Is it the battery, is it the starter motor? Ok, I give up!!

chris r · Post by **chris r** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:34 pm

Trying to get the bike started today & it ain't happening. Granted, I haven't used it for a few weeks, and as it's in a garage with no power I can't put it on a trickle charge.

I had it on a datatool charger until the status went green. Pressed the start button, turned over twice & the machine gun noise kicked it.

Tried the booster box, got the same results.

Tried jump leads from the car. Nothing, just a couple of attempts at turning over & the clicking kicks in

Chances are the battery is on the way out as these seems to happen most winters, but surely using the jump leads from the car should have produced some results?

Am I looking at a big bill here?

gus · Post by **gus** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:10 pm

Hi
I would get a new battery and try that first. Could be the duff battery causing jumping probs.
Gus

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:22 pm

had same problem some years ago with a boxer engine. was indeed the battery. As Gus says try battery first. Is there anyone local you could swap with to try? I know it's a pain but might be worth trying

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:31 pm

Also make sure the terminals is tight on the battery poles, depending on the age measure the current of the battery with a load tester, or If the battery reads less than 12.5V on multimeter it is kaput.

chris r · Post by **chris r** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:35 pm

I was thinking the battery myself but the whole lack of "jumpstart from the car" made me think it was perhaps something else.

I know the battery is the same it was issued with back in 2003, so its had 10 years worth of abuse. I think the terminals are ok, but I shall double check next weekend before taking the plunge & buying an Odyssey battery. My only doubt with buying those is that I can't fit it to a trickle charger.....apart from my solar one.

I've always had problems with batteries with every bike I've had. Unless the bike was brand new I would always end up buying a new one at some point.

Dai wiskers · Post by **Dai wiskers** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:17 pm

A tip for anyone that has no power in their garage connect a car battery to the bike with jump leads and leave it connected, this will cover any drain from the clock or alarm every month or so take the car battery and give it a top up charge for an hour or so

Happy to help Dai

Neil178 · Post by **Neil178** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:24 pm

You anywhere near Derby by any chance Chris?
I have an okay battery sat here that may be of use.

cornishflat · Post by **cornishflat** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:37 am

Dai wiskers wrote:A tip for anyone that has no power in their garage connect a car battery to the bike with jump leads and leave it connected, this will cover any drain from the clock or alarm every month or so take the car battery and give it a top up charge for an hour or so

Happy to help Dai

Good idea Dai, sould be able to pick up a decent size battery for little money too.

chris r · Post by **chris r** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:55 am

Neil178 wrote:You anywhere near Derby by any chance Chris?
I have an okay battery sat here that may be of use.

Thanks for the offer but I'm miles away. Just I'm in north London.

peter f · Post by **peter f** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:17 am

tanneman wrote:Also make sure the terminals is tight on the battery poles, depending on the age measure the current of the battery with a load tester, or If the battery reads less than 12.5V on multimeter it is kaput.

Additionally if voltage at cranking time is less than ~10.2 V ... the battery is rather kaput. PS: In order to test this you'll need 3 arms (or a girlfriend).

A clear indication of a dead battery is an idle discharge rate far greater that the theoretical 1% (per day) - say 3% etc etc.

1M question: of course Odyssey is a fine thing....but what's best? (a) a cheap Yuasa replaced every 2 years (b) an Odyssey costing 3 times than the Yuasa replaced every 5-6 years.

Mike B · Post by **Mike B** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:33 am

My bike did strange things last year. A new battery cured it totally.

I went for a motorbatt, simply because I am in the trade and they are a really good battery for decent money. However! they fit just about every thing apart from the BMW battery holder on my S. The battery is a few mm too wide, it will fit in with a push, but I opted for taking the angle grinder to the battery holder

check this out

http://boulevardowners.com/cafe/index.c ... cID=157926

Dai wiskers · Post by **Dai wiskers** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:43 am

Horses for courses realy Peter i have an odyssy[spelin] fitted but my bike lives outside on the street if it was kept in the garage it would have a uasa or similar connected up to a car battery
this way the bike battery should last a lot longer having the car battery connected will save the bike battery fron discharge due to the alarm, clock, starts etc remember when you start the bike in the garage without riding it you will not put back the charge you take out by starting it,
Over the years i have discovered that a motor is better not started when stood up, just take the plugs out and spin it over for a few seconds once a week this way it keeps everything lubed up and produces no heat that causes motor killing condensation also it takes far less out of the battery.

Sorry almost forgot the original question battery or starter without having the bike here i honestly have no idea but if it was fine before being stood it's a good chance it's the battery

When the battery went on mine i had filled up then the snows came[the lot before last] so the bike was stood up it refused to start after so i jump started id set of on my way to ipswich stopped to fill up after 100 or so miles the bloody thing still would not start however on my return journey it started fine after every break anf fuel stop, an old odyssey needs a long run to get the charge back into it
A new odyssey was fitted and it has been fine ever since the old battery was used for running fans and lights in the garage with no problem untill i cooked it on the boost charger [Ann wanted to go shopping i forgot to turn off the charger on our return]

Sorry for rambling Dai

ianbcr · Post by **ianbcr** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:55 am

dai,stop rambling on. [smilie=mutley laugh.gif]

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:26 pm

Dai, little hint on the boost charger front .... pop into B&Q and for a few quid or so they sell those timer plug things, just set it to switch on for 30 mins or so per day

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electrical/s ... d=12348215

I have several around the house, a couple turn on table lamps in the living room. Means coming home the house doesn't appear empty

and of course security is enhanced. One turns a fan heater on in the bedroom to take any chill off the room in the mornings, and a couple in the garage for battery tweaking etc

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:46 pm

I have noticed that my R11S uses far less charge while it stood in the garage over these cold weeks than the R12GSA which is fitted with all the goodies and a BMW alarm. I have one charger that I swap between them every few days and when I start the bike to take it out the engine turns over leisurely. However a quick ride is all it needs then all is fine. Both are on BMW batt, one is 2 years old the other going for 4. Do keep in mind that the cold will also influence the performance of the batt. The colder it is the less amperage the batt is capable of delivering.