Non starter after winter storage

Mexbiker

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Hi - as a fair weather rider, am trying to re-commission my 05 GS, after she languished in the shed for 4/5 months. Fitted new battery, but still struggles to crank motor and refuses to fire. Am guessing that I have issues with the starter motor and stale fuel - any suggestions to get her running?

Cheers!
 
May be a silly question, but have you charged the new battery fully for 24 hours? Also add fresh fuel to mix it up a bit...
 
Yep - brand new Odyssey battery, left on charge for 24+ hours. Struggles to crank motor and after a couple of attempts when she nearly fires, battery requires re-charging, which makes me think starter motor might be source of problem.

twizzle said:
May be a silly question, but have you charged the new battery fully for 24 hours? Also add fresh fuel to mix it up a bit...
Click to expand...
 
Can you organise a jump start, just to make sure you have not got a duff new battery... See if that turns it over quicker.. If not starter motor bushes..
 
Simple stuff first. Check the battery main earth tag on top of the engine is not corroded.

On bikes that don't get much use the alternator frames corrode and jam the rotor. This will cause a slow starter effect.

A simple way to prove that is to remove the main spark plugs and crank the engine.

If its still slow there has to be something holding it back alternator would be a likely culprit.

If it spins quickly the starter motor brushes could be the issue. Logic - A sticking brush can easily spin the engine with no compression but struggles under normal load.
 
My guess is it's probably down to the fuel degrading. We get this problem when shipping bikes back from the US and they have been sat for 4/5 weeks. US fuel is pretty poor quality though.

I'm guessing you only have a little fuel in the tank? If so, put a gallon of V power or high octane fuel in the tank. You then just have to be brave and keep cranking it over with about a quarter and it will eventually go. It will sound like a bag of spanners for a second or 2 but she will go.
 
Quite often after bikes have sat for the winter the plugs need renewing so change them and put some new fuel in it and should be good to go.
 
My bike has been unused for 3 weeks with not much fuel in the tank. It started on the button. Odyssey battery.

Brother's bike often stands for a lot longer (cheap battery). It always cranks more gently but not yet failed to start.
 
Bendy toy said:
My bike has been unused for 3 weeks with not much fuel in the tank. It started on the button. Odyssey battery.

Brother's bike often stands for a lot longer (cheap battery). It always cranks more gently but not yet failed to start.
Click to expand...

It should do as the fuel in the UK is generally high quality so 3/4 weeks is no problem and I would say that's the same up to 3/4 months. The US fuel I was referring to is low octane and up to 15% ethanol so it's shite and degrades quickly.

When the fuel degrades it sounds like it may go but then just coughs and splutters. It will go eventually.
 
Ive had old bikes that would only run on full choke. But as you say the fuel was very old not just a few weeks.

Another issue with ethanol is not just degradation but water absorption. Expecting that to run like new fuel is well..... interesting. to stop any corrosion in the winding laminations.

Thinking aloud. Brother really should whip off his alternator and thoroughly soak the frame to stop any hidden nasties going on within. Mine gets used most days so should be warm and dry.
 
This is EXACTLY what happened to mine a couple of months ago after its winter lay up. New battery, starter mother spins her up but very sluggish and Very nearly fires loads of times but not quite. The alternator had seized and the drag on the belt prevented the engine from spinning fast enough to fire. When she did eventually fire using a jump start and a massive fistful of throttle the alternator belt just spun and fried itself in a pall of smoke on the seized alternator.
 
Am fairly sure now the problem is with the alternator - with a fully charged new battery, she struggled to crank this evening, but almost fired, but with smoke coming from the alternator cover, suggesting that the alternator is locked solid and the belt is slipping. My question, is how easy is it to replace the alternator and where can I find an exchange alternator (assuming it is a sealed, non serviceable item) other than at a BMW main dealer? The bike is in a confined space in the shed - if I were to charge the battery 100 per cent, remove the alternator belt, would I be able to ride about 2 miles to my workshop where I would have space and tools to remove and replace the alternator?

Cheers

Rushy said:
This is EXACTLY what happened to mine a couple of months ago after its winter lay up. New battery, starter mother spins her up but very sluggish and Very nearly fires loads of times but not quite. The alternator had seized and the drag on the belt prevented the engine from spinning fast enough to fire. When she did eventually fire using a jump start and a massive fistful of throttle the alternator belt just spun and fried itself in a pall of smoke on the seized alternator.
Click to expand...
 
Mexbiker said:
Am fairly sure now the problem is with the alternator - with a fully charged new battery, she struggled to crank this evening, but almost fired, but with smoke coming from the alternator cover, suggesting that the alternator is locked solid and the belt is slipping. My question, is how easy is it to replace the alternator and where can I find an exchange alternator (assuming it is a sealed, non serviceable item) other than at a BMW main dealer? The bike is in a confined space in the shed - if I were to charge the battery 100 per cent, remove the alternator belt, would I be able to ride about 2 miles to my workshop where I would have space and tools to remove and replace the alternator?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Yes. JJH
 
Mexbiker said:
Am fairly sure now the problem is with the alternator - with a fully charged new battery, she struggled to crank this evening, but almost fired, but with smoke coming from the alternator cover, suggesting that the alternator is locked solid and the belt is slipping. My question, is how easy is it to replace the alternator and where can I find an exchange alternator (assuming it is a sealed, non serviceable item) other than at a BMW main dealer? The bike is in a confined space in the shed - if I were to charge the battery 100 per cent, remove the alternator belt, would I be able to ride about 2 miles to my workshop where I would have space and tools to remove and replace the alternator?

Cheers
Click to expand...


You could easily ride it to your workshop . I rode mine to a local dealer. A second hand replacement alternator should be aviailable on eBay for around £150-£200 . Make sure you get the right one. Or you could try www.motorworks.co.uk :thumb
 
alternatorman.co.uk


We can repair and recondition any make or model of alternator for any car, van, commercial vehicle, boat, agricultural machine or motorcycle.


All alternators are re-conditioned and the reconditioned unit is guaranteed for 1 year.

Your reconditioned alternator is fully prepared then stringently tested on our state of the art alternator bench testing machine. This machine replicates the usage as if fitted to your car.

Collection & Delivery is arranged by me and free and included in the price, all i need is the address where the faulty alternator is to be collected from and delivered to.

Prices start from £90. This price includes; •Same day collection of your faulty alternator from an address of your choice (please make sure the alternator is suitably boxed & protected - the courier will print out the address label when he gets there).
•Full repair service
•Express next day delivery back to you of your repaired alternator.

The repaired, guaranteed alternator should be back to you within three working days. E.g. If this service is ordered on Monday you will receive your re-conditioned alternator back, ready to fit to the vehicle on Wednesday.
 
Found the above on the internet
Thought it might be better than second hand ?
And with a warranty
 
lawvar said:
Found the above on the internet
Thought it might be better than second hand ?
And with a warranty
Click to expand...

only prob with him is he may not offer recon on a unit with a cracked/corroded case,speak to him first
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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