Clicking instead of starting

Dermott

Dermott

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Near Blessington,Ireland
All faith lost today, was in the middle of nowhere, 5 miles offroad in a bog in the midlands of ireland, hit the starter , and nothing but a heavy click/clunk. Started once by rocking the engine in gear, but no more, very luckey to get a tow start from a Quad owner and straight home, tried again on a hill, but no more starts. So, refurb my own starter, or fit a nippon denso kit(?) fit a kick starter, stay on road, and/or only travel in company. whats best?
D
 
Dermott said:
was in the middle of nowhere, 5 miles offroad in a bog in the midlands of ireland, . whats best?
D
Click to expand...

To add a little to the above

Even if the Battery is new and the charging system is OK....you can still have problems if you have used power and have not traveled fast enough over enough distance to replace what has been lost by the battery.

That is why if you are constantly using the Bike at slow speeds with lights and other electrical bits on, (e.g. heated jacket), particulalry in winter, you should think about upgrading the charging system.

BUT as others have said, flat battery, (caused by age) - test the battery

flat battery caused by problems with charging system - preform the usual tests on charging system

Starter motor - hook up another battery to existing one and see if starter motor is OK..
 
Dermott said:
All faith lost today, was in the middle of nowhere, 5 miles offroad in a bog in the midlands of ireland, hit the starter , and nothing but a heavy click/clunk. Started once by rocking the engine in gear, but no more, very luckey to get a tow start from a Quad owner and straight home, tried again on a hill, but no more starts. So, refurb my own starter, or fit a nippon denso kit(?) fit a kick starter, stay on road, and/or only travel in company. whats best?
D
Click to expand...

sounds familiar - mine started doing that on a boreen overlooking Clew Bay, then each time I stopped on the road back to Limerick - it's best to park near a downhill slope instead of a running bump.
Miy problem was a faulty rotor.
Charge the battery and check the voltage, then try the starter. If it doesn't start, then it's the starter.
If it starts, then it's the charging circuit, so try replacing the rotor.
 
nud1e said:
, so try replacing the rotor.
Click to expand...

The Guzzi one is exactly the same and a bit cheaper - buy a new one - no point it getting a "rewound" one as there is not much difference in price

Remember you will need the rotor removal tool - just a bolt and a couple of quid from Mworks

You can test the rotor - easy job - ohms resistance and all that

In fact plenty of tests for the electrical system and lots of info on the web - just search - Rob Franklin is very good, (as is our resident Moderator)
 
If you ride with Headlights on for around 50miles at less than 50 mph you will take more out of the battery than you put in..
Bloody antique charging rate.:(
Put higher rated alternator on or ride without lights but wear a BRIGHT Twat jacket :thumb2
 
I use a 20W Halogen bulb in the side light socket and use that in daylight; less drain than the headlamp and still very visible.

Only downside is that you then get both when the headlight is on. I fitted a separate switch to my 80RT so that I could turn the sidelight off and only use the headlamp and 3W parking lamp in the front of the fairing).

Fortunately I don't ride much at night (or, if I am going to, I use the 1150ADV or K1200 with their 720W alternators :thumb2).


I sounds like a flat battery to me.


Bob.
 
It all depends whether it is the relay clicking or the solenoid clicking. If the battery checks out to be OK then check the power is actually coming out of the relay to the solenoid. Replace which ever one isnt working. The nippon denso starters are ace if you have to end up looking for a replacement. Elextrec World are looking into making a permanent magnet rotor, if we all hassle it might come about a bit quicker.
 
Thanks for the replys chaps,
Battery is less than 2 yo hd odessay(?) didnt check voltage but did try a booster set and made no difference. what I know from an agricultural background, is that it feels like the heavier clunk of the starter solenoid shooting forward but no spin as well as the lighter click of another solenoid. will strip it later in the week, but if it is a dud starter, what is the best option?
D
 
Dermott said:
but if it is a dud starter, what is the best option?
Click to expand...

I recently changed mine and decided to get a new one from Motorworks, partly because I'm not certain I could overhaul one, and the price difference between new and exchange from Motorworks didn't seem to be worth bothering with. I'm sure that the other BM bits sellers will do the exchange etc, but I saved a fair bit of postage as I collected mine from Motorworks.
 
Thanks John,
wha I am trying to work out is, is the nippondenso a good job and worth the extra cash to restore the faith, and is retrofitting a kikstarter an option.
D:thumb
 
Nothing wrong with the Valeo - as John said (MAYBE) you just need to change it more often, (but from a cost perspective probably cheaper than the heavy Bosch etc), - I have found the rumored poor reputation of the Valeo greatly exaggerated

Just buy a new new one if you have problems
 
Dermott said:
is retrofitting a kikstarter an option.
D:thumb
Click to expand...

it's an option but you'd need to change the back plate of your gearbox, and if you are in there then you might as well overhaul it, or you buy another gearbox with the kick start fitted. All this will require the swinging arm, drive shaft and all associated bits and pieces to be removed and refitted.
Then you have to add the kickstarter ignition module.
A new starter will cost less, even the NipponDenso, and it's easy to install.
 
Dermott said:
Thanks John,
and is retrofitting a kikstarter an option.
D:thumb
Click to expand...

a bit OTT for the problem

Have you tried using a kickstart, hot and cold, on a regular basis
 
Going again,
dropped starter into a local repair guy for assesment on tuesday morning, had it back that evening repaired for e110,( no assesment but got the old bits with magnet off and armature chewed up), just wondering, where did he get the bits to repair, and/or should I have got a new one?
D:thumb
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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