1MoreProject

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2023
Messages
14
Location
Broomfield Colorado
Hello all, I know this has been discussed before and yes I did use the search bar. I found a number of ways to fix this no-start issue but I really want to know WHY this fixed it. The bike is a 2012 with 18,300 miles on it.

Previous hard starts
The bike ran great from when I bought it through the entirety of the summer where it was ridden almost daily for long and short rides. Every once in a while I would stall the bike and have to sit and crank on it for a while before it would start again. I found this odd but it never left me stranded so I just let it be.

Prior to storage
Prior to storage, I did all the typical wear parts so I knew I could get on and ride come next season. This included
  • new lithium battery
  • spark plugs
  • oil
  • rear drive oil
  • air filter
  • brakes
  • brake flush
  • clutch hydraulic fluid flush
I rode it after this for close to a month and had no issues

Current concerning issue
I put the bike in storage and didn't ride it for maybe a month or two. I had it on a battery tender to keep it topped off though. Yesterday I went to start the bike and let it run for a while but it cranked and cranked with a few small caughs but nothing promising. Smelling fuel I let it sit for twelve hours or so and came back to it just now. I tried starting it with the throttle wide open and had no luck, I tried starting with it closed, and also halfway open with the same result. I gave it a little bit of starting fluid and it didn't change anything. I pulled it out of the garage and tried to bump-start it but that didn't work. I put a jumper pack on it and cranked at it again but had no luck. Finally, after reading the forums for a bit I pulled the fuel pump fuse and let it crank. It coughed and wanted to start then eventually stopped and I put the fuel pump fuse back in. I had to crank it for longer than usual but it finally started. It had white smoke coming from the exhaust for a few minutes after it started then it cleared up. I could shut it off, stall it, and pretty much do anything and it would start right up with no issue.

My question
I am assuming it flooded itself and pulling the fuse let it clear the cylinders, but why did it flood itself in the first place? Is this just a Yamaha thing? Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening in the future? I love taking this bike on longer trips and have several camping trips scheduled next season but I don't want to deal with this when I am in the mountains alone or with a small group.

Thanks for everyone's time!
 
Last edited:
Sierra1

Sierra1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
15,029
Location
Joshua TX
Is it possible that when you killed it and tried to restart it, that you didn't let it do its start-up cycle? I know that's the only time mine gives me any problem. Can't turn the key on and immediately hit the starter. 'Cuz I'm assuming that when you killed it, you turned it off then back on. Otherwise, the headlights stay on, requiring more juice from the battery. That is the extent of my knowledge.
 
S

scott123007

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2012
Messages
1,484
Location
Jupiter, Florida
It would help to know what year "the bike" is. If it is a Gen1 (2012-2013) you experienced what is known as the hard start issue. There are MANY theories of why this happens but there is no certain cause. Most commonly, it happens if the bike is started and then turned off in short order, (30 seconds or less) like after you wash it and are just driving it back into the garage. and then attempt to start it a few days later. With my 2012, I suffered one like you though. Parked the bike one day, and a few weeks later went to start it, and no love. Although it had been parked and sat many times before and after that incident, that was the only time it did it. I live at the top of a down hill street, so I always know as a last resort I can bump start it, which is what I ended up doing. It still took about 25 feet of the engine turning over before it sputtered to life.
It' been said that it's mostly cured in the 2014 and newer models. I know that in 40,000 plus miles on my '14 it has never happened under any circumstance for me, but others may not have been so lucky.
 
Last edited:
1MoreProject

1MoreProject

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2023
Messages
14
Location
Broomfield Colorado
scott123007 said:
It would help to know what year "the bike" is. If it is a Gen1 (2012-2013) you experienced what is known as the hard start issue. There are MANY theories of why this happens but there is no certain cause. Most commonly, it happens if the bike is started and then turned off in short order, (30 seconds or less) and then attempted to be started a few days later. With my 2012, I suffered one like you though. Parked the bike one day, and a few weeks later went to start it, and no love. Although it had been parked and sat many times before and after that incident, that was the only time it did it. I live at the top of a down hill street, so I always know as a last resort I can bump start it, which is what I ended up doing. It still took about 25 feet of the engine turning over before it sputtered to life.
Click to expand...
Good point, I knew I was going to forget something. The bike is a 2012. I appreciate the input, glad to know I'm not alone but I wish this wasn't an issue for these bikes.
 
