1996 Sportster 717 single engine won't start

[ytown34]

Bulge, fan, and lights work. Was winterized. Just makes 2 or three sounds like it wants to start then nothing and I get a beep.

 

[RFoster130]

Make sure the battery is good and fully charged.

 

[Dr Honda]

sounds like you need to charge, or replace your battery.

 

[voodoo]

So many things to check, look for the driveshaft turning and turns fast? Next is the stuff we all talk to death, compression and fuel system condition, anyplace air comes in reduces or stops the fuel flow, take some time to clean the water/fuel bowl and look for signs of previous leakage including ugly lines bent at sharp angle could block flow, if you have compression above 125 pull the choke and see if any burbs of barks - NEVER use a running car or battery charger on high to overcome a weak battery, wait for it to charge up and give the hull a chance to clear the fumes.

 

[ytown34]

It starts. Neg to battery has two cables, only one was hooked up, 2nd one was hidden under battery.

It started. Now it was smokey and not getting any power when moving the throttle forward in neutral. It was doing that on the last run last yr. We were fishing with it and had to idle in.

 

[seadooya]

it wont rev in nuetral, dump it to "F", then wrap the throttle. Throw a set of plugs in, and you'll be good.

 

[ytown34]

it wont rev in nuetral, dump it to "F", then wrap the throttle. Throw a set of plugs in, and you'll be good.

The plugs that were left in it when it was winterized may not be gapped right. Still worried about the water in the engine compartment. They replaced the oil in the pump, told them to make sure the pump was lock tight.

 

[seadooya]

the boat still wont rev up in nuetral. You'll need to move the lever to 'F', to get any rpms out of her.

 

[ytown34]

I had it on the dock when I started it. It was taking water into the engine compartment so i was unable to launch

 

[seadooya]

make sure you have the o-ring around the drain plug, also inspect the carbon ring. If cracked or chipped, it'll let water in...FAST

 

[voodoo]

The throttle has a rev limiter to about 4000 so the boat does not drive itself away from the dock, sounds like you need to spend some time getting watertight and making the annual service onshore, start with a compression test and verify the oil is drinking before you have to paddle in.