running on just one cylinder

[GeoBloke]

I know I must be missing something glaringly obvious but.....

Fired up @ yesterday morning to head into work. Started fine (as always) but after about 30 seconds one cylinder cut out and then everything died. Hasn't started since except once where it just chugged laboriously on the one lung. Checked the battery connections, plug leads and such but still no joy. It's been sitting for a few weeks but I can't imagine the petrol's gone off that quickly.

Any suggestions on what else to check?

[YEN_POWELL]

Is it the front cylinder playing up? My old 2000 AT used to get a green corrosion on the front coil low tension leads which would cause a misfire at low revs. I used to remove the spade terminals and scrape the terminals on the coil clean. The rubber strips which hang down the frame front tube are there to keep water and crap off this area of the bike, make sure they are there and fitted properly.

[tedmagnum]

Check the plugs are sparking by removing them , earthing them to the frame then hit the starter...

If they are sparking, you then need to check fueling.

Report back...

[Xman]

Almost certainly a fuel problem...check pump is working.

To diagnose....bypass the fuel lines around the pump, then with a full tank of fuel, engine should run.

Sometimes tapping the pump with a metal object will encourage it to start up, they sometimes stick when they have been left for a while.

[GeoBloke]

Thank you one and all. The sun is out and I'm heading out to the garden rightnow to chase down your suggestions.

[GeoBloke]

Okay, banging on the fuel pump with a spanner did the job. Thanks again, Xman. Would never have found that particular solution in the manual.

Must be about time for a facet pump, I guess.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

LOL, glad it was such a simple fix, Chris! "Irish maintenance", I believe they call it. Tell the wife that you gotta get out more often on the bike so it won't seize up again.

[GeoBloke]

She'll tell you I get out TOO often. I've been travelling too much. Ten countries in the last 16 weeks. Korea, Panama, Vietnam, and the usual assortment of Euro-stuff. Hopefully off to Kathmandu for two weeks for a UN thing next month. Bike just sits there disintegrating under its brand new cover.