starting issue
 

Hello Gents,

I have a bit of a problem (I think) with my 99 curvy. Ok if im going to work and back then I have no major problems with the bike. However if I go on a long journey (longer than an hour or so on the m way) and then lay it up the next time I come to start it its either very hard or wont start at all. There seems to be an issue with the battery because it struggles to crank it over. If it turns it once then it starts but if it doesn’t then its dead.

Any thourghts on what this might be and how to check it?

Re: starting issue
 

Oh ****
Sounds like what my bike was doing on the hardy bikers which has evolved into my current situation.
Are your lights feeble? With your headlight on if you press the front brake does the light dip? Do you have a (working! :roll:) multimeter available?

If you can bare trawling through pages and pages my 'what now?..electrics' thread might help.


You never know though could just be something simple like a battery swap as it ain't holding charge.

Re: starting issue
 

loads of threads on battery / rectifier problems

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If you stop at a junction and back off the revs does your head light go dimmer (more than normal) if so could well be a fuse.

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Sounds like a regulator / rectifer issue (this item is located on the subframe, on the RHS, towards the rear of the machine - you'll have to take the seat plastics off to get to it).

You can do an electrical test, measuring the potential differance across the battery terminals...I can't remember what the figures should be exactly, but you should see about 12.5 volts when the engine is off, 13.5-14 volts when the engine is on and idling, and around 13 volts at 5000 rpm?

Something like that...

Matt

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14ish at 5krpm I tink.

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Also having a similar problem, just waiting on a multimeter after reading threads for about 2 hours! I think the more advice you read you start to think your bikes about to blow up. So ill take it one stage at a time.

My thinking is that when i connect multi meter and rev to 5k if voltage rises to 13/14 then rectifier is ok and i need a new battery (which i belive was left outside this winter and rearly used by prev owner)

Re: starting issue
 

Very wise, I started to think that I was riding a time bomb after posting about my bike burning oil. 3 weeks later and no change.

Re: starting issue
 

ok guys. had a multimeter on the battery and its ok!!!!!!!! also tried charging and the charger says the battery is full. When i try an fire it up it cranks over maybe once then just clicks like its dead!!!!!

Help please!

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ust tried again and got a bit of a bang while it tried to crank. im worried now :(

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Have you read the other threads on this?
You need to post what results you got from the mutimeter if you want sensible answers otherwise we are all guessing.

Re: starting issue
 

Bang from where?
Couldn't be your starter motor or solenoid could it?
what did you get across your battery at 5krpm?

Does it start at all now? Reckon you could let me know if you're not coming to squires andy.

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Check the battery again now.

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yup 12.5v at the battery. the charger wont fast charge it so its on trickle charge atm

i cant start the thing so i cant do any of the tests on the rectifier or stator :(

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me's tinks this is something else? How long's it been on charge?

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sorry battery after charging was 13.8v

it will turn it over 1 turn then it sounds like a starter relay clicking rappidly.

Re: starting issue
 

What have you done to it recently?

You charged battery?

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ive done nothing, honest !!!!!!! you know me too well. not touched a thing appart from changing the oil about 4 weeks ago. its been running fine as well and still has some in.

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that's high isn't it? (not that it makes any difference) although mine doesn't even hit that when being revved lol.

Sounds like it might be the starter mechs but I haven't a lot of experience with them -sorry :(

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Well the battery appears to be flat now, so have you charged it? Left it stood? Run it? Etc.

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although it hasnt turned a wheel since thursday of last week

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right got the battery out and it doesnt seem to hold the charge very well after 2 hours 3 seconds of clicking drops it to 11.5v. so im thinking the battery might be fubard. Ive poped it on trickle charge and will see what its like in the morning.


bit miffed as im wanting to go to squires tomorrow.

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if it is the battery the one you want is YT12A-BS

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Get to your local shop quick smart. Think dizzy quoted the factory battery, see my thread for better alternative suggestions (bear in mind I think the 14s one you'll need to cut away the fuse tray.

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will give earnshaws a call tomorrow and see how much there going to have me for. might have to give squires a miss this week :( still i recon it will be charged by tomorrow we shall see Got any jump leads?

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I've got some I could bring but they're only thin so home made ones with crocodile clips so would probably burn out anyway.
Somewhere around £40-£50 I would have thought, If I was you I'd ring up in the morning if it's not a rapesworthy price get them to prepare it and charge it for you ready for collection at lunch/on the way home then just bang it in and ride onto squires 8)


Eitherway let me know whether to bring the hoses with me or not.

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If Earnshaws don't have em in stock try Rob at Halifax motorcycles. 01422 343342. He usually has em in.

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My maximiser showed me that my battery was ok and has always stopped charging it after 1-2 minutes, which was plain BS.

Sounds like a dead battery, I was getting 12.6V on the terminals which dropped to 3V when cranking. Check what yours does.

Edit:
I'll just add, that I was using the bike daily, one day it just refused to start when I wanted to get back from work, but it got me there fine in the morning.

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yup optimisers are far from 'smart' like they advertise, still a decent investment though.

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taken a look this morning and after being on charge with my trusty rac battery charger its only showing 11.5v

guessing its a gonner. superdaz strikes again.

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Before you get a battery, PM batteryman....

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could be worse mate, could have been some bizarre electrical gremilin. Be thankful yours ain't yellow

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har har har :smt025 :D

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* I was speaking as a yellow curvy owner myself - not a dig at you a*h!



Although if it was I probably would have brought the tb into it :P

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Im wondering if its also posably something to do with my charger. Its an rac one thats suitable for wet batteries but says nothing about gel batteries. Could this be a problem?

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If it's a trickle charger I'd guess not, could be wrong though

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Dave im not going to make it tonight or so it seems :(

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**** :( I'll have to catch you next week or on the weekend or something then.
Goodluck with the bike :thumright: Let us know before 5pm if a miracle happens :)

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You can borrow my Oxford charger if you want. If I'd have seen this thread last night I could have dropped it off - I'm only working around the corner.

Can drop it in Friday if you want it.

Phil

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that wouldnt be a bad idea mate. battery is due to turn up in the next 2 days so if i dont have it tomorrow yea i wouldnt mind borrowing it.