Hard starting problems - on trip in Western NC, advice welcome

[Ron Earp]

I'm on a four day trip in western NC and having problems with the 2015.ST ES starting. Twice now the bike would not start - it turns over but will not fire.

The first time was after I'd stopped for lunch in Blowing Rock. The bike would turn over, weakly fire a couple of times, but not catch and run. There was a faint smell of fuel and the fuel pump was working. We allowed it to sit for 20 minutes and then it fired right up.

The second time was at a scenic overlook 100 miles from there. This time was worse, it'd just turn over with no hint of firing. The fuel pump was working but no fuel smell. I took the tank and both side panels off, disconnected the battery for awhile, wiggled every connector, put it back together and it fired normally.

When it bike is running it runs perfectly with no issues. Perfectly. I suspect a bad sensor of sorts or intermittent connection to a sensor.

Anyone have a similar experience or can offer some things to check?

Thanks I'll check back on this thread often.

Wanted to add that the bike shows no other signs of problems and once running does so perfectly until it is shut off. And, I did have rain early yesterday morning but no problems with multi on and off cycles then. The problem appeared about 320 miles into day one in dry weather conditions.

 

[Velvet]

I wonder if this is an example of the infamous hard to start problems that occured on some of the 2012 and 2013 models. I thought that it was rectified starting with the 2014 models.

Two methods of starting that I have read were to hold the throttle wide open while cranking or pulling the fuel pump fuse and cranking to pump out excess fuel from the cylinders.

I did see a thread a while back concerning water egress into the spark plug areas causing starting issues.

 

[Cycledude]

After mine sat unused for three weeks it didn't want to start, it fired once but that was it, still cranked but as usual it sounded weak so I put a booster on it, all it did was turnover but no fire, so I twisted the throttle and wow it fired right up ! Mine always sounds weak when cranking but the battery load test says the battery is fine.

 

[ace50]

After mine sat unused for three weeks it didn't want to start, it fired once but that was it, still cranked but as usual it sounded weak so I put a booster on it, all it did was turnover but no fire, so I twisted the throttle and wow it fired right up ! Mine always sounds weak when cranking but the battery load test says the battery is fine.

Mine too, always wondering if the battery is going. Glad to hear it's not just me! O

 

[bobbar]

had it happen to me on my 14 the morning of trip to wv and nc. I think I may have caused it. I was in a hurry to get started, turned on the key and hit the starter before the fuel pump pressurized completely. u guys probaby have something else going on but for me I always wait till pump stops the little wine when I turn the key. good luck.

 

[VRODE]

Happened with my '16 once. I had turned the key on and did not hit the starter for a few minutes. When I did it would not fire. Tried again but with WOT this time and it caught after ~ 20 sec. Hasn't happened since.

 

[TheHelios]

Happens to me every couple of months. Turn off the bike for a couple minutes and when ready, full throttle, turn key to turn the bike on, and immediately try to start. If you're lucky, the engine will turn and run. Make sure to lower throttle but not completely because the bike may stall out without some throttle. After a couple seconds, you can let go of the throttle and it should be good from there. Enjoy the strong fuel smell because I'm sure there was plenty of gas flooding something e.g. spark plug or whatever.

 

[Kabish]

Had the same thing happen to me a few weeks ago on my 2015. Took a 20min drive up to the dealer parked the bike and went in to get my gloves. Was inside for maybe 15 minutes. When I came back out I attempted to start my bike and it would not catch at all. Just sat there turning over, hit the starter again and it still just turned over. I shut off the ignition waited about 10 seconds then it started right up.

 

[Ron Earp]

I have no news to report on this topic but intend to stay after it. After the second no-start attempt the problem did not reappear. I suspect the unplugging and replugging of connectors solved the issue. My feeling is that the moisture from the morning made its way into the harness and caused the problem, but, I am aware of the issue with this theory since the bike ran perfectly until stopped. You would think if you had an intermitent connection with a sensor it'd show up while riding, not with starting only.

A friend of a friend is a Yamaha 'factory rider' who attends meets etc for Yamaha, who has a SuperT, and he's posed my question to the NC regional manager to see if there is any info from the factory. I'll report back any info that I learn.

 

[tomatocity]

I have no news to report on this topic but intend to stay after it. After the second no-start attempt the problem did not reappear. I suspect the unplugging and replugging of connectors solved the issue. My feeling is that the moisture from the morning made its way into the harness and caused the problem, but, I am aware of the issue with this theory since the bike ran perfectly until stopped. You would think if you had an intermitent connection with a sensor it'd show up while riding, not with starting only.

A friend of a friend is a Yamaha 'factory rider' who attends meets etc for Yamaha, who has a SuperT, and he's posed my question to the NC regional manager to see if there is any info from the factory. I'll report back any info that I learn.

Let us know what the NC regional manager says.

 

[The Ferret]

Get a can of dielectric grease spray ( electronic stores - Maplins in the UK) and next time you lift the tank and remove the air box give the plug coils, wiring a spray around. That should reduce any arcing and shorts.

 

[Ron Earp]

Update:

Never received any information from the regional manager.

I took the tank off, side panels, and then went around to each connector to clean and seal it. Every connector I could lay my hand on I unconnected, spray cleaned with electronic cleaner, then put some dielectric grease on the connector body to seal against moisture and reconnected it. There were some connectors I had to untape as Yamaha had taped them, presumably against water intrusion. I sealed those back up with new tape.

A few days later North Carolina was skirmished by a hurricane and we had a deluge of rain on a Saturday. I suited up, took the bike out in pouring weather, and rode it for about 40 minutes within a few miles of my house with many key on/off-restart cycles. No problems. Since then I've had another 1600 miles or so without issue.

So the end result is I don't know what caused the problem but I suspect it was moisture getting into a connector. I hope I've eliminated that possibility and will update this thread should the "no start" problem reoccur.

 

[Juan]

Glad you nailed the problem.

 

[Ron Earp]

I'd be hesitant to say the problem is fixed. It only ever happened on one single day over the 8000 mile lifetime of the bike. If I no longer observe the problem I cannot be confident the problem was rectified.

 

[jackintherok]

Ron had the same problem ... over 5 years - strikes when plugs are over 4000 miles and the bike has been left out in the rain or there has been overnight mist, but after a hard start it takes new plugs to fix very tempramental starting. Formed the idea that if something is not right ... the bike will flood. (Always bump starts though). Recently changed the plugs myself for the first time. Results are below. Looks like when on the sidestand rain/dew gets onto the cylinder head cover and runs down the lowest spark plugs recess (the plug on the left). I now cover the space between the tank and the steering head when its left out overnight. Also fitted a fenderextender to reduce the amount of salt and stuff being thrown onto the cylinder head because salt and stuff probably concentrates in plug recesses.

 

[Dogdaze]

I think you'll find that is a reoccurring problem with the look of the spark plugs, although mine were not as bad at 15k miles, but my right plug (sitting on the bike) was the one that was slightly corroded.....

 

[jackintherok]

On the side stand side?




Great bike but so boring - it just goes on and on and on and on.... if you can get it started

 

[Dogdaze]

On the side stand side?




Great bike but so boring - it just goes on and on and on and on.... if you can get it started

No, the throttle grip side.