Devon TRF Group Forum

eliot · Novice

HELP WANTED Please , new to this, WR400f cant start it!!

hampsterracing · Devon's Best

He is right there is a knack !

Just over compression and a great big kick !!! dont touch the throttle at all when trying to start it.

i would happily help you get the knack and check it over but i am a bit of a treck in east devon.if no one closer pops up give me a shout and we will sort something.

Roger

eliot · Novice

Thanks roger appreciate :)

Shbay · Clubman B

hi Mate

i have a 200 wr400f and your right there is a knack to starting it but once youve got it its easy ish!!!!

i would start by cleaning the coil contact and changeing the plug that should really help then you just need to get the knack right

i live in the exeter area but travel alot for work so drop me a PM and ill see if i can help you out by talking you throught the knack

cheers
sam

John Harvey · Clubman A

Hi eliot
I've had one of these for years (+ BSA B50's for years!!) there is a knack and as said above, but it is really easy to do once you know, I'd even say that once mastered you should be able to start your bike straight away every time!!

First of all you need to push down on the kickstart lever until you feel it against compression, pull the decompression lever in & push down on the kickstart a small amount just to ease the engine over compression,

As it's a 4 stroke what you've done is got the engine in a position so that when you give it a decent kick the flywheel has two full spins that will give it enough momentum to go through the compression stroke and start the engine!!! As roger said...don't touch the throttle you don't need to.

It helps if you have decent footing with your left foot as you don't want to push on the kickstart until you kick it over, sometimes it helps if you do this with the sidestand down.

It all sounds like a palaver but it's simple to do and the only time you wish you had a leccy start is when your stuck on a lane and knackered!!

Two tips, if it doesn't start after two kicks when warm the use the hot start.
When its not been started for over a week I find it helps if you give the throttle one twist so the accelerator pump squirts a bit of petrol to help start it, never touch the throttle when kicking though.

-- Edited by John Harvey on Wednesday 11th of December 2013 10:16:31 PM

doh ! · Clubman A

There is a knack as the others have stated but these bikes were notoriously bad at starting some worse than others I would definitely look at a carb clean and make sure the jetting is right if you got it from a dealer iwould suggest a call to him voicing your concerns about the starting issues good luck

John Harvey · Clubman A

BSA B50's also had a terrible reputation for hard starting just like WR400F's, neither of them are that bad!! The main problem is that people try kicking them over without using the compression release properly and enter into a losing battle to get the engine to turn over against compression...they will not start.

If there's any fault with the engine then it's going to be difficult to start just like any other bike the fact you bump started should be a good sign.

Eliot try using the method described and hopefully you will be okay:)

eliot · Novice

Thankyou everyone, am going to try today again! Hope will have some better luck, think i was using the throttle so guess that didnt help. All i`m used to is a kdx 125, totally different, and this thing seems huge ! If i cant, maybe someone can take a look for me, can bring it to them :) Think being light doesnt help get the power behind it! cheers!

Pete · Devon's Best

The knack is something you will learn.

Good advice above about turning it over until you feel compression, then, and only then, giving it a kick.
Kicking it from a fraction after compression means it will spin enough to actually turn over once or twice, which should be enough, rather than a half or nearly full turn which is all you will get starting from the position the motor will naturally come to rest in, which is not.

The XT500 was another wonderful machine similarly afflicted with the need to learn a knack. Although yamaha helpfully put a sightglass window in the head to help line up a white spot on the cam they didn't think it would get covered in oil meaning the rider had to learn the feel of the sweet spot to start from.

I recall the early wr400's had starting problems. I came across what I initially took to be some walkers next to a couple of bikes on Honeypot lane on the border of Wiltshire, (long day out, got a bit carried away that day), and soon realised that they had both overheated and disrobed after exhausting themselves kicking the blue beastie. Had to help them get it out of the mire it was stuck in to squeeze on by, but met them later on so they did get going and it is possible to learn the knack.

Don't know what Yamaha changed to make the bikes easier to start because Yamaha would never admit there had been anything wrong in the first place.

John Harvey · Clubman A

As mentioned do the easy stuff first like cleaning the coil contacts and give it a go. Being light should not be a problem, its your leg muscles that start it more than your weight, I remember taking my B50 for an MOT years ago and the tester was a frail old man and he started it better than I used to... so being light you should be fine.

Mine only has a dip beam yet it's always had a full MOT (not daytime) having said that I've tried using it at night and it's only okay on back roads, you need a main beam on anything else.

If you find yourself stuck and need someone to check it over I'm willing to have a look this weekend, if you can get it to me? I'm in mid Devon near Winkleigh so a bit of a trek form you, send me a PM if you want.

