Had to take the train!

[timpitt77]

I really hate taking the train, its even worse when you are already late because your bike wouldn't start..

Now my guess is, battery or FPC but not sure as I have not experienced either before.

Turn ignition, all lights come on (inc LED spots), dash goes through usuall checks, press starter and just get a clicking for 5ish sec and then everything turns off. Try again and the same deal. On previous bikes if my battery was low then all the lights would be dim and eventually nothing. However everything seams bright and no warning messages.

I do not use a charger as my bike is used mon-fri but have a charger from the previous owner..

Any ideas?

 

[Ash]

cant help
but checked your occupation

RESPECT

 

[TyreMark]

Sounds like its your battery

 

[Norm]

cant help
but checked your occupation

RESPECT

Wot and he can't get fuel to his bikes engine and get it working again
Rather ironic that, fuel being the life blood of a bike an all.


The two FPC failures I have witnessed (only 1 of them mine) did not provide symptoms as you describe, i.e. clicking. Rather the engine attempts to turnover but will not start, fuel starved obviously.

I have heard a battery failure though and in that instance the ignition just clicked on any attempts to start and would not turnover.

 

[timpitt77]

cant help
but checked your occupation

RESPECT

Thanks. Most people have never heard of us as we are few and far between.
It's mostly sitting around pressing buttons and turning knobs

 

[Bones]

If it were FPC the engine would spin but not fire as no fuel being pumped. Sounds like battery but could be starter motor relay thingey.

I have just started a weekly commute to Prague (OK, I only ride as far as Stansted). Every Monday morning at 4:15am I approach the bike thinking 'will it ,wont it?'. I'm going to take my Mille off its Oct-Mar SORN as a backup. I know the GS will let me down at least once over the winter.

 

[timpitt77]

I'm going to spend the afternoon going down the Battery route. Onto a charger when I get home.
It is an 06 bike and I think it has original battery. I have a Bike dealer near my house, so may be prudent to get a backup battery as my bike really needs to be reliable.
May get into the habit of giving it a charge on a sunday evening now that the cold is with us...

By the way ASH I have long admired your avatar!

 

[Bones]

Try jumping it off the car, assuming you have one, if not knock up a neighbour. I have in the past.

If it is the battery, charging may get you started but once the battery lets you down once it will do it again. I've been there.

 

[Ash]

Wot and he can't get fuel to his bikes engine and get it working again
Rather ironic that, fuel being the life blood of a bike an all.

norm your a bad man

By the way ASH I have long admired your avatar!

so have i

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I'm going to spend the afternoon going down the Battery route. Onto a charger when I get home.
It is an 06 bike and I think it has original battery. I have a Bike dealer near my house, so may be prudent to get a backup battery as my bike really needs to be reliable.
May get into the habit of giving it a charge on a sunday evening now that the cold is with us...

By the way ASH I have long admired your avatar!

Go for a new battery. Mine went all of a sudden in April after 30 months of untroubled starting in all weathers and wouldn't take a charge.

p.s mine lives outside and I have never used a charger

 

[RickG]

+1 for battery, or just maybe a duff connection to it. Common problem if you search the threads which decribe symptoms just like yours. Not FPC as that doesn't stop the engine turning over. A charger is unlikley to help one the battery is sha**ed as it won't regain the capacity to deliver the amps you need to spin the engine.

 

[Ian M]

Thanks. Most people have never heard of us as we are few and far between.
It's mostly sitting around pressing buttons and turning knobs

Maybe, but the skill is in knowing which buttons to press and knobs to turn.

 

[timpitt77]

Hi guys

I gave it a little charge and although it tried a bit harder it's efforts were ever diminishing..
New battery on charge so thanks for your help.
One more question though!
Is there any point in trying to charge up the old battery to the point were it could be a useful spare for an "emergency change out" so to speak?

 

[Ian M]

Probably not - if it won't hold a decent charge when its in daily use on the bike, the chances of it sitting on a shelf in a dusty corner of the garage ready to leap into action in an emergency is, shall we say, small.

 

[timpitt77]

Thought so.
I'm a little, glass 1/3 full sometimes!

 

[Hexme]

Thanks. Most people have never heard of us as we are few and far between.

Yep I was one of those people, just looked it up on Google

 

[(RIP) Miff]

and turning knobs

Hey, what happens when I'm under a General Anaesthetic is out of my control....

if not knock up a neighbour. I have in the past.

Well I suppose thats one way to pass the time whilst waiting for the AA

 

[GSmonkey]

Now it's getting a wee bit nippy you'll see a few more posts like this. Always "lights appear bright so can't be battery" followed by ".....makes a strange clicking noise" and 95% of the time it's a new battery required.

Should really have a sticky on the subject........