Another (sigh!) Bandit 400 that won't start...

[AngryInca]

Hi Folks,

I've got a '91 Bandit 400, I think its a US spec, the clocks are in MPH and it has the twin front discs. Its not a VVC. Its been sat in my damp garage over winter. I used it about a month and a half ago to nip to the shops and on the return journey it took a while to start, but it eventually started and I got home. I tried to start it about a month ago and it wouldn't start and the battery eventually died.

I've removed the battery and charged/conditioned it since then but it still won't start. The lights and the rest of the electrics seem to be okay, the starter is turning the engine but its not starting. I've tried removing one of the plugs (currently CR9EK) out and resting it against the engine connected and I don't get a spark. I've bought a single new plug (CR8 as I was going to replace them all) and tried that against the engine casing and don't get a spark.

I tried testing with a newer battery as I don't really know how old the one thats in it is, and it didn't start or spark.

The engine casing is earthed okay as I've tested this with a miltimeter, power is getting to the coils as I've tested this too.

I would be pretty sure it was the CDI as every now and then it *almost* seems to start, the engine seems to almost fire when turning over but can never catch on, and if I stop trying to start it it won't do it again for another few hours.

Can anyone give me any more things to check before I start looking for a replacement ignitor? I can smell petrol from the exhaust and have had a few backfires too, so I am pretty sure fuel is getting in - its got a full tank.

Thanks in advance!

[thunderace]

How do AI

Drop me a PM on GBB to arrange a time for me to pop over Monday

[AngryInca]

Done :)

[PuPuhawkins]

I would take the carbs off and look there, if your turning it over and over your probably flooding it which isnt helping it spark..

Have you adjusted the idle knob at all ?? if its in the wrong place it'll never start..

[sweatytabs]

hi,

I am new on here and also newly passed my test and got a 400 bandit......


please could you tell me the outcome as i have the same problem, i know its some time down the line!

[thunderace]

I don't think Angry Inca managed to sort the problem out, anyway he doesn't have the Bandit any more

[Variablevalves suck]

hi,

I am new on here and also newly passed my test and got a 400 bandit......


please could you tell me the outcome as i have the same problem, i know its some time down the line!

Can you post things you have checked, has the bike run? did you buy a non runner and how mechanical are you.

[sweatytabs]

a very long story (be patient please)....

in a galaxy far far away .... in hull!

passed my test 2 months ago and bought a non running bandit for £320, with tax and test from a well known aution site, from a guy saying it was a runner and had oil and petrol leak, went to pick it up and last second he rang me and said it wont start, so bought for £220.


anyway got it back, petrol leak was a pin hole in tank (soldered that up), and cant see oil leak.

looked in oil veiw window oil was really full and black, so changed oil and filter, then cleaned the plugs (which were black as hell) and it fired up straight away, but revs kept building up and up (no choke on) so i hit the kill switch, tried starting and wouldnt do it, bump start wouldnt work.

after reading comments on this and other chat forums i went and..

bought hotter burning plugs, cleaned carbs (bottoms were filled with crap), cleaned air filter, added inline fuel filter, cleaned out as much as i could of rust from inside of tank, and filter inside tank, and put fresh fuel in, charged battery, checked connections swtches and wires, some look little suspect but connected..... wouldnt start

i dont have a clue what im doing mechanicly but read some bits on here and other chat rooms n bought a cd manual and come to the conclusion its electrical..either the regulator or igniter...

got my uncle to electic test the bike EVERYTHING had what it should but when pulling the cpu things conector on and off and trying to start again....... wow it fired it must have been a crap connection on the cpu (igniter)

2 weeks later of daily use (not running superb, seems to hold back on exceleration when hits 6k revs and takes awhile to get over it, like a real bad flat spot or turbo lag!) and a funny little knocking rattly sound from engine (not loud..poss timing chain needs tightening??) but running and starting first flick in all weather.

.. yesterday morn going to start it made like a bang but like an electical bang not a backfire bang after the starter winding over a couple of times then it wouldnt even turn over like the starter was dead, rocked it back and fourth in gear tried it again and started...

this morning started fine lil bit lumpy but nothing unusual really on a proper cold damp morning, and running again with this flat spot coming off a round about so gave it some beans to get it over the flatspot and it got past it and suddenly were accelerating like f*@^ (like it should) yeheyyyyy then..
.... BANG (back fire bang not elec like last time) and lost all power and wouldnt start.

ive started to take it apart but engine dont seem to be seized, starter is turning, and dont think there was smoke with the bang when it lost power, but no spark again.

i have been lead to beleive its cdi or and carbs!

ive read so many problems and this bike seems to have them all! no spark, flat spots, fuel.... it maybe one thing but i was hoping someone will go oh it was this and this and will cost blah blah!

[Variablevalves suck]

I would say you have two problems.
The miss fire is electrical- you need to check the connections from the pickup coil to cdi and from cdi to HT coils.
Check the low tension wires are a tight fit on the Ht coils and check the HT leads are tight in the coils and plug caps.
You get 12v at the coils from the orange wires and the other wires go straight from the HT coils to the cdi.
Other problem areas are around the head stock and head light where every thing turns, plus the pick up coil wires brake where they come out from the left hand engine case.
Regards the flat spot the bandit is know to be very sensitive to pilot screw setting, float height and needle height.
Also if the o'rings are off you can get a thousand running problems, cheap fix!
I would go over the carbs and check they are set correctly.

[sweatytabs]

well i will check the electrics so i can get the thing started to start with as at the mo its got no spark, so may take the plunge for a new and working CDI unit, then if not that i can get my money back for that as they are quite sought after, then i will give the carbs an overhaul when bike is running.

bloody thing!

at the min its just getting icy to ride in the mornings anyway!!