not starting

[thrupp]

Hi all
I am new to this section as have so far only been riding a 1100GS.
Now I have bought a 1200 GS built 2005 last autumn. Its got 66k miles on the clock and I rode it from Colchester to Stuttgart with no issues whatsoever. Since i have changed the headlights and turned off the alarm to make sure it doesn t drain the battery while the bike was sitting in the front garden waiting for the winter to end....
Nothinjg else has been done other than covering her with a sheet to keep her warm under the snow......
I bought a new oddyssey battery now and tried to start it today but no joy. All lights are on but nothing than a shy tick from under the seat is coming from the relay. No sign from the starter motor so she won t start.

I have tried to jumpstart from the volvo but still no luck. tried other leads - nothing.
Tried the old (but recharged) battery - nothing

Has anybody had the same problem and managed to solve it??

Any help much appreciated!

Many thanks

Thomas

 

[OldCroc]

What you describe sounds like a dud battery. However, if you have ensured that it is charged and also tried a jump then it would indicate a loose or bad connection - most likely to the starter motor which is easily accessible.
I would try removing the connections, cleaning and then re fitting them.
OldCroc

 

[Bendy toy]

The bike battery could be shorting out internally, Disconnect bike battery then use jump leads on the bikes battery leads. Obviously be very careful to avoid shorts and Don't run the donor car engine.

 

[rocky burns]

Dirty or coroded conections. Or if stood out side for the winter could be a stuck starter motor. Try giving it a tap with a hammer gently when hitting the starter button.

 

[Delboy777]

You could have a siezed alternator just like i have had this week. It happens now and again if a bike is left sitting for a few weeks. Rare but it does happen.

 

[thrupp]

Thanks so far for your answers. will check starter relais and starter connections tomorrow and report back when its running again...!

Pretty sure its no big thing.

Thomas

 

[beatmeier]

Under the seat is a box below the toolkit. In there you find a starter relay sitting in a terminal. . . .check all wires going into it from below.


I had the same problem on my 2004 a while back and found one of the wires corroded and broken. . . .after I replaced the connector my bike was just fine...........the cause of the heavy corrosion was the little drain hole of the plastic box was jammed with shit and the water was sitting in there. . . .I mounted a mud sling later and check the hole sometimes to make sure it stays open. . . . .hope it helps

 

[Giles]

Dirty or coroded conections. Or if stood out side for the winter could be a stuck starter motor. Try giving it a tap with a hammer gently when hitting the starter button.

Not quite a GS but my WR450 starter motor occasionally sticks. The best cure is to rock it back and forth (as hard as you can) in gear.

 

[beatmeier]

Not quite a GS but my WR450 starter motor occasionally sticks. The best cure is to rock it back and forth (as hard as you can) in gear.

In this case you would not hear only a little click from under the seat. . .

 

[andy79]

Side stand switch possibly .

 

[thrupp]

So.
Relais is fine. No corrosion, no broken cables. Starter looked really bad though. Loads of corrosion on the connections. My attempt to strip the thing and clean up ended soon with a broken bolt where the cable connects to the starter. Not much left of it so won t be possible to get the nut on again... I guess i ll ned a new startermotor.
I have one left from my 1100gs. Will this fit?

 

[Bendy toy]

Take end cover off starter and replace the rotten bolt

 

[thrupp]

Ah, thanks for the hint. Is it actually possible to refurb the broken bolt? How will the Back Cover come off?

 

[Bendy toy]

Ah, thanks for the hint. Is it actually possible to refurb the broken bolt? How will the Back Cover come off?

Starters can be stripped down. If this one has a rusted away power bolt, its likely the brushes are also well used (dirty and or worn) so stripping it down (and cleaning inside) may solve the non-starts and allow the bolt to be replaced.

or get a service exchange starter.

 

[thrupp]

hmmm
having looked at the relais and the side stand contact both appear perfectly fine.
the starter looks dreadful though. i managed to get the contacts cleaned and reused the last bit of the broken bolt to reconnect everything. still no joy.
have ordered a second hand one of ebay now and will fit it when its here. will see if this helps.
any other possible reasons for the problem????

again: when pressing the starter button there is a klick from the relais - this is it. no more signs of life....

thank you very much for your help

thomas

 

[Bendy toy]

When you have the ebay starter fitted strip your old one and look inside. It might only need a good clean and new brushes (plus a new power terminal bolt).

 

[trainman]

hmmm
having looked at the relais and the side stand contact both appear perfectly fine.
the starter looks dreadful though. i managed to get the contacts cleaned and reused the last bit of the broken bolt to reconnect everything. still no joy.
have ordered a second hand one of ebay now and will fit it when its here. will see if this helps.
any other possible reasons for the problem????

again: when pressing the starter button there is a klick from the relais - this is it. no more signs of life....

thank you very much for your help

thomas

have you a meter? when you hit start and hear the click you should get 12v on the smaller wire that runs to the starter solenoid coil if you have the red meter lead on it (stick the black lead of the meter on the battery negative), you should also check that the thicker starter wires are permanently connected to earth on one side of the motor and battery live on the other (these will be the big bolts, one of which you bust), its not unheard of for the earth to go due to corroded wires or connections

having said that your starter motor sounds like it needs a good service or you need a new one whether its the problem or not!!

 

[Pukmeister]

If the 1200 has resin bonded stator parts like the earlier bikes, they could have become unbonded and jammed the rotor. Does the starter motor turn by hand when removed from the bike?

 

[thrupp]

Oh dear - not anywhere near a solution yet....!
So this is what i have done:

Put new batterie in - no luck
Perhaps new batterie is knackered also, unlikely but who knows? So tried jumpstart from car - no joy...!
Must be the starter then:
So i got a used but well kept one off ebay, as the old one looked dreadful.

Still no sign from the starter. Klick from the relais - thats it...!

This is frustrating.

Can anybody help????

Thanks

Thomas

 

[thrupp]

Update:
I have connetced the two cables at the starter and it is working. So both the batterie and the starter are fine.
i have dismantled the relay and again it looks fine inside and everything is working from what can be seen.

Any thoughts?

Puzzled

Thomas