Bike not starting intermittently

shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
Ive recently been running into a very strange issue. I get on the bike (its in neutral), put up the kickstand (bike wont start with kickstand down regardless of gear), turn the key to the On position. The fuel pump primes, i can hear it whirring. then i hit the starter button and......nothing. the weird thing is, i'll turn the bike off, wait a little bit, try again and it works just fine.

ive tried wiggling the wires by the throttle to see if maybe its a loose connection or something, tried REALLY kicking the kickstand back up, tried different gears.

damn thing seems to have a mind of its own.

the fuel pump primes just fine, but when i hit that button the engine doesnt even attempt to start. the lights dont get dim or anything.

I'm thinking its a loose connector or maybe a damaged wire for that button.

I have 0 mechanical experience and im not really too sure how to go about checking it (visually or mechanically). i do have a multimeter though.
 
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
its a brand new battery (2 weeks old, maybe) and i ride daily. while the pump is priming, the lights and all that dont go dim, and when i press the button and it actually does start the lights barely get dim, plus the engine doesnt sound like its getting less starting juice.... my previous battery did die on me, and right now it sounds nothing like when the battery was dead. i can check it though.

can i test the battery with a multimeter? i dont have a charger nor do i ahve anywhere in the garage to plug in a charger.
 
zoomsplat

zoomsplat

And I was all "Braap!"
shrimants said:
ive tried wiggling the wires by the throttle to see if maybe its a loose connection or something, tried REALLY kicking the kickstand back up, tried different gears.


I have 0 mechanical experience and im not really too sure how to go about checking it (visually or mechanically). i do have a multimeter though.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've reached the end of your diagnosis and its time to call in professional help.
 
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
well, it happened day before yesterday but i figured i was just running low on fuel and didnt pay much attention to it.

This morning it happened again right as i was leaving for work and randomly started working again. as it was right before work i didnt really get a chance to look at it, i just said a prayer, said a swear, tried it again and hoped for the best.
 
H

Hank Wong

Well-known member
I had nearly the same symptoms and it was the starter. I removed the starter. Took it to O'Reilly Auto Parts. They did a free diagnostics and confirmed that it was the solenoid. My starter and solenoid are one piece. I replaced it myself.
Not to say yours is the starter. It could very well be a kick-stand switch or something electrical. In these cases, the diagnostic order is battery one, starter second, fuel delivery third, and electrical gremlin fourth. I think you can rule out the battery since it is new. You can rule out fuel delivery and rectifier since it starts intermittently. Try this. The next time it does not start, get a stick or wrench and tap the starter and/or the solenoid with it. If it starts after some tapping, it is definitely the starter / solenoid.

By the way, I think you got a raw deal at that shop. Chalk it down as a lesson learned and let it be an incentive to DIY. Hope you figure out the problem quickly and happy riding. If this is your first bike, welcome to the moto world.
 
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shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
Hank Wong said:
I had nearly the same symptoms and it was the starter. I removed the starter, took it to O'Reilly Auto Parts. They did a free diagnostics and confirmed that it was the solenoid. My starter and solenoid are one piece. I replaced it myself.
Click to expand...

yeah, i got the manual and some basic crappy tools. i'll have some time this weekend so i'll try diagnosing further. just didnt have time right before work.
 
dmaxAl

dmaxAl

Well-known member
You should prolly think about finding a way to charge batteries, we all need to at some point. I'd still be going after the starting circuit at this point. HolyO suggests an expiring starter relay. Could be. Electrical stuff tends to get much more sensitive to quality power as it ages (corrosion, self heating creates more parasitic resistance that needs more juice. V=IR and all that)..
If you have a multi, check batt voltage with everything off (< 13ish v, charge problem). If it's 13ish+ V and does nothing when the button is pressed, bad relay (no current draw at all). Oh and :

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394141

:twofinger
 
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
dmaxAl said:
You should prolly think about finding a way to charge batteries, we all need to at some point. I'd still be going after the starting circuit at this point. HolyO suggests an expiring starter relay. Could be. Electrical stuff tends to get much more sensitive to quality power as it ages (corrosion, self heating creates more parasitic resistance that needs more juice. V=IR and all that)..
If you have a multi, check batt voltage with everything off (< 13ish v, charge problem). If it's 13ish+ V and does nothing when the button is pressed, bad relay (no current draw at all). Oh and :

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394141

:twofinger
Click to expand...

that.....is a handy fricken thread.
 
mototireguy

mototireguy

Moto Tire Veteran
Maybe...

Clutch interlock switch, kickstand interlock switch, battery terminal screws not snug or dirty, new battery not being properly recharged/maintained by the bike charging system, etc.

What are the battery voltage readings when...
* Key off?
* Key on?
* Bike running at low-mid rpms?
 
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