Electrics probs R65GS

[Vincent]

Hi,
I've been having a few electrical issues with the R65GS lately. The dashboard is only lighting up now and again, mostly in the first position (1st turn of the key). Nothing on the others, sometime a faint light that disappears as soon as I press the electric start button... Started playing up after a week or so of heavy rain. I've cleaned all the connections I could with contact cleaner, relays, coil... I've checked the voltage on the battery and on as many points as I could: checked the red wire going into the diode board, the red wire going onto the ignition switch, the right hand switchgear and get 12.80 Volts all the way... Looks like a dodgy ignition switch to me? Am I right? Anything else I should check? The complete wiring loom was changed less than a year ago and appears to be in great condition.

Many thanks

Ps: Posted on the Wanted section for a second hand ignition switch as not in stock at Motorworks/Motobins. Let me know

Cheers
Vince

 

[MickDB1]

I would check the voltage on the battery when the bike is running it should be more than that at the battery when a tadge faster than tickover
HTHY

 

[Vincent]

Problem solved, everything lighting up as it should and starting straight away on the kick and button, running beautifuly. It wasn't the ignition switch after all but a dirty connection ... the only one I hadn't cleaned. The cable going from the - of the battery to the engine. Still learning three years on... Thanks Mick, I do get the same voltage at the battery when the engine is running though... 12.80ish volts. What could it mean? More serious problems to come??

Cheers
Vince

 

[Vincent]

More problems

The bike worked well for a while... one cold morning I struggled to start and the battery ran out, starter went clack clack clack... Recharged the battery and now it just does one clack and nothing, going to have a look at the starter this afternoon and give the all loom a good cklean up again... any advice more than welcome
Cheers
Vince

 

[dr nosh]

The bike worked well for a while... one cold morning I struggled to start and the battery ran out, starter went clack clack clack... Recharged the battery and now it just does one clack and nothing, going to have a look at the starter this afternoon and give the all loom a good cklean up again... any advice more than welcome
Cheers
Vince

Sounds like the battery is 'goosed'.

Even after recharging probably not holding sufficient juice to power the starter motor. (Motor requires a bit of 'oomph' to turn).('oomph = current not just volts)

Can you jump the battery from another (car?). If you can park the bike alongside the car and use a set of jump leads and the bike starts then its battery replacement time.

You probably ought to check that the battery is charging (especially the new one).
Connect an ammeter (or multimeter set to Amps) in series (in the +ve line) and this should show probably 0 A at tickover, but at 30mph or greater a charge of a few amps (+ not -)

 

[AberdeenAngus]

at 30mph or greater a charge of a few amps (+ not -)

or you could just rev it a bit.

 

[Vincent]

Thanks a lot for the advise. Still no luck, tried a friend's battery and I have the same problem. Managed to kick start it though a while ago but not anymore. Couldn't check if the battery is charging or not but will do as soon as I get it running again. Still the repetitive "clacks" when pressing the ignition button. I get around 12+ volts all the way to the starter motor and around 5.8 volts when pressing the ignition button... what does that mean? Could it be a faulty relay or ignition control unit? The starter motor is out now, it is a refurbished valeo replacement one I got from Motorworks about a year and a half ago. Should I risk it and open it to see if it's something repairable that I could fix myself or should I just get another one?
Cheers
Vince

 

[Vincent]

Just opened the starter motor... Here is what I found:




Now Can I repair that myself?

 

[cobbster]

Not sure you can buy just the magnets, if I recall the starter is the same as Peugeot 306?.
Keep the rest of the bits as I recall the housing that goes on the front is different to the one on the car but the motor is the same.

Somebody will be along in a minute to either confirm or advise otherwise.

 

[Vincent]

Sorted

I got the starter motor case with magnet from that guy on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250891545720?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Starting and running fine now and getting a few amps when reving so it is charging. Thanks a lot for your help

Cheers
Vince