Time to get the V11 out, but wont start...

[rich888]

Been laid up over Winter and now she's refusing to start.

Sparks fine, no sign of fuel on the plugs, so I'm sus on the electric fuel valve (petcock).

Is this the most likely culprit?

I can hear the fuel pump priming.

Any immediate thoughts before I go digging?

[Pressureangle]

Can you hear the fuel squirting back into the tank while priming? on my 'Sport I can tell when it's properly primed. 

If you can hear fuel returning- try it with the cap open to make it easier to hear- then suspect that the cranking battery voltage has dropped below ~10v and the ignition module isn't active. 

[rich888]

Well it's amazing what a little tappy tap tap can do!

Solenoid fuel valve was stuck shut. Gave it some light percussive maintenance and hey presto, she fired up instantly!

 

[gstallons]

Anything is possible. Start eliminating causes. Answer Pressureangle's ?s first. Pay attention to the fuel pump noise when you turn the key on . 

Battery voltage=

Fuel shut-off valve= do you have a mechanic's stethoscope ? If so , you might be able to hear it energize . That doesn't mean it opened . How difficult is it to disconnect the fuel line and see if fuel flows when you turn the key on ? I hope you are running ZERO alcohol fuel . this fuel w/alcohol content is not good on things

 Spark= have you removed the spark plug and reconnected the lead laying it over against the head and cranked to see spark ?

[rich888]

2 hours ago, gstallons said:

Anything is possible. Start eliminating causes. Answer Pressureangle's ?s first. Pay attention to the fuel pump noise when you turn the key on . 

Battery voltage=

Fuel shut-off valve= do you have a mechanic's stethoscope ? If so , you might be able to hear it energize . That doesn't mean it opened . How difficult is it to disconnect the fuel line and see if fuel flows when you turn the key on ? I hope you are running ZERO alcohol fuel . this fuel w/alcohol content is not good on things

 Spark= have you removed the spark plug and reconnected the lead laying it over against the head and cranked to see spark ?

See my update above! It was a sticky solenoid on the fuel shutoff valve!

[Lucky Phil]

2 hours ago, rich888 said:

See my update above! It was a sticky solenoid on the fuel shutoff valve!

Cant understand why you still have one fitted.

Phil

[gstallons]

Yeah , I would swap that out for a mechanical one. When you install a new one you'll be delighted not to have to use a 18'' pipe wrench to loosen/tighten the shutoff .