Starting Problems 99 SV650

Hello,

It seems my naked 99 SV650 is destined for the grave!

A few weeks ago the bike had an eggy smell when i came to a stop. Next time I road it, I was on a nice twisty when suddenly I lost power to the engine... a quick look road showed the rev counter going the wrong way and then nothing.

Fortunately I got off unscathed (not that the Mrs cared who was more worried about me being home for the kids tea!).

A good check round the bike when waiting for the breakdown guy showed the following:

Headlight blown
Battery very hot
Odo failing to light at all - eventually lighting until I pressed any lighting button or the starter

I read up a similar issue and could see that this combined with the rev counter behavior that was now stock between 0 and 15k (but the wrong way round ie in the white space!) was caused by a faulty regulator/rectifier.

I have replaced the following to no avail... Spark Plugs, Regulator, Fuses, Battery. All lights now work although I need to put a new headlight in. The starter motor ticks over no problem but she just refuses to fire.

I am out of ideas - please help!!

The only two things I can think off now are - I need new front & rear coils or the fact my rev counter had the current flow the wrong way through it when the rectifier blew means that its duff and the bike thinks it has hit the limit???

Any help you can give will be really appreciated!

Did it cook the starter soleniod thing? try new coils if it's turning over. check the spark plugs though are they getting a spark? have you tried bumping? try jumping from a car

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Jamiebridges123

Did it cook the starter soleniod thing? try new coils if it's turning over. check the spark plugs though are they getting a spark? have you tried bumping? try jumping from a car

What is this post? It seems like a random listing of electrical parts of a motorcycle. How will bumping or jumping help if it's turning over?

Anyway, to something useful: It won't be the solenoid if the bike is turning over on the starter, coils are quite resilient so I wouldn't initially look there, the rev counter going the wrong way rather suggests reverse polarity at the coil, with in turn suggests that the igniter unit is duff. I suspect from your description of the battery that when the charging system went off the rails it caused a very high system voltage - this is not good for delicate electronic things, like ignition units for instance.

[yorkie_chris]

Listen to the squid.

Also rev limiter is controlled by the ignitor box, not the rev counter. So it's not that.

thanks guys this all sounds very useful. Will be trying another battery as it doesn't seem to hold charge after a few clicks and then i think it may be time for the ignitor box...cheers

Do you guys know where to buy an ignitor box from - not sure if they are known as something else? Can't find it on the usual suppliers

[yorkie_chris]

Sometimes called a CDI or ECU. Careful you get a curvy one.

I would buy a multimeter, RTFM and check other parts before buying a spare CDI/igniter.

[Sid Squid]

I wouldn't buy a CDI.

Where would you plug it in for starters?

[yorkie_chris]

Haynes call it a CDI, loads of eBay sellers call them this too, even though it is transistor type. Helpful term to know even if it is wrong one.