Hi all, just picked up an nc23 and have a few plans for it. However the first thing to sort is that off it doesn't want to start off the button when its cold. Sounds like its turning over but wont fire up.

Bump starts easily and once its been running you can turn it off and it'll start from the start button no problem. I'm told its just had new plugs, but haven't had chance to poke around yet.

Any ideas of where might be a good idea to start looking?

Thanks,

Ian

Are the lights on when you are trying to start?

Bang in a new battery or if you are skint, disconnect the battery from regulator ( so it doesnt go pop ) and then jump start from car - if it starts its probably the battery.

If it still wont start I would then check the choke cable actually does something.

Then its a case of elimation.

1) Carbs been played with and not set right - needles, blocked valves, out of balance, air leaks - it all adds up.
2) Air lock in tank - try starting it with the tank open
3) Fuel not getting to carbs - or leaking away over night - check there is fuel in the bowls before starting
4) Bad/old fuel - not got as much bang in it
5) Weak spark - get em out and see what colour the spark is
6) Tick over screw knob set to low - happened to me - took a whole day to work that one out

Some of the things on the bike when turned on can draw to much power so dropping the volts to the coils, so it wont fire.

1) starter motor
2) fuel pump
3) dodgy electrics - bodged in alarms etc
4) pick up coil fault - as on my nc 29 ( check my thread - viewtopic.php?f=28&t=35200)

These bikes dont like sitting, mine struggles to start after 2 weeks sitting - even on charge. So I now run it at least once a week - in fact just been on a ten min blast.

You will probably flood it and flatten the batt - so making the whole search harder. I left my bike on charge and altered something then left it an hour then tried again.

Thanks for the detailed reply!

Will try giving the battery a top-up first and see what happens. Bloke I bought it off said it had never done it before (but he would say that wouldn't he ) so it might figure if it had been sat in the garage for a while. Only thing that makes me wonder if it's something else is that the starter turns over fine, doesn't sound sluggish at all like they can when the batt is going off.

Fingers crossed...

Finally got hold of a charger and topped the battery up yesterday. Now fires up first time off the button!

Choke cable is a bit tight I think as it keeps springing back down so won't sit with it open for more than a few seconds and it cuts out. Will have a root around and hopefully a bit of adjustment will improve things. Making progress though