Clonking on startup
 

Yes hello, I am beginning to get another problem that is very hard to decribe as usual, but please try to answer it! :)

When I press the starter switch, if my bike hasn't been used for a few days, it has trouble turning over, then turns over once, then there is a huge clunk sound, then almost stops dead, then manages another turnover, then clunk then vroom. When it is running, it seems to run totally fine, its just these really big clunks when I start it that are getting louder that worry me. The starter motor certainly doesn't just do that high speed "wehwehwehwevroom" that it should do.

Oh and the FI light sometimes flashes quickly once.

Any advice please?

mine sometimes does this if the battery is running a little below par.. may not be the exact reason for the sound but a good starting place??!

Re: Clonking on startup
 

As Anna said, if the battery is below par (not unlikely if you've not used it for a few days and you have an alarm) then it might be that the starter isn't spinning fast enough to properly engage the pinion. It then spins up some more, and jams into place properly where the sudden resistance of turning the engine could cause a clonking noise. Low power could cause the FI light to come on too, if there's not quite enough current available to run the starter and the FI at the same time (FI uses quite a bit of power because of the pump).

Could be a faulty starter though... :(

Just a thought, could be barking up the wrong tree altogether!

Mike

You need an optimate.Letting the battery run low shags it,and will ultimately leave you pushing the job down the road.A good charger costs about the same as a new battery and is well worth it.

hmm could be anything even a piston slightly out

I think you are all right! This morning it died. Just managed one turnover then nothing, So I think its the battery is running low. When I bought it (secondhand), the battery was flat, so the shop charged it for me. I have been doing pretty consistent long mile runs recently and it obviously hasn't been charging, no alarm either to run it down, so how would I tell if its not charging? I bought that cheap charger from Lidl recently, so will try that out. Where is the battery, under the main seat? How do you get it off?

Thank you for the responses! :D

Warhog - yes your battery is under your seat if you have side farings they come off with an allon key then its just a bolt either side to take the seat off and vola your battery is infront of you.. take the battery off and charge it over night to ensure everthing is fully charged.

You can buy a trickle charger that will always keep the batter topped up but to be honest if you dont have an alarm and you are running the bike everyday then there is no reason why it shouldnt charge on it's own ie may be worth looking at a new battery if the first fix doesnt work...

good luck

cheers Anna, I'll give it a good charge, and then if it still runs down, I'll get a new battery. Although could it not be the charging mechanism that is buggered, not the actual battery?

You can get all that checked with a multimeter, but as you said the dealer had to charge the battery for you,and we don't know how long it had been flat,it is probably shagged.They don't like being left discharged and keeping it fully charged should be regarded as basic maintenance.Buy an optimate and put the bike on it weekly.Your battery will then last forever.(well nearly)

slightly out of what - I'm curious :-k