| Author | Message | ||
     Huebman |
Okay, so I have had my bike stored for most of the winter. On the warmer days I have gotten it out (about 2 times). Each time it would crank for a while then finally start. I would let it run, and then take it out to let it heat up. Well, I tried that again last weekend, and it would crank for a really long time (I probably let it crank too long), but it never started. I let it sit for a while and tried again, it cranked for a bit, but then just started clicking. Now whenever I try to start the bike, it crank maybe 1 or 2 times and then just starts clicking. At first I was thinking it was my battery, and I guess it could be, I don't know, thats what I am here for. Do people have any other thoughts? I have had the bike out a couple times this winter and it was fine. I stupidly did not put my trickle charge on my bike until last week when I had trouble starting it...but I tried again last night, and still didn't have any luck. My thoughts are this, check all of my wiring to the battery, get the battery checked out. Other than that could I ruined my starter? I am pretty new at bike maintenance to any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks! | ||
| Psyclown |
Check your battery and connections first, like you said. If you have enough cold cranking amps and its holding a charge, you may have burned up your starter. sometimes rapping on it with something hard a few times while cranking will make it turn. Most likely you just have a dead battery though. | ||
| Sleez |
charge the battery, probably all it will take. | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
Use something bigger than a Battery Tender to charge it.(2to 6amp). Let it charge for about an hr. and hit the starter button and see what happens. | ||
| Buellistic |
Huebman: By your profile you have 2000 M2, that means if that is the OEM battery it is 11 years old ... Put the battery on a car charger and charge for 24 hrs. ... If the battery will not start the bike then you will need a new battery ... BATTERY Class 101 available, just PM me ... (Message edited by buellistic on February 25, 2011) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Who the heck would have a stock 11 year old battery?  | ||
| Buellistic |
THAT is what "i" say too ??? "BUT" there are those that say theirs has lasted that long ??? | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I'd say battery too in this case, "click" usually means not enough juice to engage the starter. Stephen, make sure to at least check your plugs too, brush them off or replace them once you've got the battery sorted. Sometimes the petcock sticks so try sweeping it back and forth if it isn't getting fuel. Also try turning the idle up just a bit, like a twist or two along with choke and don't roll on the throttle when you try to start it either. *I've only replaced my 2000 M2 battery once. First one lasted six years. (the dealership told me two years per battery last week, that seemed like a bunch of whoey though, since battery #2 seems fine, it's been on battery tender when the bike's not ridden though) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
"BUT" there are those that say theirs has lasted that long ??? Yep. The guys at O'Reiley's were just as shocked to see my stock 11 year old battery when I brought it in. | ||
| Buellistic |
That just proves what "i" said about batteries: THEY ARE MADE BASICALLY THE SAME, "BUT" ARE NOT EQUAL !!! | ||
| Kiwicris |
Where the hell did the "the bike has an 11 year old battery" come from ???? . .I don't see any mention of it in the original post. i know we've had a major earthquake in ChCh but I doubt that has caused my computer to selectively delete certain stuff ??!! chris in ChCh | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It was an "if it's the original OEM battery" statement. In MY case, it WAS an 11 year old battery. | ||
| Buell_bert |
I'm sure we could all agree that an 11 year old battery would be the exception and not the norm. I have seen a few auto batteries that lasted 8-9 years. From what I've noticed in my bikes/lawnmowers/tractors/boats, 4 and maybe 5 years would be the norm. Well that's my story and I'm stickin to it. | ||
| Kiwicris |
Ft Batrd, u serious? U've had a battery last,in an electric start bike, for 11 years ? Far out - I have never seen a battery last anything approaching that long. Like Buell Bert says 4 to 5 years is normal, though I've had a couple of Jap imported cars that have lasted 6.5 years. Some of the locally made (australasia), less heavy duty ones only come with a 12 month warrantee now. . .used to be 24 months and back when Adam was a cowboy, even 36. Was that 11 year old one somewhere where the temp stays fairly constant year round - on the warm side and on a trickle charge when bike not being used ?? Huebman, in the end, was it the battery that was stuffed causing it not to start. . . usually a clicking of the solenoid/starter means loose terminals or flat battery and if it wont hold a charge shes "ted" as in "roo ted". | ||
| Huebman |
Hey Guys, So I did replace the battery, and it would crank, but still didn't start. Pulled my plugs and they were horrible, so replaced them as well. Fired right up. Now I just need to give it an oil change and some new front brake pads and it is ready to go. | ||
| Koz5150 |
Double check your ground connection between the frame and swingarm. Where the strap bolts to the frame there is a small washer that can get rusty and also not much area on the frame where the powdercoat can block a good connection. If there is corrosion or too much powdercoating the battery will not charge consistantly during moist days and cause intermitant starting issues that could cause one to go insane and tired from push starting the bike... Any guess how I know that? | ||
| 46champ |
If a person had a battery last for 11 years why would you not put another exact model in? |
