What Causes a Motorcycle to Fail to Start After Falling Over?
2 Answers
If a motorcycle fails to start after falling over, it could be due to gasoline flooding the cylinder and wetting the spark plug, gasoline entering the air filter causing airflow blockage, or even engine oil entering the air filter or carburetor through the breather tube, resulting in failure to start. Below is an introduction to motorcycle spark plugs: Introduction: The spark plug is a crucial component of a gasoline engine's ignition system. It introduces high-voltage electricity into the combustion chamber and generates a spark by jumping the electrode gap, thereby igniting the combustible air-fuel mixture in the cylinder. It mainly consists of a terminal nut, insulator, terminal stud, center electrode, side electrode, and shell, with the side electrode welded to the shell. Working Principle: Under high voltage, the air between the spark plug's center electrode and side electrode rapidly ionizes, forming positively charged ions and negatively charged free electrons. When the voltage between the electrodes reaches a certain level, the number of ions and electrons in the gas increases like an avalanche, causing the air to lose its insulating properties.
I've personally experienced a motorcycle not starting after a fall. Once on a rainy day, I slipped while riding and couldn't start the bike after getting up. This is mostly because the tip-over sensor activated - it's a safety device that automatically cuts engine power when the bike falls to prevent hazards. Additionally, the spark plug may get wet or oily during the fall, causing ignition difficulties; or wiring connections might come loose, especially the battery terminals. When checking, remember to first upright the bike and wait a few minutes for the sensor to reset; then try starting again. If it still won't start, you might need to clean the spark plug or reconnect wires. I ended up calling a tow truck to the repair shop, where they found the sensor was faulty. Though a fall seems minor, don't overlook safety risks - regularly checking your motorcycle's stability components and sensor settings can reduce accidents. After a fall, stay calm and don't rush to start; methodically troubleshooting is always better than forcing ignition.
