Looked and couldn't find this exact situation on the threads. Have a 2000 Roadstar - starts and runs great - until I wash it. Don't use high pressure, just rinse and a bucket and every time after, it won't start. Engine clicks and gets about (what seems like) 1 rev before 'locking up', but won't even turn over. Sounds like its trying but almost like its cranking against a 'closed cylinder'. Could something be wrong with the decompression circuit? If I let it sit for a few days, it seems to start workning again but that's not very convienient. Last time this happened, burned up the starter relay trying to get it going. Definately seems to be electrical/water related. Thanks.

Hard telling what the problem is but your obviously getting something wet. Could be anything from a sparkplug wire to a coil. you might try taking a hand spray bottle and start spraying things while it is runnig and see if you can get it to act up.

jskhome I wash my bike very little I use Fastwax to clean it up. I only wash it when it gets realy realy bad. I've never had a problem with it. Try reomoving the decompresion cover next time and watch it when you try and start it. You will be able to see if it is working or not. If not then you can trouble shoot from there if it does then it has got to be something else. Sorry I know that isn't much help.

and here i take mine to the car wash and use the high pressure sprayer on it!

first off you get it wet but it is a cranking issue.
ok, so also you burnt a relay.
i want you in neutral to jumper the battery to the starter,
with a half decent gauge cable, 4Ga car jumper cables work ok.

now how good is the cranking? you might just have a bad/loose power cable, but if you did the selenoid then you probably already checked the rest of the circuit.

under the left side cover you can also jumper the selenoid with a wrench or pliers.

after that, take a spark plug out of each cyl. and try again.

i usually after hosing her down good (in high pressure wash bay), sinse changing the intake, and loosing the fuel pump. have to choke it, and hold my hand over the intake to get it to fire up and it takes a good minute or so (once i get it going to keep it running) before she wont stall out.

The Gardener wrote:
and here i take mine to the car wash and use the high pressure sprayer on it!



o.k, warning here guys!

DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER ANY CLOSER TO THE HUBS THAN 3FT!

when i opened here, i had clients coming in with dead rear wheel bearings, and discovered that the common factor was pressure washers.

where folks try to clean the rear wheel and hub, they put the nozzle of the washer too close to the axle. this causes water to be forced past the seal and blasts the grease from the bearings, which causes bearing failure.

when the bearings fail, they go in 2 ways. the first is what i call `the shakira effect´ when the back end startsd to wobble about. this ain´t so bad as you can stop and call recovery. the other is immediate and total bearing failure which can happen in a second. THIS CAN BE FATAL!

take care with the pressure washers guys!

If you use a pressure washer; stay away from the steering neck bearings also!

Clifford

thanks to all for the suggestions. Started fine today after electrically 'topping off' the battery to make sure it was at full charge. Maybe its as simple as a weak/power limited battery and the little bit of water somewhere in the system keeps it from making good contact.

I had the same thing happen to my scoot but mine was hydro locked had to take rear plug out and turn over to pump water out. Never has happened with any other bike I've owned but now I cover breather evan when parked. I was not using high pressure,but I do have k/n breather.

That sounds like a bad battery mine did that for a while and I finally replaced the battery and all is good now. Go me a 320 cca and that really spins it over good cranks as soon as you hit the button. Bad (low) battery will also make it run like crap.

jskhome.