Problems Starting 1200GSA This morn

[Shep]

Mines has never actually failed to start, it just cranks slowly, then when the engine fires and the starter disengages but the engine fails to 'catch' untill just a little throttle is applied at just the right time and away you go

I reported the problem last year and nothing was found to be wrong with my bike at the time, but then again it was starting OK by then

Shep

 

[cardigan]

Hi Silverfish, were do you get these Hawker Odyssey's from and how much do they go for. Don't want to get stranded as my 12GSA's my only transport come rain or shine.

 

[charliegadget]

Had the same thing this morning...

just gave it a little throttle (very little) as I dont normally and it was fine...

it was a little sluggish to crank over though...

Away from home in a hotel, so had no option but to leave it outside!

 

[Bones]

Had the same problem yesterday

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125127

 

[Shep]

Had the same problem yesterday

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125127

Sound like yours is a slightly different problem, it'll probably be cured the same way by replacing the battery, but different symptoms.

Shep

 

[marcus]

never made it through a winter since buying 1200GS in 2004 without the "click click click" when the temperature gets chilly.........

 

[SilverFish]

Hi Silverfish, were do you get these Hawker Odyssey's from and how much do they go for. Don't want to get stranded as my 12GSA's my only transport come rain or shine.

You can get them from Nippy Norman, BMW Bike Bits or Motor Works - they all have ads on this site.

Nippy seems to be the cheapest, but the rest come with a small fastening bracket. Might want to check first.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[cardigan]

Many thanks, Silverfish

 

[EasySushi]

Read somewhere performance drops markedly as temp drops. Up to 25% less discharge 'power' at freezing temps. If you're bike's being used infrequently then definitely Optimate it. It takes a lot of juice to crank those 585cc pistons.
BTW I wouldn't recommend using the throttle as you'll more likely flood the engine IMHO. As my Dad did yesterday on his Honda

Is it the battery that is the problem ?

I had mine on charge all last night......

If you get the bike started and then turn it off straight away and then restart the bike it starts first time. It's getting that first start, then after that all Ok.

So perhaps its not the battery at all maybe something else , frozen injector, frozen fuel pump, dodgey solanoid ??????????????????????????


.com

 

['Nuffsaid]

Agreed!

It isn't the Battery on my '07 GSA that is at fault, as said by others - it cranks over, albeit a little slower (Thicker oil / Weaker discharge?) It is just that it doesn't catch like it normally does when temperatures are below +2/3 Deg. It will eventually start, but it does give you a "moment" when you are thinking about how on earth you are going to get to work ...........

It would be interesting to hear from our friends in Estonia / Denmark etc ...Come to think about it, they probably have heated garages ?Answers on a postcode please !

 

[Phil Clarke]

Think this is a dodgy battery issue - check yer voltage across the terminals should be 12.5 - 13 after you turn on the ignition. Drops to around 9 - 10 as its cranking. (Thanks to Greg Masters for telling me this by the way)

I've been having dodgy battery probs which are more noticable on cold mornings but in my case it was the GPS socket not powering down and draining the battery.

 

[Ali-bear]

Always hold in clutch as a habit learned from owning a bike that won't start unless it is. Also do in car as GF always leaves it in gear. Plus it does present less load on the starter as you don't have to spin half the clutch and gearbox.

Cycle throttle through full range with ignition on before trying starter, but leave it alone whilst starting.

Say a quick prayer to the gods of chemistry and elecromechanics?

 

[Shep]

I think there is more chance of it being the wrong size of battery or type of battery fitted that can't cope with the cold weather. I wondered if its part related to the 20/50 oil used as standard since the 12 gsa's were launched, my standard 1200's never had the problem and they ran 10/40 oil.

Shep

 

[EasySushi]

I think there is more chance of it being the wrong size of battery or type of battery fitted that can't cope with the cold weather. I wondered if its part related to the 20/50 oil used as standard since the 12 gsa's were launched, my standard 1200's never had the problem and they ran 10/40 oil.

Shep

Hands up those who are running 20/50

Me for one

 

[EasySushi]

I think there is more chance of it being the wrong size of battery or type of battery fitted that can't cope with the cold weather. I wondered if its part related to the 20/50 oil used as standard since the 12 gsa's were launched, my standard 1200's never had the problem and they ran 10/40 oil.

Shep

Hi Guys,

Just spoke to Castol technical dept and posed the question to them. The guy I spoke to said that the 20/50 is a little bit thick for this type of weather and that the Castrol 15/40 GTX would be a better oil use. I have also spoken to Jody the service manager at Bahnstomers who will also throw the question at BMW technical. So should get a answer back in the next few days, will keep you posted


cheers


Ty

 

[Loiq]

in the old days of my morris van, when proper cold I would pour a boiling water over the battery slowly avoiding the terminals, this always worked by just warming the battery up enough to give a bit a go.

Perhaps you could do the same with the bike...

 

[Chris Terry]

I think its the under capacity battery that's the problem. That's why they only last 24 months. If you run jump leads to a good source (car or fully charged spare) she will start no probs. The standard battery can only just cope in ideal conditions, when the temperature drops "clickety click".
The bike needs a good 25 ah to swing her over, not a disposable 19ah.

 

[Oz1200]

Whenever a battery problem is mentioned someone will come along and say 'fit an Odyssey' - it has already happened in this thread, and I'm here to support that.

It gets pretty cold here, and in winter I regularly need to start my bike in -4 or -5 Celsius. The dealer replaced my first battery after about a year – I was getting the 'click click'. The following winter the second battery started to worry me, and I promised if I got let down one more time (kitted up, freezing cold, swearing like a trooper with a bike that won't start - gets my blood pressure up) I'd get an Odyssey. Well it happened, so I fitted a PC535 with some very minor adaptations to the bike, and haven't looked back. I now know that if the bike doesn’t catch first time I can keep trying. With the stock battery I knew that if it didn’t start first time I was probably screwed.

My experience is hardly a scientific experiment, but I’m convinced Odyssey is the way to go. We shouldn’t have to fork out more on our already expensive motorcycles, but when you’re stranded by a bike that won’t start, that argument looses some of its appeal…

 

[Dahoum]

and we have to remember that 30kg weight loss over the older models was partly due to a smaller lighter battery being fitted

 

[NoBridgeTooFar]

My '04 12GS sits outside every night (having bought the bike, can't afford a house with a garage... ) , stored under an Oxford fleecy lined cover... and so far since the weather turned cold, have not had any trouble starting at all... even yesterday when it was distinctly pearl harbour at 7am when I was leaving for work... I always make sure the heated grips are switched off when I start u tho as I read somewhere (on here I think) that it makes a difference...

Re Lo-IQs tip about warming the battery with hot water - I have many times on expeditions put video camera batteries which were apparently 'flat' in a pan of water and boiled them for a couple of minutes to coax another five minutes of life out of them, so am sure it will give a bike battery a boost start first thing on a cold morning... even a BMW one...