Topic: bike wont start, need help

[tosc]

so today is the first day i've had my bike and already i'm having problems. the electric start wont start the bike and now the battery died. the kick start wont start the bike. plugs are fine. now there are two hoses under the seat coming (over flow possibly??) from above the carbs that keep spitting out gas every couple minutes. any suggestions what i should do? 1977 550

[r6100mph]

check for spark.  Pull the plugs from #1 clinder and make sure the the end of the plug, the part where it makes a spark is grounded to the frame, and try to kick start it.  If there is spark then #1-4 ignition coil is good.  Do the same for #2-3 ignition coil.

if there is spark and fuel it should at least want to try to start.  Then it's on to diagonsing the carbs. 

How's your battery?  charge it and see what happens

[TwoTired]

Charge the battery
Is the Stop-Run-Stop switch in the Run position?
Do you know what a choke is?
Do you know it is working?
How do you know the plugs are fine?
Is the gas tank clean inside?
Is there cr@p in the gas?
Is there cr@p in the carbs?
Has the bike been sitting?
When was the last complete and thorough tune up?
Do you have tools?
Do you have a manual?

There is a hose above the carbs that vent to atmosphere.
There is a hose above the carbs that comes from the gas tank.
There are 4 hoses at the bottom of the carbs that dump overflow.
There are hoses to the air plenum that drain carb overflow.
There are hoses to the air filter box to drain overflow.
If these hoses are blocked, overflowing carbs drain into the engine and dilute the oil supply.  This leads to a new engine transplant.

Well?  Does this get >you< started? 

[tosc]

Charge the battery
Is the Stop-Run-Stop switch in the Run position?--yes
Do you know what a choke is?--yes
Do you know it is working?--yes, it was working yesterday morning
How do you know the plugs are fine? --i dont know 100%, but they seem relatively new
Is the gas tank clean inside? 
Is there cr@p in the gas?     ---how can i tell if there is crap inside?
Is there cr@p in the carbs?
Has the bike been sitting? --most likely
When was the last complete and thorough tune up? --i havent the slightest idea
Do you have tools?--yes
Do you have a manual?--only a 750 manual, i just ordered a 550 one


There are 4 hoses at the bottom of the carbs that dump overflow, --this is where the gas keeps squirting out of, and it kept doing that through out the night

If these hoses are blocked, overflowing carbs drain into the engine and dilute the oil supply.  This leads to a new engine transplant.---to check if these are blocked should i just disconnect them to check them?

Well?  Does this get >you< started?  ----yes it does and thank you for your help

[tosc]

ok...so today i put in the charged battery and she started right up. i think im going to find a shop close
to me and have them tune it and do a quick inspection for me just to make sure every thing is good. after i learn
more i'll do more on my own.

[Queeg]

Good news than!
my bike won't start with a dead battery!:(
It will run very badly if the battery is low.  I have mine on a charger everytwo weeks just for piece of mind.

 The float levels are simple to adjust and will save you some cash. It takes about an hour if you have the stock airbox.  Replace the o-rings on the carb bowls if they are hard/flat.

 There are many. Posts and web pages on how to do this. Or just message me if you would like

 Good luck.  

[OldSchool_IsCool]

ok...so today i put in the charged battery and she started right up. i think im going to find a shop close
to me and have them tune it and do a quick inspection for me just to make sure every thing is good. after i learn
more i'll do more on my own.

If you are new to cycles as a rider AND as a wrencher, then having a decent shop look her over is a good idea.  An experianced cyclist will spot those subtle defects that might turn tragic!  If they will let you, try to have then show you what they are doing.  Look for an old timer, one who is familiar with POINTS whether you have them or not.  These bikes are  simple, but 30+ year old technology.  Working on them is as much an art as it is technology.  There is no computer to compensate for flawed tuning.