R1150 doesn't start, and it sounds like a machine gun!

currenc said:
Thank you - I have a new battery and will attempt to fit it on Saturday when I have a few hours or so. I hope it is just this because the short ride I did on the bike makes me want to ride some more
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As a Honda owner you should be well aware of charging failures and flat batteries if my experiences of a VFR800 are anything to go by.:D
6 years out of a battery is very good.
I f you do decide to remove the tank to replace it,(you can lift the back,prop the tank up with something soft and wiggle the battery out),just hope the tank is pretty empty as it can be pretty heavy.
Be careful when you seperate the quick disconnects as they can become brittle and break.Lube them with Vaseline (on the viton ring) when you reassemble.Check the offside throttle cable is in its ferrule on the TB and you may need to do a throttle reset.With ignition on,(engine not started)slowly wind the throttle open,then closed twice.This "teaches" the ECU the range of voltages from the Throttle Position Sensor (the square black plastic lump on the nearside TB).
 
The new battery is in although I can't get the strap to fit back yet - I will have another play later.

Battery is on charge, so it may be too early to tell as of yet, but when I did a crafty start, the thing still makes the same noise - so I am mildy concerned it is not the battery at all. I will wait with baited breath until the light on the charger goes green and I'll know for sure

If it isn't that would anyone like to buy an immaculate R1150 GSA FSH 12k with everything and spare wheels, 2 x sets of tyres with a slight starting problem lol

:nenau

anyone know a good mobile mechanic near Sussex?
 
currenc said:
The new battery is in although I can't get the strap to fit back yet - I will have another play later.

Battery is on charge, so it may be too early to tell as of yet, but when I did a crafty start, the thing still makes the same noise - so I am mildy concerned it is not the battery at all. I will wait with baited breath until the light on the charger goes green and I'll know for sure

If it isn't that would anyone like to buy an immaculate R1150 GSA FSH 12k with everything and spare wheels, 2 x sets of tyres with a slight starting problem lol

:nenau

anyone know a good mobile mechanic near Sussex?
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If it turns out to be something other than the battery, pull the starter motor, as its likely the culprit :augie
 
definitely not the battery as it is fully charged and still the same problem. I will try the starter oterwise it is to a mechanic or Ebay - I haven't decided yet.

Okay I realise it is five years old, but I would have thought a BMW starter would have pulled more than twelve thousand miles
 
currenc said:
definitely not the battery as it is fully charged and still the same problem. I will try the starter oterwise it is to a mechanic or Ebay - I haven't decided yet.

Okay I realise it is five years old, but I would have thought a BMW starter would have pulled more than twelve thousand miles
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But what sort of sound does it do? Is it similar to mine? See the first post on this thread.
 
currenc said:
definitely not the battery as it is fully charged and still the same problem. I will try the starter oterwise it is to a mechanic or Ebay - I haven't decided yet.

Okay I realise it is five years old, but I would have thought a BMW starter would have pulled more than twelve thousand miles
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See post #6.

Take the battery back and get a refund, you will need the dosh for the starter motor replacement.
 
it has officially been confirmed as a bad starter motor. The machanic tried to start it using a pair of pliers to short acorss the top and it turned very slowly. So I need to get a replacement

any ideas where I should go? Also is it a tough job for a mechanically inept person?

I miss my fireblade :-( it never skipped a beat - curses to old age lol
 
Currenc

I had the same when I tried to start my 1150GS in October - first cold night and the battery was knackered sounded the same as you describe. My GS also 2002 on original battery so bought new Gel from Cooper Tunbridge wells. ran fine till chain tensioner guide broke up i month later - very annoying as I only bough bike in end August at 23000 miles - and now in complete strip down!

get a new battery after checking with voltmeter if under 12v reading then battery has died best of luck
 
sorry I dont know why I didnt see your later reply saying you had alreadt tried battery and fitted new - apologies duoooooohhhhh
 
currenc said:
it has officially been confirmed as a bad starter motor. The machanic tried to start it using a pair of pliers to short acorss the top and it turned very slowly. So I need to get a replacement

any ideas where I should go? Also is it a tough job for a mechanically inept person?

I miss my fireblade :-( it never skipped a beat - curses to old age lol
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Hi,
If it is the starter, it is easy to remove - you don' need special skills. It has two bolts only that secure it yo the engine. One of them is a bit difficult to access so it is recommendable that you get an allen key with an extender that makes "bends" (I don´t know the name... sorry).

Replacing the starter is very easy. I removed mine and made the service - cleaned the solenoid and the bendix and that did the trick. Most likely you starter needs to be serviced and not replaced.

Believe me, I am not a mechanic and did it, so it must be really simple!

I have a few photos, if you need, I can upload them.

Cheers


Good luck!
 
Hi Nunesaf,

any assistance would be thankfully received - if you can send them to my e-mail that would be brilliant.

[email protected]

thanks for your help - I am now ebaying for allen key extenders

Paul
 
okay bit the bullet and bought a reconditioned starter and just fitted it, everything is back up and running and I might even go out on it Sunday

I can't seem to get the battery strap back on nor the rocker cover for the starter, any suggestions?
 
Just trying to figure out this 'Sounds like a machine gun' bit. My 1100 does this when the battery is flat. Not fast enough for a GPMG, far too fast for a Browning .50; guess the nearest equivalent is a Browning .303.

OK, getting my coat...
 
Dragon Master said:
Just trying to figure out this 'Sounds like a machine gun' bit. My 1100 does this when the battery is flat. Not fast enough for a GPMG, far too fast for a Browning .50; guess the nearest equivalent is a Browning .303.

OK, getting my coat...
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I confess my brutal ignorance with regards to machine guns :aidan
So, it may not be a good reference.

Take two: it does tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra-tra oinc :P

(Remember, Take one was: :mcgun)

Considering currenc experience, it points to the direction that the starter may need to be seriously reviewed. On my bike, I had multiple sources of problems - dirty starter / solenoid, battery contacts dirty, starter relay not working properly and a series of bad connections in the fuse box - at the end, little power arrived to the starter and due to its bad shape (God, it was dirty!) it did the tra-tra :D.
 
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currenc said:
okay bit the bullet and bought a reconditioned starter and just fitted it, everything is back up and running and I might even go out on it Sunday

I can't seem to get the battery strap back on nor the rocker cover for the starter, any suggestions?
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Hi!

You have to stretch the battery strap so it snaps into the holder. I don't have any pictures but I may do a diagram. It will easy your life if the the top left edge of the battery is lubrificated.

The rocker cover is simple: it has two pins that should fit into the engine. I will take a look at this tonight and send you a few tips more. This is very easy to do, whereas the battery is also easy but you will have to strugle a bit.

Cheers,

Afonso
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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