non-starting - battery related?

[bazzjazz]

I tried to start my 1100 last week after not being in use for 2 weeks or so. The battery was dead so I connected the optimate and gave it a charge, but it still wouldn't even turn the engine over.

I took the battery off the bike and charged it, still no good even though the optimate seemed to tell me it was charged.

I also tried to start the bike with jump leads connected to the car, first with the car not running and then with the car running, with no joy. The bike engine would turn over very slowly once or twice and that was it.

So, I hope that it is just the battery that is knackered and nothing more serious.

Anyone had a similar experience or suggestions?

cheers,

Barry

 

[BOB UK]

Hi Barry
If you have a volt meter put it across the battery get the reading with every thing switched off (about 12.5 volts for a fully charged battery} then look at it when you try to crank the engine if the voltage drops below about 9 volts then the battery is shot (or you starter has had it and is drawing too much currant which is a bit more difficult to diagnose if you don’t have an inductive ammeter)
If It doesn’t drop then you have to volt drop all the leads to the starter and the battery earth but you have to take all the readings when the starter is under load ( you are operating the starter )
Mind you if you haven’t got a volt meter this is all a waste of time
Try putting the earth jump lead on the engine and not on the battery that might work better
I hope this hasn’t confused you even more I know how to do it all it’s what I do for a living it’s just difficult to explain it all
Why not just call out the AA or RAC

 

[Gecko]

Check your side stand cut out switch.
Are you hearing the fuel pump and seeing the fuel gauge working if not I'd inspect that side stand swich carefully.

 

[dave wilcock]

my 1150 wouldnt start this summer. starter just clicked ,so i tryed jump leads ,just click new battery again click. gave the starter motor a tap and it started so checking out the starter i found the battery feed was loose,great 1 turn on a spanner sorted it,tested the old battery fine so now i have a spare.

 

[bazzjazz]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I have bypassed the sidestand switch, so I'm sure it's not that. I don't have a voltmeter, but will borrow one to check out the readings.

From chatting to a mechanic mate of mine over the weekend I think the battery is probably shot!

Thanks for the help.

Barry

 

[cookie]

if starter doesn't turn over properly when you're jump starting from a car, it's very difficult to see how it's your battery that's shot

 

[bazzjazz]

According to my mechanic brother-in-law, if the levels in the battery are low (which they were) the plates get damaged and the battery only gets a "surface charge", i.e. it seems fully charged according to the charger, but it isn't.

This damage to the battery also impedes the current from the car battery and so makes it difficult to turn the engine over.

Or so i'm told......

 

[John Armstrong]

if starter doesn't turn over properly when you're jump starting from a car, it's very difficult to see how it's your battery that's shot

Depends on how you're jumping it. If it's straight accross the starter terminals you'd be correct. If it's using one of the battery terminals and the battery has failed open circuit then AFAIK you'll have real problems.

I had a battery die when on the road in a diesel car (no fancy ECU's etc), no problems until it came to restart it. Absolutely nothing, 12v jump, absolutely nothing, breakdown van uses 24v, starts, just started.

 

[cookie]

ok, it's possible that a REALLY f*cked battery can act like a black hole & suck all power from good one.

i just doubt the poxy little thing on a bike would have that effect on a car battery. it would make the jump leads red hot too. a diesel car will have a great big battery however.

jump it straight to the starter then. might save you the cost of a battery & costs nowt??

 

[bazzjazz]

I popped out to my local bwm dealer and took a chance on buying a new battery (my old one was about 5 years old anyway!), got a dry cell one, popped it into the bike and it started first time, no bother.

So, thanks for all the tips chaps, back on two wheels again!

Barry

 

[cookie]

bugger