Occasional starter problem. K1100 engine

[Den]

Sometimes, when I try to start the engine in the Grinnall, it seems like the battery is flat. It isnt, and the battery is new.
Dont think its the starter clutch (I hope not) because the engine will turn over very slightly. Switch off and try again. Obviously, the relay contacts closed or the starter would not budge . Usually does this two or three times then it starts normally.
Ive stripped and cleaned the comm of the starter motor, brushes are ok, earth is ok. Suspect the switch or the relay, but because it happens infrequently, everything tests-out ok.
Anybody come across this one?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

had a GT750 starter solenoid that arced and carboned up the copper connecting bar inside the solenoid

sometimes it would connect - sometimes not

stripped the solenoid down and cleaned the bar with file / emery to fix it

 

[JayC]

I too had similar symptoms with a GT750 and that too was the starter solenoid, if that helps.

 

[its all poo]

Starter relay

I had the same it was the starter relay under tank in electrical box, its black with 2 8mm bolts. Google starter relay k1100, be carefull it can take you battery out ive fecked 2 batteries doind it!

 

[B4ndit]

I have recent problems with the starter button. Quick strip down and clean up and all sorted.

 

[freeloader]

Has the battery been remotely mounted?

I had a similar problem a couple of decades ago that I never got to the bottom of, a fibreglass bodied front engined car with the battery just ahead of the back bumper. Car was based on a Mini, and the battery was about as far away from the engine as in a Mini, but no steel conduits for the earth so I just used two lengths of Mini battery cable instead of one. However I think the voltage drop was probably the problem, since it was probably twice what it would have been in a Mini.

To summarise: you could try a heavier battery cable(s)...

 

[FlyGuy]

K1300GTs have had this as an occasional problem from new. It happens when the engine is warm and the battery should be fully charged. Often I've seen it reported happening after a quick stop for fuel but I've never experienced that. With me it has always been when the engine has been stopped for a very brief period, often less than a minute, certainly never longer than 4 or 5 minutes.

Often the problem goes after only a minute or two. I wish I knew how to distinguish it from a flat battery.

I've experienced it about 5 times in 20,000 miles. Speculation about causes covers all the items mentioned on here, I favoured started switch as the cause but the problem appears to have become less frequent with time on my bike.

 

[Den]

FlyGuy .... You described the problem exactly. In the grinnall, its a key start, just like a car. Usually its fine. After a short stop its like the battery is dead, but the engine will turn a degree or ten, so the starter is definately engaging.
Try it a few times and it bursts into life, turning the engine over easily.
I'm going to try the relay, although I would expect to hear some 'crackely' noises from the contacts if they were not firmly contacted.

The problem is, when it happens, its usually in a place (stalling at traffic lights etc. Dont laugh, stalling one of these is very easy) where you have no time to check things like, are the lights dimming etc.
By the time you get home, its will start no problem, as many times as you like.

With a car? like this , its a bit embarassing when it doesnt go because there is always some noseybeak standing there waiting, after asking the same old questions.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Always worth seeing how many volts appear at the end of the 'trigger' wire when the key is turned Den. Probably a huge PITA on the Grinnall to do that?

 

[freeloader]

K1300GTs have had this as an occasional problem from new. It happens when the engine is warm and the battery should be fully charged. Often I've seen it reported happening after a quick stop for fuel but I've never experienced that. With me it has always been when the engine has been stopped for a very brief period, often less than a minute, certainly never longer than 4 or 5 minutes.

Often the problem goes after only a minute or two. I wish I knew how to distinguish it from a flat battery.

I've experienced it about 5 times in 20,000 miles. Speculation about causes covers all the items mentioned on here, I favoured started switch as the cause but the problem appears to have become less frequent with time on my bike.

The problem I had which I described above showed very similar symptoms, in that it never happened when the engine was cold, but was almost inevitable if I stalled it, or otherwise stopped the engine for a very short time when warm/hot. I know the battery was OK and well charged, the starter and solenoid had been checked and found to be OK. Everything except the battery cables had been checked or replaced and I'm now convinced that MY problem was voltage drop across the length of the cables. I have no idea why it didn't happen with a cold car.

Same kind of thing, starter turns but very slowly, but will continue to do so (but not fast enough to let the engine start). After a few minutes of going red, all of a sudden the car would start.

I'd try a heavier battery cable, or fit another one in parallel, and see if that makes a difference.

Oh yes, and traffic lights were where I usually experienced it too.