Bike not starting after ride, now wont start at all

[Corny Gizmo]

Morning all,

Im new to this forum, I have searched for this problem but cant find a definitive answer, so hope someone can help.

got my 1999 curvy last month, passed my test yesterday (restricted to 47BHP) went out on it yesterday, everything was fine untill about an hour in, pulled up at lights put it into neutral and it died. Restarted easily but starter seemed a bit slow. Anyway carried on for a few more hours, visiting people etc. later on died again (again in neutral) would not restart, solenoid buzzing, dash lights dimming, starter turning really slowly etc. Eventually bumped it and it started but i noticed the lights were dimming when i revved it?

This morning same symptoms, Iv replaced the starter relay but nothings changed. (also this morning iv noticed the rev counter and speedo are jumping around when pressing the start up button)

So my question is, R/R or Starter Motor?

Thanks in advance
Ryan

[L3nny]

Sounds like the R/R or the genny to me. Had the same problem on my VFR last year and had to replace the genny.

[jambo]

A few possibilities.

I'd say at present the battery is low, so I'd take that out and charge it so you're starting from a known point.
Make sure the battery terminals are tight, check as you take the battery out as this can lead to some of the above symptoms.

I suspect when the battery is charged and re-installed the bike will start and run fine. Get a multi meter and check the charging circuit. Do a search on here for "charging circuit test" and you'll find a guide to voltages and such. You may find the bike isn't charging the battery, leading to the voltages running down during a trip, until there's not enough power to run the bike.


Jambo

[Corny Gizmo]

ok ill try the voltage tests later on when i get home, thanks guys

any more ideas fell free to let me know :)

[Mauler]

It sounds like it may be the R/R but I'll let more experienced Orgers correct me...

EDIT - Bah, ninjaed! :)

[Corny Gizmo]

Ok, bump started it and tested the 3 yellow wires going to the R/R @ 5K RPM... ZERO VOLTAGE, absolutley nothing.

also test the battery...
Engine Off - Lights off = 11 Volts
Engine Running - Lights off = 11Volts
Engine Running - Lights on = 9-10 Volts, Dim lights
Engine Running - Reving, voltage drops to 6 ???

any ideas much appreciated.

[Biker Biggles]

Get the battery charged up asap or you will wreck it through sitting in a discharged state.As for the yellow wires they should be showing about 60-70 volts ac across each combination of them.(1&2 2&3 1&3)
If not there may be an alternator problem or somethings not connected right.

[Corny Gizmo]

or... i was testing each one individually... can you tell its my first big bike ? haha

ill test them properly tomorrow and borrow a charger :)

[Noddy]

I had a very similar issue with mine last year, 2002 Curvy S. It turned out, after I had my tame sparks take a look at it the starter relay fuse had melted away the housing and caused some wiring damage. Apparently this affected the electronic gubbins sufficiently to prevent the reg rec doing its job :confused:. (Sorry for the lame explanation but I'm no auto electrician). Any way I bought a new reg rec whether it needed it or not and my mate rewired the starter circuitry and put in a new fuse holder and Lo all has been well ever since and I haven't had any further issues.

Before the job was done the bike would run out of electricity before it ran out of petrol :shock:. It just wouldn't charge at all during normal running, my mate told me the motor was essentially just being kept alive by the battery. If I stopped and attempted to re start the engine just wouldn't turn over, all I got was a clunk and that was it, no lights, nothing.

I hope this helps a little bit and points you in the right direction.

ATB

Paul

[stuR]

Sounds like r/r to me, but as above could be wiring relating to it etc

[Corny Gizmo]

Thanks for that Noddy, sounds the same. I have replaced the starter relay as i got a spare when i bought the bike. I noticed that the plug that goes onto it with the 3 or 4 wires had slight damage to it (Bit Burnt)

but once connected the ignition works so thought its ok, as i say gonna check the alternator again tomorrow and if im getting voltage ill just get a new R/R.

just gutted its happened the day after i passed my bloody test :(

[stuR]

These things always happen at the worst o times!

[embee]

Remember when checking the alternator output that you measure on the wires coming from the alternator, not the wires going to the reg/rec. Just a thought.

[Corny Gizmo]

Update: The power issue has mysteriously stopped... voltage has returned to around 12.5 to 13 volts, confused as hell as I havent tried to fix it since posting on here the voltage tests the other day.

Now I have a new problem, oil leaking from left side near the front sprocket cover only two of three drops when parked, is it common?

[jambo]

If you're happy for a problem to fix itself, you're happy for it to come back. Check your voltages, wiggle some wires. Perhaps the connections to the battery were poor previously.

Regarding the oil leak, get the front sprocket cover off and check if the front sprocket nut is tight. Sometimes if the nut is loose you start loosing some oil from behind the seal.

Jambo

[Corny Gizmo]

Cheers Jambo, I thought that myself, the problem will come back im sure, iv got a new RR on the way so if/when it does ill be ready, the battery connections were/are tight, first thing I checked.

some of the wiring has previously been spliced/replaced/bodged (Insulation tape everywhere) so i think ill take it all off, re-do the connections and solder them all and clean up :)

ill have a go at the sprocket cover tonight, thanks for the advice mate.

Ryan

[Corny Gizmo]

Hi all,

resurrecting this thread, as Jambo said, the problem came back, this time worse.

yesterday wouldnt start so bumped it and then got to my nans and changed the R/R, its now even worse to get home i had to keep the revs high and stay away from anything electrical or it just died (Lights, Indicators etc) im getting 11.5 volts off the battery but it doesnt go any higher when running at 5k revs.

somethings obviously very wrong, any ideas before i take it to a garage and get screwed over?

thanks

[rictus01]

did you ever test the AC output ?

[Corny Gizmo]

yeah, i was getting voltage, think it was around 50 - 60 volts (tested a week or two ago), didnt check it yesterday, you think its the generator then?

[rictus01]

you do know you have to check the three phases ? could also be the wiring between the plug and the alternator.

[Corny Gizmo]

ok ill try again when i get back, before i take it to the garage :)

so if i dont get voltage on one of the 3 phases does that mean i probably need a new geny? (provided the wiring is ok)

[rictus01]

provided the wiring is OK inside the alternator cover as well, then yes it probably

[Corny Gizmo]

ok mate, thanks for the advice - mucho appriciado!

[Corny Gizmo]

hi all,

im getting around 80 AC Volts from all three phases @5K revs, at the connector to the rectifier, iv only just bought the R/R so im stuck (it has the direct to battery mod to)

if it helps the yellow wires are warm

[Corny Gizmo]

morning all, update.

so far ive replaced the solenoid, the RR and now the battery.

all was going well yeterday, plenty of cranking power from the new battery, started it today all good. got about 8 miles down the expressway and the rev counter died at around 50MPH and the petrol light came on solid (full tank) then it went normal again, 5 seconds later rev counter died again, fuel light on and the bike began to stutter as if it had no fuel. It died at the side of the road, i bumped it but then it died again soon after (no lights on the dash) i wiggled the wires on the solenoid and the lights came back on. but still no cranking power and it eventually dies if bumped (usually braking kills it)

in the end i pushed it to work and now once again im clueless. im guessing its a loose wire/short, given the clue of the rev counter diying first does anyone have a decent idea?

thanks guys