| Author |
Message |
    
Vegasrebel
| | Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2015 - 10:14 pm: | 
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Hi guys, This is gonna be a long first post. Couldn't find anywhere else to go. I purchased my 2003 xb9r 6 months ago.Absolutely love it, moved from a
2008 ninja 250. It has almost 20k miles on it. 3000 of the last are mine. I has never had any starting trouble. The seller sold me a trickle charger to use if it's gonna be sitting for awhile. I haven't used it since I ride at least once or twice a week. Its has always started on the first try but always had a little hesitation before it started but i thought it was normal.
Anyways, so today I take it out to the local canyon.And stop to wait for a friend and it wouldn't start. I heard the clicking sound but no engine turning over. The battery was good. The headlights turn on and everything. I was on a hill and decided to push start it. I rolled down in neutral and shifted to second and let go of the clutch.It started and took off to get home before it does it again,aslas a few hundred feet later, I had shifted to neutral and the bike puttered and died without coasting. This time the lights won't work nor would the started clicking when i press the ignition. I should also mention that during this short ride none of the dials would work or the screen, but many hours later the neutral light showed up. I tried for a few hours to push this thing up a hill and roll down to start but it locked the rear tires. A kind guy with a truck pulled the bike behind with a rope. The engine made a sound like it wanted to start but didn't, it just kept burbling. I called towing but they said it will take them 5 hours so I left the bike at the visitors center and got a ride back. My initial thought is the starter motor, but i'm also reading here it could be a fuse thing on the left side and i should switch them around to see if that helps. I do know for sure the battery is dead by now. I'm going to trailer it home and charge the battery and see. Any suggestions are welcome, i'm kinda freakin out here, i almost camped next to the bike. Sorry for the super long post. |
Jim2
| | Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2015 - 11:52 pm: |
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It could all have been your battery. A bad battery can still work the headlights but no longer provide sufficient cranking amps. It could still be other things but you must first ensure you have a good battery. remove the battery from the bike and give it a charge overnight. Then take it to an auto parts store or a batteries plus and have it load tested. While its charging check and clean the grounds and battery terminals. These must be free from corrosion and properly tight. If you do these things and the battery checks out but you continue to have problems report back to this thread and well go from there. if you don't have a service manual and parts book you should plan to invest in one. It will teach you about your new bike and help you to discuss problems. There is a good electrical trouble shooting section. Welcome to the madness that is Buell. |
Vegasrebel
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2015 - 02:35 am: |
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Thanks. The guy did mention the battery dies fast and he bought the trickle charger because of it. I thought it was the deal with the buell's now im starting to think it was a cheap fix for him. Im gonna check it first thing when i trailer it back. My worry is if it is starter motor or the stator. Again. Thanks a lot for the help. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2015 - 07:56 am: |
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It's pretty unusual for the starter motor to go. Most common to loose the battery (they all die with time). Stator failure isn't unheard of.
It might even just be a dirty / loose battery terminal.
The fact that when you had the bike started, it wouldn't keep running, suggests to me the loose / dirty battery terminal, or a dead stator (and drained battery). |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2015 - 08:28 am: |
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Yep, as others have said, all classic signs of a bad battery.
If it is more than 3yrs old, it has served well, and every day after is a gift, so to speak.
After having charged the battery and having it load tested, I suspect you will need a new one. A quick system check: After cleaning/tightening the battery cables (both ends) and installing the battery, start the engine. Hook your multimeter up to the battery terminals, and check for 14.5ish volts at 2.5k RPMS. If you have that, then the entire charging system is good, and the battery was the issue.
As an aside, Al at American Sport Bike has a really nice LED voltmeter. Easy to install, certainly worth a look.
Hope this helps, Dave |
Vegasrebel
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2015 - 10:43 pm: |
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Thanks a lot for the advice guys. I towed the bike home this morning and put it on the trickle charger, I came home from work 6hrs later and it started right up! I'm gonna check the battery and see whats going on. I guess im gonna install a volt meter to it. Do I power it from the wires going to the ignition.
(Message edited by Vegasrebel on November 23, 2015) |
Jim2
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 07:25 pm: |
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You don't want to have a constant current drain so wire it AFTER the ignition not before. That way when you turn the key on you will see your Voltage reading but with the key off you will not and it won't drain your battery when your asleep. |
Vegasrebel
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 03:00 am: |
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Will do. Now if I get a new battery, do i put it on the trickle charger after every ride to be on the safe side. |
Daddio
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 12:23 pm: |
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If you're riding relatively frequently (I would if I lived in Vegas) you shouldn't need to keep the bike on a charger.
Las Vegas heat will kill a battery about as fast as South Dakota cold. Get a battery, get some 'star' washers, and ride the heck out of it. |
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2003 Xb9r starting trouble!