Started right up, washed it, not starting, backfire

[dorkburger]

A late update: Pulled the plugs, and they were black and fouled, I'm guessing from trying to start it so many times. Replaced the plugs, and the bike started right up. Success!


Thanks for all the help guys. I love the sense of the community on this site.

Great......now for more cold.

[Grimly]

I killed an ignitor unit after being too enthusiastic with a jet spray. I didn't blast it up under the tank or on the ignitor itself, but after the wash, the bike wouldn't start at all and the ignitor tested 'fail' according to the cross-connection tests in the Haynes Book of Lies. That ignitor still kicks around on a shelf and I've been meaning to get back around to it, just to see if it's dried out any. Should do, it's been a few years now.
All the same, it's a 30 year old piece and due replacement with something more modern and reliable (although, until then it had been faultless for at least ten years and over 100,000 miles).