1100 GS starting problem.

[hovis]

I have been struggling to start the bike. It's a '99 1100 GS with ABS.
I'll try to explain:

I've managed to go to Italy and back without any problems..but on the way back, on the ferry from Calais, the bike began to hesitate to crank. I removed the seats and found the "positive" cable to have a broken terminal. I've managed to get home. I removed the battery, charged it over night. Replace the terminal, plugged everything back and started the bike. Only once though...switched off to see if the problem is still there...ignition on, pressed the start button and I heard the starter motor trying to crank twice and then all the lights and display turned off...after few similar tries battery died...
charged it last night...plugged it and started the bike....after 20 minutes I killed the engine...tried to start again...no chance...smoke coming from negative terminal and all light off...

any suggestions? broken power cables? starter motor going? any ideas?

 

[IanPorter]

sounds like the starter motor to me,

I had similar symptoms when mine went

 

[hovis]

thanks, I forgot to mention that the starter goes hot like devil's arse. Thanks, will investigate that.

 

[IanPorter]

when mine went it completely seized up,

totally killed a brand new battery and wouldn't even turn when jump started of the RAC mans diesel van.

new starter and new battery and all's been ok since

 

[MikeO]

Having chased a load of electrical weirdness on my 1150 Adv a few years back, I learned that the starter can often be the root of all the evil. It's where I'd start looking with those symptoms...

Mike

 

[hovis]

thanks...that's where I'll start.