Jlq1969

Jlq1969

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Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
1,805
Location
Argentina
1MoreProject said:
Hello all, I know this has been discussed before and yes I did use the search bar. I found a number of ways to fix this no-start issue but I really want to know WHY this fixed it. The bike is a 2012 with 18,300 miles on it.

Previous hard starts
The bike ran great from when I bought it through the entirety of the summer where it was ridden almost daily for long and short rides. Every once in a while I would stall the bike and have to sit and crank on it for a while before it would start again. I found this odd but it never left me stranded so I just let it be.

Prior to storage
Prior to storage, I did all the typical wear parts so I knew I could get on and ride come next season. This included
  • new lithium battery
  • spark plugs
  • oil
  • rear drive oil
  • air filter
  • brakes
  • brake flush
  • clutch hydraulic fluid flush
I rode it after this for close to a month and had no issues

Current concerning issue
I put the bike in storage and didn't ride it for maybe a month or two. I had it on a battery tender to keep it topped off though. Yesterday I went to start the bike and let it run for a while but it cranked and cranked with a few small caughs but nothing promising. Smelling fuel I let it sit for twelve hours or so and came back to it just now. I tried starting it with the throttle wide open and had no luck, I tried starting with it closed, and also halfway open with the same result. I gave it a little bit of starting fluid and it didn't change anything. I pulled it out of the garage and tried to bump-start it but that didn't work. I put a jumper pack on it and cranked at it again but had no luck. Finally, after reading the forums for a bit I pulled the fuel pump fuse and let it crank. It coughed and wanted to start then eventually stopped and I put the fuel pump fuse back in. I had to crank it for longer than usual but it finally started. It had white smoke coming from the exhaust for a few minutes after it started then it cleared up. I could shut it off, stall it, and pretty much do anything and it would start right up with no issue.

My question
I am assuming it flooded itself and pulling the fuse let it clear the cylinders, but why did it flood itself in the first place? Is this just a Yamaha thing? Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening in the future? I love taking this bike on longer trips and have several camping trips scheduled next season but I don't want to deal with this when I am in the mountains alone or with a small group.

Thanks for everyone's time!
Click to expand...
But, when you tried to start it after 2 months, did you expect the fuel pump to cut off to reach the injection pressure?….if you rushed the start and the fuel circuit was with low pressure, the injectors would squeal more than spray. , which easily moistens the combustion chamber,
 
Tenforeplay

Tenforeplay

Active Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2023
Messages
259
Location
Kansas, USA
If you can go back to the last place you filled up and fill a clear container with the same grade fuel, let it sit two months and come back and tell us what it looks like.

I would suggest never using starting fluid, if you can’t start it with a little gasoline then something is already wrong. Starting fluid can damage your engine. White smoke would indicate water, if that is what it was you described. I would guess your plugs were fouled when it wouldn’t fire with the ether.
 
C

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
4,034
Location
Rib lake wi
Hard start is a way to common issue with the Super Tenere ! It’s only happened to me 3 times in 110,000 miles but in my opinion that’s 3 times to many. We probably all should have started filling complaints about this issue years ago and MAYBE that would have forced Yamaha to do something about it Instead of pretending there is no hard start issue.
 
1MoreProject

1MoreProject

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2023
Messages
14
Location
Broomfield Colorado
Jlq1969 said:
But, when you tried to start it after 2 months, did you expect the fuel pump to cut off to reach the injection pressure?….if you rushed the start and the fuel circuit was with low pressure, the injectors would squeal more than spray. , which easily moistens the combustion chamber,
Click to expand...
Good to know. I think I let it run the start sequence before turning it over and I definitely heard the pump running. I'll keep it in mind to make sure to let it finish its sequence.
 
1MoreProject

1MoreProject

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2023
Messages
14
Location
Broomfield Colorado
Cycledude said:
Hard start is a way to common issue with the Super Tenere ! It’s only happened to me 3 times in 110,000 miles but in my opinion that’s 3 times to many. We probably all should have started filling complaints about this issue years ago and MAYBE that would have forced Yamaha to do something about it Instead of pretending there is no hard start issue.
Click to expand...
Really wish they would. Yamaha is known for reliability, I hate that I might start questioning if my bike will start.
 
Tenman

Tenman

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Joined
Dec 7, 2013
Messages
2,110
Location
Natchez Ms USA
The last time I had a hard start. I came home and did everything I could to induce another one. I got it to cough a time or two but couldn’t do it. Explain that.
 
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