starting problem

afternoon all,

jumped on the sv this morning, when i tried to turn it over it failed to start. when i was turning it over the dash lights cut out (but came back on when i stopped turning it over - first time i've noticed this, is it normal?). lots of clicking noises coming from engine too when it was trying to be turned over. the battery did seem a bit weak in that it felt like the engine wasn't being turned fast enough to kick into life.....

being a budding sherlock, i'm thinking this is just a case of a low battery, but this is the first time the sv has failed me like this. I'll get the battery on charge this evening but i was wondering if it could be something more serious.....

any guidance or further things to check out would be welcomed - oh...and will a regular car battery charger be ok to use on the sv battery?

sod's law seems to have come into effect as this weekend i really need the sv...got to get down to pompei on sat night plus i had to endure the filthy tube as well

ps...it be a 99s yellow sv. i could understand this happening to a red or blue or pointy sv but yellow curvy ones are usually bullet proof

Clicking from the relay, no lights when thumbing the button... classic signs of a flat battery.

DONT use a car charger on a bike battery! You'll kill it! It'll need to be trickle charged overnight.

If it doesn't happen again, don't worry too much about it, but be warned that charging the battery may cure the symptom but not the cause. It could be a faulty charging circuit. Testing the charge circuit has been covered loads, a search will tell you how to do that.

Originally Posted by emcf

afternoon all,

jumped on the sv this morning, when i tried to turn it over it failed to start. when i was turning it over the dash lights cut out (but came back on when i stopped turning it over - first time i've noticed this, is it normal?). lots of clicking noises coming from engine too when it was trying to be turned over. the battery did seem a bit weak in that it felt like the engine wasn't being turned fast enough to kick into life.....

being a budding sherlock, i'm thinking this is just a case of a low battery, but this is the first time the sv has failed me like this. I'll get the battery on charge this evening but i was wondering if it could be something more serious.....

any guidance or further things to check out would be welcomed - oh...and will a regular car battery charger be ok to use on the sv battery?

sod's law seems to have come into effect as this weekend i really need the sv...got to get down to pompei on sat night plus i had to endure the filthy tube as well

ps...it be a 99s yellow sv. i could understand this happening to a red or blue or pointy sv but yellow curvy ones are usually bullet proof

This happens to me alot mate and specially over winter you press the start and it coughs a bit then stops and primes again right?
get an optimate or a new battery, mine battery is always dropping the charge, although it could be a problem with the recharging parts on yours also. . i just know its not on mine.
Sv's always seem to click dont they, i think my cam chains rattling and making a clicking sort of noise in mine

cheers folks....

baph...ta very much - you've just stopped me from totally ruining the battery, i was all set to put on the car charger. just been to infinity motobikes and got meself an optimate.

if the charge drops once i've hooked it up i'll have a think about the charging circuit or a new battery.

lyle....better watch out for that cam rattle - i've heard if the tensioners go then wave bye-bye to the engine.....

anyways, hopefully i'll be on my way to pompei tomorrow eve - if there are any southern softies about tomorrow/sunday keep an eye out for me! especially if you see me on the side of the road with a breakdown!!