Bump starting a GS

[Cooky]

What's the best way to bump start a GS?

I have an 1150GS with some starting problems waiting to be fixed. Pending the fix I'm having to bump start the bike some mornings. I live half way up a hill so getting the bike moving without the engine started isn't a problem.

Once I'm rolling what's the best way to get the motor firing? Should I be in gear or have the clutch in or......what?

Thanks for any help.

 

[GS TRV]

My experience is as follows;

Keep it in neutral for as long as possible to get up to max rolling speed
Clutch in
Select 2nd
Clutch out and bang - it usually starts
**back wheel might lock for a second so be careful**


I once thought you shouldn't really bump a GS but then realised it only applied to diesel cars (maybe there are similarities though )

Hope this helps

 

[Tarka]

Bike in second gear.

Pull clutch lever in.

Ignition on ( ) and kill switch to run position ( ) .

Push bike forward or roll down hill.

At a mild 'trot' type of speed,'dump the clutch' (release clutch lever quickly) and ideally drop yer arse on to the bike seat to prevent the rear wheel from locking (won`t anyway with ABS) and the engine should fire....you`ll have to be good at balancing clutch and throttle to avoid stalling/wheelying/juddering.

Don`t press the starter button while bump starting.

 

[Gipsy]

Once read that bumping cars could occasionally damage the CAT converter. Does this also apply to the bikes.

 

[Deleted account W]

and ideally drop yer arse on to the bike seat to prevent the rear wheel from locking (won`t anyway with ABS) and the engine should fire..

It will lock even with ABS, ABS only interrupts the braking system not the transmission. Or am I missing something

 

[Gas'd Off]

If you have a long enough hill to get up some speed then you can use a higher gear which makes the whole process a bit more gentle and you won't need to do all this jumping up and down on the seat. There is no need to "Dump" the clutch! Causes unescessary stress on everything. Just feed it in gently and you will be able to control whether the rear wheel locks up. Higher the gear the less likely it is to start skidding instead of turning. You only need to turn the engine over quickly enough to get it to fire
What is the real problem? Battery? starter motor? Solenoid?

 

[Cooky]

Many thanks for replies. I had been pressing the starter button while rolling and with the bike in neutral

I am told by mechanic that I have "a worn flywheel \ starter sprag" whatever the feck that means.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

I think pushing it won't work if the battery is too flat to crank her, no juice for fuel pump and ignition. Tried it.

Jump leads the answer if batt flat, but spounds like you have a mech problem. Have you dismantled and cleaned the starter pinion etc. ?

 

[GS TRV]

Many thanks for replies. I had been pressing the starter button while rolling and with the bike in neutral

QUOTE]




Bit laugh outburst which betrays me that I'm not actually working

Worth it though - thanks for making my afternoon

 

[Tarka]

It will lock even with ABS, ABS only interrupts the braking system not the transmission. Or am I missing something

Nope mate....you`re not missing anything....I wasn`t finking proper,like.

(Blonde Moment )

 

[Dickieboy]

It will lock even with ABS, ABS only interrupts the braking system not the transmission. Or am I missing something

.
What that man says is right, this type of misleading information we do not expect from you Tarka, pull your socks up man

 

[adamski49]

In my experience, providing there's enough juice in the battery to prime the fuel pump (you'll hear it) you should be able to bump start it. I also found that using the fast idle and NO throttle was the way to go. If I used any throttle it died before it had started. Once it's running clutch in and try to
rev it. Next step - Don't stall it! DAMHIK

Adam

 

[Colban]

Many thanks for replies. I had been pressing the starter button while rolling and with the bike in neutral

I am told by mechanic that I have "a worn flywheel \ starter sprag" whatever the feck that means.

How does the mechanic know its a worn flywheel/starter?.Has he looked?.
Are you getting unusual noises when you press the starter button?.
It does sound as if the starter gear may not be engaging into the flywheel ring.Its not a complex job to take the starter motor out to check and a lot less risky than bump-starts down hills.

 

[Cooky]

How does the mechanic know its a worn flywheel/starter?.Has he looked?.
Are you getting unusual noises when you press the starter button?.
It does sound as if the starter gear may not be engaging into the flywheel ring.Its not a complex job to take the starter motor out to check and a lot less risky than bump-starts down hills.

He's going to investigate first but that's his diagnosis from my description. If right it's going to be horribly expensive as he's changing the clutch at the same time. It's Pat Keenan (mobitec) who I've used a lot in the past and I trust him.

Bikes appear to be a fecking expensive business.