I posted the other day about the ride that kinda beat me up the other day, and pictures of my muddy-ass bike yesterday morning (
http://www.cyclefish.com/tcwjoe/albums/7532). I got home last night and decided I have to wash my bike, it was too disgusting to leave that way. I typically just turn the hose on it every once in a while when it gets grimey, but I did the full wash this time: soap, leather stuff, sponge, dryed it with a rag.
This morning I went to take off for work. My neighbor is an 85-ish year old man so I push the bike down the driveway and as I coast to the street I start it once I am away from his bedroom (I have V&H longshots with no baffles.... he hates me but I don't want to kill him). I tried starting it on the way but it wouldn't fire, I turned and coasted up a house length with nothing. I ended up giving up, turning around and pushing it back up the driveway.
I'm hoping a day in the sun will dry it out, but this is why I never wash it....
June 4, 2013 10:02 AM PDT
Does it sound like it wants to start (i.e. like the plugs are firing) or just nothing... the motor just spinning with no spitting or coughing.
June 4, 2013 12:09 PM PDT
Hey, if it won't fire after washing it up,,, at least you found out you might have a "wet" problem at home.
More than likely, you dislodged a wire or something like that during the rub down and polish.
Check you fuses first,,, back to basics.
I walked home and it fired right up. I must've just got too aggressive in my cleaning. I really figured that was all it needed, just frustrated this morning it was a beautiful morning.
You didn't say if you used a good old fashion hose or a power washer. After hearing several stores of water from pressure washers getting into spots on a bike not meant for water I will only use the hose with a lite spray. Its amazing were water can get into.
Just a hose, but I washed the crap out of the bike.