Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Hello

I've been away from riding for a couple of months, so I've had the battery at home, trickle charging until I get back to riding again. So today, being so nice, and having a break from uni work and lectures, I decided to go for a ride at long last.

The battery was wired back in etc, the lights worked, the alarm works etc which was promising. Waited for the fuel pumps to whirr (which they did, as normal) but then pressing ignition button causes a failed attempt at starting the engine followed bu lots of clicks. There are nothing unusual displayed on the dash (no F1 or anything like that)

Tried to bump start. Failed.

Retried electric start, and still no luck, with the whole clicking thing.

I'm sure it'll be a simple problem, and I hope someone can tell me what it is :)

Thanks in advanced!

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Kill Switch?

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Sounds like the starter solenoid/battery level. Not enough juice to turn the motor...

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

mouse in the starter motor

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Just a dead battery.

You're not the only one! : http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.p...05#post2198005

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Duff battery, possibly a cell gone

Enough power to just about get the fuel pump going and power the dash, but the instant you try to put a load on it it gives up and you just get the starter relay clicking.

Duff battery may also fail to accept a charge

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Side stand/in gear?
kill switch?
frozen starter (kick the starter motor really hard as you hit the ignition button).

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

It's off (down-position) (the killswitch)

If it was on, it would show messages in the dash about F1 etc.

But it certainly isn't engaged. :)

Also tried side stand up and down, with clutch in etc. No luck.


I'm going to see about getting a new battery...

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

If you've got a trickle charger take a look at the reading it is giving you.

If after 24 hours it is still in "charging" mode, it's most likely a duff battery. If it's in "maintain" mode it means it should be kosher.

(Not definitive but a likely indicator)

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

If it were a safety switch (clutch/stand/kill) you wouldn't get the starter relay clicking

Borrow a 12V battery and see if it'll start - jumping it from a (non-running) car is fine, if it fires up it's almost certainly the battery

Had a similar thing with some friends visiting, bike started fine off the boat then within 5 minutes the battery couldn't turn the engine over, just died

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

what happens to the lights when you hit the starter button?

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I had the pointy off the road for less than a week and the side stand relay failed. it drove me nuts trying to work out why it wasnt working. I'll find the thread hang on...

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=142918

There ya go, try all those bits of advice.
The result was YC coming and putting a bypass on the side stand relay once it was changed I had no issues.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

On the pointy the +ve headlamp feed is cut when the starter button is pressed so they go out whether the starter and battery are working or not

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

1: I didnt know that :P
2: I actually meant more about after trying to start it. IE did they dim after trying it and it failing to start, when mine packed in the lights remained bright until after a load of attempts, then finally they began to dim. However I was thinking if the battery was the problem then only after 1 or 2 trys the OP would notice a dimming in the lights.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Well, I shifted the battery back on my bicycle, and it's just finished bulk charging and is now float charging... it was very empty. (my bike is about 2 miles away you see, it's somewhat inconvenient...)

I don't know about the lights, i'll have a look next time.

Thanks for all the suggestions/tips, but I can't update whether they work or not until sometime later in the week, hopefully.

I'll look into the sidestand switch, although the irritating thing is there's no electricity (or water! have to take bottles for cleaning) at the garage where I keep my bike, so if it needs some soldering doing I'm a little bit stuck.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

you can buy gas powered soldering irons quite cheap from halfords, their only the size of a lighter but they'll do the job.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I got an ace butane one from Maplins for £12. Worth a look :thumbsup:

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Why did this fail?
If you tried properly & it didn't work, surely you've got more problems than your battery?

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Because I'm rubbish?

The brakes were seized, and I did't have anything to clean them with. The area where I tried was composed of a loose gravel surface, broken glass and pot holes -not the grippiest of surfaces. The engine turned over but it didn't fire/start. Just generally wasn't able to bump start it. Sorry

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_OTBA6WUeI

there's the noise, retried with the same battery but fully charged (as far as I know)

Still, I have a new battery on order anyway, which should arrive tuesday

The weather is awesome, missing out :(

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I am reading this thread with huge interest Ninj cos I have exactly the same problem. I mean, exactly the same problem. So let's sulk together:D

I'm off in a minute to go hunt a battery, but I guess I won't have much luck of a Sunday!!!

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Try to start it using jump leads and your car. If it starts you've found your problem.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Have you jumped it from a car or other 12V battery?

As above, if the battery is gone charging it will do nothing, it may still even show 12+ volts but not have the power to move the starter

edit to add:


Spooky:shock:

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I went running instead, did 10 miles, could have done more.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

This here Squidster, he knows his stuff... guess what happened when I jumped it....

One new battery later, Edski's neighbours are once again hearing the glorious sound of a triple at 10K :cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:...

yes even at ten past ten. I don't care, they p!$$ me off, so I'll return the compliment:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

Shame I've had too much to drink, I'd go for a ride:D:D:D:D

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Hey! Even I get lucky now and again :cool:.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I reckon you were channeling my post before I hit the "Post Reply" button...;)

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Damn! Sussed.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I don't have a car... but I do have a sparkly new battery, slowly filling with electrical life!

I'll try and lump it all the way to the garage tomorrow. Exciting stuff.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

You got it going yet? My bike roared into life at 10pm last night (thought the neighbours would like a bit of late night entertainment) and this morning I rode to work the long way round. £60 for a new Chinese battery:rolleyes:

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Not yet, the battery charger (12V, 1A) has just gone green (been charging for about 24 hours, is that normal for a new battery?).

I've got lectures for the rest of the day, so hopefully later I too will hear roars of life!

I got my battery for discounted price of £40ish (inc delivery), from Batterymans site :D

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

Yay! It's alive! So I guess it was entirely the batteries fault.

Thanks for all advice/encouragement

Problem solved

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

I'm having a simliar problem and I think it could well be the battery, I had this same issue last year so I bought a new battery and it seemed to work ok, but if the bike was left for more than a week it would be bone dry and wouldnt start( dont have an alarm but do have heated grips for the cold commute I used to do-these have been disconnected at the moment), I'm not sure this is standard, I'm sure my old curvy lasted longer before going dead.

Well, now when I give the battery a good 18 hour or so charge I can start her up but if I try 2 days later it wont, there is enough juice for the clocks and I can hear a whirring sort of noise from the battery area and it physically tries to start, clocks go out etc but no start. Could this indicate a dodgy battery being that once its fully charged it goes OK?

Sorry for the long post.

Cheers for any input received.

Re: Lots of clicks but not starting
 

scrap the last post....the bike is booked in with spannerman and will, fingers crossed, be all sorted in 2 shakes of a lambs tail!!! C U soon spannerman!!:thumbsup: