shadownin

First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Mike, I'm in the Air Force, live in Wyoming, and just recently got the 'go-ahead' from the 'boss' to get my first bike. So, last week, I picked up a beautiful 2003 Shadow ACE. Looks great, unfortunately, I'm having problems starting her.

I know this is a really dumb topic, but I've gone through the manual, this forum, and many other forums and for some reason can't find an answer.

When I try to start her, everything is on (fuel switch, engine shut-off switch, ignintion, and in neutral w/ the choke out and kickstand up & down) and is full of fuel, I push the start button, she turns... and turns... and turns. A friend came by, we checked the spark plugs, which were wet, so we cleaned them off, made sure there wasn't any fuel left, put the plugs back in, and tried again, with the choke out, with it all the way in, and a little in between. No luck. We then checked the battery, was pretty low, so charged it up, and tried again. Still no luck. At this point I'm pretty frustrated because this is my first bike and don't know what to do. SOMEBODY HELP!!!

that one guy

check to see if ur gettin spark to the plugs, take plugs out and turn it over a few times cause you might have flooded it, check air filter and intake system so its getting air, check carbs arnt gunked up or if its fi make sure throttle boddies are functioning and injectors are injecting. basically think of the 4 steps the engine goes through and check everything that makes that step work until it runs.

MSchu

you flooded your bike... never continue to crank a bike if she wont fire up fairly quickly, this is a sure fire way to kill a stator. MAKE SURE your plugs are good, take one out and plug it into the plug wire and set the electrode on a steel surface on the bike... if you do not see sparking then it is an electrical problem... ignitor, ignition, coil issue. make sure your wires are seated and plugged into the coils firmly. if you see spark, then you may have a fuel flooding issue. try not to use so much choke... choke is not always necessary... I take it then this is a carbed bike?

not2slo128

back to basics:

fuel
air
spark


fuel: You have wet plugs; you have fuel
air: duh
spark: this is most likely your problem. Check plugs/ignition system

3Dcycle

hey try to drain your float bowls. just cause it got gas dont mean it good gas.