K1200GT won't start - help needed, URGENT

[merrittgene]

Help! I'm stranded (in my own garage) but I'm trying to leave Wednesday.

2006 K1200GT, no recent service/changes of any kind. Bike ran fine one week ago and sat in garage since.

I went to the garage this morning, and on a whim, started the bike to make sure it was ready to go (battery charged, etc.) The engine cranked and then fired like normal, ran for 2-3 seconds then stopped running. I don't believe there was any noise associated with the engine dying, but the silence was a shock!

The engine will now crank like normal, etc. but there is nothing that sounds like the engine wanting to start.

It appears I have full electrical service, but I don't know if I'm getting spark. I didn't hear any bad mechanical noises and the engine cranks easily, so I don't think it's a mechanical issue. I have a full tank of gas, but I don't know if I have fuel to the engine.

I'm headed to the garage to take the plastic off and see what I can see. I'm hoping someone has seen this before and can help direct my search.

It's times like this that I really wish Haynes and Clymer made a manual for me...instead of telling me that the market is not big enough for this model.

[mneblett]

2-3 seconds of running would be just about right for emptying the fuel rail if the fuel pump is not running.

When you turn on the ignition and put the kill switch in Run, do you hear the fuel pump run for a couple seconds to pressurize the fuel rail? If not, first check the fuel pump fuse.

Let us know what you find, and we'll go from there.

[merrittgene]

Out of pure frustration and dread, I spent the first 90 minutes of my "repair" surfing the forum for related issues, then resigned myself to actually going back to the garage.

I tried to start the engine a couple of times (still cranking at full speed, but no firing), then decided the battery was going to get drained if I kept doing that. So, I put the bike on the center stand, plugged in the charger, and then tried it again.

The noise during cranking was different, but I heard it try to start, so I kept at it, and it eventually fired and ran.

I played with the engine cut-off switch, the neutral safety switch, and the clutch interlock, and they all seemed to be working properly.

Somewhere in here, I turned the key and listened for the fuel pump and I heard it just like normal. (all this time, the engine started every time I pushed the button.) One of these times, I perceived that the fuel pump didn't come on as quickly, but even that delay was only 1 second.

I started and stopped the engine a dozen times, and can't repeat the problem. I suppose it could have been a dry fuel rail, but what should I do? If it's electrical, I could chase it forever without finding it.

Do I just ride it and keep my fingers crossed?

BTW, I've never seen a fuse on this bike. Is there a fuse panel?

[MANICMECHANIC]

No fuses, Gene, it's a CANBUS machine. Any chance your battery terminal connections are loose?

[mneblett]

No fuses, Gene, it's a CANBUS machine. Any chance your battery terminal connections are loose?

+1 -- and "oops": I misread this as a flying brick K12GT.

Loose battery terminal or loose fuel pump electric connector at the pump mounting flange.

[ol-Levi]

or, check for a kink in the fuel line, (guessing that it has a fuel filter inside the tank as my K1100 does)
I guess that could come and go.