Bike turning over but not starting SV650 2001

Hey guys,

I've been working on my bike all week and I'm pretty much at the same point I started.

Last sunday the bike died while on a long ride. At first it wouldnt turn over, we jump started it and it started, though it might be a low battery and hoping to charge it while riding back, but 2 blocks later the bike dies (while i;m on it) After that jump starting would make the bike turn over but not actually start. Battery ended up being completely dead (note this mbattery was less than a year old), bought a new one.
So all week I did my troubleshooting. I did pretty much all of the tests in the electrical chapter of the service manual. Here is what I tested:
- r/r= ok
- stator= ohm test ok, and opened it up yesterday so visually ok too.
- spark plugs: ok [but no spark against frame]
- coils: ok
- ignition peak voltage: OK
- signal generator coupler: ok
- fuses: all good, including the starter realy one.
- i even tested the fuel pump and it was spewing fuel so that worked.
- tested for shorts and didn't find any

happy to give you any test results, pictures (I documented everything because I'm fairly new to motorcycle maintenance, thank you for your patience).

(Please don't ask me if I have the kill switch off or side stand up or clutch in or neutral. IT TURNS OVER. if those things weren't properly done it would not turn over.) Here is a video of me starting it and the noise it makes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuXZ...ature=youtu.be

thank you so much to any advice you can provide, threads you can point me too.
I'm trying to see if a friend who has an sv can come by so I can test his ECU into my bike (maybe it's the ECU? does anyone know the symptoms of faulty ECU? when i take it out the bike wont even turn over so I'm guessing it is at least partially good can it be partially bad and cause my non sparking issue?)

Thinking aloud here, if neither spark plug is giving a spark then that rules out coils, leads, plugs, caps (probably) and if it's turning over OK as in the video then rectifier/regulator shouldn't stop it starting so that leaves something that is common to both cylinders, stator, cdi or safety switch (side stand, clutch switch, kill switch, sorry!)
Stators are notoriously hard to check reliably, a faulty one can still give ok readings so I wouldn't rule that out but if you can borrow a good cdi then that's a 5 minute job to swap and eliminates that possibility. Swapping the stator coils is easy as well, just a bit more involved and will require a couple of new gaskets to be on the safe side.
Hope this is of some help and I'd be interested to hear what the final solution is.

Originally Posted by Highlandsv650

Thinking aloud here, if neither spark plug is giving a spark then that rules out coils, leads, plugs, caps (probably) and if it's turning over OK as in the video then rectifier/regulator shouldn't stop it starting so that leaves something that is common to both cylinders, stator, cdi or safety switch (side stand, clutch switch, kill switch, sorry!)
Stators are notoriously hard to check reliably, a faulty one can still give ok readings so I wouldn't rule that out but if you can borrow a good cdi then that's a 5 minute job to swap and eliminates that possibility. Swapping the stator coils is easy as well, just a bit more involved and will require a couple of new gaskets to be on the safe side.
Hope this is of some help and I'd be interested to hear what the final solution is.

Hey thanks for sharing your thoughts! I like the way you reason it makes sense. So: Safety switch, stator and ECU
- Safety switch: unless someone can tell me that the motor can turn over with any of those not working, I am rulling those out completely.
- stator: my stator tests are perfect! and visually it was beautiful! not at all like those burned ones online. here are 2 pictures: IMG_5864.jpgIMG_5869.jpg
- ECU: i need a friend to come over and swap his for mine see if that works, only guy I know I'm having a hard time to reach... (any SV riders here in San Francisco who wanna help?). I'm thinking if I can't find anyone I could try to buy a new ECU on a website that does return (in case it's not that). no? any recommendations as to how to go about this, or test, are welcome.

Does anyone have any other suggestions, other than those 3? or ideas of other things to test? or maybe can share their own story if it's relevant...thanks so much guys

[Bibio]

could be a broken negative engine strap.

Originally Posted by Bibio

could be a broken negative engine strap.

Hey bibio! thanks for responding!
That's interesting, how do I check/test for that? (pardon my newbie ignorance)

[Bibio]

IIR there is a thick wire or braided wire that goes from the battery to the back of the engine block.

http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...24&postcount=2

do you have an alarm/immobiliser fitted?

[daktulos]

Originally Posted by Bibio

could be a broken negative engine strap.

I don't think it'll be this as the starter motor sounds strong, and it (I believe) also uses the earth bondage. It's worth checking, though!

Originally Posted by Bibio

IIR there is a thick wire or braided wire that goes from the battery to the back of the engine block.

http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...24&postcount=2

do you have an alarm/immobiliser fitted?

Thank you for this! I'll check that!

I don't have an alarm. No accessories at all.

[embee]

Classic faults on the curvey were the wiring chafing through just behind the bolts which hold the rider's seat on (behind the black triangles). The bolts are just a shade too long and protrude through and can hit the wiring harness.


A similar thing under the pillion seat where the wiring bends round a frame bracket on the left side of the bike towards the rear, it can wear through.

Originally Posted by embee

Classic faults on the curvey were the wiring chafing through just behind the bolts which hold the rider's seat on (behind the black triangles). The bolts are just a shade too long and protrude through and can hit the wiring harness.


A similar thing under the pillion seat where the wiring bends round a frame bracket on the left side of the bike towards the rear, it can wear through.

embee, thanks for responding!

Wow I see exactly what you mean about the seat and wire. So what am I looking for there exactly? naked wires touching?

I'm not sure about the other one but will look (pillion seat = back seat?)