Why is the Self Start Not Working?

It’s too common for riders to experience the problem with motorbike self-start, but have you ever wondered Why the Self Start did Not Work?

If your self-start isn’t working, there’s something wrong with the motorbike battery, spark plug, or stator. Even in some cases, motorbikes show the same problem when there’s something wrong with the motorbike kill switch. If you’re able to start the motorbike with a kick but now with a self-start, there could be something wrong with the wires. 

Let’s look at what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about malfunctioning self-start. 

Why is the Self Start Not Working?

It’s too common for the motorbike starter to show problems when starting it, but have you wondered why it’s so? 

According to experts, there could be many reasons why your motorbike self-start isn’t working. 

Reasons like faulty batteries, spark plugs, air filters, and stators could be some reasons. 

In many cases, motorbike self-starts aren’t working because of dirty carburetors and kill switches. Let’s understand each issue further one by one. 

Why is Self Start Not Working? 

Although there are many reasons why your motorbike stops responding, here I’m gonna discuss some most commonly found reasons. 

Don’t worry; I’ve mentioned some solutions to problems in the later section. 

Blocked air filters cause an inappropriate air-fuel mixture, which will cause your motorbike to stop responding.	Signs:	Details:
Faulty Battery.	Signs like sluggish light, problems in starting a motorbike then battery faulty could be the reason behind it.	Faulty batteries won’t even produce single ignition.
Spark plug.	Your motorbike won’t produce a spark.	A faulty spark plug won’t produce ignition.
Blocked air filters.	Signs like a burning smell, not an appropriate air-fuel mixture, wear piston and cylinder.	Whining sound while riding or the motorbike battery stops charging while riding.
Malfunctioned stator.	Malfunctioned stator won’t produce an electric charge while riding.	Malfunctioned stator won’t produce electric charge while riding.
Dirty carburetor.	Air-fuel mixture problems and if your motorbike starts to overheat suddenly.	Dirty carburetors would cause a lean air-fuel mixture.
Kill switch.	Your motorbike won’t ignite the engine.	The kill switch breaks the connection between the ignition coil and the spark plug.

Faulty Battery: 

A malfunctioning battery can cause your motorbike to become unresponsive. Regrettably, numerous riders tend to overlook the condition of their motorbike battery, exacerbating the issue. Indicators such as dim lights and difficulties in starting the motorbike often point to a faulty battery. Typically, a motorbike battery loses its efficiency due to problems with the stator, electric charge-producing devices, or the installation of devices that exceed the battery’s capacity.

Spark Plug: 

The second reason for motorbike unresponsiveness is often attributed to a faulty spark plug, which affects both the kick and self-start functions. The spark plug serves as a device that generates a spark to ignite the motorbike engine. When the ceramic coating of the spark plug cracks, it disrupts the electric charge, causing it to follow the path of least resistance. Consequently, the spark plug fails to generate the necessary electric charge.

Experts advise checking the spark plug during engine ignition, as a small spark indicates proper functionality, while the absence of a spark indicates a problem. Faulty spark plugs are commonly encountered when the motorbike is exposed to oil or when the spark plug is mishandled prior to installation.

Blocked Air Filters: 

Blocked air filters are essential for preventing dust particles from entering your motorbike’s engine. Particularly for frequent off-road riders, blocked air filters are a common cause of motorbike unresponsiveness.

Signs such as a burning smell, an improper air-fuel mixture, or wear on the piston and cylinder indicate that a blocked air filter may be the primary issue. To maintain optimal performance, experts generally recommend checking and cleaning your motorbike’s air filters approximately every 3000 miles.

Malfunctioned Starter:

Although stator malfunctioning is not a common occurrence, it should not be overlooked as a potential cause of motorbike issues. The stator serves as the device responsible for generating an electric charge while you ride. When the stator malfunctions, it fails to produce the necessary electric charge during operation.

The exact reasons for stator malfunctions are not well-defined, but some experts attribute it to the installation of excessive electrical devices on the motorbike. If you encounter symptoms such as a whining sound while riding, the motorbike battery ceasing to charge during rides or dim and sluggish lights, a malfunctioning stator could be the primary cause.

Experts also recommend periodically checking your motorbike’s electrical system every 10,000 miles to ensure its proper functioning.

Dirty Carburetor: 

The carburetor is the motorbike device that helps the fuel and air to mix for internal combustion. 

Dirt on the carburetor can be caused when you do off-road riding a lot or you don’t clean your internal motorbike parts.

Suppose you ever experience air-fuel mixture problems and your motorbike starts to overheat suddenly. In that case, a dirty carburetor could be the main reason behind it.  

Kill Switch: 

A motorcycle kill switch is a button that helps turn off the motorcycle within a second without touching the key. 

The motorcycle kills switch works by breaking the spark plug circuit, thus turning off the engine instantly. Most motorcycles have kill switches but at different locations. 

I had a bad experience when I thought my Harley engine malfunctioned. Later, I found my Harley kill switch was enabled.

And thus, it’s crucial to check if your motorbike switch is on/off, also, don’t forget to see if your motorbike kill switch is malfunctioning or not.

Also, read my previous post where I discussed what is motorcycle kill switch is and why the motorbike comes with a motorbike kill switch, CLICK HERE to read.

Solution for Faulty Battery? 

So far, you understand what’s the reason why your motorbike self-start is malfunctioning. Now the question arises, how can you solve the battery problem? 

 If your motorbike is suffering from a battery problem, then it’s better to check the condition of your battery. For instance, you should charge your motorbike battery if it’s discharged. 

Or, if there’s something wrong with the battery charging plug, it’s advisable to hire a technician to see your motorbike battery. 

Inner Wiring Could Be the Reason? 

Inner wiring is a complex place where you can’t figure out any problem easily. 

And this could be the main reason your motorbike self-starter isn’t working. If there’s a loose plug or broken wire, there won’t be a connection between your self-start and the engine. 

To tackle this problem, you could take your motorbike to the technician, who will check whether your motorbike’s inner wire is connected or not. 

What to Do With a Malfunctioned Stator? 

Undoubtedly a stator is necessary to produce charge while you’re riding, experts recommend checking, and if something is broken, you should consider changing it, you may do it yourself; it’s better to hire a technician. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

Why is the Self Start Not Working? If your self-start isn’t working, there’s something wrong with the motorbike battery, spark plug, or stator. 

Even in some cases, motorbikes show the same problem when there’s something wrong with the motorbike kill switch. If you’re able to start the motorbike with a kick but now with a self-start, there could be something wrong with the wires. 

I’ve mentioned some solutions and countermeasures you can take to ensure your motorbike self-start will never see a malfunction.