bike dead... stranded... save me!

[Fluffer]

HELP!

Just went out to the the bike to set off to meet the mrs in wales all kitted up and it just will not start. It's been running fine, and did a 80 mile round trip just yesterday... got distracted last night and didn't put the cover on and seem to remember waking up to an almighty downpour but the very first weekend i had her she was subjected to monsoon like conditions overnight while i stopped off on the mammoth journey from fetching from edinburgh...

whilst searching on the phone in the carpark i read about possible tank leaks letting water in - but like i say its had it before so why now if so? the other issue i noticed is it seems my oil has been low - assumed when i bought it the level was up high thats why i couldnt see it but seems like it was at the low end. I know - gimp

i don't have any tools available here and have topped up the oil from a nearby garage - is there anything anyone can suggest to get me on my way just looked at trains and its a bus service taking 4 hours

put a full litre in and now the level is above the max - again i know, gimp, that's what happens doing it when alone, soggy after a walk to the garage worring about your bike trying to sort out plans and just generally pi$$ed off and not concentrating grrrrrrrrrrr is it in need of a syringing / draining before going anywhere?

Any quick fix suggestions that get me on the road will be met with beverage IOU's and maybe even yours sincerely, stranded of shropshire!!

[fizzwheel]

OK take a deep breath, dont panic.

Need a little more info if we are going to try and diagnose this remotely.

So when you say the bike is "dead" what do you mean.

Have you got power. I.e. dash lights, headlights etc when you turn the ignition on.

If its a pointy do you hear the whirr of the fuel rail priming

When you press the starter button to try and start it what exactly happens.

[TamSV]

A litre is a lot for a top up. It's worth asking...did you check the oil with the bike level and not on the side stand?

In any event, they don't like too much oil so I'd syringe a bit out to bring it below the Max level before I did anything else.

In terms of your starting problem, what was happening? Was it turning over or not doing anything?

[Fluffer]

breath in ...... breath out ....... breath in ...... breath out .......

right i'm ready fizz!

Sorry should have put more details in!
been out to hear it without the earplugs in...

Power fine, datatool 3 alarm when not going nuts flashing and alerting the world that i'm stealing my own bike does turn off and the dash comes on and the fuel pump primes as per usual. Lights on. On starting, it attempts to start at one point nearly taking but the dash dims out and the starting power seems to dip, then it reprimes to start again.

second and third times i could hear a fast clicking sound from underneath the seat - what i'd maybe describe as electrical (spark plug type clicking maybe...)
Living in an apartment its pretty difficult to get the bike plugged into charger (does have charge end under cowl) just that it ran all day fine yesterday and even when i started it to show off to the mrs last night at 9.30 so i'd assume i'd notice the battery troubles if related to that..

i did have it upright, just as it balances it goes past the full... didnt realise the glass was so sensitive - saw it at the bottom and thought whack it in loads to go to get that filled up... doh!

[fizzwheel]

Based on what you have written, sounds like you have a flat battery.

The fact that you did 80 miles yesterday and the bike was fine, makes me wander if your reg / rec has gone and the batteries flat because its not being charged properly.

I had the same thing on my curvey. I rode 50 odd miles and then somebody pulled out in front of me on a roundabout and I stalled as I wasnt quite quick enough to whip the clutch in during the heavy braking I was doing and then I couldnt restart the bike. Same clicking sound you can hear now is what I presented with when I tried the starter.

The clicking you can hear is the relay that sends the current to start solenoid, or its actually the start solenoid itself, its not getting enough current to turn the bike over.

I'd get it onto your charger and get some charge into the battery. I'd also ring your missues and tell her you arent coming. Do you really want to ride all the way and then get stranded if you cant restart the bike at the other end ?

[Fluffer]

The oil level didn't show on the window unless i rocked it past level and it just licked the bottom of the glass. i've done over 1000 miles in last 3 weeks, not sure about the sv's general usage and top up timings... just off to wheel the bike to the apartment doors and try plug it in via the hallway socket!!

[fizzwheel]

The low oil level could have also caused problems mind you. Personally I'd get the bike on the charger and see if the starter will turn it over first, once you've ruled the battery out of the equation. Hopefully somebody a little more techie than me will be along to advise further.

How did the bike sound when you rode it last, no loud thumping and knocking noises ?

Also if the oil level is well over the full mark, it would be advisable to let some out. Best way to do that is to undo the oil filter and let some drain out.

[rictus01]

you might want to check the battery teminals, if they are dry or loose you may not get a good current across them, worth scratching the mating surfaces.

Cheers Mark.

[Fluffer]

hmmm the reg/rec conundrum - i've seen it mentioned on here a few times but never paid much attention as i've not had a problem :S appreciate the help guys, have managed to wheel the bike close enough and its on the charger. You're right fizz, dont want to be stranded but am gutted as it was supposed to be my first run through bala, through snowdonia and into harlech - been looking forward to it for weeks! and i let the mrs go on ahead without me could have had a lift in a nice warm cage... will see if the bike springs back to life but i have to be there tonight (long weekend planned around it) so its the train replacement bus for me it seems... dont get me started on the state of the rail in this country ggrrrrrrrr!!!

[fizzwheel]

Theres any easy way to check the reg / rec is functioning as it should be. Have a search for a post by Sid Squid as he explains it and understands how and what checks to do, where I dont !

IMHO you want to rule it out. It wont take long to check it if you have access to a multi meter or a voltmeter.

It could just be that the battery is knackered. Batteries dont like the cold weather, and if it was on its last legs, the recent cold snap especially with it being outside and that your bike is alarmed may well have finished it off.