Bike cutting out - Any ideas?

[Bikermouse]

My CBR400 (NC23) is giving me a bit of grief.... again!

The problem goes like this:
that on starting it with choke (he's an old boy!), letting him run for a bit to get warm, I then climb aboard, switch the lights on, adjust choke - if necessary, put him into gear and then...... he cuts out! Now, anyone who doesn't know the foibles of "Ollie" thinks, oh stupid woman rider she's stalled the bike! Well, no actually, I haven't even had chance to let the clutch out yet! It's most annoying as I then have to go through a number of procedures in order to get him started again, switching the lights off and putting him back into neutral, all time consuming and annoying to any traffic if it happens at the traffic lights.... :-[

He's been on a treatment, since last winter, of Silkolene FST every third or fourth tank and especially when the temps started dropping as we had a major problem last October of carb icing. I replaced the battery about 2 months ago (so that's not the problem). The headlight bulbs have been replaced for genuine Honda ones as the previous owner had non standard ones in that were drawing too much power from the battery - let alone the fact that they were too big for the holder and he'd cut the lugs!

The only other thing that someone has suggested to me that might be upsetting him is the restrictor kit (washers in the carbs) which has to be in until next August. As I can't/won't risk having the kit taken out to ride around to test for a bit, can anyone else make any suggestions what the problem could be?

Any help would be appreciated as I love my little Ollie very much but this bad behaviour needs to be sorted out or else I may need to take drastic action >

kj

[R1chie]

Faulty sidestand cut out switch?

[Bikermouse]

Hey R1chie, if only. Don't think Mr Honda had thought about those back in 1989. Thanks for your suggestion though.

kj

[R1chie]

Not sure then, have you checked the air filter and fuel pump recently?

[Thorkill_The_Tall]

Side stand switch. ( yeah, I know you might not have one)
Clutch switch.
Kill switch.
Battery leads loose.
Loose fuse perhaps.
Clutch drag. ( wrong grade oil/bike not been used for a while/needs adjusting at the pushrod, or whatever type of clutch it is)
Wearing new gloves

[finbar]

Hi Biker mouse,

If you can't get it sorted I am more than happy to help you out. But I do have to charge for my time(£15 per/hr! :-[

I have been able to help Julia and R2D2 out and am happy to come to your place and see if we can sort your bike.

Pm me if I can help! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]


Finbar

[Jon_W]

Sounds electrical. I assume when it runs it runs fine.

Does it turn over ok?? Do the lights dim at lower revs??

All that being good it sounds exactly like a sidestand switch. Some CBR400's do have them. Check the clutch and sidestand switch.

If you are still stuck I will take a look if you like.

[Mark_Able]

My CBR400 (NC23) is giving me a bit of grief.... again!

The problem goes like this:
that on starting it with choke (he's an old boy!), letting him run for a bit to get warm, I then climb aboard, switch the lights on, adjust choke - if necessary, put him into gear and then...... he cuts out! Now, anyone who doesn't know the foibles of "Ollie" thinks, oh stupid woman rider she's stalled the bike! Well, no actually, I haven't even had chance to let the clutch out yet! It's most annoying as I then have to go through a number of procedures in order to get him started again, switching the lights off and putting him back into neutral, all time consuming and annoying to any traffic if it happens at the traffic lights.... :-[

He's been on a treatment, since last winter, of Silkolene FST every third or fourth tank and especially when the temps started dropping as we had a major problem last October of carb icing. I replaced the battery about 2 months ago (so that's not the problem). The headlight bulbs have been replaced for genuine Honda ones as the previous owner had non standard ones in that were drawing too much power from the battery - let alone the fact that they were too big for the holder and he'd cut the lugs!

The only other thing that someone has suggested to me that might be upsetting him is the restrictor kit (washers in the carbs) which has to be in until next August. As I can't/won't risk having the kit taken out to ride around to test for a bit, can anyone else make any suggestions what the problem could be?

Any help would be appreciated as I love my little Ollie very much but this bad behaviour needs to be sorted out or else I may need to take drastic action >

kj

As you've got a restrictor kit fitted, has this started happening since, by any chance? It sounds to me like you've got an air leak between the carbs and barrels. The carbs mount on a rubber inlet, which could well be perished. Either that, or the restrictors in the carbs are not fitted correctly and causing an air leak somehow. The rubber inlets are well known to perish and let air in, especially on an older engine. Worth a look at methinks... :-?

[Mark_Able]

Carb icing is an indication of it drawing too much cold air. Again, it could be a perished inlet.

[Kneedragger]

I agree with the suggestion of some kind of interuption from the kill switch, lean angle cut out switch or clutch sensor etc as it stops when you pick first gear. Does it have a fuel pump or is it just gravity fed. Im not familiar with the model of bike and what saftey switches it has. It doesnt sound terminal though.

If it can select first and it cuts out when you ride it along then its too much air getting in as also suggested, perished rubbers certainly sound like the most likely cause. I removed the air box from a 1200 bandit and stuck on the K&N cones on the back of the carbs and it got way too much air and cut out at 5mph hehe