*** MEMBER NEEDS HELP! ***

[cactusjack]

I was waiting to order my lunch this morning and I received a call from Jared Gant, aka "Utah Motorcyclist". He is on his way to ride Death Valley and his bike is dead. He is stranded 250 miles from home in St. George, UT. He has limited tools, no service manual and no access to a PC or the internet.

Here's what I know: Jared and his buddies rode to breakfast this morning and everything was fine. After breakfast, they went to leave and his bike wouldn't start. He said it acted like the battery was bad, so they went to the Kaw dealer and he replaced the battery. Still no-go.

He says the instrument cluster goes through its power-on self-check, the fuel pump is pressurizing, and the engine turns over. It just will not start. He pulled all 4 spark plugs and can't see any spark when he cranks it.

He has checked all the fuses, and I told him to check any connector he can get to and make sure it's tight. I spoke to him while i had lunch and suggested everything I could think of off the top of my head.

Again, the bike has power, fuel, and cranks over - it appears to have no spark.

So if ANYONE can assist Jared in any way, his cell # is (801)636-3566.

By the time I posted this, his riding buddies may have already left him behind and continued on to Death Valley.

Let's try to pay it forward and help out a fellow member. One of us may be in his shoes some day.

[cactusjack]

Bump to keep it on top of the queue.

[dantama]

I have a brother that lives in St. George. I called Utah to see if he still needed help and he didn't answer. I hope that means he had his helmet on and was flying through the Virgin River Gorge at 90mph.

I left a message, but don't let that stop anyone else from trying.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Maybe that is a good sign, CJ and Dan. I sure hope so. If either of you hear any more from Jared be sure and post it.

[dank]

Sounds as though he is at or near a Kawasaki dealership (where he got the battery). What do they say?

[cactusjack]

He is trying to fix it without the dealer'$ help. I just texted him to let him know I posted this for him and asked him to let me know if he gets back on the road.

I know we have at least one member in that area (Dennis Bailey).

[dantama]

I just talked to him. He's still stranded, but has a place to stay. They were staying in a family Condo of one of the guys in the group. So he's there, but without tools.

He didn't take it to the dealer becasue he is out of warranty. Bummer. I love extended warranty.

His buddies have gone on ahead to Death Valley.

Here's the deal. The bike turns over just fine. But it doesn't start. He's checked a plug on each cylinder, and neither one gets a spark. With no tools, he's stumped at what to do now.

I'm not one of the mechanical ones here, but does it sound like an igniter problem?

I told him I'd look for BD's number. Anyone have it and can pass Jared's number along?

[cactusjack]

The bike has 2 coils. The chances of BOTH failing are extremely small. The bike should run on one coil, not well - but it should at least start. I think the problem is between the ignition switch and the coils.

Edit: I PM'd BD to see if he could help in any way.

[Todd]

Make sure to check that the coils are well grounded....also could just be the ignition switch...hard to trouble shoot without a meter or test light..... :(

[zoom45]

Check the kickstand switch and clutch lever switch. It may not turn over if the stand switch is bad.

[dantama]

I'll pass along anything I find out, but does anyone have a manual? I remember on my 05 when I had a fuel pump going bad, my mechanic had me turn the guy on and go through a certian number of steps in puching this or that to self-diagnose what what wrong.

Anyone have anything that tells us that since he doesn't have a volt meter etc. ?

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Dan Lund

I'll pass along anything I find out, but does anyone have a manual? I remember on my 05 when I had a fuel pump going bad, my mechanic had me turn the guy on and go through a certian number of steps in puching this or that to self-diagnose what what wrong.

Anyone have anything that tells us that since he doesn't have a volt meter etc. ?

That's my problem. I'm sitting here at the office and my manual is at home.

We've ruled out the kickstand/clutch interlock switches because the bike will turn over.

[phenrichs]

hold on I have manual here on pdf

[audiogooroo]

The same thing happened to me in Vail in 2008. It was a bad connection at the ignition switch. The bike would turn over, but no spark. Once I re-attached the wire at the switch, she fired right up and I was moving.
Since Jared recently had his painted, something may have gotten disturbed in the process of removing and reinstalling the tins.
As I recall, Dan offered to go pick up a trailer and come get me before I figured it out. What a guy!

[dantama]

Now he says he gets a big fat nothing. No speedo needle sweep, nothing.