My buggered SV.

[Feldspar]

Have read through various posts but can't find my symptoms so thought I'd post. Any help would be much appreciated...

Weirdness started a week ago when I got on the bike from cold, (overnight), it's garaged so wasn't that cold or even damp for that matter. Turn the ignition key to ON and the fan comes on immediately. Never heard it before. Was worried but didn't really know what to do apart from the normal. The last ride I'd had a few days prior had been through lots of slow traffic, crawling at 20mph for 10 minutes with no chance of getting past. I wondered if it had got hot and then the thermostat had remained open or something? Dunno but not sure I've ever heard the fan before so...

I started it and rode it 'round the corner and the fan turned off then I rode it to work as normal, ran fine, no problems.

That was Thursday of last week. Had Friday off, didn't ride on the weekend. Went to start it this morning, ignition to on, fan comes on again. Weird... It fired up first time but died, you know, not quite catching. Tried it again but it wouldn't start, only turn over. I tried it a few times and of course the battery died. I'd left it for a few minutes in case I'd given it too much choke.

So, I pushed it up the street and tried to bump it but again it wouldn't catch. Then I couldn't get it out of 1st. It's never smooth but always goes without too much effort. I had a Yamaha YBR-125 before and that was similar in that getting out of first was more of 'gate' than any other gear, and finding neutral needed the touch of a virgin...

So I try to bump it again and this time I can't get it out of 1st without pretty much kicking it. But I also notice that with the clutch all the way in, it won't roll in 1st or 2nd, it's as if it's fully engaged. I can't push it, it won't budge. I finally get it back in neutral and it rolls again.

Now when I try and turn it over it sounds like it's going to fire then makes a 'clack' sound like someone hitting a metal table with a small hammer. Just once, and stops turning over. Won't start and battery's dead pretty much. I'll try to jump it when the missus gets home but wondered if anyone knew about the gear/clutch problem?

Is it like some cars where the oil is pumped 'round the engine from a bottom sump and so if the engine isn't/hasn't been running it gets a bit stiff? Doesn't seem right to me that it won't roll in gear with the clutch fully pulled back/disengaged.

Sounds expensive to me but wondered if anyone knows what might be going on?

So, there's the fan issue, and won't start and the won't roll in gear with clutch disengaged thing.

Oil level's good and no warning lights or anything obvious.

Anyone?

Cheers for any help available.

BTW it's 2000 SV650 curvy, totally stock, 16,500 miles roughly and has run great 'til now. Gear change has been smooth, although clearly I'm no expert, blah.

[NedSVS]

The fan coming on when cold could be a knackered teperature sensor / switch. The sensor / switch thingy (technical terminology) is on the upper right of the radiator (you can see it through the fairing hole on the curvey). Unfortunately the wires dissapear under the tank somewhere - you need to disconnect this to see if it stops the fan running when cold and check for damaged wires whilst doing this (just incase the insulation is worn off anywhere and shorting the wire which would give the same effect as closing the switch).
The clutch sticking when cold doesn't soound that unusual to me, the cork plates can stick quite firmly to the metal ones in the cluch when the bike has been stood and the oil is cold and this often causes quite a clunk the first time 1st gear is engaged. Incidentally, on the few occasions I have needed to bump start I found third gear best as it would lock the rear wheel in first & second.
I suspect you clack sound is the starter gear engaging but your battery doesn't have enough power to turn the motor over.

[Feldspar]

Dude, thank you for all that. I'll have a look at the sensor and wiring tomorrow morning, (don't have electric or lights out in the garage). It does seem intermittent as on the return journey home from work on that Thursday, the fan *didn't* come on when I turned the key to on, pre-ignition. So, could be a wire shorting or a dodgy sensor.

Also re: the sticky gearbox, I've been bricking myself that it's going to cost me super-wonga, so thanks for perhaps putting my mind at rest a little.

When the sun comes up, I'll have at it and hopefully get somewhere with it.

Thanks for taking the time to post.

[petevtwin650]

I would discomnnect the fan first and then put the battery on charge. Sounds like a flat battery which a constantly running fan won't help. Possibly just water or a bare wire causing that I would think.

Clutch sticking, pretty normal. They always drag a bit on Sv's anyway. Just need to get oil hot and maybeadjust the free play in the clutch cable and that hopefully will be fine. Also suspect your chokes aren't working properly.

[Feldspar]

Certainly putting my mind at rest a bit re: clutch stickiness. Also, like you and Ned above, I'm banking on some crummy little problem re: the fan.

I think the choke problem might be user error. I've driven old Triumph classic cars for years, have had a few Dolomites (70's), Vitesses ('68 & '69) and a MkI 2000 ('66). They all needed full choke most of the time when starting, even in summer, because they were so old and never really setup all that well, petrol differences, blah, and I'm rubbish with refurbing/setting up carbs.

So I think I tend to over-choke, not sure. I know it's like asking how long's a piece of string but an SV from cold, stored in a garage overnight, in September/October when it's fairly dry out - roughly how much choke should I be giving it? I've tried starting it with none and it doesn't want to know, and full choke is too much, but of course the choke is kind of vague anyway. It seems to be either off, half or full to me when riding it and reducing the choke after it's started, there only seems to be three positions. I think I need to lube it up a bit and get a smoother gradiation.

I guess I need to experiment but I'd be interested to know what other people give theirs? It's 8 years old and has 16,500 miles so that needs factoring in, and 'cause the battery only gives me three attempts to start it before it dies, I'm sort of on a flyer each time I try it. But I reckoned it not starting a few weeks ago was down to flooding as I left it all day, went to work, and it started first time when I re-tried it that evening.

My Yamaha was fuel injected so started 1st every time even in deepest darkest winter. I've not had the SV long and am still getting used to it.

Anyway, thanks for helping me out, I appreciate it. I'll have a look at the sensor, wiring and general fan stuff tomorrow, get a battery booster out of the missus's car and it'll probably all be alright after that. Get the oil warm and I'm sure the clutch and gearbox will all be smooth(-ish) again.

After pushing it up and down the road about 8 times this morning I was seriously worried there was something utterly screwed with it.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Cheers.

[Biker Biggles]

First thing is get the battery properly charged up.These bikes take a lot of welly to start from cold,and if it dies after three attempts you dont have enough welly.
Then give it a good check over,including coolant and clutch adjustment,oil level and plugs.If you have had old Triumph cars you will know what to do.---?
No idea about the fan coming on,but maybe sticking sensor?And the bang from the starter motor area is fine.They all do that when they fail to start.

[Feldspar]

OK, to all who took the time to reply, thanks very much. I was panicking a bit. I read Sid Squid's guide to jumping an SV and connected direct to the relay terminals with a booster pack. Bloody thing started first time. Rode it for about an hour and a half today to charge up the battery and it's as right as rain. I miss it when I can't ride it, and get a stupid grin again when I can. So thanks for all the advice and for putting my mind at ease about the stickiness of the clutch. I've read a few different forums now and seemingly bumping it in 3rd or 4th is the trick. I'll try that next time, if there is a next time, which I'm sure there will be. I'll go a bit easier on the choke too and investigate the fan problem more when/if it happens again. It hasn't done all day today or yesterday.

Cheers. I appreciate it.