[SDR450R]

My 2004 450R all of a sudden will not kickstart!! Happened last weekend. Usually 1-2 kicks and the beast lights up. I push started it and it fired right up and I went ahead and rode it all weekend no problem. Is it time to check the valves??

[JAWS]

Yes.
Joe

[124]

Double yes.

[nedirtbikr]

Triple yes!

[Roger450r]

did it sit for a while and if so how long?

[UteMachine]

Make that 4 yeses (Is that a word )

However, try this little tid bit as it just happened to me on my last ride. You probably won't get off this easy but it's worth a try. My 04 always lights up on the 2nd kick. It took me about 10 kicks and even when it was warm it would take 4 kicks or so. My idle seemed off. I turned it up a scoash and viola!

[nedirtbikr]

SDR450R - Actually, one other thing to check. Check your spark plug. I had a problem last year where I was WAY too rich and crapping up my plug. I had to kick the hell out of the thing sometimes. Once I did the JD kit, I haven't had any jetting issues. You might have a muddy plug that is preventing the spark from getting to where it needs to be. You'd have to take the plug out before checking the valves anyway, so this might or might not be a problem.

If you even remotely think that your plug might be crapped up...buy a new one, gap it, and put it in. Try starting the bike. If it starts up reasonable, your valves may be okay and you might want to look at changing your jetting. No matter what, a valve check is definitely worth the time so you know for sure where they are.

[Roger450r]

lol anyone here ever served in the military? When i hear people say "valves" so quick without even asking other questions it reminds me of an army doctor. LOL you walk in and he hands you 800mg of ibuprofin. Just seems odd that the valves on these bikes are blamed so often. you must be republicans (lol had to toss that in there for AS)

[124]

lol anyone here ever served in the military? When i hear people say "valves" so quick without even asking other questions it reminds me of an army doctor. LOL you walk in and he hands you 800mg of ibuprofin. Just seems odd that the valves on these bikes are blamed so often. you must be republicans (lol had to toss that in there for AS)

Sorry, I'll modify my statement based on Roger's question by saying:

Yep...you got the clap. Here's 800Mg of penecillin, call me in a week.

Really though, the indicator:

My 2004 450R all of a sudden will not kickstart!! Happened last weekend. Usually 1-2 kicks and the beast lights up.

I've worked on a thousand of these things. When somebody says the above statement, 9 out of 10 times, it's a valve adjustment. No biggie if it isn't, because valves should be checked often anyway. If you catch them before the go to 0, then you'll get increased longevity between shims. It's an inevitable fact that you will have to adjust the valve clearances. It's a wear item on these things...

[nedirtbikr]

Sorry, I'll modify my statement based on Roger's question: Yep...you got the clap. Here's 800Mg of penecillin, call me in a week.

[JAWS]

I'm with 124 on that statement being the clue. If he said it had sat over winter.. blah blah, then I would have responded diferently. That all of a sudden statement is just how the bikes act when the valves go. No big deal if it isn't...
Joe

[SDR450R]

thanks for the responses. the bike was bought in january and is usually ridden about twice a week.

The reason I said "valves" was because Ive heard so much about the valve wear on 4 strokes.

I'll pull the plug tomorrow and see what i got.

thx

[JAWS]

That seems a little too short for the valves to go unless you race and run the crap out of it. One thing to try is pull the pilot jet and blow it out. You might try pull/bump starting it. If the valves are going, you can ususally get a pull/bump start to work for a bit. Of course, there is always the "make sure you have gas" item
Joe

[diesel]

Sometimes(when valves ar adjusted right) I have to hold her wide open 2 stroke style and give her a few kicks and she fires right up. But don't do it to much she will flood fast.

[JAWS]

Sometimes(when valves ar adjusted right) I have to hold her wide open 2 stroke style and give her a few kicks and she fires right up. But don't do it to much she will flood fast.

Diesel, since we have an accelerator pump, have you tried three whacks of the throttle and then try to light it?
Joe