You can have a bit of fun with these bikes, if you ever pass a pub in the summer and your mates are outside just pull in, inevitably they'll ask you about your bike at which point you offer a bet of a pint either way for anyone who can start it!! What then follows is some bravado on their part and the sudden realisation that the kickstart hasn't moved an inch with all their weight bearing down on it, this is then followed by a stream of swear words that only serves to get others to try. Inevitably (assuming no one has the 'knack') you'll be asked to show how the hell it's done and one kick later it's running (hopefully). Now at this point all the lovely ladies watching you will be seriously impressed by your manly display and will proceed (cue Benny Hill music) to chase you around the car park!! Okay I made the last bit up... but all good fun.

Cheers John

-- Edited by John Harvey on Thursday 12th of December 2013 01:18:02 PM

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

This could be very embarassing for any jockeys out there who know it all wink wink wink

-- Edited by doug9270 on Thursday 12th of December 2013 01:59:18 PM

eliot · Novice

That guy in the video makes it look so easy! someone mentioned the coil contact.... where do i find that please? I did start it today once, and a friend did, but still think i`m not doing things right. So its right to copy that guy on the vid, one complete kick with decomp in, let kickstart go to the top then one hard push! Will try that tomorrow! Really would like to meet someone who know what there doing to show me! Thanks john will google winkleigh. Maybe the best idea is to look on here and join when all you guys go out, as wanted to anyway, and will probably get some good advice. Not sure what i`ve got to do to come along though! Thanks for all the help :) By the way when i got it going, was incredible, amzing fun and only whizzed up the road and back, gonna enjoy this so much!

John Harvey · Clubman A

The ignition coil is fixed to the frame just in front of your new friend the kickstart lever smile

Clean the electrical terminals on it check the terminal are clean and make good contact.

I am embarrassed to say the kids technique didn't work for me from cold at all, a couple of times when hot but most other times it will just hurt your ankle. Must be me confuse confuse confuse

John Harvey · Clubman A

ttr steve wrote:
Man
Push the button, push, push the button

ha ha ha...now what was that noise from yours a few weeks ago...crrrhhh, crrrrrhhh..."oh no, not all me teeth off me starter motor...again".

push, push and BUMP biggrin biggrin

ttr steve · Devon's Best

argh hmmm, it works now! and I suppose the kick start will help to burn the pasties of biggrin biggrin

Pete · Devon's Best

John Harvey wrote:
ttr steve wrote:
Man
Push the button, push, push the button
ha ha ha...now what was that noise from yours a few weeks ago...crrrhhh, crrrrrhhh..."oh no, not all me teeth off me starter motor...again".
push, push and BUMP

ttr steve wrote:
argh hmmm, it works now! and I suppose the kick start will help to burn the pasties of

ttr steve · Devon's Best

A reminder to everyone, there is no escaping pete's camera! Eliot, nice bike, sure you will get the hang of it.

eliot · Novice

Thanks Steve... and to everyone! Got the knack!! started 1st time every time today :) Took it up my 1st lane excellent fun!!! Looking forward to joining you lot but reckon i`ll be left behind!! :)

Shbay · Clubman B

Come on ten Eliot whats your knack

Glad you got it going have a look in the ride out section pete may be able to get you on the run next Sunday from bovey

Cheers
Sam

Pete · Devon's Best

Congratulations on learning the knack Eliot.

There are several novices and first timers booked on the Christmas run who we will try to keep together in the same group.

I haven't stopped taking names yet as we have four run leaders so get your name down if you want to join us.

eliot · Novice

Thanks pete and shbay, the reason i just did my bike test is because i keep seeing you guys around and wanted to join in! Passed my test on monday and just spoke to russel ( southhams devon trf contact) to ask what i have to do to join in, he said i`ve got to join, but that might take a couple weeks to sort, but i might be able to come out with someone, so would be good , am free anytime and cant wait to come along :) As i`m not a member yet, i cant see when you guys are going out, but would love to come along if poss.thanks

Pete · Devon's Best

eliot wrote:
Thanks pete and shbay, the reason i just did my bike test is because i keep seeing you guys around and wanted to join in! Passed my test on monday and just spoke to russel ( southhams devon trf contact) to ask what i have to do to join in, he said i`ve got to join, but that might take a couple weeks to sort, but i might be able to come out with someone, so would be good , am free anytime and cant wait to come along :) As i`m not a member yet, i cant see when you guys are going out, but would love to come along if poss.thanks

Yes you can, this post is open to the public

http://devongtrf.activeboard.com/t55785815/christmas-run-22nd-december-from-bovey-tracey/

John Harvey · Clubman A

Eliot, well done for getting the knack, there's no holding you back now :)

Cheers John

eliot · Novice

Thanks John :)

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

Nice to talk to you on the phone Eliot, keep in touch will be going out a few times over Christmas as have three weeks off smile biggrin