100 GS click click click...

[Captain Black]

I bought ugly betty about 2 years ago (100 GS), she needs a strip down and some tlc to be honest, and a good clean/repaint. Upto now she has run fine, however the battery went flat and i got the usual clicky click from the starter. I charged the battery and bingo she fired up but several hours later.. yeap clickerty click again and would'nt turn over. I stuck the multimeter on and had 12.4 volts. Any ideas anyone? Could it be the starter thats stuck? Or the battery thats died a death. Thanks for any help. Steve.

 

[John Armstrong]

I'd bet the battery isn't good enough after it went flat. Best test using a jump start to confirm.

I had similar problems so replaced both the starter and the battery, if you're after a starter for bits, let me know

 

[MickDB1]

put yer multimeter on it as you are pressing the starter button
if it still reads owt above 11-5v clean all yer connections to and fron starter to earth and battery terminals

 

[John Armstrong]

One other thought, why did the battery go flat? Lack of running the engine?

 

[Captain Black]

Am i ok to jump start from a car? I dont want to blow anything! I hope its the battery, it was ok prior to it going flat. I was going to run it another few months then go on a big learning curve and strip the frame and engine to restore it to its former glory.

 

[Captain Black]

One other thought, why did the battery go flat? Lack of running the engine?

It wouldnt start and the battery died fairly quickly. i have been using the bike though, it was only a couple of weeks since its last run. Just one of those things perhaps. I just didnt want to start stripping it just yet as i have shite galore to sort out. Planning a bit trip i hope for next year so maybe the strip down of this bike would be a good mechanical, learn lots in a short time exercise!..Either that or a total F*** U*!

 

[brassmonkey001]

Am i ok to jump start from a car?

Yes provided the car engine isn't running.

 

[r100/7]

i have jumped started from a running car to get my r100gs going and its is still going fine.

 

[John Roberts]

Yes provided the car engine isn't running.

Why is that, then?

 

[SJRoome]

Hi

Have you carried out the voltage check Mick described yet? What was the result?

Steve

 

[bowser]

I bought ugly betty about 2 years ago (100 GS), she needs a strip down and some tlc to be honest, and a good clean/repaint. Upto now she has run fine, however the battery went flat and i got the usual clicky click from the starter. I charged the battery and bingo she fired up but several hours later.. yeap clickerty click again and would'nt turn over. I stuck the multimeter on and had 12.4 volts. Any ideas anyone? Could it be the starter thats stuck? Or the battery thats died a death. Thanks for any help. Steve.

You didnt say if you left the bike with the engine off or you used the bike during the time the battey went flat.

If you were using it I would suggest that you look at your charging system, when charging you should have about 13.5 volts, if the bike starts and then after running the bike it stops and the battey is flat then the charging system is likley at fault.

If the battery is just not starting the bike check with a volt meter and leave it connected for a bit and see if there is a drop in voltage which would indicate a short.

If its just a case of the bike wont start on the battery unless jumped off somthing else then its likley to be the battery itself and you could take it to a battery shop and do a discharge test this will show the state when under load, you often find that it will show 12v on the meter but under load it will only show between 6 and 12.

Oh and the advice about not jumping a vehicle from a car thats running is tosh, its really only a problem with vehicles with sensitive electronic ignition and black boxes which yours dosnt have, in addition with a modern car in good nick the battery is fed by the alternator and it is charged at 13.5 volts or so, the supply to the battery is regulated and rectified and should not be a problem for your bike at all, as thats what yours charges at as, the amp per hour rate for the car battery will be higher than the bike but for jump starting the vehicle it wont be any problem at all.

 

[Shep]

The starter on my bike was always quite sluggish, I was convinced it could have been the starter as the battery always managed to start the bike even after extensive slow cranking. However over the winter the battery gave up the ghost and when we went to start the bike at the wee-kend it was fekked, a new hawker odessy was obtained and the engine spins with renewed vigor now.

Good stuff

 

[Captain Black]

Thanks chaps. I'm gonna stick the optimate on it tmrw, wait for the green light...i hope then run the metre checks. I reckon the battery maybe goosed. Ile check the volts under load (trying to start with the starter depressed) and see what i get. If i can get a jump start ile also check the volts going in when the motor is running. I'll get back with the results. Thanks all.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Hi all

Starter problems with my GS now....

Just now and again I press the button, all I get is one "click" and nothing else. Lights work etc. I press again and again and is the same, just one click.

Then, all of a sudden it just starts up and away we go. The bike will be fine for a week or two until it happens again.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Sean

 

[bustupbiker]

Hi all

Starter problems with my GS now....

Just now and again I press the button, all I get is one "click" and nothing else. Lights work etc. I press again and again and is the same, just one click.

Then, all of a sudden it just starts up and away we go. The bike will be fine for a week or two until it happens again.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Sean

Have checked the earth cable to the gearbox?

 

[John Armstrong]

Starter relay?

 

[SJRoome]

Hi

If the solenoid is operating you will hear a "clunk" as it operates. If you are just getting one "click" then the starter relay is operating, but the solenoid is not.

1) Try removing the starter relay and cleaning the contacts.
2) If this doesn't cure it, check the wiring from the starter relay to the solenoid.

If these dont fix it you need a new starter relay.

Steve

 

[Sean Kelly]

Right... I'm finally onto it this weekend... thanks for the advice and I'll post what I find out.

Sean

 

[Sean Kelly]

Hi

I cleaned up all the power cables and the starter relay contacts at the weekend. There wasn't anything obviously wrong and the bike is starting ok. Didn't fancy taking the starter motor out yet so will see how we get on over the next weeks....

Cheers

Sean