Jump starting an R1150RT

[tomkil]

Hi,

I thought I might find a thread somewhere on how to do this but haven't been able to. So, how best to do it? It's a pig to get to the battery. Do I have to remove the fairing or is there a cheat I can use?

 

[MikeO]

Do you have one of these...

...on your starter cover? (Sorry - don't knw what accessibility is like in that area on an RT).

Mike

 

[tomkil]

There's a couple of sockets further back on the bike (ie not on the starter motor).

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

You cant use the accessory socket to jump start your bike, the starter can draw up 100 amps and things will melt , you can use the socket to charge the battery and start the bike this time.

If you google " Jump Starting R1150RT" there's a lot of info from various places including mods to extend the positive side of the battery to make access easier.


Mark.

 

[MikeO]

There's a couple of sockets further back on the bike (ie not on the starter motor).

The ringed item is not a power socket, but a positive post designed for jump starting (do NOT try to jump start through a power socket) .

If you can get the starter cover off you could connect the positive straight to the starter (that's all that post does) - then the negative to a good earth and press the button...

Mike

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

The ringed item is not a power socket, but a positive post designed for jump starting (do NOT try to jump start through a power socket) .

If you can get the starter cover off you could connect the positive straight to the starter (that's all that post does) - then the negative to a good earth and press the button...

Mike

OP says its a R1150RT, there is no starter cover .... the two sockets he is referring to are accessory sockets

 

[The smudger]

Hi,

I thought I might find a thread somewhere on how to do this but haven't been able to. So, how best to do it? It's a pig to get to the battery. Do I have to remove the fairing or is there a cheat I can use?

No. RT fairing covers the starter and the battery as you are no doubt aware.

There's no easy way, just make sure the battery is periodically charged via the power socket(s).

BTW, dont try to bump start either, you and your bike will no doubt both end up on the floor, and there will be tears.....

 

[The smudger]

Do you have one of these...

...on your starter cover? (Sorry - don't knw what accessibility is like in that area on an RT).

Mike

Looking like a very clean 1150 there Mike, are you going to show us all of it?

 

[MikeS]

If you do decide to bump start it can you get someone to video it

 

[AberdeenAngus]

If you do try to jump it via an accessory socket, could you get someone to video that, too.

 

[MikeO]

Looking like a very clean 1150 there Mike, are you going to show us all of it?

When it's finished...

 

[tomkil]

Thanks for all the advice so far. Am I right in thinking that, if I remove the left hand side fairing, I can connect a lead to the starter motor (and one to earth somewhere else on the bike) and jump start it that way?

 

[Wolfgang]

Jump Start

If you can get to the starter motor with the fairing off.Connect the positive jumper cable to the red,positive starter terminal.The negative jump lead goes from the booster battery to a good earth on the bike,metal footrest hanger ?
Off you go.
Don't leave it on fast idle unattended,the exhaust may scorch the fairing !

 

[kennyc]

bump starting an RT is easy, you just need to go about it the right way first , ideally you need a downward incline, failing that at least one person, preferably two, to push you, put it in 3rd gear, get the bike moving and release/pull in the clutch lever as fast as you can! if you are too fast, it won't turn over the engine (unlikely) if you leave it out too long the bike WILL stop! (much more likely!) having had to bump start quite a few times when a starter motor went on mine I found it a sharp learning curve try not to do this alone unless you are on a hill, or have 40" inside leg

PS why not connect a trickle charger via the dashboard socket, and let it charge overnight? much less hassle than jumpstarting

 

[mark-a]

Part of me is thinking this is a wind up.......

Anyone considering a jump start from an accessory socket deserves all they get in my opinion - a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing...

If this is a serious question and you're considering using the starter motor post as a connection for the starting supply - the current, whatever it may be (don't readily know the resistance of the starter motor) will start to flow the instant you apply the jump lead and NOT when you press the starter button - and the motor will not stop until you disconnect the donor supply - be ready for a big arc / splash when you take the lead off

And the ignition must be switched on when you apply it otherwise the bike wont start as the ignition circuit won't be live otherwise.

Due to possible dangers of arcing close to the petrol tank I don't think I'd be doing this without a switched donor supply (100amp switch)

Lots of us us will have done a very similar thing on older cars where the exposed starter solenoid has failed (my MK11 escort springs to mind) and using a spanner to short the solenoid out wasn't for the faint-hearted

Think I would charge the battery slowly on trickle and use the battery to start her up

Just my two penneth

Happy New Year Guys and Gals

 

[Steptoe]

...

If this is a serious question and you're considering using the starter motor post as a connection for the starting supply - the current, whatever it may be (don't readily know the resistance of the starter motor) will start to flow the instant you apply the jump lead and NOT when you press the starter button - and the motor will not stop until you disconnect the donor supply - be ready for a big arc / splash when you take the lead off

Wrong. So completely and utterly wrong.

The bike lead that is permanantly attached to the starter motor is directly attached to the battery at the other end The termlnal is permanantly live

The remote starter post that BMW sell for for the GS even attaches to the starter motor terminal/post.
And i've jump started so many BMW's by attaching the jump leads to the starter terminal that i've lost count.
The RT is identical apart from the fairing covering the starter motor instead of the GS's simple starter motor cover.

You can get a jump start post for the RT. It attaches to the battery and exits above the airfilter housing, allowing you to jump start the RT without removing any body panels. .


So, the bike will not start/turn over if you attach a live jump lead to the starter motor terminal until the ignition is switched on and you press the starter button. No different to what you've done everytime you want to start the bike.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Some sense at last, thank f...

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

You cant use the accessory socket to jump start your bike, the starter can draw up 100 amps and things will melt , you can use the socket to charge the battery and start the bike this time.

If you google " Jump Starting R1150RT" there's a lot of info from various places including mods to extend the positive side of the battery to make access easier.


Mark.

Wrong. So completely and utterly wrong.

The bike lead that is permanantly attached to the starter motor is directly attached to the battery at the other end The termlnal is permanantly live

The remote starter post that BMW sell for for the GS even attaches to the starter motor terminal/post.
And i've jump started so many BMW's by attaching the jump leads to the starter terminal that i've lost count.
The RT is identical apart from the fairing covering the starter motor instead of the GS's simple starter motor cover.

You can get a jump start post for the RT. It attaches to the battery and exits above the airfilter housing, allowing you to jump start the RT without removing any body panels. .


So, the bike will not start/turn over if you attach a live jump lead to the starter motor terminal until the ignition is switched on and you press the starter button. No different to what you've done everytime you want to start the bike.

Some sense at last, thank f...

Yes maybe, but all said earlier and its not a GS

 

[Steptoe]

Yes maybe, but all said earlier and its not a GS

I was replying to mark-a's mis information, not offering advice to the orignal post.. And i pointed out the difference several times between a GS and RT.

 

[mark-a]

Hey Steptoe.

Firstly, apologies, yes I was wrong, this is a pre-engaged starter motor and not a solenoid operated one.

And thanks for being so tactful in your reply - a simple not correct would have done - why be so aggresive?

After all we all want to get on in this life don't we?


All - Steptoe is correct on this occasion - and Don't I bloody know it.....

And please note that in order not to exacerbate the situation - I have refrained from correcting your spelling